This business idea continues on with our custom lamp theme from Business Idea –
Custom Lamps.
So why would you want to start a business making custom lamp shades?
Well it would certainly tap into your creative juices if you are an arts and crafts type of person.
And there are a number of different lampshade business areas you can develop.
Many lamps survive through the years because they are made from bronze or porcelain, but lampshades do not fare as well and usually need to be replaced periodically.
People who collect antiques and love Victorian or other antique era décor need lampshades to go with their prized lamps, and Mary Maxwell of
Victorian Lampshade Supply
is an expert on this topic.
Her site is a wealth of inspiration, supplies and information on how to make gorgeous authentic Victorian Lampshades.
For more information on how to actually make lampshades I recommend the ebooks and videos on Mary Maxwell’s website.
I have actually read one of Mary’s books and lampshade making is not a difficult craft to learn. It just takes some sewing skills, patience and attention to detail. You can also find some great books on lampshade making at Amazon.
And if you really want some knock your socks off inspiration, check out this
Vintage Shades
website.
Another Great Eco-Friendly Business Idea
This could be a very eco-friendly business. Using vintage fabrics or even interesting recycled fabrics from clothing picked up at thrift stores and flea markets would give you a unique marketing angle.
And there are a lot of other twists on the eco-friendly theme. Everyday materials that may end up in the trash could be turned into unusual works of lampshade art - check out this article on
how to make a bottle cap lampshade
from eco-street.com.
The ideas for creating custom lampshades are pretty endless. You could get very funky, whimsical or incredibly sophisticated with your lampshade creations.
How about textile collages, or stamping and cutouts?
Adding all different kinds of trims that add to the theme of the lamp, such as the fishing ties example mentioned in the custom lamps idea can give your creativity an exhaustive run.
And of course there’s ribbon, lace, beads, ball fringe, feathers and the ideas go on and on.
Just doing an internet search for lampshade ideas will turn up quite a number of articles and inspiration. And there are quite a number of interesting videos too.
I've picked this video out on how to make a floral lampshade because it's so unique - and has great music too. This is a whole different area you could explore, using organic and even living materials to make one of a kind lampshades and light sculptures:
A Great Business Idea for The Textile Addict!
Another way to approach this business idea would be to use interesting textiles such as vintage french fabrics, barkcloth, chenille, kimono silk and more.
I sold kimono silk fabrics on eBay for a couple of years and my eBay gateway website
Vintage-Kimono-Collector.com
now showcases kimonos and kimono fabric for sale there. The logo at the top of the site is a collage of photos of different kimono fabrics I sold over the years – it’s beautiful if I do say so myself.
Kimono fabric has such an exquisite variety of patterns, motifs and gorgeous coloring, and one of my regular customers from that period continually purchased exquisite panels of silk kimono fabric for her lampshade making business.
I would have loved to see pictures of how some of those lampshades turned out.
Since kimono fabrics only come in smaller widths of 6” to 14”, they would be perfect for pieced or cylinder shaped lampshades.
I have seen beautiful examples of lampshades made from other vintage fabrics too, or with vintage or other decorating themes.
Now for ideas on marketing this idea please refer to the previous article on
Custom Lamps,
as the same marketing information and ideas would apply here too.
This is one of those home based business ideas that would have little start up cost, especially if you went the vintage-recycled route.
You could probably find numerous odds and ends just around your house and certainly at your local thrift store, yard and garage sales to get started.
And finding lampshade frames can be a really fun hunt. You see all kinds of poor rejected lampshades at thrift stores and yard sales and they could easily be recovered and made into something fabulous.
And don't forget to check eBay! It's a great source of vintage fabrics and lampshade frames.
