Create a novelty ad agency to promote businesses in your area
Using a hot foil press, various designs and wording can be printed on to blank pens, matchbooks, diaries, coffee mags, motor tax disk holders, key fobs and numerous other novelty items. Equipment and supplies can be purchased from packaging and arts & crafts suppliers and various business idea magazines. To gain orders, canvas businesses, clubs, pubs and any commercial or industrial firms that may be interested. Alternatively, compile a mailing list and send out brochures by direct mail. Here you will need a bit of start up capital, but in the long run you could easily end up with a really good fully fledged business. You need one big client and you are on your way.
Academic & Sports Certificates
For clubs, schools and training centers. Your home computer and ink-jet printer is all you need to get started. When possible, also, obtain a laminator for laminating certificates up to A4 size, and a guillotine for trimming the edges. Use nice marble style paper, available from most stationary stores. Promote your designs and a custom design printing service by direct mail to suitable prospects.
Astrological calendars
Even if you don’t believe in it – every one reads their horoscopes! Use suitable phototgraphs or illustrations to be accompanied by astrological predictions for each month. A successful design could sell well through card shops and stationers, or any other shop that sells calendars. Alternatively, send your designs to firms who specialize in printing calendars.
Book markers for souvenirs shops
Most popular touris attractions have their own souvenir shop. You could produce designs that promote each attaraction onto book markers printed on card, laminated and cut to size. The shops will then sell these to customers, making an excellent reminder of their visit.
Classic car prints
Find classic pictures of cars, and add a stylish effects filter through a software program. You can even go around and photograph nice and different cars you see. You could sell your designs through classic car magazines. If successful, use the same method to produce a set of prints illustrating performance cars and racing cars. High quality photographs and stylish illustrations of cars are always popular with car enthusiasts.
Newsletters for small specialized businesses
These are normally well received, and potentially very profitable. Sold annual subscription, thousands of copies could be printed, based on a few well presented articles. Double sided, full color printing on A3 folded into and A4 size publication normally works best. Full color is expensive, so start with black and white until the newsletter is establishes and the money is coming in.
Newsletter/leaflet printing & distribution service
There are always plenty of new and well established small businesses who rely on leaflet distribution to inform prospective customers of their services. Tree surgeons, double glazing firms, take-a-way (menu/price lists), decorators, to name but a few, will always find this service useful. Design and print three or four different sets of leaflets at a time and deliver them together to save on distribution costs. Advise clients to offer some kind of printed discount voucher to get the best response and increase sales. A good result would mean satisfied clients will return again and again to use your service.
Print plans for hobbyists for wooden toys or soft toys
These are always popular. If you can come up with some imaginative designs that are easy to make, you could be on to a winner. You can sell them from a mail order catalogue with photographs of the finished item. Advertise in woodworking magazines, hobbyis magazines, and sewing magazines, depending on the type of market you’re aiming at.
Resources
Starting a Graphic Design Business
Complete business package to help you easily and quickly start your own profitable home-based graphic design business!
CamToPrint PhotoProducts Print at Home
the ultimate Print at home solution to your Enlargement, PhotoBook, Calendar, Greeting Card and Passport Needs.
Create and print at your home, office or minilab all you need is a PC and a printer. Share your creation via Facebook in one click.
123 Astrology
Offers Birth (natal) Astrology/horoscope Charts And Astrology For Lovers Compatibility/relationship Reports.
Do-It-Yourself E-Newsletter System
A 154-page, multi-media, downloadable home-study course in developing a professional service e-mail newsletter.
