41. Do Electro-plating.
This job is not so complicated a business as it sounds, and you could get many small jobs to Plate. Contact: Joseph Kushner Electrical School, Stroudsburg, Pa.; Tyco Metals, Box 1323119J, Houston, Texas; National Sales Co., 113-U, West 42nd St., New York, N. Y.
42. Run a Fix-It Shop.
Most people are constantly bothered by the many things that “need fixing”, but they haven’t time to hunt out and contact the proper service to do the fixing. For this reason a Fixit Shop is a good business idea. You don’t of course, do all the fixing in your shop—you “farm out” some of it—to your “staff” of specialists who work with you at “trade” prices. You know just how to get fast action, too, when necessary. You protect your patrons from the frequent scandalous overcharges which repair concerns impose for a mere brief service or small adjustment. Housewives have often hoped for such a service.
43. Operate a Shopping Service.
Many mothers or career women—and men, too—are too tied down to go shopping. They welcome an alert shopping service which will take over. An ideal little business for a smart woman who can save more than her commission of 10% for shopping. She can shop for large as well as small items, and watch the ads for special bargains; even return goods or search for a particular item within a particular price range.
44. Offer A Children’s Party Service.
Many mothers would adore a woman operating a service to help her with children, take them to a party, give a party; take them in a group to museums, or a picnic, or to a children’s performance. A “natural” for a motherly woman or bright girl. She could handle all the details for a childrens’ party at the home of her patron, or arrange to drive children to school and back. Also furnish baby sitters, etc. as a branch of service; also perhaps set up a Day Care Center, for small children while their mothers are working. Contact Day Care Council, 114 E. 32nd St., New York, N. Y.
45. Moving or House Opening or Closing Service.
This is of course a service for wealthier folk, but there are hundreds of harassed well-to-do folk who have to open and close homes in the country, in Florida or New England, or wherever. In each case the task is usually beyond the strength and resources of the family, or even of its servants (who are nowadays usually very picky.) So, the opportunity for the competent, executive type of woman who knows how to get things done on time, to attend to everything even to a fire in the fireplace and supper on the table when the client arrives. It is worth—and commands—a substantial fee.
46. Operate a “Toy Hospital” and “Exchange”.
The great trouble with most toys is that they usually can’t stand for but a short time the assault of junior! He bangs and tramps on them, and they very readily become “cripples”. They need a hospital! It is a very real economy for parents to have toys repaired, as Junior then is likely to take fresh interest in them-perhaps even more than originally. You can often make these toys stronger than they were originally. Toys discarded by one child last year, may (if fixed) greatly interest the child’s smaller brother or sister.
A “toy exchange” is also “a natural”. Children quickly tire of same toys, and are often given unsuitable ones. The Toy Exchange is a solution, for parents can get equivalent value there in a wanted toy for an unwanted one. All you need is a general set of tools, paint, work bench, raw materials; and distribution of a card into 100 to 500 home mail boxes all around you, and you’ll be in business. Include in your Exchange Baby Buggies, Baby appurtenances of various kinds.
47. Run a Health Club.
In practice this is a kind of small “gymnasium” for exercises, calisthenics, baths, massage, etc. Many persons, particularly women, want to take off pounds, and retrieve “good lines,” which can only be done by keeping the body musculature moderately exercised, massaged, etc. You can get good fees for this if you have a commanding presence and physique, and some training, plus the right ventilated space and facilities, which will include exercise machinery, dumb bells, bars, couches, baths, etc. If you wish to do some massaging, contact the College of Swedish Massage, 42 E. Pearson St., Chicago 1, Ill.
48. Operate a Social Center.
Most smaller communities or neighborhoods have no suitable place for out-of-the-home social occasions. An enterprising woman or man who will rent and maintain large, pleasant rooms (in some old residence, perhaps) in which parties, etc. can be held is sure to get patronage. She will need a good floor, a piano, radio, phonograph or juke box, suitable table and chair and kitchen equipment for light refreshments (with perhaps a concession for meals leased to another woman, a good cook), and adequate toilet and clothes closet facilities. Childrens’ parties could be one of her specialties, also birthday and other occasions, organization meetings, lectures, educational classes, possibly even some religious services for small local groups. Young people might find a Saturday night special social dance a highly appreciated facility.
49. Run a “Week-End” Farm.
Large numbers of people just have to get away from it all over the week-end, by going to the country. But where? Resorts are expensive—and are not real “country.” If you have a nice rural home, in a small town or farm, clean, with suitable rooms, bath and pleasant country surroundings, you will get a ready response to a bid to come out to the country, Friday or Saturday to Monday, with country style plain one-dish meals, fresh eggs, chicken dinners, fresh breads and pies, real butter, home made preserves, etc. Even if you have room for only four or six people, it may net you a welcome weekly sum. In hot weather you might put up tents for those who like that; or fix over an old barn for simple, airy sleeping.
50. Home Mending. Repairing, Altering Service.
Wives by the million work today at a job and just haven’t time to mend and repair. At the same time the tailor nearby asks too much for simple work, because of labor and rent rises. This leaves open a wide field of ordinary mending, altering, tailoring, sewing, dressmaking which must be accomplished at less money coot, supplied by a person who operates in her own home to serve her neighborhood. A fairly substantial income can be worked up in this way. Just print a card with name and telephone, telling of the operations you can handle, and see that every household within 10 or more blocks gets one. Keep charges moderate; use every modern device and aids; make permanent customers with the quality and promptness of your work.
51. Open your Home for Convalescents.
With hospital costs so high, and medical opinion being that patients should spend as little time as possible in hospitals, there is very real opportunity to make a small business of taking care of convalescents for a week or two after an operation or illness. The patients prefer it, the doctors like it, the hospital would prefer it, and the cost is much lower. At $35.00 to $50.00 per week, with food, three to ten patients accommodated in a nice home (well-heated, with several bathrooms) a woman with some professional or “practical” nurse training, or comparable family experience, can make a very nice living. If she is a retired registered nurse it is a particularly good idea, and there are many successful instances.
Interest one or more doctors in your idea, get their cooperation and advice, and operate in their visiting territory. They will appreciate the facility, and recommend it to patients, for either financial or medical or psychological reasons.
52. Open a Baby Service Station.
Modern babies require quite a number of things which not all parents find time to provide, especially if the wife works. Why not open a baby service station, supplying nearby parents with timed, specific formulae of milk, nursemaids and baby sitters, rental of baby carriages, walkers, toys, etc.? In any large apartment building or groups of buildings are sure to be quite a few couples needing such service. (See also item 44).
53. Plan, Sell and Paint “Unpainted Furniture.
An increasing number of people are discovering the economy and adaptability of unpainted furniture, now 80 widely available; but they are often stumped by (1) uncertainty as to what units they should get, and (2) lack of time, know-how, facility or willingness to do the painting themselves. They don’t like to give the job to a regular painting firm which often overcharges. There is every reason why they would patronize an individual specializing in it, who would help plan what to have, in the first place, know where to buy it most advantageously, and do the painting in the right way—in a fitting color scheme, harmonizing with other things. This can be a very nice business, leading perhaps eventually to opening an unpainted furniture store, with painting service, and salesmen who would go out to sell.
54. Mow People’s Lawns, with Power Mower.
It naturally doesn’t pay home owners who have no very large lawn to buy a power mower. So this is an opportunity for a business. Buy a power lawn mower and cut people’s lawn on a regular time schedule, for a fee. A 17″ power mower can be had for $66.00, and if you mow ten people’s lawns seven times at a dollar you’ve paid for the mower, and all income is clear from then forward. Plenty of peoples will gladly pay the fee, and you can mow 25 lawns a day easily. Contact: National Farm Equipment Co., 142 Greene St., New York, N. Y.; The Pond Company, Ravenna, Ohio; also Rotacut, Excelsior Springs, Mo.; Kroy Mfg. Co., South Lansing, Mich.; B-M Mower Co., Blue Mound, Kan.
55. Hoe Peoples Gardens with a Power Hoe.
As everybody who has tried it knows, its fun to plant a vegetable garden of any size at all, but hard work to keep the weeds down. Plenty of people will pay you a dollar or two to hoe their garden at intervals with a power hoe. You can buy one for $134.00 and soon get your money back. Contact: Roto-Hoe & Sprayer Co., New Drury, O.; Shaw Mfg. Co., Galesburg, Kansas; George Garden Tool Co., Sullivan, Ill.; Eshelman Co., 119 Light St., Baltimore, Md.
56. Open a Neck-Tie Exchange.
It’s been done successfully by quite a few folk. The scheme is that patrons bring in their old ties, pay a dime a piece, and receive in exchange one of the cleaned ties available (of the same grade). The pull of this plan is that you get a change-off from your old ties at only a dime a piece. Many a man is tired of a tie which is a very nice one, still in good shape, and will gladly swap it for another for a dime or a quarter.
57. Operate Counter Stand Concessions.
Many retailers in crowded localities have more space than they need or can afford. They will be interested if you take a year’s option on a corner, window or counter space for some specialty business you will find to rent it to. A watch repair man may want such a small space; or a hat cleaner, expressman, umbrella seller, key maker, popcorn or potato chip dispenser, or theatre ticket agency—or any of a dozen other special sellers. You hunt out the persons who should be interested. You can operate a string of 25 or more such concessions, spending your time finding such corners or tenants for them, or studying locations and possible business, and perhaps even teaching them how to manage and supply such a business. Even barber shops could do well to add shoe shine, manicure, hat-cleaning service, shirts-to-order service, toilet goods or tie counters, etc.
58. Organize a “Thrift Shop.”
It’s a fancy name for a store for secondhand, miscellaneous cast-off goods, but it is often most successful. There are hundreds of things of value which people throw or give away to anybody who will take over—yet they have sales value. Such items as old fur coats, and other apparel, old china and ornaments, furniture, pictures, etc., you will be surprised to know, may be quite profitable items. People are relieved to be rid of many things today, for space reasons, for nowadays space is at a premium. You assemble all such goods by asking for it; sometimes paying small sums for it, and then cleaning and arranging all these items as attractively as possible and inviting customers to come in and browse around. Somehow what one person is willing to part with is quite often worth real money to others. Be smart and keep the turnover going fairly fast; disposing of slow-selling items at constantly declining prices until they move. Many people have a passion for patronizing such thrift shops, always in the hope of picking up a rare bargain—which they right often do!
59. Operate a Collection Agency.
Experience shows that the best way to collect smaller debts from average folk is by personal local contact. People will dispute, delay and defy far-off creditors, but when someone in their own community contacts them they are likely to pay, as they value their local reputation. Thus there is room in every community for a small, one-man collection agency not only for collecting jobs for out of town firms, but for local work, too. There is a technique to a good collection service, which is very effective. Contact: U. S. Protective Service, Box 4865, Atlanta 2, Ga.
60. Install Aluminum Hand Railings.
Sounds to be an off-trail business. Many homes and other buildings never did put in needful hand-railing which should be there to protect life and limb. It doesn’t take long to convince on this point, for railings on stairs, terraces, porches, etc. Cast aluminum railings are neat, light and can readily be affixed to wood, stone, earth, concrete. Contact Kloppenberg Aluminum Foundry, Davenport, Iowa.
61. Weave at Home, Make Hooked Rugs, etc.
Just like your great grandmother, you can profit by operating a loom in your home, to make small woolen rugs, drapes, tweeds, ties, shawls, scarfs, etc. They are very much in demand when neatly woven, attractively colored. Contact: Newcomb Loom Co., Davenport, Iowa; Union Looms, 56 Post St., Boonville, N. Y.: J. L. Hammett, 290 Main St., Cambridge, Mass.; Nilus Leclerc, Inc., L’Islet Sta. 5, Quebec, Canada; John Dritz & Sons, 1115 Broadway, New York, N. Y.
For hooked rugs there is a quite lively sale. You can make them without difficulty. First, buy and read the book Practical Hooked Rugs, published by Prentice,Hall, 70 5th Ave., New York, N. Y. Then for ideas subscribe to McCalls Needlework Magazine, 230 Park Ave., New York, N. Y.; Sewing Products Co., Box 1434, Cincinnati, O. Then for supplies, these firms: Allan Fabrics, 60 Home Rd., Belmont 78, Mass.; Bartlett Yarn Mill, Box 72, Harmony, Maine; Wool Products Industries, 988 Kent St., St. Paul, Minn.; Martha Mannery, P. O. Box 1308, Springfield, Ill.; Shillcraft, 66 Hopkins Pl., Baltimore 1, Md.
62. Do Pen Lettering, Scrolls.
Once upon a time, over a century ago, there were many penmen making a living doing elaborate scroll work. A Pennsylvania Dutch birth or wedding certificate was something wonderful to behold. But today, too, there is some demand for pen lettering of various kinds; and with the new lettering pens, techniques, etc. there are many uses. Few retailers are without the need, regularly, of signs and letterings. Give your hand a penmanship education, and then seek business in your neighborhood. You’ll find it. Contact National Artists, 801¼ N. Marsalis, A5, Dallas 3, Texas.
63. Make Mats out of Old Tires.
The other day a big tire company executive announced that soon you’ll be able to buy tires that won’t wear out for the life of a car! They are already pretty nearly indestructible! Even when ready to give up on a car, they have usefulness left. In poor countries they make shoes out of them. New techniques now transform them into ever-wearing door mats. It’s a business perhaps for you! Contact S. & S. Patents, Inc., 1307 N. Clark St., Chicago, Ill.
64. Re-String Tennis Racquets.
Tennis racquets are fairly tender objects, and if you’re a lively player you’ll want thoroughly taut, snappy racquets to play with. It is a business that can be made profitable to lace new gut into a racquet and make it as good as new. You can do it! People are grateful for it, as it renders new racquet buying unnecessary. Contact W. A. Bickel & Co., 803 S. Boulevard, Oak Park, Ill.
65. Upholster Old Chairs and Sofas.
Too many people are ready to throw out a chair or sofa when the fabric cover breaks or there’s a scratch. This is silly, as there is expensive understructure remaining, usually practically as strong as ever. You have an opportunity here. You can set up a small shop in your home and get plenty of work. Learn about it. Contact Custom Upholstering, Oxford, Pa.
66. Paint Flag Poles, Smoke-Stacks, etc.
If you’re an adventurous and not a hopelessly giddy type you can make very good money indeed, specializing in painting very high, difficult places. A large premium cost is usually gladly paid. Yet the facilities for this work nowadays are very competent and safe. It merely looks hard and dangerous. But of course you must be a steady-nerved person. Contact Skyline Co., Fairchance, Pa.
67. Raise Geese.
There’s a special reason besides the fact that they are good to eat. They have valuable feathers for pillows. (Note: the new foam rubber pillows cannot equal a nice pillow of goose feathers!) Even the army wants more feathers. Contact Northnode, West Rutland, Vt.
68. Make Cleaners, Soaps, Polishes, Cosmetics.
People still like to buy home-made material of this kind, and if you make them right, they are unbeatable. If you sell a customer one item, you usually sell more. Have a line; label them with an attractive name-label. Contact Komix, Parkridge, Ill.; Nu Silver, 508 M5, Aurora, Ill.; Mme Rubinoff, PM4, St. Louis 5, Mo.
69. Bake Greaseless Donuts.
We no longer regard doughnuts as deadly enemies of our digestion, because nowadays they are made without a lot of grease clinging to them. And unbelievable millions of them are consumed; in various forms. Many food shops, grocers, restaurants, bars and grills, drug store and lunch counters are very actually eager to buy fresh-made home-made ones daily, if they are well made. It’s a steady business. Contact M. Roy Co., 3605 S. 15th Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.
70. Sell Used Clothing.
Doesn’t sound good, but a phenomenal volume of business is done in old clothing. There is a market among the poor. Reason for a large supply available is the rapid “obsolescence” of fashion, and the American habit of not wearing clothes out, buying new clothes seasonably. Therefore much “old clothes” would (in most foreign places) be nearly new, and still useful. You can get a supply of such clothes locally or elsewhere, just by asking for it, or paying children a pittance. Sell at startling low prices (such as 65¢ for woolen overcoats $1.50 for woolen suits, 15 cents for dresses!) to stores in poor sections of town. If interested contact Moro, 55 AA, Roosevelt Ave., Chicago 78, Ill.
71. Fix Damaged Furniture.
With the new repair materials available today it isn’t necessary to let varnished surfaces of furniture which are cracked, dented, blemished go on looking defective. You can greatly please customers by fixing these defects. It isn’t hard to do or learn. Contact Monarch Specialties, 13449 Pulaski Ave., Chicago, Ill.
72. Be A Local Researcher.
You probably don’t know it but a hundred or two research firms, advertising agencies, periodicals, radio companies, “pollsters”, etc. operate with hundreds of local resident researchers scattered all over the country. These researchers ask questions of people and put down the answers on questionaire forms furnished them. They do this either by personal contact or by telephone, and are paid on a per unit basis. Some of this work is constant, others intermittent. Some of it calls for visits to neighboring territory, or even farms, by auto. It is interesting work, fairly well paid.
You can write to a list of the research companies. Give education, experience, territory you can cover, and they will probably file your data for possible use. If you live in a city, call on all the advertising agents in town, to see if they can use you. Also newspaper advertising departments. If you live in a small town, contact the national agencies. Write to Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. for a copy of “Market Research Sources” booklet which gives list of research firms.
73. Teach a Specialty or “Coach”.
This is a day of many kinds of adult study courses. If you have a good basis of special knowledge, why not organize a “class” and teach it? Meet in your home, or at any other feasible place. Charge about $10.00 to $20.00 for a course of ten sessions. You may even find a department store, or the local YMCA or YWCA, or business school, or even a church or social settlement, which will hire you to give a course. Even a cooking or cake-baking course, or baby sitting or home millinery making, or almost any technique will interest women. Technical subjects interest men. Coaching pupils in studies is another way to earn.
74. Supply and Arrange Flowers to Hotels, Stores, Restaurants, Even Churches.
Many hotels have an arrangement of this sort; you agree to keep the vases in lobby, dining room, parlors, etc. filled all year long with appropriate flowers; and also, on call, decorate banquet tables. Stores and restaurants often like this plan—even churches, even funeral parlors, even public institutions, offices, etc. Write to Coca Cola Co., Atlanta, Ga. for a booklet on flower arrangement. Make a deal with one or more flower wholesalers or hot-houses, and be prompt, careful, neat, artistic, resourceful.
75. Do Free-Lance Publicity.
Everybody likes publicity; few know how to do it appropriately, gracefully, effectively. The ambitious, socially prominent women or men of your town or community all will appreciate competent attention to publicity. When there’s a wedding, coming-out party or other social event, it is important that the publicity be handled rightly. All organizations, even churches, and charitable institutions need it. Study the subject, then send your card to a carefully developed list and make some personal contacts. Get well acquainted with your local newspapers—even ask their advice and suggestions. See any advertising agents there are—they may have work for you on a “free lance” basis. (Free lance” means operating on your own, not as a salaried person, and being open to serve various clients in various ways).
76. Be a “Home Secretary”.
This simply means that you offer your secretarial, typing, stenographic or general detail services to people in their homes, at odd, part-time hours, on an hourly fee of $2.00 or more per hour. This means typing or taking dictation from someone, man or woman, who works at home or is invalided, or taking care of the business details of some busy man or woman’s personal or miscellaneous activities. Your client may be a busy society woman, an author, a retired business man or whatnot. It is a most interesting line of work.
77. Be A “Candid Shot” Photographer.
If you have a good “candid camera” and are skilled in its use, you can make quite a good income in three or four ways. Arrange with night clubs, restaurants, hotels for permission to take candid shots of diners there, either of prominent personages, which the restaurant or hotel can use for publicity, or by order from the diners themselves. You can also take group pictures of group meetings, dinners, etc, with an assistant.
Such candid photography is also lucrative when done to order at home functions, organization meetings, weddings, etc. Buy several 75 cent books—Good Candid Photography; Salon Photography, Fawcett Publications, New York, N. Y.; How to Break Into Photography, American Photographic Publications, 533 6th Ave., New York, N. Y.
78. Give Cold Wave “Permanents” to Women in Homes.
The new cold wave permanents, now very popular, make readily possible a service in the home. You can let women know that you are available by appointment to give superior cold wave permanents, and charge whatever is a locally acceptable rate. You can do this service without qualifying as a beautician or hairdresser; but can extend your service by taking courses in hairdressing and treatment. A moderate price will yield plenty of appointments for cold waves. Contact Gibbs & Co., 21 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill.
79. Set up a “Toy Fair” in Your Home.
You may not know it, but parents are frequently, baffled about toys for their youngsters. They don’t know what is suitable, wise or which will interest the youngster. Ludicrous mistakes are frequently made in giving children toys much “too old” or “too young” for their ages.
Suppose you set up in one of your rooms a “toy fair” with toys classified for sex and age, type and kind, and stress in particular educational toys. It is remarkable and fascinating what toys are today avail, able for children. In the last few years literally thousands of new toys have appeared, America is now world-leader in toys. You can invite parents to visit your Toy Fair and discuss their toy needs with you; perhaps bring their children with them to try out their interest. You can have literature, and catalogs available from many toy companies, and take orders for toys. Subscribe to Playthings Magazine, 71 W. 23rd St., N. Y., and get their directory of toys; also subscribe to Toys and Novelties Magazine, 307 W. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. (Note also idea for Toy Exchange, Item in this book).
80. Make Quilts at Home for Sale.
You’d be surprised how many people like quilts better than blankets and want some in their homes. But, unlike their grandmothers, they haven’t time to make them themselves. Here is your chance, as you can put creative artistry and quality into them and get a fair price. If you live along a well traveled highway you could hang out a quilt sign and get customers. Or you could sell some to individuals by mail, by personal call or telephone call, or local advertising. Contact Stearns & Foster, Cincinnati 15, O. for their pattern catalog; also “Aunt Martha”, 2500 Buchanan St., Kansas City 16, Mo., and Cotton Batting Co., Lockport, N. Y.
Continued in Pt3c…
