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I have had this idea for the last couple of years. I would love to turn my dining room into a country type store...house plants, crafts, etc. My closed in front porch was the first idea but I can't find a decent way to keep it heated.
Has anybody ever turned a room of your home into a store? Any pros, cons, suggestions?
We have a building out back, but the cost of heating an out building in this country is extreme...it would have to be my house, since I already have to heat it...LOL
First thing I would do is check and see if there are restrictions for running a business like that out of your home--around here you can't do that in some areas because of zoning, etc. I don't know if things work that way in Canada too but I would definitely check on that.
My parents had a jewelry/antiques shop run out of a room in their house for a few years - closed due to ill health. Dad liked it because he could stay home. Mostly it was open on two or three days a week and 'by appointment' but they did have some drop in customers. One of the advantages that they had was that this was, in the beginning, an annex of sorts. Mom had a shop in a summer community and they had customers who patronized both shops and then the home based shop when Mom retired.
There were a few headaches - boorish customers who insisted on being let in even if the shop was closed (they didn't get very far with Dad), winter weather issues in keeping drives and walkways open, but you have that with most shops. I think if they were able, they would probably have it open yet.
If you are in an out of the way area you should plan on lots of advertizing, any type that is free including posting on community bullitin boards and at the grocery store.
I am in a small village. My last business did very well here, but it was a french fry stand...LOL...can't go wrong with food!!
One summer a couple years ago, I put some house plants on the porch with a sign, had people coming back for more, then winter came and everything had to come inside. I can't have people roaming the house, but I could set aside the dining room...it's full of plants anyways...
The only problem is, it's an open concept with the kitchen, have to figure a way to block it off without losing the brightness in the kitchen.
French doors would work well. Mom and Dad actually added a room onto the side of the house. We had a spare room that we moved the 10 miles for them - long story. Mom uses it for storage and, storage now.
