Have I Started a New Business for Real?

Kiva Project

Well it was another busy week. Trying to do too much in too little time. Plus this time of year some illnesses are going around, and so sometimes I am not doing so well. Meanwhile, I think that a class like this is teaching me that, despite the ups and downs, I must persevere.

That is how business is. Nothing is perfect, and we have to make adjustments as we go along. I had my business idea for doing the Easter treat, but honestly it doesn't excite me anymore. At the beginning of this class, I called my stepdaughter to ask her opinion about what I could do, and she said if I made dresses for the girls-- her two daughters, ages 5 and 8, that she would buy them. Also she knows other young moms who might do that as well.

Recently I decided I would rather sew for my Kiva project. But I don't want to do anything complicated, so I am making personalized t-shirt dresses. I bought shirts for $5 in colors the girls will love, and then I found a corresponding knit fabric to add a little skirt and possibly trim around the sleeves.

I found a product called "Print-N-Press", which is a fabric on  a backing that can go through a regular printer. I can print on it whatever images I like, then heat set it with a dry iron. Then I trim it and iron on to the shirt, then peel off the backing.

 I am thinking about what I want to print, and I love the idea of personalizing. I think I can ask a little more money, because it is no longer just a simple t-shirt dress. I thought maybe I can do the first initial of each girl's name, and then a representation of maybe 3 things that they are interested in. It will cost me about $11-12 for each dress, I'll spend about 1 1/2 hours per each, and because they are personalized I think I can ask at least $25 a piece. That sounds a lot more fun to me.

A New Product

On a longer term basis, I want to do a business that doesn't compete with my boss's Interior Design Firm. Also I want an alternate source of income.  We have a gentle-ladies agreement that I don't try to run any Interior Design jobs on the side while I am working for her. In exchange for her mentoring and training, any clients I pick up have to be run through her business. I am honoring this agreement.

This class started me thinking about products I could invent as another type of business for myself.  I tried a moisturizing body wash a couple of months ago by L'Occitaine. It was a great product! And you only need to use a few drops. But I checked the price, and it is $35 for about 6 ounces. Also I couldn't pronounce some of the ingredients.

I am interested in non-toxic, natural and gentle skin care anyway, so I thought why not do some research and come up with my own product? So I made this body wash that is liquid unscented castile soap, with coconut oil, honey and a few other key ingredients. It's not quite edible, but almost.

I have been using it myself for a few weeks, and I love how soft my skin is now. It seems to be concentrated, even though that wasn't my original intent. I only need to use a small amount. I made it as body wash, but started using it on my face, and I love it.

I was using the Neutrogena body wash from Costco before I started using this. I have a bottle in the shower that is almost used up so I wanted to finish it.  I have used it for so long, up until now. But after using my own body wash for a couple of weeks, I no longer like it!!!

Also my husband has really sensitive skin, so I asked him to start using it. He hasn't had any reactions to it, and it is very moisturizing. I want him to try it for at least 2 weeks, which he will do if he continues to not have any reactions to it.

Product Testing

 I want to do more product testing on a small scale. I made my second batch of body wash and made a few small sample sizes. This idea has been on my mind for several weeks so I have been online buying bottles in bulk in the sizes I think I will need, as well as the ingredients I wanted to use.

My friend, Jennifer runs a nail business out of her house and has many clients over. So I left a few samples for her to pass out to any clients she thinks will be interested. I made a sheet that lists the ingredients and talks about the properties of the product, I asked that anyone who wants to try a free sample leave their name and phone # so I can ask questions about how they like it and anything that needs to change.

So that is where I'm at with it. We'll see what happens.