I’ll continue with Part 2 of my interview of Mark Allen, who has developed two online home based businesses using CafePress.  (See Part 1 here.)  Mark’s businesses are Defying Gravity Apparel and The Spanked Monkey.(Dog t-shirt an example from The Spanked Monkey.)

MEA: What are the possibilities for others in an online business operated from home?

MARK: Once again, one of the great things about an online business is that the world is your market.  In the last two weeks alone, in addition to the United States, I have had visits to my stores from 8 additional countries. 

If a person finds the right online business it can be very rewarding and profitable.  Just be sure that the business being considered is legitimate and has real potential.  The trick is finding the right one and I believe for me, this is it.  I see the very real possibility that marketing through CafePress will eventually replace the income of my normal job as I continue to add designs and possibly more stores.

MEA: You have me thinking about possibilities for my writing and book promotion through a medium such as CafePress.  (I already have a story in one book, 2 the Heart, People Who Make a Difference, available at CafePress.)  Do you have any suggestions?

MARK:  I think that, at the very least, you should look at what CafePress has to offer, look at the final cost per book after you have added your markup, and decide if the price is in the range where people will buy.  Also, consider that even if your markup isn’t quite as high as previously, it may be worth it if you don’t have to handle the printing and shipping.

Another thing to consider is that, in addition to the sales you are makaing now, which you will still make, you are likely to get additional sales through people who search CafePress.  In addition to your writing, there is your artwork that can be put on a great many items.

(Mark knows that I illustrate some of my books.  I also do oil and water color paintings which I’ve been trying to produce as note cards and postcards but was baffled when it came to the marketing.  He’s got me thinking about the many possibilities for these, too.   What about you?)

MEA:  Any tips you would like to offer…

MARK: Get started!

MEA: Thanks, Mark, for taking time to share your business tips and the information about your businesses at CafePress.  I’m sure you have a number of people thinking about the possibilities for themselves.

As I mentioned in the previous post, Developing a Home Business Utilizing Cafe Press – Introduction,  a number of people are looking for web sites where they can set a business rather than developing a web site on their own.

So I’ve asked Mark Allen a few questions about the development and operation of his two online businesses, Defy Gravity Apparel and The Spanked Monkey.

MEA: Would you describe your businesses and tell us what you do and the general type of products.

MARK:  Defy Gravity Apparel and The Spanked Monkey are primarily online stores selling t-shirts printed with designs that I have come up with.  Between the two stores you will find different styles of printed t-shirts and sweatshirts, including children’s sizes, hats, mugs, buttons, magnets, tote bags, and more.  In addition to the items in my stores, CafePress has many other items available, such as books and magazines, audio and data CDs, stickers, note cards, mouse-pads, and the list goes on.

MEA: Why did you decide to set up an online home business?

MARK:  The great thing about an online business is that the world is your market.  To date I have had sales in 38 states, England, Ireland, Wales, and Australia.  An online business can be run from the comfort of your home and schedule.

MEA:  Why did you choose CafePress?

MARK:  About four years ago, I had the idea of a series of shirts with “Defy Gravity” as the tagline.  At that time I didn’t see how I could follow through coming up with designs, the expense of having a minimum order printed, then finding a way to sell or distribute them.  If I opened an online store on my own I would need to handle all the production, orders and shipping.

Then in July of last year, I found an article in a magazine that mentioned CafePress.  I had an “AHA!” moment and realized I had found the way to follow through with my idea. 

A basic store at CafePress can be opened for free.  A Premium Store that is fully customizable is only $6.95 per month if paid monthly or only $5.00 per month if the year is paid up front.  The risk is essentially zero.  With CafePress I only need to come up with the designs, upload the designs, choose what items to put the designs on, and set the mark-up. 

CafePress will make my designs searchable on their site, process orders including credit cards, produce the items as they are ordered (no inventory), and handle all shipping.  If there are returns, which are possible since CafePress has a 30-day, 100% money back guarantee, they will take care of that also.

After you have a minimum of $25 profit from your sales, CafePress will send a check.  There are a few other companies trying to do the same thing, but CafePress, I feel, is by far the best one for me after all factors are considered.

MEA:  I know you have a computer background so do much of your own designing.  Does one have to do this, or will CafePress provide designs or designers?

MARK:  Although I do not consider myself an artist or graphic designer in any way, I do all my own designing.  For some of my items I start with a public domain image and work from that.  I figure if you put enough designs, good or bad, in front of enough people, you will get sales.

CafePress does not provide designs or designers.  You need to do it yourself or hire someone else to create designs for you. 

MEA: Do you see yourself developing in other directions with your business?

MARK: At this time I only see myself going where CafePress does.  They have the market knowledge and do the research to know what to offer next.

(I’ll continue a Part 2 of my interview with Mark.  There we’ll discuss the possibilities for others in developing an online home business.)

Many people are utilizing web sites like Cafe Press to set up their home businesses.  They don’t have the expense or time consuming job of creating a web site on their own…and finding all the traffic.

Mark has two businesses at Cafe Press…Aviation T-Shirts and gifts at  Defy Gravity Apparel and Funny T-Shirts and gifts at  The Spanked Monkey.  I became interested in how and why one goes about setting up an online home business at a site like Cafe Press.

I shall be posting an interview with Mark over the next two days.

Many of the businesses in our small town, home businesses included, commemorate Memorial Day by flying flags and possibly participating in the annual parade along Main Street.  Some, as my husband discovered, offer special discounts or gifts for veterans. 

At our home, where we also operate our home businesses, we’ll hang “Uncle Al’s Flag” from our deck railing.  This is a large flag given to our family when my Uncle Al died.  He was a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific Theater.  The flag was draped over his casket at his funeral.  Three veterans attended and presented the flag to my mom, Al’s sister, at the cemetery. 

(I’ve written a story, published in two anthologies, about this flag and it’s meaning to our family.  One of these is God Allows U-Turns: American Moments.)

As I’ve researched my family history, I discovered I have ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I and World War II.  My husband was an Air Force pilot during the Vietnam era. 

Today our granddaughter marches in the local parade, playing a trumpet in the high school band…and we fly “Uncle Al’s Flag.”

At Working at Home on the Internet, a blogging project has begun (Work at Home/Blogging Project) and is underway until Sat., June 2.  At this blog, they will be accumulating tips on how home businesses use blogging…advantages or disadvantages  of using a blog to enhance one’s business.

(You can check out the requirements for participating at the Working at Home on the Internet link above.)

I found this project very interesting since I’ve been researching and writing quite a bit lately, here at Home Biz Notes,  about blogging as it applies to home businesses.  Also, Des Walsh at Business and Blogging does a great deal with this topic.

Laurie, at the Home Business blog, reviews three businesses operated from or at home and gives information that could help you decide whether any of these are of interest to you.

*Tips to Help You Become a Life Coach

*Getting Started in a Cleaning Service Business

*Getting Started as a Virtual Assistant

Laurie is a Home Business Selection Advisor and researches various home businesses for their possibilities and to see whether they’re legitimate and what they involve.  She also has a web site, The Christian Home Business Connection.   There you can register for her free e-newsletter which contains valuable home business tips.

Soon it won’t be enough simply to write thoughts and ideas, publish information, and post photos on your blog or web site.  You’ll need to consider videos when promoting your products and services and keeping your customers informed.

Des Walsh, at Business and Blogging, considers this in Time to Get Serious About Video.

“For some months now I’ve been hearing plenty of people going on about the importance of video for online communication and marketing.  But up until now it’s frankly not been on my high priority list to get into.”

What is making Des change his mind?  Read more here…..

What happens when you must be away from your business, have a health problem or face an emergency that keeps you from working?  Do you have plans in place to take care of this situation?  Can the person filling in for you understand your directions? 

Rico Mossesgeld’s post, How Pretending You’re Someone Else Makes Planning Easier,  at Contract Worker got me thinking about this.  I realized we instinctively know how to make our business operate, but when we’re explaining to an employee, or someone who must fill in for us, sometimes we aren’t clear enough.

“…the best way to create a foolproof plan is to pretent you’re someone else filling in for yourself,” states Rico.  

Check out Rico’s complete post to learn more in depth how to do this and be prepared when you can’t be on the job.  This will have you prepared in advance for emergencies.

“What’s a blog tour like?” I’m often asked, when I write about them, interview tour coordinators like Dorothy Thompson, or host authors on my blog. 

Today, I’m hosting author Pamela S. Thibodeaux at my Potpourri of Writing blog.  The majority of authors work basically from home, at least to the point where they’re considered as operating a home based business.  Many publicize their books by giving talks and signing at bookstores.  Now the blog tour or virtual book signing had become a popular way of reaching one’s audience.

Other business owners might consider utilizing blog tours, appearing on other people’s blogs, as a way to get the word out about their products and services. 

*Quiltmakers       *Fabric artists

*Artists          *Landscaper and gardeners

*Performers   *Puppeteers

*Party Planners      *Travel agents

*Day care providers      *Web designers

These are simply a few businesses that could utilize appearances on blogs other than their own.  You might initiate exchange appearances/visits with blog owners whose businesses complement yours.  Share information that your customers/clients and prospective ones will find useful and interesting, as authors do for their readers during blog tours.

If you’d like more details on how to do this through virtual blog tours, let me know.  Also, if you have a home business and would like to be considered for a blog appearance, contact me.

Most business people use business cards and often are at a quandry what design to choose.  There are many options for business cards, depending on your type of business and your personality.

Some people desire a traditional, conservative card.  Nowadays, many are selecting business cards that reflect artistic designs or something that relates in shape and colors to products they have in their business.

Alyson B. Stanfield, of Art Biz Blog, alerted me to a great selection of business card ideas pictured by Daily Poetics at Flickr.  You also can look at these as a slide show.

(Alyson credited Nicolette Talmadge of The Crafted Webmaster as the source for this particular information, in the post,  Business Card Design Inspiration.)

Many people also are making their own business cards these days.  If you do, make sure you get good quality card stock and that the ink doesn’t run when damp.  This latter, of course, causes the card to become blurry and unusable.  It also could result in staining  someone’s shirt pocket.  (My husband usually puts business cards in his pocket when he receives one.) 

Do you have some interesting business card ideas you use and would like to share with us? And reasons for choosing the one(s) you did.