How to Start Home Decor Business Online: A Guide for Success

Step 3: Source Your Products

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This is the fun part—choosing what to sell! Whether you create your own products or curate items from suppliers, this step is all about finding the perfect pieces that reflect your brand and connect with your customers.

Curate or Create Products

You’ve got two options: curate products from suppliers or design your own. Here’s what that looks like:

Curate Products: If you prefer to source products, look for items that match your style. Let’s say your niche is bohemian decor—find suppliers that offer unique items like handcrafted wall art or rustic furniture. The key is to choose high-quality, durable items that align with your store’s vibe.
- Start with a few suppliers you trust and build strong relationships with them. Negotiate terms like pricing and shipping.
Create Products: If you’re an artisan or designer, crafting your own products can be super fulfilling. This way, you can design one-of-a-kind pieces or small batches of limited-edition items. Handmade products often attract a loyal, niche audience and can command higher prices.
- Think about how scalable your production is. If demand grows, can you keep up without sacrificing quality?

Choose Unique, High-Quality Pieces

Whether you’re curating or creating, always focus on quality. Home decor is all about creating spaces that feel good, so customers will want items that look great and last. High-quality products lead to happy customers and good reviews—both crucial for growing your business.

Trendy Pieces: Stay up-to-date with popular styles, like minimalist or sustainable designs. Offering trendy items helps you attract shoppers looking to update their space.
Timeless Pieces: Mix in classic decor that won’t go out of style, like neutral-colored pillows or elegant vases. These appeal to a broader audience and offer long-term value.

Set Your Prices

Pricing your products may seem tricky, but with a little planning, you can get it just right. Here’s how to break it down:

Cost Breakdown: Add up the total cost for each product, including:
- Production or wholesale cost (what it costs to make or buy)
- Shipping fees (from supplier to you, and to the customer)
- Platform fees (e.g., Shopify or Etsy transaction fees)
- Packaging costs (if you offer branded or custom packaging)
Market Research: See what similar stores are charging. You don’t want to price too high and scare people off, but you also don’t want to sell yourself short.
Profit Margin: Once you’ve covered your costs, decide how much profit you’d like to make. For example, most retailers mark up products by 50% to 100%. If you’re selling luxury or handmade items, you might go higher.
Psychological Pricing: Small pricing tricks can make a big difference. For example, pricing something at $49.99 instead of $50 can seem more attractive to shoppers.
- Don’t be afraid to charge what your products are worth. If you’re selling unique, high-quality items, people will pay for that added value.

Dropshipping vs. Holding Inventory

One last decision: do you want to hold inventory or use a dropshipping model?

Dropshipping: This method lets you skip holding inventory altogether. When a customer places an order, the supplier ships the item directly to them. It’s low-cost upfront, but you’ll have less control over shipping times and packaging.
Holding Inventory: If you want more control, you can purchase products in bulk and store them yourself. This requires a bit more investment and space, but you can manage fulfillment and add personal touches like branded packaging.

Think about what fits your budget, storage space, and how you want to run your business day-to-day. Each option has its pros and cons, so choose what works best for you!