Although quilting and starting an e-biz share some common grounds, the two projects are commonly seen as the two opposite ends of the business spectrum. Discussing their differences is not intended to glorify the one or to undermine the other and knowing them will not make you the Kaffe Fasset of baby quilts or the next e-biz billionaire. It will rather help you learn more about baby quilts and e-biz. Here are 5 differences for you to consider:

1. Process. An e-biz site is never finished and every successful e-preneur will vouch for that. E-biz is work in progress - constant adding, removing, rewriting and tweaking. More often than once, quilters wished they had this opportunity too. Thankfully, that's not the case; otherwise we might have never known the art of quilting.

2. Final Product. The virtual nature of an e-biz site limits its effect on our five senses; here is where the makers of baby quilts have the upper hand to the e-biz owners. Even the best e-biz site can't be felt against your skin, held in your hand, wrapped around a newborn or given as a baby shower gift.

3. Audience. Who you would make a baby quilt for is very different from who you would make an e-biz site for. An e-biz site tries to meet the needs and wants of a broad audience with already developed tastes. The audience can be selective, critical, demanding and sometimes with questionable taste. A baby quilt, on the other hand, besides being pleasing to the parents, has to satisfy the needs of the least demanding and most innocent customer of all - the baby.

4. Purpose. Quilting is not only an expression of creativity and skills. Besides bringing comfort and beauty baby quilts are made to show love and care, to create and store memories from truly special times. The purpose and the very existence of an e-biz are defined by profit. Virtual as it is, it is still a business like any other and emotions and good intentions are not enough to sustain it.

5. Tradition and Longevity. Quilting has been around for centuries and quilts have a long history of tradition. Quilting was known to the Ancient Egyptians as well as the Romans. It arrived in Europe in the 12th century and became popular in North America in colonial times. Throughout the years baby quilts went in and out of fashion but even when they fell in popularity families kept their little treasures. The capricious trends were never able to affect the baby quilts' heirloom quality and they continued their journey from generation to generation. As far as history is concerned Internet and e-biz don't have much to brag about - they are relative new comers to the world business stage. But I would not hold this against them; their dynamic progress and immense popularity more than make up for their short existence. However, I still find it difficult to see an e-biz being passed from generation to generation but I might be wrong. Only time will tell.

In a previous article I already introduced the similarities; now, you know the differences between making a baby quilt and starting an e-biz. Did you manage to figure out which one is easier and more rewarding? If so, please let me know as I am still searching for the answer!