Page 87 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

it quickly. She had had no commercial or business experience of any kind
prior to her marriage; she had no special ability or talent. What could she do?

One day she heard the son of a friend complain that he was unable to find
anyone who could cut out letters properly and sew them on his baseball
uniform. That gave Mrs. Jones an idea. She investigated and found that none
of the sporting goods stores in the city had equipment for furnishing this
service. There was, she found, a little shop that did this felt work so she went
over and had a talk with the proprietor. The outcome was that she took over
the shop, equipped it properly, and went out after business.

The only experience Mrs. Jones had had in cutting or designing felt was
when she cut out a few pennants for herself and friends at college. Yet with a
modern sewing machine, a pair of good shears, some sharp razor blades and a
small assortment of felt, she was ready for business. She called on all the
sporting goods dealers and sporting goods departments in the city. She told
the managers about her service and asked them to cooperate with her,
pointing out that they would be rendering their customers a service by
sending them to a place which was equipped to design and sew on any sort of
letters or emblems wanted on uniforms.

Most of the dealers simply send the uniform purchasers to Mrs. Jones and the
transaction thereafter is entirely between her and the uniform owners.
However, one or two stores prefer to deal with her direct and make a small
margin on the deal. The best season for the little shop, of course, is just prior
to opening of the baseball season; but there is always some work to be done
on swimming suits and both basketball and football create some business.
Sweater emblems and letters contribute to yearround volume.

With an investment of less than $100, Mrs. Jones earns on an average of
$100 per month the year round, with peak months going to about $150. She
believes the idea would be good in any city where there is no such shop, or
where there is no uniform factory which provides this service.

Starting a Food Specialty Business