Using Your Artistic Talents for Extra Retirement Income
Using Your Artistic Talents for Extra Retirement Income
Are you one of the few who possesses a God-given talent in the arts? The media that you employ really makes little difference. If you can draw, paint, sculpt, or throw ceramics, you likely can transform that skill and knowledge into extra cash for your retirement.
Many artists are simply happy with having created something of beauty from nothing. Imagine taking that to the next level by selling your creations on the internet or by showing others “How-To” copy your secrets.
Think of the internet as one giant store where millions of people come on a daily basis to buy things. From cars, to cameras, to vacations, etc., there are a tremendous number of buyers there at all times. Why not do a Google search or two in your area of art to learn how much demand there is for quality artwork. You will probably be completely taken back by the quality of products that are being sold and for very high prices, in some cases.
Of course, for very fine art, there are brokers that will take your work to market for a percentage or commission. On the other end of the spectrum, there are always eBay auctions to sell more traditional items. In between, there are many, many internet sites where you can list and sell your work in a professional “gallery”.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step! The same is true for online income generation. It is really easy to get caught up in dreaming about making profits for the future, but actually selling a single starting item will really get your blood flowing.
If you are not up to the pace of continuously creating many pieces for sale to earn some income, perhaps you could create videos, audios, and books on your artistic specialty. Since any artistic endeavor involves techniques and skills, there will always be others who are anxious to learn the skills that you already know.
There is a tremendous unfulfilled need for quality instructional materials. It is not difficult to create an electronic book, a mini-course on the internet, or a DVD with videos and audio instructions. There are several marketplaces on the internet where such products can be marketed. You should research the market for such instructional materials to target where to start.
After doing some internet research to determine what is selling and what is not, why not create a business plan based on the idea of your ‘Art Business”. Write down how many items that you think you can sell, the many different ways that you can advertise and sell them, the costs associated with each sale, and how you can produce the needed volume of products. Effectively, you must answer the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How questions. After jotting down your feelings about these questions, if the excitement remains, perhaps you have the seeds of a profitable niche business.
Just remember, “Imperfect Action is far better than Perfect Inaction!” Just Do it!
Resources: Don Seibert is a retired business executive who, as an Expert Author, writes timely articles on many issues concerning sources of retirement income. Having retired three times, he now is the host of http://www.RetireToEasyStreet.com Visit the site for a complete discussion of Retirement Income Options