Market research - help me out
PrairieMom wrote: I have a new obsession, and it is making bows . 
I got so sick of not being able to find cute hair bows for Al, or ones in the right color, or ones that are cheap enough for me to actually buy, so I started making them myself.
Well, now she has 70 of them. ( I counted) That is way more than any one year old could ever need. I have been told that I should sell them, but I don't really know.  I thought I would see what you guys think.
Would you buy these? and what would you pay?
luvmykids replied: OMGoodness those are adorable!  Are they ribbon or cloth? I love, love, love them but I am cheap when it comes to that kind of stuff so I'm probably not your target demographic
boyohboyohboy replied: tara those are really cute! i agree I think you should sell them, I only have boys, I have no idea what hair pieces cost...
good luck to you
moped replied: Are they bows or headbands?
And how do they attach to her?
I am thinking about $2-3 each if I am looking at them right
Kaitlin'smom replied: OMG those are adorable, are they barretts? how do they go in the hair? LOVE them I so have the same problem never havign the right thing I want for her hair. Cost woudl depend on how much you have in them but I would probably pay $2-3 for a set.
PrairieMom replied: Okay, they are ribbon bows, some satin, some cloth ribbon, some with cute things in the middle of them. they are on adult size barrettes, the kind that kind of snap into place, and I have coated the bottom with puffy paint to add a little "grip" to them so they don't come out of the hair.
Around here, for a hand made hair bow I think they are about $2-3 a piece, and there is no way I would pay that, I don't think I could charge that either.
moped replied:
I would buy them from you if/when my daughter has hair!
redchief replied:
Why not? If that's going market value for the product, you should get that. I'd say, especially for the holiday ones, you'd be able to get even more; upwards of $3 - $4. Is there a consignment shop or small gift shop where you could market them in your area? Then you could let the law of supply and demand determine the value of your beautiful bows.
moped replied:
I agree - you have too big a heart girl!!!!!!!!!
Calimama replied: Those are SOOO adorable!! If you decide to start selling them let me know and I'll buy some and pay shipping!!
A&A'smommy replied: Heck yeah I would buy them... Alyssa NEEDS bows desperatly she barely has any  I agree if you do start selling them let us know!!
grapfruit replied: Too cute! I love them. Now, I guess I need a daughter....hmmm....
Kaitlin'smom replied:  add me to the list of buyers, heck I would even send you the ribbons.
PrairieMom replied:
I just feel that if I personally wouldn't pay that ammount for a hair bow, then I couldn't ask someone else to. They really only take about 35 cents or so and about 10 minutes to make.
There really isn't a place here to sell them. I looked into EBAY a bit, but it seems like there are lots of other people selling bows on there, and they don't really seem to be doing much for business.
lovemy2 replied: Can I order some now - is that all of your "stock" - if I give you my email will you send me a pic of your "stock" - I will pay you $3 for each pair plus shipping - I am dead serious - I can NEVER find nice barrettes, bows, etc. for Olivia that actually STAY in her hair - so let me know how you would like to transact this business - I figure I would want 6-8 pairs 
Really I am not joking....pm me.....
edited: Oh Sorry - about the market research part - why not look into some type of free or really cheap website - come up with a name, etc. and sell them on line - maybe say you will invest $100 into it and see what happens - maybe see how it goes and branch out into headbands with bows on them or some thing like that - you could call it Bows for Beauties - you should be able to search to see if that name is already being used for the same business.....I say go for it -
CantWait replied: Omgosh Tara those are gorgeous. You're making me wish I had a girl. I would totally pay that price for something so original. You're very talented.
If you wanted to sell them, maybe you could set up a table in a local mall, if you have any craft or hobby stores around, maybe ask they if you could have a small section, do you have a MySpace page, Facebook, anything like that? Even put up a sign on light posts around your neighbourhood with pictures.
Anthony275 replied: they're really nice, do you have a playgroup or anything you belong to? you can put up flyers there and at a daycare or something, outside of the supermarket, etc
PrairieMom replied:
My town used to have a craft store where you could rent a booth and sell stuff you make, but it went out of business. I loved that store. 
I don't know about renting our mall is really expensive to rent at. Maybe I will just keep making them until I have a lot on hand and then see about how to sell them. I only have 60 right now.
My MIL does to go trade shows to sell bead jewelry that she makes, maybe I will send some to her to see if she can see them at her booth. To bad she lives 12 hours away or I would just go and sell them my self!
At any rate, you guys got my brain spinning. I will have to think on this some more. Maybe this is how I can make my millions. 
mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: They are adorable! I love the brown ones with pink polka dots....Of course I can't use them, but I can admire from afar! Without looking at what anyone else said, I would pay around $6 for a set (two bows). My sister lives where there is mostly all boutique stores, so I know they would be around $12 or more there. Good job!
HuskerMom replied: They're so cute! If I have a girl I'll buy some! I like the idea of coming up with a website and selling them online. That sounds pretty easy. Do you ever have craft shows in your area? We have a couple craft shows here every year and stuff like that sells really well. Or do any churches near you have craft shows or something like that? Some of ours do and they go over really good.
PrairieMom replied:
$12 for a set of bows?!?! OMG. That is why I don't shop at boutiques. Give her my name, I'll hook her up if she's willing to spend that kind of $. 
AlexsPajamaMama replied: omg they are super cute you did such a good job with them!!! I would buy them from you I love the brown and pink ones...I love them all!!
I think $2-$3 is a good price. I'd pay that for a hand made bow! Especially nice ones like those!!
My3LilMonkeys replied: Sounds like you ought to pick a price and sell them on here!!! They're small enough that shipping wouldn't be a whole lot.
How long are they? I know you said adult size but I don't wear clips so I have no idea how big that is.  If they are the right size I'd buy some - Madison loves bows!
Oh, and if you are interested/able - I have an idea for a set I'd want - but I can't make them myself and have them look any good.
PrairieMom replied:
I guess they are about 2-2 1/2 inches. whats your idea? I'll see if I can help you out.
If you guys are interested send me a PM, and I will see what I can do for you.
My3LilMonkeys replied: I would like bows with 3 colors :white, navy blue, and I think the 3rd color is called Carolina Blue? They are our school's colors and we go to all of my nephew's football games and the girls love to dress up. We are using narrow craft ribbon currently but I make horrible bows.
Here's an example of the 3rd color - it wouldn't have to be exact. Let me know your price if it's something you're interested in doing!
Forgot to mention - the 3rd color I'm looking for is the color of the socks/helmets.
redchief replied: ...and an entrepreneur is born. 
PrairieMom replied: so, White navy and baby blue? I have white and navy. When do you need it? I can go to the craft store. It shouldn't be hard to find those colors, does white navy and baby blue sound close enough?
MoonMama replied: Those are so cute! I would buy them if I had a daugther, maybe for my niece.
C&K*s Mommie replied: Those are adorable bows!!
My3LilMonkeys replied:
Baby blue should be great, yes!
I don't need it any special time - their season is over in 3 weeks and I wouldn't expect to have it before then. I'd love to have them for next year though - 2 sets if possible!
Let me know your prices and if all of the designs you posted are for sale - there's a few others I'd be interested in.
gr33n3y3z replied:
thats why you need a consignment shop or small gift shop where you could market them Then you could let the law of supply and demand determine the value of your beautiful bows.
Good Luck those are very pretty
Cece00 replied: Those are so cute!!
Do you mind if I ask how you make them? I tried making them before and I suck LOL
Do you have instructions you could maybe let me borrow??
I think bows you buy in the store are too expensive, so Natalie doesnt have too many.
But you are really talented!
PrairieMom replied:
Its not hard, I just loop them around my fingers and sew them into the right shape. I guess it would be easier to just show you.
mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
That would be like a restuarant giving away their prized recipe IMO. Please don't take offense to my honesty, but it really wouldn't be of Tara's benefit to give over the instructions IMO...That is IF she really wants to make a business out of selling them. Which BTW Tara, I really think you should go for it! I've seen bows like this in the girls section at Nordstroms. Again, I think they would pay at least $10-$12 there for a pair. Remember to factor in the time it takes you to make them too.
momofone replied: I think the bows are beautiful! Just to cover yourself I would write somewhere for ages 5 and up because of the small parts so the little ones don't put the parts in there mouths.
Hillbilly Housewife replied: LOL
Tara maybe you and I can go in business together.
You make the bows, I'll make the dresses.
PrairieMom replied:
Sounds good!
kit_kats_mom replied: I just bought a few bows at our local consignment shop.
The small one (about 1.5") are $2 ea
Med (about 2.5") are $3 ea
Large (about 3.5") are $5 ea.
There are discounts for 8 or more.
These are on the hair clips instead of barrettes which make them easier to put in & probably cheaper to make too.
momofone replied: I just thought of an idea if you have a break room at work set them on a table with a note $2.00 a piece - please see me for details with your name. Might get a few buyers.
PrairieMom replied:
I wish I could. I don't think it would be appreciated.
Boys r us replied: I would definitely buy some! My advice to make yourself even more marketable to a larger group would be to make some on alligator clips. I bought a whole lot of them(i think 50 clips) on ebay, they were new, for like 2 bucks! I recently changed all ofher bowbands over to clips using a hot glue gun and the clips I bought on ebay.
The alligator clips stay in their hair a lot better when they're little.
luvmykids replied: Wow, at your prices I would totally buy them....when I said I was cheap I meant I wouldn't pay $6+ for a pair, but your price point is really great, I'd absolutely pay that
eta: Just my two cents, but the color in Pam's pic looks more like a turquoise to me than a baby blue 
PrairieMom replied:
I am working on getting some stock right now, but when I have a site set up I will definitely let you guys know. I really appreciate your support on this. I'm so excited about it!
My2Beauties replied:
I as gonna say I think $2-3 for 1 set is high, but I'd pay that for 2-3 sets, like $1.00-$1.50 for one pair or $2 for 2 sets or something along those lines.
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