azadus18:
FP stuff

naijacutee:


I wrote this to prove that you can start a business with little money, because so many people are begging and others are trying to sign everyone up to one course or the other. Making money is easy - just sell what people are looking for - that's it!

How much can you sell masks for?
A quick search on reveals that reusable face masks sell for between ₦200 - ₦1,000 each.

How much can you make masks for?
If ankara cloth costs ₦350 per yard (approximately 36 x 51 inches), and each mask requires 2 x 6 by 10 inches to make, then each yard of cloth would probably produce 25 - 30 masks.

This is approximately ₦30 per mask minus labour, thread and other materials - all of which we will cover in a little while.

Will people still buy masks in a month?

According to Google, more people in Nigeria have searched for face masks since March 22 than since the beginning of the year (see the attachment). Can you guess why? And the dotted line at the end tells us that even more people are likely to search for face masks in the future.

How to make face masks
Because I am not an expert, I am referring to the CDC (American Center for Disease Control and Prevention) for advice on this.

What you will need:

Sewing machine (₦24,000) or sewing kit (₦1,500)
Elastic for sewing (₦400)
1 yard of cloth (₦350)
Scissors (₦200)
Tape (₦200)
Pack of sealable plastic bags - ₦1,000
Total capital - ₦3,650 (without sewing machine) or ₦26,150 (with sewing machine)
Step 1: Cut out two pieces of cloth, each 10 inches by 6 inches. Put one piece on top of the other - you will sew the mask like it was a single piece of cloth.

Step 2: Fold the long sides and stitch together. Then on the short side, fold the double layer of fabric over and stitch together, leaving a gap for the elastic.

Step 3: Run your elastic through the gap on each side of the mask. These will be the ear loops. You can use a large needle or a bobby pin to thread it through, then tie both ends. If you cannot find elastic, you can improvise with strings.


Step 4: Pull on the elastic to make sure that the knots are inside the hem. Bunch the sides of the mask together and ensure that it fits the face. Then stitch the elastic in place to make sure it doesn't slip.


Step 5: Pack masks in bags - packs of 5, for example.

How to market your masks online
Once you have created your first 30 masks, you will need to take photographs to market your product. Take photographs of you wearing the masks to show how they fit, and also take photographs of the masks in the bags to show customers what they are likely to get.

It's time to pound the streets and advertise your masks on every online channel you can get. If your customers are there, you want your products in front of them. Share photos on your Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, Nairaland, , Konga, Jumia or even start a Youtube channel helping people stay safe during this time. Don't pay for advertising just yet - see what feedback you get and whether there are any improvements to consider.

Pricing is up to you, but if you don't have a sewing machine, it makes sense to price your masks in a way that reflects your labour costs. On the other hand, you will produce faster with a sewing machine and it will take a bit longer to break even. But if you're really struggling, maybe the best strategy is not to invest in a sewing machine until you have proven that you can sell the product and there is a demand for your products?

Bear in mind that your estimated costs of production based on 30 pieces:

With sewing machine - ₦871 per piece
Without sewing machine - ₦131 per piece
Try to advertise packs of 5 at ₦5,000 including delivery within your local area and see if that works. With a high margin, you have room to negotiate discounts.

This is a great business to help you take your mind off the negative things going on in the world, while actually contributing towards a solution. If you see anything wrong with this, please highlight it!

Here's the full post with images: https://www.mrpepe.com/feature/how-to-make-money-selling-face-masks/

missimelda01:
Does it mean any kind of face mask can be worn this period? Is an Ankara face mask supposed to be a substitute for medical face mask?

The business looks lucrative but I'd like to get the answers to the above. Thanks