Reply by sbwertz

Right now, just before Christmas, they sell well if you don’t price them out of the market. I make mine as gifts, but according to friends who sell them, if you make relatively inexpensive kits (slimlines, comfort pens, decorator pens) you can sell them all day for $15 to $20 each at craft fairs and such for unique Christmas presents. And you can make one, start to finish, in about an hour. Stay away from the 24k gold plated kits. The plating chips off easily. Gunmetal, copper, brushed satin, satin gold, chrome all hold up better and stay looking nice. I’ve found the gunmetal and copper are most popular.

After the holidays, you would have better luck with the high end kits in exotic woods and priced in the $40-$100 range. You won’t sell many, but the profit margin on each one is good.

-- Sharon, Phoenix