The Wood Database

I can sell wooden maps, signs, wall art that people buy as gifts for $100-200 a pop every day online. I had 6 orders from Etsy in the past 24 hours, all with good margins. People spend a ton on wedding decor and wedding gifts especially. Nearly every $100-200 wooden map I've sold has been for someone's wedding gift, or occasionally an anniversary or birthday gift.

Just this morning I sold a map of Raleigh on Nextdoor (the local neighborhoods app), to someone in north Raleigh, for $100. It was for a gift, and she asked me about making a map of Pittsburgh to give as a gift to someone else. I hand delivered the map -- just a couple minutes drive in the electric car so no gas used -- and the material cost was $0.95 in wood and a $8 frame from AC Moore. So around 90% profit margin.

I have a seven figure nest egg from my time running software businesses, and I still run my websites part time. The crafting business just started in May when I bought my laser machine, but it's currently earning enough to cover our bills. That's a bit of a cheat since I have no mortgage or rent to pay, just utilities and food and insurance. It's not a six figure job, but it's enough extra that I don't feel like I need to hustle too much on the software side. I might tire of it eventually, but for now I'm enjoying making and selling some physical goods, and knowing that people are proudly displaying them in their homes.