How about Backdrop business?

[holyendy]

Hello,
I am new here in this forum. And I am trying to extend my business in bckdrop selling---not only providing video service anymore.
Could you give me some input how about this product? Is this product a good selling one?
Thanks for your helping me. It is like kind of marketing research...

[Snarfy]

Welcome Yi-Jui Chang! I'll soon be in the market for some backdrops, but don't have much related info to share. Keep us all posted as the business progresses.

[Silverstangs]

Originally Posted by holyendy

Hello,
I am new here in this forum. And I am trying to extend my business in bckdrop selling---not only providing video service anymore.
Could you give me some input how about this product? Is this product a good selling one?
Thanks for your helping me. It is like kind of marketing research...

I tend to "make" my own backdrops from fabric that I buy from Joann Crafts which is cheaper than any backdrop that I can get from any photography supply store. I have about 30 backdrops made from fabric that I bought there. I have also a backgroud rig that I use for my "lighted" backgrounds that I use for starfields, planets or industrial style backgrounds. I'm more of a make it myself kind of guy, so selling me a backdrop would be VERY difficult.

[windrivermaiden]

Way back in my youth...I worked with a gal in our own small production industry and one of the things we made was photographic backgrounds. It was hard work to make a good one (ours were hand painted scenes and abstracts.) and even harder to get them out and sell them. Now, there is the lux of the web and things might be easier.
Problems we ran into.

1..Making a quality product economically enough to set the price point to cover the supplies and give us both a tiny profit and still make the price low enough to be competitive with the "big guys".
2. getting and keeping all the appropriate paperwork for the local business license, insurance, blah blah blah. OK I'm so not a paperwork person. But the IRS wants their piece and I was raised to to the right thing.
3. Cash flow. Your creditors want theirs and working with individuals who are also trying to make a go with a small business means you are often waiting on the second payment.If you are a start up, you probably wont have the ability to take credit cards. NEVER go with out a down payment on anything from a customer. Make sure it covers your materials so that you have that money to pay for your supplies. You can take a hit in labor costs but your creditors arent going to be happy if you don't pay for your materials.

In the end I found that my partner was not filing her taxes. Not a good thing. But I learned alot. and if I need a background. I'm lible to make it myself or go to a "big guy" where I can use my credit card.

Thats my 2 pennies, for what it's worth.