Making sola wood flowers can be a very profitable business, if you of course gave the time, energy and talent to put into such a task. The trend of using wooden flowers made out of sola wood has been on a rise for the last years and seems to have captured the imagination of both small business owners and big companies. But how can you start your own business in the wooden flower market? Like any business, trying to get off the ground, this can prove to be hard at times, and you will need a lot of patience in order to make it work. The most important thing you should remember is that nothing is impossible as long as you dedicate yourself to it. Maybe, who knows, you can be the next big thing in the wooden flowers industry. But before you get started, you should familiarize yourself with a few basic notions about the business.
What Is Sola Wood?
The first thing anybody looking to go into the wooden flower business should know is what is sola wood . This type of wood is indigenous to parts of countries such as India and Pakistan. It is a light weight wood and that means that it is perfect for various art projects. Artisans in these countries have been using sola wood for decades in order to create intricate works of art. The most popular things they would produce were traditional head garments for brides and grooms and various other religious or decorative sculptures. Although their craft is still practiced to this day, the thing that really caught the imagination of people around the world were the beautiful and delicate flowers they made.
The Malakars were the first people to use sola wood in carving and other forms of crafting. Their name roughly translated to garland makers and they were the ones responsible for making various religious objects out of the sola wood. They were usually from the poorer parts of the cities and used their skills, and the inexpensive material, in order to make money. The pieces they make are usually very appreciated by tourists looking for a traditional keepsake or are sought after by people looking for something to decorate their house with. The wood itself comes from a plant species known as Aeschynomene, which grows in marshy waterlogged areas around India. After the plants have been chopped down, their core is harvested. It comes out looking milky-white and has a sponge-like texture to it. After it has been extracted, it is dried and made into sheets. The sheets are then rolled and shipped off to stores around the world or sold in markets.
As the world started to get a taste for such pieces, they’ve started making more and more complex ones. If you can’t actually visit India, but still want a sola wood piece you can find them on the internet at various prices. The smaller ones can go for a few dollars, while the bigger, more intricate ones can go for thousands. This is why more and more people have been trying to get in on the action and why you should take your time and do some research about sola wood in order to better understand what you are getting yourself into. It may seem like a fun little project at first, but it may end up becoming one of the biggest business moves you’ll ever make.
Tips on How to Start A Sola Wood Flowers Business
There is no simple way of starting a business, any business. Even if you might think that something like sola wood flowers is something anybody can do the truth of the matter is that, like in any field, there are things you have to do in order to have good results. They are not impossible, but you must understand that success rarely comes overnight. Usually it comes after a lot of work and dedication. The sola wood flowers business is no different.
You might even need a few tips before getting started on how you can improve your chances at success.
1. Your supplier is key. The first thing any new business needs is a trusted supplier. This can be done through some serious research and background checks you can do from the comfort of your home. Start looking for sola wood flower suppliers and try to find one that has a large portfolio of clients. The more clients they have, the more reliable they are. Also, when you first start ordering from the, try and find one that has lower prices. You don’t want to overpay for your materials and get stuck with them if, God forbid, the business doesn’t work out.
2. Always try and get your materials at wholesale prices. This means that sometimes you might have to buy in bulk, but the bigger the savings, the bigger your profit margins will be. That doesn’t mean you have to not take into account the quality of your materials. Using cheap materials will cost you clients.
3. Don’t try and be great at everything at once. Start out small and work your way up. Start doing a single thing, like sola wood flowers bouquets and try to get really good at it before moving on to wooden flower decorations, or other things. Build your clientele by finding your niche. This way you’ll have time to experiment with other designs while having a steady influx of orders and cash.
4. Exposure is very important. And how can you better promote your sola wood flowers than with high quality pictures. Don’t forget to take as many and as high quality as you can in order to use them on social media and other advertising mediums.
5. Always try and maintain a strong connection to your customers. Word of mouth is still the best way to promote a business. Also, people feel more inclined to return and do more business with you if they feel they are being engaged.
6. You don’t have to do all the work yourself. Growing a business takes time and needs constant attention this is why you should try and build a network of people you trust and let them help you grow.
