Before going into any business you need to evaluate yourself in order to define what strengths and weaknesses you have. If you are proficient in one area and lacking in another you need to identify this.

When doing your self-assessment, try answering the following questions:

• Do you enjoy making greeting cards enough to do it for a living?

• Are you familiar with the different techniques and tools of trade of making greeting cards?

• Are you prepared to do everything yourself - accounting, marketing, attend craft fairs, etc - to run your business successfully?

• What time of day/night do you do your best work?

• What equipment, hardware, and/or software do you need to do your work?

• How many hours can you work per day?
  

These are all important questions to consider, but don't be put off by them it is just a process to help you identify your strengths, weakness and reasons for going into business. Its better to get this out and understood at the beginning that way you can identify what areas to build and improve on as you build your business.

Now if you think you dont have everything it takes to successfully operate your own greeting card business then I think you would be wrong. Ill tell you why. People who fail in business are usually people who give up and dont take action and do not continue to educate themselves in their profession.

You have already done one very important thing that the majority of people do not do - Take Action. By purchasing this book you have show that you are serious about building a business and learning about what it takes to do just that. This investment will be the first of many in your journey to businesses success because information leads to knowledge and knowledge is POWER! Never stop empowering yourself.

The Fastest Way to Succeed in Any Business

The first time I was told this secret something clicked in my head, it was like I had a revelation, it was that one thing I needed to know to make it all clear. I was at a world internet and business conference and one of the speakers, a world recognized expert in his field said these following words: Fail as fast as you a can in your business because the more you fail the closer you are getting to success

If there is anything you take away from this book make sure it is this. The fear of failing is one of the most common reasons business owners fail in business, because they fear making a mistake. That is why they fail. Think about it for a moment. How do we learn in life, what has moulded you into the person you are today? Life experience and failing and making mistakes is what educates us and helps us grow. This very rule applies to business. Without failure you will not move forward, so fail as fast as you can so you can get to success quicker.

The Quickest Way To Start Selling Greeting Cards

One of the quickest ways to start selling greeting cards are to go to a craft fair, hold an open house, or rent a kiosk. However, one single method may not get you going as quickly as using more than one method at the same time.

Craft Fairs or Trade Shows

A craft fair or trade show is a good way for new business owners to get started because you can schedule to attend the event in advance, prepare the cards you need for the event in advance, and test your knowledge of your target market at the show.

If your target market research did well and you picked the best event for your market, then you will most likely sell some greeting cards.

If the show did not do as well as you anticipated, you can learn from the event and go to another show.

This is a good thing compared to those who immediately open a shop and find they did not pick the best location for their target market.

But do not let it stop there. As you are meeting people at the show, hold a raffle for a free box of gift cards. Collect everyones name, email, and mailing address as a way to promote your business later. Keep a database of all customers, potential customers, and referral customers so that you can send the promotional materials and catalogs in the future.

Troubled times typically help people realize that life is richer when family and friends reach out to one another. That simple fact of life is a key reason why the greeting card category has been doing much better this year.

"When the going gets tough, people yearn to be close and connect with people and things most important to them," said Marianne McDermott, executive vice president of the Greeting Card Association. "And sending a card to remember those we care about helps both the giver and the receiver."