Fridge magnets are an attractive decor element that is most often attached to household appliances in the kitchen. The Halbach magnetic assembly is a special design due to which the magnetic field is practically absent on one side, while on the other it is twice as strong.

After their appearance, magnets became very popular, so there were people who began to collect them. Few people know that they can be done at home, with only a computer and a printer. The high profitability of the market allows you to make a good profit by manufacturing refrigerator magnets and selling them.

The first mention of these products appeared back in 1971. Over the entire period of their existence, many changes have happened to them, both good and not so good.

Not so long ago, large factories were engaged in the manufacture of magnets, while the presence of a press was mandatory. Today, anyone can be engaged in the manufacture of magnetic products, regardless of status, amount of money and the presence of an entrepreneurial spirit. Refrigerator photo magnets are very interesting and profitable products.

To start producing magnetic products, you only need a printer and a computer, and with the advent of the first profit, you need to buy some more equipment, which we will talk about later in the article. The decline in production and its removal from the assembly line could not affect the popularity of products such as fridge magnets, the photos of which you will see on this page.

Varieties

There are several types of magnetic products that we will now consider:

1. The flat advertising magnet is the most popular among its counterparts and the cheapest. It is a small thickness magnetic sticker made of vinyl.
2. A magnet with a notepad is a practical design that combines a magnet placed at the top and tear-off sheets that can carry advertising information.
3. A magnet with a calendar is a unique tool for advertising products throughout the year.
4. Photo frame magnet allows you to hang any photo on the refrigerator. Thanks to this feature, the product has become a favorite gift for many people.
5. Volumetric magnets can be made in the form of vegetables, animals, plants or advertised products (for example, olive oil bottles).
6. Acrylic magnets allow you to take full-color photos and place them under a sturdy plastic case.

Simplification of production technology

Making magnetic souvenirs used to take a lot of time and effort, since it was necessary to magnetize the metal. This was done mainly by large factories and companies, but the development of technology has made it possible to radically change everything. Modern equipment makes it possible to cover almost any polymeric material with a thin layer of ferromagnetic alloys, which retain magnetic induction for a long time.

Vinyl is most often used for the backing, but other materials can be used. On the reverse side, using the same equipment, a special coating is applied, on which the image will subsequently be glued.

Reducing the cost of vinyl

The main material used in the manufacture of magnets is vinyl. With its appearance, the process of creating magnetic products was simplified, but its cost was still high. When it was possible to reduce the cost of vinyl, then the cost of magnets also decreased, and now it costs so little that it is used to make various items at home.

Vinyl is a magnetized rubber of various thicknesses that you can buy in rolls or sheets. Experts recommend this particular material for the manufacture of all kinds of magnetic products such as calendars, notebooks or souvenirs. Vinyl fridge magnets are in demand due to their low cost and variety of shapes.

Customer search

The sale of finished products is almost the most important stage of any production, so you should worry about it in advance. Finding wholesale buyers in this area is quite simple, but the only difficulty remains - it is necessary to anticipate corporate events that are about to happen.

You can order fridge magnets from any of their manufacturers or you can make your own. They are exhibited with pleasure at various exhibitions, where products with the logo of the instigator of the holiday are especially valued. If you cannot find wholesale buyers, then you have free time to create unique and inimitable products in a single copy, the cost of which is several times higher.

Starting production

What to do as a small business, choosing the production of fridge magnets as a basis, you do not need to purchase expensive equipment. For such a case, it is quite enough to have a computer of medium power and a few more pieces of equipment.

You don't need any special software either. All you need to work effectively is a simple graphics editor. It can be either a common program or a licensed product.

Among the equipment you will also need an inkjet printer. It is this technique that is considered optimal and as affordable as possible for the manufacture of magnets. Also, you can not do without a package laminator and cutter.

The production of magnetic products takes place step by step. We will now look at these steps in the correct order:

1. Mirror the selected image in a graphic editor, and then print it on transparent plastic, pre-lubricated with hot melt adhesive.
2. Now we separate the transparent plastic with the pattern applied to it from the substrate and turn it over.
3. We pass it all through the laminator.
4. We separate the protective layer that protects the adhesive composition from the sheet.
5. Glue plastic to vinyl.
6. Now the product must be cut down.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the process of making magnets, so everyone can do it. You can choose any images for such products, ranging from romantic scenes to scary pictures. Fridge magnets with photos are made in the same way. Be careful, because instead of paper in the manufacture of magnets, transparent plastic is used. This condition is mandatory.

Free time for such a business will take quite a bit, but the benefits will be huge, and there will be profit. Using our step-by-step recommendations, you can get magnets of different textures, shapes and thicknesses. Even one and a half millimeter products will be very durable if you follow the instructions described above.

High market profitability

The entrepreneurial idea for the manufacture of magnets is 100% profitable even at a low cost of products. A sheet of A4 paper is the starting material for 8 small items, the price of which ranges from 50–100 rubles on the Russian market. The cost of production of one magnet does not exceed 40 rubles. The benefit will double if you can make custom-made photo magnets for the refrigerator.

Lack of competition

The souvenir market is experiencing an acute shortage of products, so custom-made fridge magnets will immediately be sold out. There are still many cities where one can become a monopolist in the production of magnetic products.

The low cost of production will allow you to get a good profit even at the initial stages of production, which significantly increases the profitability of such a business. On average, to occupy a niche in the manufacture of magnets, it will take only 50 thousand rubles, which will pay off in a couple of months.

So one fine morning I had an idea about extra income which does not require a lot of time and effort. The essence of the idea is selling fridge magnets with photographs and sights of your hometown, region.

Taking a friend into my business, I began to organize the plan. Having welded a stand-stand for placing magnets from pipes and a sheet, we painted it in green color and according to the idea, fasteners were welded to the stand, so that in the summer it would be possible to fix an ordinary beach umbrella, so that it would be possible to hide from the scorching sun. On the stand they wrote with silver paint in large letters "MAGNETICS". The silver paint reflects very well in the sun, and this is a big plus, as our booth stood out and was visible from afar.

In the hardware store we bought a wooden folding chair and a bag for the belt for the seller.
Then, according to the plan, at the first stage we had to buy ready-made magnets and make a markup and sell them. Through the Internet, we found wholesalers and agreed with them on small batches of their products, for the first time they took running magnets: for example, funny inscriptions, or cartoons in general, jokes.
As the first point of sale for magnets, since our city is not a tourist one, but an industrial one, we chose the station. We agreed with the management of the station that we would stand there and sell our products in exchange for a small fee. And also in the summer, we conducted our trade on the city beach.

During the first two weeks, people passing by themselves adjusted their demand, they often began to ask if you have any magnets with photos of the city? And why? Next, we found a photographer with a good camera who agreed to take photos for us in exchange for the fact that on each magnet we will indicate his phone number and name as a photographer. He took us about 40 awesome photos.
It was not difficult to agree with a company that manufactures magnets so that they make us the magnets that we need at an agreed price.
After we began to trade the only fridge magnets with unique photographs of the city, these magnets flew away like “hot cakes”.
We immediately opened a similar outlet at the Bus Station.

In the future, photographers of the city began to contact us with their magnets so that we could start selling them, of course we did not refuse. Over time, it became clear that the main thing in trade is assortment.

When the turnover was gained, at home at the weekend we set up the production of acrylic magnets. We bought blanks from a wholesale company, printed photographs of the city in a printing house, cut them out ourselves and assembled them.

Now some dumb arithmetic. First, the expenses: it cost us 1,500 rubles to make a stand. Chair and bag 750 rubles. Regarding the arrangement for the placement of seasonal outlet- 2500 rubles per month. 1 person worked for us, his salary was 300 rubles a day plus a percentage of the sale. Now about income: we bought magnets for 25 rubles, they were the cheapest and sold for 50 rubles. The markup was 50% on average. In parallel with the sale of magnets, we were selling recharge cards for mobile phones.

On the worst days, we sold about 10 magnets, the best more than 50. In total, if we take an average of 30 magnets per day, we get: expenses per month = 9,000 rubles salary + 2,500 rubles per point = 11,500 rubles. Income = 30 * 30 days = 900 magnets per month, provided that only cheap options were sold, our income is 22,500 rubles. We subtract expenses and it turns out 11,000 rubles. We add income from the sale of replenishment cards.
And yet, when we began to assemble magnets at home ourselves, we reduced the cost by about 20%. That is, from a magnet that costs 50 rubles, we began to earn not 25 rubles, but all 30.

Ideas for Business from the section:

To continue the story about the manufacture of magnets, it would be logical to describe how to implement the idea of ​​​​this business. In the article we will talk about the manufacture of magnets and consider 2 methods: the manufacture of flat magnets (based on magnetic vinyl) and the manufacture of bulk (souvenir) magnets.

Option one - Making magnets based on magnetic vinyl.

The definition and types of magnetic vinyl are described in a separate article. Let's take a look at how to use it here:

Method one. We purchase magnetic vinyl with a thickness of 0.4 mm and a matte or glossy finish suitable for an inkjet printer. Now just print the selected images. This is the simplest option, but it has its drawbacks:

Magnetic vinyl is expensive, and the small thickness contributes to a small force of attraction. Therefore, such magnets are suitable only for one-off designs and certain customers.

Magnetic vinyl magnets are not very high quality and will not last long. Such a disadvantage is formed due to the print of the printer.

Method two. Depending on the price and tasks, we print the selected images on photo paper or specialized cardboards. We purchase a vinyl magnet (you can choose both with and without an adhesive base, but in this case you will need to stick it manually). We laminate the selected picture and stick it on vinyl.

Both methods do not require special skills and are equally suitable for homework.

Equipment you will need to make magnets at home:

• - Computer, with installed program for image correction (photoshop or similar)
• - Colored jet printer(the more expensive the printer, the higher the print quality).
• - Tool for cutting. Vinyl is soft and easy to cut with ordinary scissors, but in order for the edges to turn out smooth and beautiful, it is better to purchase special cutters such as a reciprocating cutter or a roller cutter.
• - If possible, you can also purchase a cutting plotter to create magnets of various shapes. Magnets in the form of animals, butterflies or cartoon characters are in very good demand. In addition, such cutting provides savings on the material, because. vinyl cutting is already under the existing format.

By the amount of business equipment, we see that the costs will be minimal (about $ 2,000 for all equipment). A small room (15-20 meters) is needed as a room. Such a business will pay for itself within six months.

Option two - Production of bulk magnets.

In the manufacture of volumetric magnets, a technology similar to the manufacture of figurines and garden sculptures is used. It looks like this:

We find desired shape, you can use any sculptures or medallions. We add to them what we need according to our design, or we combine them and get a new figure. You can also find a sculptor and order him to make the desired shape.

Based on our layout, we need to make blank forms. At the same time, we must remember that these forms will be used by us more than once, so it is advisable to make them from specialized material such as latex.

When making an imprint of the selected figure, you should pay attention to such points as:

1. Images should be three-dimensional only on one side, the second side should be flat for attaching a magnet.

2. The form for impressions must be without flaws. No cracks, air bubbles, etc.

We choose the material that we will use for the manufacture of magnets. Examples of such material are dental resins, PVC, resins, two-component epoxies such as " cold welding» liquid plastics, acrylate powder, epoxy and polyester resins. But the cheapest way is gypsum mixed with PVA glue. But in order for gypsum magnets to be durable, they must be opened with polyurethane paints. It is best, of course, before you start working, to find out what materials are available in your region, find out the prices for raw materials and compare the cost of magnets from different materials. The main thing is that the raw materials are inexpensive and do not require additional heat treatment or special storage conditions. By the way, not all resins are suitable for making magnets at home, because. some are toxic, which also needs to be remembered.

We pour the finished material into molds (it is better to prepare several molds, it will be faster) and perform a vacuum treatment to get rid of air bubbles. Necessary equipment for this, it is a sealed box to which a vacuum pump is attached. We place the molds there and, with the help of a pump, we pump out the air.

The last step is painting. Polyurethane coatings are best suited for this. They provide extra protection to the magnets.

The final stage is gluing the magnet itself. If the blank is light, then we use thicker magnetic vinyl, but if our magnet turned out to be heavy, we will need to use a “real magnet” (such magnets are sold in the form of coins).

When implementing an idea home business the second way, you need an assistant. No special equipment is required for this.

Modern magnet technology has come a long way. Gone are the days when making fridge magnets required the use of magnetized metal. The latest equipment makes this process easier. Today, instead of magnets, a material is used that is obtained by applying a thin layer of magnetic substance to a polymer base.

• Starting a magnet business from scratch
• How much can you earn in the production of magnets?
• Production technology of gypsum fridge magnets
• How to choose equipment for making refrigerator magnets
• What OKVED must be indicated when opening a business for the manufacture of refrigerator magnets
• What documents are needed to open
• What taxation system to choose for a fridge magnet business
• Do I need a permit to open a fridge magnet business?

These substances are able to maintain their magnetization for quite a long time. Most often, vinyl is used as a polymer base, on the reverse side of which a special coating and image are applied.

Using vinyl has quite significant advantages. The main one is that it has become so affordable that you can start making fridge magnets and other souvenir products even at home. Vinyl of various thicknesses is used to make magnets. It is a fairly dense magnetized rubber, and it can be purchased both in rolls and in sheets.

The cost of one roll fluctuates around 4 thousand rubles. Experts say vinyl is the most suitable material, which is most often used for the manufacture of various souvenirs. Today you can see flyers, notebooks, magnetic calendars and other vinyl-based products.

Starting a magnet business from scratch

In order to organize the production of various vinyl magnets, no special expensive equipment is required. To do this, you need a computer with a graphics editor program so that you can prepare an image that will be applied to the magnet. In addition, you will need an inkjet printer, a die cutter that will cut finished products, and a parquet laminator.

Making a fridge magnet with any image is quite simple. Only instead of the usual paper, thin plastic will be needed. It is also easy and simple to work with him, but still accuracy is required. The manufacturing process itself includes 5 simple steps. So, let's look at each of them in more detail. Technically, everything is simple:

1. We select the image and in the graphic editor we get a mirror copy. Then we print it on a transparent plastic base, which is pre-applied with hot melt adhesive.
2. The plastic with the pattern printed on it is separated from the substrate.
3. Then the resulting material is laminated.
4. Now you need to carefully peel off the protective film from the side on which the glue is applied.
5. We connect it with a vinyl base.
6. The finished magnet can be cut out with a tool.

The whole procedure will not take much time and will not require much effort. As a result, you can get magnets with any picture, any shape and thickness. Pretty strong magnets even with a thickness of 1.5 mm.

How much can you earn in the production of magnets?

Below are some examples of expenses and income. As you can see, the price of one piece is very low. This allows you to set a good competition in the market and quickly get your first income.

Production technology of gypsum fridge magnets

In order to expand the range of products, you can try to produce ceramic magnets. To do this, you must perform the following steps:

• prepare special molds made of wood or metal;
• pour gypsum into them and wait 3 hours for it to dry completely;
• then remove the figures and conjure a little over them with the help of paints and decor;
• To reverse side glue the vinyl figures.

The search for a customer and the sale of even a large batch of ready-made fridge magnets will not challenging task. Especially if it is possible to sell the goods at company holidays, in the form of familiar symbols or brand. It will be convenient for the customer to receive finished goods in advance. Similar products are also good at various exhibitions if they bear the logo of the company presenting their products. Even if it is not possible to find a large buyer and sell the finished product in bulk, you can start producing souvenir magnets in single copies.

Thus, today there are excellent options for those who are looking for an opportunity to earn money. It is worth noting that this species business has the smallest start-up costs and fairly high income. Simplicity and ease of manufacturing magnets, even a schoolboy can do it. Therefore, for some it can become a family business. The main thing to remember is that your efforts and invested funds will definitely pay off, and quite quickly.

How to choose equipment for making refrigerator magnets

For different methods of manufacture and materials used, completely different equipment is intended. For vinyl magnets, an inkjet printer is purchased, and the resulting image is glued onto a magnetic base, as ordinary photo. You will also need a computer and equipment (tool) for cutting the workpiece. To reduce labor costs, you can purchase a cutting plotter. For bulk magnets, it is necessary to buy special molds in which prints will be made.

What OKVED must be indicated when opening a business for the manufacture of refrigerator magnets

It is necessary to make a choice in favor of code 32.99 "Manufacture of other finished products not included in other groups" from section C "Manufacturing".

What documents are needed to open

It is necessary to formalize the subject of business activities: most often it is individual entrepreneur. Prepared documents (passport, code, applications for registration and tax system) are submitted to local government bodies or to specially designated multifunctional centers public services (MFC). After that, you also need to register in pension fund, fund social insurance. For settlements and making payments with legal entities you will need to open a bank account.

What taxation system to choose for a fridge magnet business

As taxation, you should choose the simplified system "STS". The tax rate in this case will be 6% of income or 15% of net profit. Depending on the region of doing business, other preferential rates may be established.

Do I need a permit to open a fridge magnet business?

This type of business does not require special permits, except for the registration procedure as a business entity.

Recently I wrote about the possibilities for creating mini-production at home and actually about the main criteria by which it is necessary to evaluate such business ideas. Now let's move on to the practice and real experience of creating home mini workshops.

The first option is the production of fridge magnets, it’s probably not worth telling what the magnets themselves are, such decoration of refrigerators has become, if not a widespread hobby, then at least very popular. In any case, at my house, children with enviable regularity hang around a home refrigerator, and my wife with the same regularity tries, if not to throw everything out, then at least “thin out” the orderly rows of magnets.

To begin with, let's look at the small features that conditionally divide fridge magnets:

Photomagnets

Magnets with a three-dimensional figure

Today I’ll tell you about a small mini-shop for the production of photomagnets, the fact is that this particular direction is easier to implement and, roughly speaking, does not require any additional knowledge and skills from its founder.

The development of photomagnets was made possible by the advent of magnetic vinyl.

Magnetic vinyl (magnetic paper) is an elastic polymeric rubber-like material that has the properties of both rubber and permanent magnet. Magnetic vinyl includes magnetic powder (ferrites) and polymer materials. Magnetic vinyl comes in several main types:

– With a sticky adhesive layer (self-adhesive);
– Without adhesive layer;
– Coated for inkjet printing;
– With white or color coating for printing with solvent inks and UV curable inks.

Thanks to the advent of magnetic vinyl, making refrigerator magnets (photo magnets, anyway) has become commonplace and simple. technological process, consisting of:

- Printouts of the image of interest on the printer (the front of the magnet);

- Sticking a printed photo or drawing on a self-adhesive magnetic vinyl - the actual fridge magnets are ready.

True, I’ll immediately make a reservation that this is the simplest and most banal option, when organizing a more serious business, even at home, we are talking about the idea of ​​​​a home business, you need to buy a professional printer capable of applying a picture directly to vinyl. And of course, it is desirable to have the same plotter for simultaneous cutting of the necessary forms from rolled vinyl.

In general, to organize this idea for a home business, you will need:

- a room up to 20 squares;

- a printer for printing (depending on what you print on (vinyl or plain paper) and of course start-up capital printer cost may vary);

– preferably mechanical tools for trimming edges

- if possible, the presence of a full-fledged plotter (although it is not included in the set of mandatory equipment for business when implementing this home business idea), which will allow you to quickly cut fridge magnets of various shapes.

- a computer and, of course, the presence of Photoshop, which will greatly simplify the work of “inventing” or processing interesting photographs.

- concludes the list of necessary attributes for the manufacture of magnets, of course, consumables, primarily the magnetic vinyl itself. Let me remind you once again that there are several types of it - you can read about it here - what is magnetic vinyl.

Many may say that the idea is far from the category original business ideas and cannot be classified as the best ideas for business due to the huge competition and the fact that the market is littered with Chinese photo magnets.

The answer regarding the prospects of a business idea for the manufacture of magnets for refrigerators as a home business, I can say the following:

– having a small workshop for the production of magnets at home, you have a number of competitive advantage, and to be precise, you can independently do what is now at the peak of fashion in your region. For example, a small creative dedicated to a memorable event in your city, or “banal” demotivators with a mention of specific regional specifics. And this is not to mention the production of promotional products, although the same commemorative fridge magnets in honor of an anniversary or wedding (for example, with a batch of 20-30 pieces) is a real opportunity to earn money.

- The Internet can become the second huge sales market, for this, of course, you need to create a resource and actively promote your products. Having your own mini workshop, you respond more flexibly to the wishes of small wholesale customers and will be able to compete with Chinese suppliers in the small wholesale segment, both in terms of price and, most importantly, in terms of production and delivery efficiency. With regard to competition with advertising agencies, then I can note that most of them do not regard this business as a priority and work on the production of promotional products specifically for the customer. You represent a unique design.

As you can see, this business can be 100% organized at home and, according to the amount of initial costs, it can fall into the category of a business with minimum investment. By the way, you can read about similar areas that can be combined to create a creative business in the article - Business in step with progress. We do not stop there with new ideas for a home business in the following articles, and now a little video on how photo magnets are made.