Online store helps Genealogist pay for research

Perhaps this is just a sign of the times, as one family history researcher built an online store to help her pay the expenses of her research activities.

Genealogy research is definitely not a "free hobby". Whether you're buying gasoline to drive to the archives, or requesting copies of death certificates, getting bit by the genealogy bug can put a hole in your pocket.

But for Becky, the serious expense is travelling out of the country to do research. With places like Scotland, Ireland, and Newfoundland in her plans, the money she earns selling stuff on her e-commerce website will help her uncover more her family's past.

Becky's store is called The Tangled Tree. She creates designs depicting genealogy-related images and phrases, and puts them on t-shirts, bags, hats, pillows, mousepads, and even doggie shirts.

But she doesn't have to spend a lot of time operating the store, because a company called "CafePress" does much of the work for her. All she has to do is create the designs and upload them to CafePress. CafePress makes all the products, handles the orders, and ships them out. They even host the website, and helped her build it. Becky then receives a share of the sales profits.

The best part is that didn't cost Becky anything to get her store started. CafePress offers a basic plan for free, or a premium plan costing only $60.00 a year.

But what makes this great for a genealogist like Becky, is that it allows her to earn money, without taking up all her time. Each design she creates takes anywhere from a day to a week to create. Then she goes away and spends time on her research, while CafePress minds the store.