Home Business Ideas
Start a Baby Shoe Bronzing Business
Starting a
baby shoe bronzing business
will be great for someone
who is interested in
starting a home-based
business and doesn't mind be
surrounded by baby shoes
everyday. Who would have
thought you could actually
make a business around
preserving a baby shoe.
Well, believe it or not,
there are plenty of parents
out there who would pay
someone to preserve the
precious memory of their
child.
The Concept
The concept is quite
simple: You will be
preserving baby shoes by
bronzing them. But your
services don't have to stop
there. Oh, no! You can take
your home business much
further and offer to bronze
other items as well, such
as:
Ballet slippers
Adult boots
Adult shoes
Pacifiers
Balls - Golf balls,
footballs, racquetballs,
tennis balls, softballs,
bowling balls, soccer balls
Hats and helmets
And anything else that can
be bronzed
Startup Costs
So how much does it cost
to get started in this baby
shoe bronzing business, you
ask. Expect your start up
cost to be from $1,000 -
$10,000. Your start up cost
greatly depends on the
amount you spend on
equipment, supplies, and any
extra services you may
provide. For example, if you
offer bronzed shoes to be
displayed on bookends or
with a plaque, you can
expect your start-up cost to
be higher.
Some things you will need to
purchase to start a baby
shoe bronzing business are:
Denatured alcohol
Sharp tool to pierce small
holes in shoes
Rags
Rubber cement
Wire, string or fishing line
Liquid bronze mix
Camel hair brush
Black oil paint (optional)
Plaster of paris (optional)
Tables for setting up
different work stations
We suggest if you're running
this business from home that
you have a special area
designated to run your
business. You can simply
choose to operate your
business right out of your
garbage if space permits.
Also, you'll want to wear an
apron or a smock so your
clothes won't get soiled.
Now that you already know
you want to start this
business, you need to know
how to actually bronze those
baby shoes.
Short tutorial on how to bronze baby shoes:
Stage 1: You need to wipe the baby shoes
so that it is free from dust and dirt. We
suggest you use a clean rag with denatured
alcohol. Set aside and let the shoes completely
dry. You may want to have a table setup
specifically for drying the baby shoes.
Stage 2: Make sure your shoes are
completely dried before moving on to stage two.
Now, position the shoes exactly how you want
them bronzed. So tie the laces just right and
make sure they look cute. If the shoes laces
won't stay in position you can use rubber cement
to make them stay put.
Stage 3: Next, you'll need to pierce a
small hole through the soles of the shoes (aim
to make the holes unnoticeable) and thread a
small wire or string through.
Stage 4: Mix the bronzing solution.
Stage 5: Apply the bronzing mixture to
the shoes using a camel hair brush. Make sure to
completely paint the inside of the shoe as well.
Stage 6: Hang the shoes up to dry.
Stage 7: Reevaluate shoes to make sure
you haven't missed any spots. If so, repaint.
Stage 8: Remove string from shoes when
the shoes are completely dry.
Stage 9: Enjoy your masterpiece. Now you
can ship out the finished product.
We highly suggest you purchase a couple of
second hand baby shoes or inexpensive baby shoes
and try out your skills before you start
offering your services professionally. Also, you
may want to purchase your equipment and supplies
in bulk rather than purchasing those small do it
yourself baby bronzing kits. Purchasing in bulk
will save you money in the long run.
How to Market It
You can market your baby
shoe bronzing business
online and off. To market
your business online, you
can create a professional
looking website (or hire
someone to create one for
you) and showcase your past
work. Set up your website so
that potential customers can
easily place an order
online. You may want to give
step-by-step instruction on
how to place an order --
especially because you will
be handling their baby
shoes. Also, be sure to
place pay-per-click
advertisements via Google
AdWords and Yahoo Search
Marketing. This way
potential customers can
easily find your website on
the Internet. To advertise
your business off line,
think where parents would be
and leave a stack of
brochures there. For
example, at baby boutiques,
toy stores, child daycare
centers, etc. You can even
advertise in parenting and
family magazines. Best of
luck with your new business
venture.
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