Make Side Money From a Traveling Boutique

A couple months ago, I went to a party/clothes sale hosted by my friend Cindy's ex-coworker. It was in an apartment complex lounge. It was pretty interesting. I'd never been to something like that before. I'd describe it as a traveling boutique.

The host was a model/actress who needed extra income to support her budding career. A lover of fashion, she wanted to share her fashion finds. She ordered a couple pieces from a wholesale clothing vendor and hung them neatly on a small rack. She displayed jewelry, bags, accessories on a coffee table and bookshelf that she moved from her apartment. Soda, muffins, cookies were available for snackers. Sofas and ottomans already in the lounge offered ample seating. She invited everyone she knew for the event and asked everyone to spread the word.

The event was advertised as "Fashion & Free Makeover." When we arrived, a Mary Kay consultant sat us down for the makeover - of course to demonstrate her products. Although I vowed not to buy anything, I ended up trying a lot of products I liked. After our makeover, we socialized and tried on clothes. The clothes were around $35-$70. If she didn't have your size, you could pay for it that day, and she'd order it and ship it to you.

I mingled with the host's friends and coworkers. Some also had their business cards handy to advertise their start-up businesses. I learned more about the host and how this new traveling boutique business provided extra cash with flexibility around her acting schedule.

Not too many people showed, but all the folks that trinkled in whipped out their wallets to buy something, either Mary Kay makeup or clothes on display. Interesting, I thought, because she didn't have much clothes for sale. The rack was only 6 feet long. I'm assuming she made a couple hundred dollars that day from the 1) clothes sales and 2) Mary Kay sales paying her a commission.

In the end, we all had a fun day full of socializing, eating muffins, trying new beauty products and in payment our actress host socked away a small profit by simply throwing a party and inviting us!