How to sell my quilting patterns. ?

Question

I design quilt patterns, and also do long arm quilting, and my long arm quilting customers have asked me where they can purchase my quilting patterns at. I've been thinking... is it legal to go into local quilting supply stores to see if they would like to purchase at wholesale? The local small businesses are independently owned and not a franchise... is this legal or would I need special licenses?

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Answer 1

If you design these patterns and want to protect them there are several ways of doing that, copyright is one way but that cost money. The simple way to hold protection is to mail yourself a copy of your pattern, do not open it when you receive it, before mailing on the back side of the envelope across the seal write the name or ID of the pattern. This is referred to as the poor mans copyright. Your mail will have a postmark with a date on it if any one should use your product with out your consent you will have documentation in the event you have to go to court to collect damages. As far as selling your product, you should not do it till you protect your product first. Kinko’s will help you with producing your patterns to print, make sure you write the pattern name or ID on the copies you are making copied exactly as you have it on the back of the envelope. Gene

Answer 2

If they are your own designs, then go for it!  But (and it is a big but) - you must keep proper books and remember to declare your income.  If you are wanting to go into business full time, then you may need planning permission to work from home.  Lots of us sell bits and pieces to shops, however, without incurring tax complications.

Answer 3

you can create a web site and sell it through internet. this is totally legal and you can do it at home and have more time for designing.

Answer 4

You really should do a back ground check to make sure this design has not already been created and copyright.  

Here's a link you can check.

http://qnm.com/copyright/index1.html