Alamaris
This morning my mother and I were brainstorming ways I could make a little extra money. As a student with health issues that prevent me from working full time, sometimes funds are a little tight, and I often supplement my income with handmade items. This year, the art gallery where I usually sell my stuff has changed their policies and fees, and is kind of a not-nice place to be anymore.
We put down all the usual ideas for things I could make and sell on Etsy or what-have-you -- paintings, jewelry, embroidery, etc...and then out of nowhere she says, "What about something to do with tarot?"
"What sort of thing?" I asked.
"Well, obviously you could make a deck and sell copies. But remember those children's books we bought you, where you could customize the names and such? What if you made customized decks for people?"
I gasped, she grinned, we flailed.
Now, I don't know if this is even a feasible idea. The basic concept is this: a buyer tells me what kind of deck they want. The reading system, the colouring style, the theme, any special card titles, and so forth -- and I make it for them. A one of a kind deck, just for them, done straight onto blank cards and sealed with archival spray, like the Lazy Afternoon was. Obviously the price would be equivalent to 5-10 mass produced decks, depending on the level of detail I was asked for, possibly anywhere from $100 to $300. But I see people paying that much for limited edition decks already. Would my custom ones be as beautiful or ornate as those? Probably not; the medium calls for simplicity. But they would be pretty unique.
What do you guys think? Great idea? Awful idea? What would YOU pay for a deck made to your specifications? Taking any and all opinions, good or bad! I'm deeply curious to know if this idea has been tried before, or if there's a snowball's chance in hell that anyone would be interested in the concept.
We put down all the usual ideas for things I could make and sell on Etsy or what-have-you -- paintings, jewelry, embroidery, etc...and then out of nowhere she says, "What about something to do with tarot?"
"What sort of thing?" I asked.
"Well, obviously you could make a deck and sell copies. But remember those children's books we bought you, where you could customize the names and such? What if you made customized decks for people?"
I gasped, she grinned, we flailed.
Now, I don't know if this is even a feasible idea. The basic concept is this: a buyer tells me what kind of deck they want. The reading system, the colouring style, the theme, any special card titles, and so forth -- and I make it for them. A one of a kind deck, just for them, done straight onto blank cards and sealed with archival spray, like the Lazy Afternoon was. Obviously the price would be equivalent to 5-10 mass produced decks, depending on the level of detail I was asked for, possibly anywhere from $100 to $300. But I see people paying that much for limited edition decks already. Would my custom ones be as beautiful or ornate as those? Probably not; the medium calls for simplicity. But they would be pretty unique.
What do you guys think? Great idea? Awful idea? What would YOU pay for a deck made to your specifications? Taking any and all opinions, good or bad! I'm deeply curious to know if this idea has been tried before, or if there's a snowball's chance in hell that anyone would be interested in the concept.
