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How to Start a Rug Making Business From Home the Easy Way
Learn Rug Making Business Basics in 5 Steps
By: Russell Webb
Are you looking for a new career move? After 30 years in the trade, I am opening my custom rug-making school to teach others how to start a rug making business from home.
When I got started as a custom rug maker, I was excited. I remember feeling this exciting charge and anticipation of learning a new trade.
I learned the same way I teach. Since then, I’ve had decorative rugs featured in designer showcase homes. There are rugs in corporate headquarters and lobbies. And in the office of the Secretary of the Air Force in the Pentagon.
It’s been a fun ride. And to be honest, at this level of intensity, it is hard work.
Step-1 - Decide on Your Method.
There are a few rug making methods out there.
A. I teach custom rug fabrication: where I cut and inlay the design elements. I am using specialized rug-making tools. My materials of choice? I use high quality premium nylon yarns that are on par with wool. They are pre-tufted and come from the carpet mill. This material is a broadloom carpet.
B. There is another method known as tufted rug making: they use tufting guns and spools of wool or nylon yarns.
C. And, of course, there is the traditional weaving method on an ancient loom, again, using spools of yarn.
D. And, finally, there is the latch hook style of rug making.
Step-Two: Invest in your education
Identify an investment level that you’re comfortable with. Some business endeavors require a larger investment than others.
There is the tufted rug-making market with cheap, low cost tufting guns and materials. This choice can be ideal for entry level rug makers. In general, this set-up is for small scale projects.
If you are looking for a more comprehensive custom rug training program, like mine, this training will cost between $1,500 – $10,000 dollars. This method is highly versatile. You can do small rugs, and large scale rugs, and you can do cheap rugs and high-end rugs.
If you want a very low-budget entry point, then latch hook rug-making with grandma is definitely the way to go. Expect a whopping investment of 50-100 dollars.
Step-Three: Create your studio and start a rug making business from home
Create a space for your new studio – workroom.
Using our method of custom rug fabrication, you can get started in a garage-sized studio with a 12′ x 12′ table.
The table top should line up with your hips, not too high or too low. No worries we have blueprints for such a table.
If you are going BIG with tufted wool rug making, then expect to find a larger industrial space and a skilled crew to man those high-end tufting guns.
As for latch hook rug making, all you need is a living room, a rocking chair, and grandmas inspiration to light a fire in your belly.
Step-Four: Have fun with your rug designs
Start by filling up your home with your new creations. Or give them away to your friends and family.
Identify themes to play with; what are your interests?
There are countless attractive themes. There are animal prints, nature, abstract designs, company logos, or heck, even a Jimi Hendrix Rug.
Replicating a design into a rug is easy once you learn the trade.
Step-Five: Grow Your Business.
Prepare for the WOW! The comments from friends and family will be so supportive when they see what you are making.
The questions will come. Where did you get this rug? You made this? Wow what talent you have. This rug looks beautiful. I had no idea you could make a rug like this.
In truth, the word ‘talent’ translates into a more fundamental word: practice.
Decorative rug making is fun. Rug-making has the potential to be an uplifting experience because it is so rewarding. It is a unique and creative home based business opportunity. And, I agree, this will be true for many DIY or custom one-of-a-kind trades.
Think about the results. You are actually producing a beautiful product from start to finish.
Yes, it does take some practice, but the 7 main steps are manageable and relatively easy to learn.
Give it about 30-90 days of practice and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a rewarding business or fun hobby.
Learn more about how to start a rug making business by getting our Free Guide: Discover how to build stunning custom rugs in 7 steps.
Sure, I was poking a little fun at the latch hook enthusiasts. If that’s your preference, go for it!
Yikes! Beware of the Dream Crushers.
Be aware of who I call the Dream Crushers. These people will tell you that you will fail, that you will have a hard time learning. I heard all of this negative chatter when I got started. One was a consultant, a retired executive for the SBA, who looked at me like I was crazy. Others were from my own family. I’m sure you get my point.
I have a few observations about these crushers of dreams and a few suggestions on how to deal with them.
Take a close look at their attitude about life, health, entrepreneurship, and success. Most of the crushers enjoy the negative chatter. In life they tend to play it safe and take unfulfilling career paths. They will try to convince you that their Postal job is rewarding.
They will inject doubts and fears into your mind.
The crushers do this because the concept of being financially independent frightens them. The responsibility of running a business rattles their brain. It makes them uncomfortable.
Most Entrepreneurs have encountered this in the start-up phase of their journey.
Here’s an accurate analogy.
You plant a seed in the ground, it’s the seed of a tree that will grow big and proud.
In the early stages of development, the young tree may need protection. So you watch it, and water it, and you give it the best possible chance at survival.
Of course, you don’t want the tree to get stepped on or crushed. Maybe you set up a protective fence around it for a few months or years.
Eventually the tree develops a healthy root system and grows tall enough to handle changes in weather and so on. With your effort you have helped the tree and given it the best odds for survival.
This is true for any business endeavor. Nurture your business, keep it healthy. Do the best job you can at protecting it from being trampled on by the Dream Crushers.
Yes, listen to good business advisors. Listen to successful entrepreneurs. Make decisions based on logic and observation. Just be aware that some people like to crush dreams. Ignore them.
Russell Webb
Russell has been designing & fabricating premium custom rugs since 1991. He has helped 100’s of companies, gov agencies, & private clients with their custom rug needs.
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