Work/business in USVI...

Everyone seems to like tinted windows and the cops love to give tickets for them being too dark. So yes there are definitely business that do it on stt and stx. But if you're good, reliable, cheap at it perhaps you could squeeze into the mix. Also it seems like it could have a low overhead as you could work from home.

As far as the glass blowing, the only negative thing I've heard about opening a shop now in stt is that the tourists are not really buying so stores are closing up. And you know the rents in charlotte amalie are like right? You would need to be in a busy area. In this economy I wouldn't want to tie myself down to one specific high end thing. Maybe if you could share space with a gallery owner or something like that.

Thank you so much Betty. Like I said i have been reading theese posts for a while now and I like your advise given thank you so much for the help... I am keeping my mind open thinking of anything I can do or perhaps start in the future in the USVI. I have such a wide range of things i can do and like. I love and know everything about palm trees and i love all the water warm everyday and sandals... I could keep going . you are right about having to be in a bus area for the glass blowing and the high rent thank you and i will be on many more posts to come!

Jefe,

It sounds like you have a variety of talents and ideas. You can probably work out a life for yourself here. C'mon down and try it on for size. Do a PMV first and bring lots of money to keep you afloat until you get some things going.

The glassblowing is interesting but as Betty points out, a live audience requires proximity to the ships; that' s very expensive real estate AND tourism is dwindling AND tourists aren't spending like they used to. You'll also be unpleasantly surprised at the number of different licenses you'll need to do such crafts (each one entails paying an annual fee).

There is (or was last time I looked) a glassworker in one of the Havensight stores. Doing the usual small creatures in boro. I think that having an entire shop to yourself would be a great way to lose a ton of money fast, but if you had a small space within an existing store it could work. If your glasswork involves an electric kiln be aware that electricity is $$$ here.

Jefe,

Have you thought about Tillet Gardens by Jack's place? It has small little shops and artists studios. I'm not sure how it works but maybe you could also get a vendors license and show your artwork at the straw market downtown when the cruise ships are in. You could also stop by other shops and see if they were willing to showcase some of your artwork and recieve a commision for anything that they sold. Stop by hotels, resturaunts and any other place that you can think of an ask if you can display some of your work, include some business cards and a schedule of when and where you may be doing your glass blowing. Talk to wedding coordinators about creating unique pieces for wedding partys. See if Coral World would be interested in limited addition designs for each year or season. I wouldn't rule out any price range. Hit the pavement and meet as many people on island as you can.

Good luck and I hope that my ideas have been helpful.

Molly

I'd suggest getting a regular job to start & do this on the side. Another market that many don't tap into is the "group" market at the large hotels & also companies such as Island Meetings & Incentives & another company but the name escapes me at the moment.

You'd need to speak to the sales departments at the big hotels with things that they could include in gift bags, etc. Sometimes the hotels buy through the hotel gift shops so meet up with those folks as well. Also, some time share sales people give out gifts in their promotions. You won't make a living at that to start but you'll get your foot in the door. You'd need smaples of smaller, less expensive items for a lot of this but people do want island made but don't want to pay the price. Incentive groups in many cases have big budgets.

Thank you for everyone's help who replied to me, it was a good help. Everyday I try to research and learn more about anything I can to get me going in a better direction towards getting there! It sounds so peaceful, nice and beautiful sights and weather. ( I know there's always a down side to everywhere but you just have to make the best of it) I read a few weeks ago about the trash around the outside area! I couldn't believe this, its such a nice area of the world and should be kept natural and clean and almost everyone is just littering... If there was a way i could make a living I would clean up all the roadways and beaches, I just cant believe that trash, that's hurting all of the nature and animals who were there first. I'm not getting on anyone but it takes everyone as a community as the people (Islanders) to not let this happen and keep it a clean place. ( Where I live in Va Beach im constantly cleaning trash out of the beaches and into the trash cans) This area should just be cherished as the natural beaut it has. I am saving money and everyday trying to find a job down there. For now I haveto just keep looking at the live webcam videos tho.

you can find some really good deals right now on STX in C'sted renting a retail shop.... (under 1000 per month w/out utilities)
I know from working retail on the island that the tourist CRAVE something made ON ISLAND...........the glass blowing thing "could" be a niche that would work........ya never know...........but each week they the tourist seem to want something different.....go figure.
If you have a business licence you can also look into renting a spot in F'sted just on cruise ship days (it's a table space kinna like a flea market thing).....or there's a consignment shop there too. Also check with the other various shop keepers on island.......they may carry your stuff, but it must be priced well enough to sell & both you & the shop keeper to make a profit.
Unless you have enough money to run a business for like a year here in the red............I'd suggest doing the consignment thing, look for another job & network your butt off.............good luck!

I think the glass blowing shop is a great idea, I guess it just depends on who you network with and what contracts you can get aside form the tourist business. I love drinking glasses made out of that thick glass with small bubbles in it, would buy a ton. Maybe a restaurant would....On St. Croix there is an association for small business owners, the St. Croix Economic Development Corp., with a website at www.stcroixedc.com , that may be helpful. There has to be some counterpart on STT.

I have been to the glassblowing studio at Maho Bay Camp on St. John, and because it is an ecocamp, they take the recycled glass and make very beautiful multi-colored things, (vases, sculpture, wind chimes ) so, really, it's not just "beer bottle glass." There is a website for the store. They also have guest glass-blowers visit, so maybe that's something you would be interested in.

Maho Bay Camp' s lease is running out and they are in a big fund drive for donations to buy the land for the camp or something like that (I didn't read the email or news article that thoroughly), so not sure how, if at all, that will impact the glass studio there. I haven't seen any of their items for sale on St. Croix.

There is a glassblower on Stx...at least there was about 1 year ago. He had a store in fsted, closed then moved to csted, I believe. I think his name was michael something...did beautiful work: turtles, beer drinking pigs and other stuff.