In this business, you make custom cushions of all sizes and shapes for the following: dining room chairs, Adirondack chairs, boat seats, window seats, patio furniture, rocking chairs, and benches, to name a few. You can also make pillows to match your client's furniture. Karen Rupp began her business, Karen's Cushions, by selling her pillows at craft shows and flea markets. She had simple business cards printed up, which attracted the attention of an interior decorator. The decorator asked Rupp to make samples, which the decorator's customers loved. Rupp worked for several decorators and perfected her sewing skills so that her pillows did not have a homemade look. Rupp says, "I was frustrated that I never had the opportunity to talk directly to the decorators' customers, so I decided to advertise for customers myself." Rupp's husband, a draftsman, helped her work out a price guide, and she steadily began to attract customers. Today she has a steady business and makes one-of-a-kind pillows sewn from antique materials, beyond-repair old garments, and quilts. These pillows sell for as much as $400 a piece.

Start-Up Costs And Financing Sources

* $l,000-$2,000, which includes the cost of a good industrial sewing machine.
* Personal savings, small business loans.

Pricing Guidelines

Depend on the fabric used and the complexity of the designs, etc. A handmade quilted pillow can start at $30; pillows made from antique materials can sell for $400 a piece and up. For custom-made cushions factor in the time and materials used to come up with a price.

Marketing And Advertising Methods And Tips

* Rent a booth at craft shows and flea markets.
* Show samples of your work to interior decorators.
* Leave your business card and brochures at antique shops and furniture stores.
* Place ads in your local newspaper and in home or craft magazines.
* Attend home decorating shows and gift shows.

Essential Equipment

Industrial sewing machines—a straight sewer and serger, a button machine, electric knife for cutting foam, work table, contracts for customers to sign, estimate sheets, filing system.

Recommended Training, Experience, Or Needed Skills

* Enroll in sewing courses at local schools, fabric centers.
* Make cushions and pillows for your own home or friends' and relatives' homes.
* Work for an interior decorator.
* Need sewing skills to produce professional-quality pillows and cushions.

Income Potential

* $20,000-$30,000 or more a year
* $40,000 or more for pillows made with antique materials.

Type Of Business

1/3 out-of-the-home, visiting customers' homes for measuring and buying materials; 2/3 in-home for sewing.

Best Customers

Homeowners, decorators, owners of furniture shops and antique shops are taken as the best customers.

Helpful Tips

* Start by buying a used sewing machine and put your first profits into buying a new one.
* Have the self-confidence and patience to learn new techniques and skills as your business requires them.

Additional Business Ideas

* Antique pillows. Hunt antique shops, sales, flea markets, and auctions for vintage materials and patterns. Sell to interior decorators, antique shops, furniture stores. Or offer to make pillows from people's old fabrics (old quilts, needle-points, etc.).
* Quilted and decorative frames made from fabric.
* Custom pillows from customers' finished needlework.
* Fabric photo pillows. Turn photos into pillows with a photocopy-transfer process that does not harm photos.

Types Of Pillows And Cushions

Pillows are designed with different shades and texture of fabrics to accentuate wonderfully the décor of sofas, chairs and beds. Decorative throw pillows are designed according to your choices of textures, colors, fabric stuff and shapes to give a new look to your furniture. Decorative pillows are shaped in different styles to beautify the home décor e.g. mod spots, love style, rustic, Moroccan, cigars, swirl stars, sweets, pears, Asian felt, beech keen crescent moon, patch stars, wine, etc. outdoor cushions are used to décor the outdoor furniture to give new stylish and radiant look with great comforts, available in the varied shapes, sizes and durable form and style. Pixie pillows are available in different funny shapes to amuse the kids by decorating the kids’ rooms. Patio cushions are used to décor chairs, benches, rocking chairs, seat pads, bar stool and dinning chair to be most fitting and comfortable.

Pixies pillows are wonderfully giving the unique look to the furniture with stylish and decorative styles. Patio furniture cushions consist of chair cushions, rocking chair cushions, chaise, bar stool cushions, bench cushions, wicker furniture cushions, seat pads and teak furniture etc. outdoor furniture cushions are decorated in presentable style to enhance the beauty of the patio sitting furniture. Patio chair cushions range from more comfortable to firm medium of texture designation, making it more soft and durable for patio sitting. Neck pillows are designed to comfort the individuals for complete bed rest. Cushions are designed with perfect color combination and soft texture of the cushion coverage stuff for the unique decoration. You may provide the best sewing services by presenting different styles of pillows and cushions with unique color coordination of the texture.