Design and Create ‘Dreamy’ Pillowcases

This idea involves transferring images of exotic locations onto everyday simple pillow cases.  The reason this business might work so well is that pillowcases are typically pretty boring, so why not make them fun and make some easy money as a result?   In this business you’ll be printing beautiful pictures on pillowcases, as long as those pictures appealing to the eye, imagination, and mind.  And because pillows are usually rectangular, it’s pretty easy to print pictures on them.

You can use your computer to print pictures on pre-made pillowcases or rectangular pieces of fabric. Most computer printers can print fabric transfers, which you then press with an ordinary hot iron onto the fabric or pillowcase of your choice.  Even with the most inexpensive equipment, you’ll find the quality of your picture can be quite amazing.

If you choose this fun business idea, but you don't want to be involved in creating your own pillowcases, you can let a company like Café Press or a local printer create images on pillowcases for you.

You will either have to buy your photographs or hire a photographer, or borrow photographs from friends with their permission.  Or if you’re good with a camera you can take the photos yourself. If your business takes off and does well, you will be able to take dream trips yourself and take your own photographs, and create more pillowcase designs. Best of all you can write your whole trip off as a business expense if it is for the sole purpose of taking pictures for your pillowcases.

You could charge at least £15 each for basic pillowcases. You could also charge more for better quality pillowcases with more complicated designs. The price could also depend on the size of the pillowcase, starting with a typical standard format all the way up to the king size.

You can sell your pillowcases through local gift shops, or make them available on your own website, or encourage friends and family to host pillowcase parties in their homes.   At Café Press you can also allow the company’s affiliates to market your designs for you.

If you are starting your business on a shoestring, you can give your pillowcases as gifts to family and friends, and ask them to show the pillowcases to their own friends and family.

If you own a website store, you can also offer to print your customer's favorite vacation photos onto pillowcases. Just make sure that it is easy for them to upload their pictures to your site.  Alternatively, you could take their pictures and upload them yourself to Café Press and other sites offering to create pillowcases and many more unique products from your original designs. Make sure you have good quality pictures of your pillowcases and an easy to use order form. This will create a user friendly experience and generate lots of repeat buyers.