Brought this up on Facebook, and several have asked about it, so:
My lack of desire to teach any longer has turned into a desire to open a knitting business. Not a knit shop — I don’t really want to have to keep up with inventory and all that. No, I want to open a place to knit. To meet and share knowledge and experiences.
Problem is, I don’t know how to turn a profit if I’m not selling anything. Space is going to be expensive, so there will be rent to cover, not to mention that, if I do this, it will have to be my sole income generator. How do I do that?
In other news, look at my insanely short hair (new since yesterday):
Very short and very white.
(Provide your own jokes.)
kim in oregon said,
June 28, 2009 at 11:17 pm
There’s a place here called Eugene Textile Center. They sell a few things but it is mostly a place for classes, and workshop space so if you want to come in and use their drum carders (for a fee) you can do that.
They also sponsor knitting movie nights (don’t know exactly what that is) and charge $2 or something.
melanie said,
June 29, 2009 at 9:36 am
If the knitting spot included simple comestibles, I think you’d really have something!
And I’m the one who’s short and very white. 4′11” and so pale that my father used to say I had moonburn.
Laurie said,
June 29, 2009 at 11:08 am
Love the short hair. Mine is about twice as long and is SO easy to care for.
There are so many knitters looking for a place to meet others. Maybe a “butt in chair” charge”?
I like the movie night idea!
Rox said,
June 29, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I’m all about short hair these days – especially in the summer. You have a perfect face for the short hair too!
A place to knit. Uhm. Sell sweets. Let people bring their pets and sell pet treats. A little kitchen area where you can bake cookies and yada yada. Vending machines make decent money too – especially if you stock them yourself. Could have a “door” fee. Like some nighclubs do. And…and this is something I toyed with doing online… make it a knit consignment type shop. People sell their knit/crochet wares (yarn, markers, FO’s, yada) and you take a percentage from it.
And hire friends to help. I will be need that quaint, cute little backroom to set up my cot please.
Carrie K said,
June 29, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Door fees, pets, classees and workshops and treats would be good but then you run into the health codes for food and animals, not to mention overhead. It does sound like a great idea though. Maybe you should dip your toes into the process by renting some space somewhere over the summer on a single event basis and seeing how it goes. What kind of advertising, word or mouth, what worked, what didn’t, etc.
Your hair is so cute! As a person whose hair refuses to grow, I’m against short hair on principle, but can still admire it (while mourning it).
Jo said,
June 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I love the idea of a nice, clean, well lit place to gather and knit. Summer is here according to the calendar. Are you able to start gathering in your home? As it grows, you can think about renting space.
As an experienced knitter and teacher, you could advertise as the “knit doctor”–Come and knit and learn new things, fix problems, etc.
Perhaps, a community knitting focus? Would local yarn shops be willing to sponsor a meeting and help off-set costs.
There’s the tried and true “party,” too, as in Tupperware. Perhaps, you could advertise your services and hold these parties in people’s homes and charge them for it. Thinking of capitalizing on your teaching skills….
And there is the comercial Co-op group. You all knit together and sell the handwork. Etsy, craftsfairs, etc. Perhaps, even a little shop in your space.
Okay…I’ll stop now. I really hope you are able to make a go of this dream.
Marin said,
June 29, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I have no thoughts yet on your business model. If I do, you’ll be the first to know.
Meanwhile, I really, really like your white hairs and envy your ability to pixie.
shan said,
June 29, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Short short and cute cute
Bridget said,
June 29, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Love the hair cut! I’m a short hair person myself, especially in the summer …
Are there any places in town that are either crafty or craft consignment places? Maybe they would have extra room and you could work out some arrangement with them. Or, you could split the rent at a separate location with them?
Clearly, I do not have any business savvy – sorry!
Veronica said,
July 1, 2009 at 8:22 am
Love your hair. It’s really cute.
I’m not sure how you would generate profit without some sort of inventory (at least at first) unless you taught classes. I’ll have to think about this some more.
robin said,
July 1, 2009 at 4:35 pm
For a long time, I’ve thought about how much fun it would be to have a wine bar/coffee shop with knitting incorporated into it.