Almost everyone has a box of sparkling old buttons from
Grandma’s sewing chest to marvel at, or set of dominoes,
checkers or mahjongg pieces rescued from a flea market. Maybe
they have a partial Scrabble game and perhaps even a collection
of colorful, fifty-one-to-a-deck playing cards purchased at an
antique store tucked away in a drawer. Gather your treasures
together and start earning extra income now! Strap those buttons
on a piece of elastic to create eye-catching bangle bracelets.
Glue the dominoes, checkers, and Scrabble pieces onto earrings
or pin backs for guys and gals. Whatever the material, mount
your artwork on one-of-a-kind playing cards for good money in a
rewarding home jewelry business.

In addition to having the satisfaction of creating fun gifts for
family and friends out of “heirloom” materials, once the word is
out, relatives will often send along their extra buttons and
collectibles. This helps build your inventory, resulting in a
minimal investment for supplies. The season for successful
jewelry selling is year-round, since the pieces make wonderful
birthday and Christmas gifts, as well as fun wardrobe
accessories anytime. Men, women, and children can wear these
buttons, domino, and checker pins and earrings, so the sky is
the limit for profits. And this business can be worked out of
your home part or full-time.

Bev Rice is one designer who not only models what she sells, but
delights in the pleasure others have in purchasing her sporty
art. She and her husband Jim started a home business called
“Sport in Life” ten years ago with one imperfect mahjongg set
originally bought as a present for a friend. In the past five
years “Sport in Life” has evolved from marketing craft-fair
products to bona fide antique buttons sold at more expensive
retail-quality level. With mostly word-of-mouth advertising,
their jewelry has captured creative awards, been featured in the
Image section of her local Sunday newspaper, displayed for sale
in clothing and curio boutiques, and sold at jewelry parties.

GETTING STARTED AND BUSINESS SAVVY

Like most business entrepreneurs, Bev started out “needing to
make a living,” and she wanted to combine her love of going to
flea markets with creative, artistic urges. She also had a
curiosity about the ability to manufacture interesting game
pieces. While she comes up with her signature creations, Jim
perfects ever-sturdier ways of fastening pieces together and
drills holes in the mahjongg tiles for Bev to thread with
elastic to make bracelets or neck amulets. She took her first
product, a “rigger” domino with a tell-tale crack, to her
husband, who polished the domino to sheen and bolted it to a pin
back.

Earrings and pins can be made without drilling, however. Just
purchase an inexpensive glue gun from the neighborhood hardware
store, or sturdy “glue dot” stickers, as well as earring and pin
backs, available wholesale. “What’s more, anyone can do this,”
says Bev.

INVESTMENT. Bev estimates start-up costs can be less than $500
because of “miracles and mitzvahs.” Don’t underestimate the
value of trading services or receiving supplies when starting
out. “People were inspired to gift us,” she says. An artist
friend created a simple but effective domino logo, and another
friend who was teaching a printing class made up 500 business
cards as a gift. While Bev did read a couple of start-up books,
such as Working From Home, and Small-Time Operator, (similar
books can be obtained from the library) she advocates getting a
business license from City Hall (if your area requires one) and
an invoice book from a stationery store. Then just start-up.
LOOK FOR PART TWO AND THREE TO COME LATER….

Sadac Israel and IIM