Matthew introduces the concept of selling smaller items and how to recreate popular items at home. The video focuses on several trending items that he believes would sell well. The first item discussed is a cookbook stand from a high-end store that is priced at $189. He breaks down the design and materials used and suggests using shelving boards and a 30-degree angle cut to recreate the stand at a fraction of the cost.
The second item discussed is a set of painted 4×4 cutoffs for fall decor that is being sold for $130 at a popular store. He suggests cutting new 4x4s to specific lengths and distressing them by hand to achieve a similar look. By following these steps, viewers can create unique and trendy items that can be sold for a profit.
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Key Takeaways
- Selling smaller items can be profitable if done creatively.
- Analyzing trending items and recreating them at home is a cost-effective way to create unique products.
- By using simple materials and techniques, viewers can create items that are comparable to high-end store products at a fraction of the cost.
Understanding the Power of Selling Smaller Items
Matthew discusses the power of selling smaller items and how to recreate popular items found in big box stores at home. He emphasizes the importance of paying attention to what is trending and selling well in these stores, as they will not waste valuable shelf space on items that will not sell.
He provides an example of a cookbook stand sold by PB, which is priced at $189. He breaks down the design and materials used, suggesting that one can easily recreate it using shelving boards or 1 by 12 boards. He explains how to create the inlay design and notch using a table saw and suggests using a contrasting wood for the insert to make it stand out. He estimates that with proper staging, one can sell this item for $60 to $75.
He also discusses the importance of seasonal items and suggests creating similar setups seen in big box stores. He provides an example of painted 4×4 cutoffs sold by Pu1 for $130 and suggests hand distressing them for a more authentic look.
Overall, he highlights the potential profitability of selling smaller items and encourages viewers to get creative and put their own twist on trending designs.
Analyzing Trending Items
The video discusses the power of selling smaller items and how to create popular items at home. Matthew picked out several fun trending items that they think would sell like crazy.
The first item is a cookbook stand from PB, which is a high-end store that sells popular or hot items. The stand is priced at $189, which is what sets it apart from other cookbook stands. The design of the stand is an inlay design, which is simple to do. The backboard of the holder is 11 inches wide by 11 and a half inches tall. He suggests using shelving boards that cost $12.33 instead of 1 by 12 boards that cost $16. The backboard is the only thing that is painted, and the rest is natural. The next step is to cut a notch into the material, which is about a quarter of an inch deep. The notch can be made using a dado blade or a table saw. The insert is sanded and finished on the front and the ends before it is glued in. The bottom cookbook holder is made out of the same species of wood as the insert. The stand holder is attached by nesting everything together at a 30-degree angle and gluing and nailing it from the back. He suggests charging $60 to $75 a piece for this item.
The second item is a set of painted 4×4 cutoffs from PU1, which cost $130. He suggests making similar setups with four by fours cut to lengths of 8, 12, and 13 inches. The cutoffs are painted black and then distressed by sanding the top coat until it starts to come off. He suggests hand distressing the cutoffs, especially if there is a black undercoat. He suggests following the grain when sanding and not sanding too deep or past the black base. He also suggests using a fine grit sandpaper on the orange and white cutoffs.
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Creating a Cookbook Stand
Material Selection
To make a cookbook stand similar to the one sold at PB for $189, one needs a backboard that is 11 inches wide by 11.5 inches tall. One can use a 1 by 12 board that is 3/4 by 11 inches or 11.25 inches, which costs around $16 for an 8-foot board. Alternatively, one can use shelving boards that cost $12.33 for the same size. For the stand that holds the backboard, one needs a 6-inch-long piece of material that is cut at a 30-degree angle. For the inlay, one needs a strip of hardwood that is cut to fit the 2-inch-wide and 1-inch-deep notch on the backboard.
Design and Dimensions
The backboard is cut down to 11 inches wide and 11.5 inches tall, with a 30-degree angle on the bottom. The stand that holds the backboard is also cut at a 30-degree angle. The inlay is inserted into the 2-inch notch cut into the backboard, which is about 1 inch deep. The backboard is painted, while the rest of the stand is left natural.
Cutting and Assembling
To get the notch, one can use a dado blade or a table saw blade that is raised to a quarter of an inch or the thickness of the inlay material. The first cut is made one inch away from the top edge, and the subsequent cuts are made 3/16 of an inch apart until the notch is 2 inches wide. The inlay is sanded and finished before being inserted into the notch. The stand holder is attached to the backboard by nesting it at the 30-degree angle and gluing and nailing it from the back.
Painting and Finishing
The backboard is painted, while the rest of the stand is left natural. For a tighter bond with the glue, one should not paint inside the notch. To make it customizable, one can add a family name or a saying to the front lip of the stand.
Pricing and Customization
With proper staging, one can sell the cookbook stand for $60 to $75, but adding customization can increase the price.
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Creating Seasonal Decor
Material Selection and Preparation
In this section, the focus will be on selecting and preparing the materials needed to create seasonal decor. When looking for materials, it is important to keep in mind what is currently trending in big box stores. These stores only stock items that are popular and will sell, so it is a good idea to take inspiration from them.
For example, one popular item is a cookbook stand that is being sold for $189. To recreate this item at home, one can purchase 1 by 12 boards or shelving boards that are 11 inches wide and 11.5 inches tall. The board should be cut down to size and a 30 degree angle should be added to the bottom. The stand that holds the board should also be cut at a 30 degree angle and be around 6 inches long.
To create the inlay design, a notch should be cut into the material that is approximately 2 inches wide and sits down from the top about an inch. This can be achieved using a dado blade or a table saw. Once the notch is cut, the material can be painted or stained. It is important to sand and finish the front and ends of the insert before gluing it in.
Painting and Distressing
Once the materials have been prepared, the next step is to paint and distress them. For example, a set of painted 4×4 cutoffs can be created for fall decor. To create this set, brand new 4x4s should be cut to lengths of 8, 12, and 13 inches and painted black. After the paint has dried, the distressing process can begin.
Using a fine grit sandpaper, the top coat should be sanded until it starts to come off. It is important to follow the grain of the wood and not sand too deep, as this can remove the black base and reveal the natural wood color.
Adding Designs
In this section, the focus will be on adding designs to the seasonal decor. One way to make the decor customizable is by adding a family name or saying to the front lip of the cookbook stand. This can be achieved using a wood burning tool or a vinyl cutter.
For the painted 4×4 cutoffs, designs can be added using stencils or freehand painting. It is important to keep in mind the overall aesthetic and color scheme when adding designs.
Pricing and Sales
The final step in creating seasonal decor is pricing and sales. It is important to research the market and price the items competitively. While it may not be possible to sell the items for the same price as big box stores, a profit can still be made by pricing the items between $60 to $75 for the cookbook stand and a similar range for the painted 4×4 cutoffs. Proper staging and marketing can also help increase sales.
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Building a Unique Bookshelf
Understanding the Design
The bookshelf design is inspired by a cookbook stand from a high-end store. The backboard of the holder is 11 inches wide by 11 and a half inches tall and is made of a 1 by 12 board. The holder is designed with a 30-degree angle on the bottom and is six inches long. The backboard is painted, while the rest is natural, giving the bookshelf a unique look. The notch, which is about a quarter of an inch deep, is cut into the material to create an inlay design. The notch is made using a dado blade or a dado stack on a table saw. The notch is about two inches wide and sits down from the top about an inch.
Material Selection
Shelving boards are used to make the bookshelf. The boards are ripped down to 11 inches wide and 11 and a half inches tall, and a 30-degree angle is cut on the bottom of the board. The insert is made of a contrasting wood, such as Oak, and is sanded and finished on the front and the ends before being glued in. The bottom cookbook holder is also made of the same wood as the insert.
Cutting and Assembling
The backboard is painted or stained before cutting the insert and the bottom cookbook holder. The holder is attached about an inch from the sides and 3/8 of an inch from the bottom. The stand holder is attached by nesting everything together at the 30-degree angle and gluing and throwing in some brad nails from the back.
Pricing and Sales
The bookshelf can be sold for $60 to $75 a piece with proper staging. Customizations, such as adding a family name or a saying to the front lip of the bookshelf, can be added to increase the price.
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