Making Cool Money from Rubber Stamp

Rubber stamping, also called stamping, is a craft in which some type of ink made of dye or pigment is applied to an image or pattern that has been carved, molded, laser engraved or vulcanized, onto a sheet of rubber. The rubber is often mounted onto a more stable object such as a wood, brick or an acrylic block. Increasingly the vulcanized rubber image with an adhesive foam backing is attached to a cling vinyl sheet which allows it to be used with an acrylic handle for support. These cling rubber stamps can be stored in a smaller amount of space and typically cost less than the wood mounted versions. They can also be positioned with a greater amount of accuracy due to the stamper's ability to see through the handle being used. Temporary stamps with simple designs can be carved from a potato. The ink coated rubber stamp is pressed onto any type of medium such that the colored image is transferred to the medium. The medium is generally some type of fabric or paper. Other media used are wood, metal, glass, plastic, rock. High volume batik uses liquid wax instead of ink on a metal stamp.
Commercially available rubber stamps fall into three categories: stamps for use in the office, stamps used for decorating objects or those used as children's toys. People often use rubber stamps in businesses and in schools, but many also enjoy using them just for personal entertainment. For example, a person can use a rubber stamp to mark a report complete or to help decorate a scrapbook. While some people make their own rubber stamps, many others prefer to buy them. You can fill a need for rubber stamps in your area by starting your own stamp-making business. You can also sell online to expand your target market. Steps involve in setting up a rubber stamp venture:

Step 1

Make your own rubber stamps or buy them wholesale and resell them to your customers. If you make your own, produce stamps according to your own creative interests or even offer custom stamps based on your customers' interests. You may start sooner, however, if you order rubber stamps from another company.

Step 2

Sell rubber stamps from a commercial location or from your own home via a website. An at-home business offers the benefit of low overhead while a commercial location may offer the value of walk-in traffic. Because every commercial-location passerby may not have an interest in rubber stamps, you may use complementary items to help draw consumers into your store. For example, you can sell stationery, scrapbook materials, fancy writing instruments, and inspirational cards and books to boost sales.

Step 3

Prepare a business plan that details how you will pay start-up costs for your business, including rubber stamping supplies or an inventory of stamps, rent for your business location, business phone line, licenses and shipping. Include a plan for keeping your business running while you wait to earn a significant, steady profit. Add in plans for marketing and expanding your business as time passes.

 Step 4

Obtain the materials and supplies required for making your own rubber stamps. Some of the items you will need include stamp mounts, a professional rubber stamp machine or laser printer, a reliable computer, photopolymer resin -- a liquid plastic material used in rubber stamp production -- red rubber stamp material, scissors and double-sided tape.

Step 5

Contact the organization responsible for business licensing in your jurisdiction to obtain a general business license. Typically, a jurisdiction's department of licenses and inspections or a similar agency provides such licensing.

Step 6

Market your rubber stamp business through newspaper, magazine and Internet ads. Use business cards and fliers to generate interest as well. Attend networking events and set up tables at fairs and festivals to attract potential buyers. If you have a storefront, create attractive displays to capture the interest of passersby. For example, display your rubber stamps, with their designs showing on wooden stamp mounts, on well-lit tables, pedestals or desks in your storefront window, and arrange them by theme, such as just for entertainment, school or business. Use props, such as stationery, pens, stamp pads and mock invoices to accent the rubber stamps you display. Complementary products, such as scrapbook supplies, can serve as props as well. If you have a mannequin and enough window space, set him near a desk or table and position him to look as if he is using a rubber stamp.