UPCYCLE
verb – reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.
A great example of upcycling:-
The item that is being upcycled here is a page of text taken from an antique book. The seller has overprinted the page with an Alice in Wonderland image and quotation to create a desirable wall hanging that is proving extremely popular on ebay!
click on the images to enlarge them
As you can see, this item has sold 329 times! (7 times in the last month) That is total revenue of $3888.78
Of course, this resourceful seller didn’t stop at creating one design – here is a screenshot from Terapeak that shows their sales activity during the last month:-
The most important numbers are indicated with a red arrow:-
The time period is 31 days
Total sales = $4848.32
Items sold = 428
Not all of the seller’s designs are based on Alice in Wonderland although this is their most popular line but every item they sell is printed onto a page taken from an antique book. (Please note that the frame in the image is included for display only and is not included in the sale)
Impressive?
Very! but the most impressive thing for me is that the designs used to build this multi thousand dollar monthly revenue business are all based on freely available public domain images!
The seller has used copyright free images just like this one:-
This is one of John Tenniel’s original illustrations created for Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There published in 1871 (sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 1865)
If you look back to the image at the top of this post you’ll see that they have cropped the image of Alice, added a dash of color, a handful of butterflies and a quotation (taken from chapter 5 of the same book) and voila, they now have a unique design that only they can reproduce!
Copyright protection has expired on both the book and Tenniel’s illustrations so anybody is free to use this material to create their own products for whatever purpose (including commercial) without paying a penny to do so!
As I said earlier the designs aren’t confined to Alice in Wonderland in fact, there are thousands of different niches that this idea can be applied to – if you run an ebay search for the keywords “prints on antique pages” you’ll see what I mean.
And EACH design, once created, can be sold over and over and over again.
In this business, there’s also no need to carry any inventory as you can just print off orders as they come in!
Profitability
The profit margin on this business model is extremely high!
After the initial design work is done all you need is an ink jet printer, antique book and rigid envelopes.
I buy rigid envelopes (cardboard backed) in boxes of 125 for £18.85 including shipping which is $29.57 (at today’s exchange rate) which equals 23c per envelope.
You can easily source suitable antique books containing several hundred pages for $20 – say – 4c per page!
The cost of your printer ink is nominal – maybe 5c per page.
Your biggest cost is your selling fees which amount to approximately 15% on ebay and around half of this on Etsy.
Your total costs on a $10 ebay sale equal $1.82 and on a similar Etsy sale $1.07 (estimated) which leaves you with a net profit margin of well over 80%!!
This is such a profitable and exciting business model that I just had to share it with you!
I have been researching this idea for months and have decided to use what I have learned to put together a step by step guide so that you can grab a slice of this very lucrative pie for yourself!
My New Course!
My brand new course is going to teach you……..
* How to identify HOT niches to see what’s profitable and what’s in high demand. This research will pay for itself many times over because just ONE niche can provide the basis for the creation of DOZENS of products that we can create virtually for FREE and then print and sell for high profits over and over and over again!
* Where to find popular public domain art images to satisfy the demand in your hot niche(s) – These images can be modified in various ways to create some spectacularly popular products.
* Where to get and how to use FREE software to import, size and crop your images. You will also learn how to add additional images, how to add color and text – you’ll even learn advanced techniques like adding text along a path and adding a color gradient to your text – all simple to do!
* Where the best places are to source your antique books – what features to look for, what keywords to search for and the maximum price points.
* Finally, the pièce de résistance… we will print our designs onto antique book pages to create unique, one off art works that cannot be copied by anyone else.
YOU will automatically have exclusive copyrights to everything you create!
You’ll learn all this and LOTS MORE!
Competition to win my new course for FREE!
I’d like to hear your thoughts on this business model – what do you like/dislike about it, what challenges do you think it will present to you, what niches excite and interest you and all of the feedback received will be used to inform the content of the course.
To encourage your questions and comments I am going to give away free access to the course to 3 lucky readers chosen at random from everybody who leaves a comment on this post with their thoughts and/or question(s)
Your questions will be answered and your name will be added to the draw which will take place on the 28th of May with the lucky winners being announced on my blog shortly after!
So do get involved and help shape this great new course!
Talk soon!
.
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You’ve done it again Stuart, another fabulous idea, Have bought the “Prints for Profit” and Etsy books in the past, this will be the perfect addition, can’t wait to buy it
This is another addition to the concept of Prints Make Profit that I find extremely interesting.
Indeed it would probably fit ETSY better as each new artwork would become a personally created unique item.
To accompany all the information currently available from you with regards to “finding” books, the assistance that your new course would seem to offer will prove to be extremely advantageous to sourcing the right artwork AND determine the types of niches that would prove profitable.
As with all your other courses, I look forward to the new release.
This sound awsome stuart i would be interested to see where this could take us i love public domain stuff anything for nowt thats me,but there is a pleathora of stuff for the taking,and ill be taking alwright,would like to see what your ideas are in using this commercialy,i have a few ideas i am mulling over,cant waite ,Mal.
A lovely idea which I have wanted to try out for ages as I have often seen the Alice pictures printed in such a way. My only worry is that I might inadvertently copy someone else’s idea! My I like the thought of producing original art so easily that clearly appeals. Once again Stuart you’ve done the work for us? Look forward to your course.
WOW!
Stuart, Thank you for the insight and value you share through your blog and products!
I had no prior knowledge of this market and am intrigued. Also, I appreciate being included in your drawing.
While I’m inexperienced with the Public Domain and would require the kind of practical instruction for which you are noted, this concept seems both budget and storage space friendly.
Upcycling is a trendy and timely concept. The no-inventory, low expense, repeatable sales, and high profitability of this model certainly make it an appealing home business!
Learning to create high-quality artwork in this model is both exciting and frightening.
It’s wonderful to read in your description that there are free tools available. Based upon your recommendations, I will need to learn to utilise them. My home printer is an older model and print quality guidance for upcycled components will be very beneficial.
As to niches, I’m in for some research to learn what’s in demand and profitable to sell.
Wishing you a print-perfect day!
Melissa
Hello Stuart,
I’m impressed with this buisness model, it seems to be a great way to create a nice income. I wanted to know if you frame these or just send the print in the padded envelope? I’ve enjoyed your previous programs and look forward to this one. I always look forward to your emails when you’ve created a new exciting way to create income.
Thank you for sharing your talents.
Regards,
Mickie
Hi, Stuart
This Upcycle for Profit course sounds exciting, and I’m sure it’ll have the quality of your previous offerings. With your encouragement I’ve fallen in love with Cecil Alden and Mary Cicely Barker especially in the last couple of years and have made a bit of money, but somehow I can’t disengage myself from my Amazon book-selling which I continue to do well at, in spite of fears that the e-book would have taken over by now, whereas the PMP activity is more time-intensive and not as profitable initially. Plus I’m quite the klutz at the computer and need to have my hand held more than most probably. I hope to really get serious with this Upcycle program, even suspend my bookselling until I master this satisfactorily. I just don’t want to regret not having taken the leap later on. In any case, I’ve enjoyed your offerings tremendously in the past and look forward to what’s coming. .
I believe this to be a great business model. Very nice job Mr. Turnbull.
I am really excited about finding out where to access public domain art images as I have been unsure what is copyright and what isn’t. Having that defined will help me decide what I can work with in order to sell. Call me a dunce but is this worded correctly? YOU will automatically have exclusive copyrights to everything you create! Can we not already claim what me makes as being ours? Not sure when this upcycling course is coming out but soon I hope. Job lay off hit here and I am in the driver seat with my foot on the gas pedal. A little in need of earning some income to put fuel in the mad marketng machine. Not sure if you realize this or not but, you have become my go to Etsy man. Have you packed away in your own folder. So keep passing along the great info
Hi Stuart,
Love this idea!
How do you package the print before shipping? Do you wrap it in any way or do you just put it in the rigid envelopes?
Once we create the image is it automatically copyrighted or do we have to do anything else?
Looking forward to the new course!
Thanks!
Pat
Looking forward to finding different niches to conquer and make money
I have seen these alot on etsy and would be interested on your insight into this. I thought this would be saturated, but the terapeak screenshot shows that on ebay at least there is some viability.
I would like to see a replicable sustainable concise process for making these.If it takes more than 30 minutes per item I don’t see this as viable. Actually showing the process of making them. My fear would be printer jams and printer not printing well. As well as a best way to market them on the various sites.
This is a beautiful concept! Anytime I can double my money, I’m interested in finding out more. It sure appears that I can more (way more!) than double my money with this!
Very creative Stuart, endless possibilities.
This is Brilliant! What a creative idea to increase sales. Can hardly wait for the course. Thanks Stuart for thinking of this and passing it on to your students.
Hi Stuart;
You come up another winner. As you know that I been following you for many years and bought all off your products. I can’t find any down size to this “it’s a winner”. I will look forward winning your e-Book and start doing this, It ties in to my Etsy store with the reprints I’m doing just kicking it a notch. Where I ask ask a higher price. There is also a site on images on Bing that you can get Free antique page templates for those that don’t have any old books. So looking forward to start working on this project ASAP.
your Friend
Best Wishes
Reg Boczko
http://etsy.me/1clo1fi
This has been on my radar screen for a good little while, but I haven’t had the time to look into the nitty gritty details on how to set it all up, so this is a sweet offer!
What I would be concerned about is getting enough of the technical details to get me up and going. I say would be concerned because, if you’re putting out the course, Stuart, I am confident that all will be covered.
Thanks and I love your blog and ideas!
I like that it uses antique things and art to make products to sell.
I dislike that I don’t know enough about it to do it!
I’m concerned I would not know what items would be profitable and that it might take a lot of time.
The art and antique niches both interest me. I like old things!
Hi Stuart,
Love the idea of an Upcycle for Profit and using what is available in the Public Domain for new product creation. Excited to see this course and its resources!
Regards,
Karen
Win
Upcycling looks fun and creative! It’s great to get paid for doing something you really enjoy.
Thanks,
Janie
I love this idea, Stuart! Thank you for sharing it!
What I like:
– I’m a huge fan of re-purposing Public Domain content, images…etc.
– I like to be creative and this would be a great opportunity to do so )
– AND if I create totally NEW artworks from these images then they are copyrighted by me. I like that you point that out!
– I love seeing examples of others that have done this and would really like hearing your personal experience with it too.
My main challenges would be …
– Photoshop or whichever program you use to modify images and add text.
– Figuring out the right fonts to use, the right sizes, how many different fonts.
– image sizes – how big could I actually print the images with them looking good?
– printing – type of printer, ink types.Where do you source your ink from?
– using the correct wording to describe the item. I’d want to make sure I convey what it is and not goof and call it something it is not.
– the book pages – do they relate to the topic of the quote? Are you printing the Alice in Wonderland on an actual page of Alice in Wonderland?
– I like being able to chat with a group of like-minded people and have a place where we can help each other. Will there be a Facebook Group that goes along with this course?
And… when is the new course coming out?
Hi
Been thinking of doing this for a while but unsure as its seems so many people doing this.
Would be great to find what subjects are hot sellers apart from Alice.
Also as Dana says above How to be different to increase sales?
Looking forward to this new guide.
Many Thanks
Gill
Hi Stuart….Looks like another wonderful idea…..like to know how you think of all the ideas…..this is a very creative one…..looking forward to finding out more…..Thanks for feeding everyone with fresh ideas…..looking for more for the future…..
Hi:
Great Business Model Love it!
Bob
Once again a creative idea to enhance the products and business plans already released. Really looking forward to this new course to see ideas that will enable me to stand out from the crowd.
Cheers again Stuart.
Hi Stuart, It looks like a great idea, but I do worry it will become saturated if a lot of people jump on the idea? Maybe you can include some ideas on how to think out-of-the-box?
I am enjoying learning more about this business model, as the raw materials seem to be easily obtained as you’ve shown, the concept in general appears to be one that can evolve over time as the variety of art “desirables” change, and the profit margins are pretty awesome.
Hi Stuart,
I have all your products and look forward to adding this to my collection. Adding another income stream is always welcomed.
Great material Scott. One aspect of “upcycling” that really appeals to me is that it re-introduces the quality that is attached to earlier pieces. It would be really awesome if it actually causes a moment of reflection to bring people to some deeper contemplation, away from the mad dash to a mechanistic pseudo living..
Hi Stuart,
I thought about doing this myself many Months ago,after seeing sellers on Ebay, but couldn’t work out how to do it.
I still think it is a great idea, but i am now wondering if that ship has now sailed, as people have been selling these on Ebay and Etsy for some while now.
I feel that there is still a market for this, but perhaps more thinking has got to be put in to make us stand out from the crowd.
Please don’t ask me for my ideas at the moment, because as i am writing this i am still thinking how i could make it different to appeal to more people.
best wishes
Gary.
Hello Stuart,
Yet again you have brought a new business building
on successful enterprise with a new twist.
I have followed you for some time and enjoy your case studies.
Etsy is still new for me having traded on Ebay for 10 years through good and bad times perhaps UPCYLING is the way forward.
Look forward to more information.
Regards David.
Great idea, Stuart. I’m looking forward to this guide!
Hello Stuart
I have seen these prints before and I love them. Would be interested in learning how to do this.Looking forward to this course.
Thanks Peter
I think this is a fantastic idea. I have created a few of this type of art print, which are currently listed on Ebay but haven’t sold any as yet. Any advice to improve my chances of selling these types of print would be most welcome, even if I have to purchase your new course.
Hi Stuart,
What a great idea. There is unlimited potential to create and sell. I’d love to know more about how it is done!
Love the idea of Upcycling..
Awesome stuff!
This sounds like a very interesting concept, as some others mentioned I sort of wonder how many can really do this and make a decent profit before being saturated.
Thanks in advance Stuart, this will come in handy.
Hi Stuart,
How creative!!!
How good does one have to be with a photo editor to do this?
Thanks, Judy
My question is whether the page shown in background needs to have any correlation to the artwork? Is it going to be legible enough that people will wonder why the two (the art and the text) are paired with each other? And if it is not that crucial (i.e. easily read), then does antiquity make that big of a difference? Just wondering.
Thanks.
This is incredible timing — we have just started researching this very niche and would LOVE to have the information and insight from this course!
Hi
I have certainly enjoyed your previous courses as they easy to understand and make sense. Cant wait for this new one.
Another great Idea.
Once you get over having to dismantle physical books, I really like the idea that almost anyone can create original products that people are happy to buy,
I love this idea, Stuart. I have some antique books that are in bad shape. and I love the idea of printing antique illustrations and hand coloring them.
Thank you so much tor this post.
Hi Stuart,
This will be the icing for dessert!!
And for those “thinking out of the sandbox”, if they own Prints Make Profits & Etsy Profit Machine, they will have the “Perfect Profit Machine” of their own and be successful.
Stuart, have many days do I’ve to count to have the course?
Please, no more than myself both hand’s fingers?, eh…
Cheers,
George
Wow ! This seems to be pretty exciting. I’ve never seemed to be able to get anything ‘off the ground’ before. What do yu think ? If I got your new guide, maybe I could make this idea work for me ??!!
Stuart
I have bought all your past courses and I am very excited to buy this one when it comes out – it will be a perfect addition.
Hi Stuart,
What a wonderful subject and business,are you going to help us to do the same.
regards
gordon
I’ve followed these for a while and love the idea but was missing the best way to do them. My question would be one that has already been asked…since there are so many people already selling these, how can we be different to increase sales? I cannot wait to get your guide, I am sure it will be the missing ingredient and I can get started on these like I’ve wanted to for so long.