Daily Blogs : business

Advice on Naming Your Jewelry Business

Michelle M. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:49:00 GMT

Today I'm sharing some questions and answers from past Bead Biz columns in Beadwork magazine. The author of the column, Viki Lareau, has been in the jewelry-making business for more than 20 years. Viki is the author of Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry: The Complete Guide to Turning Your Passion into Profit.--Michelle Mach, Beading Daily editor...(read more)

Photograph Your Jewelry with a Do-It-Yourself Light Box

Michelle M. — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:53:00 GMT

Quick Dash, Low Cash Photo Studio

It may be that I'm the result of Depression-era parents or that I'm just plain cheap. I rely on elbow grease and baking soda to clean the bathroom; we use clothespins to keep our chip bags shut; plastic bags work great the second time around; you won't find that many pieces of clothing in my closet that cost more than $20; and my workout "club" doubles as the laundry room.

This frugality spills over into all parts of my life, including my creative world. Not to say that I'm not sitting on a small fortune of beads, buttons, metal, yarn, and tools! But if there's a cheap way to get something done, I do it.

I struggled for a long time to find a way to get good indoor lighting for photography without having to invest in special lights and a photo dome. Before, I'd wait for a nice day and shoot as much as I could outside. But that's not always feasible, especially in Minnesota, where it's cloudy half the year and raining a good portion of the rest.

I played around with different scenarios quite a bit and found that the setup that gave me the most flexibility and least headache was pretty low-tech: two 60W task lights pointed at each other over a white paper "corner" I made with sheets of white card stock. This configuration reduces the amount of shadow coming off the pieces when I shoot them. It works well for me, too, in that I can instantly set it up on my messy worktable and break it down just as quickly--no storage.

When shooting with this light box, I make sure to set the white balance menu in my camera to "tungsten" to compensate for the yellowy light. I also up the exposure to +1 so the piece doesn't go dark.

Do you have some quick dash/low cash in-house photo studio tips you’d like to share? Post them on the website!

Jean Campbell writes about beading and life every Wednesday on Beading Daily. If you have comments or questions for Jean, please post them on the website. Thanks!

Beads for Sale! by Jean Campbell

Michelle M. — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:03:00 GMT

Last year I decided I'd try my hand at selling beadwork. Oh, I'd sold a few pieces here and there, but nothing at a shop. What happened is a whole lot of learning and not so many sales. --Jean Campbell, contributing editor, Beading Daily

SCENE 1

Art opening at an eclectic midtown Minneapolis art gallery. The small gallery is packed with people. They mill about, eating canapés and looking at artwork.

JEAN to BECKY: You're mosaics are amazing! They have other great things here, too. Oh, look--there's a jewelry case.

BECKY introduces JEAN to OWNER 1.

JEAN: What a great gallery! I'd be interested in showing you my work for possible sales here.

OWNER 1: Thanks, yeah, it's been fun running it. Sure, I'd like to see your work. Just call to make an appointment.

JEAN: My people will call your people. Ha, ha.

OWNER 1 stares blankly at JEAN.

CUT to JEAN on phone, making appointment on the phone with OWNER 1.

CUT to JEAN waiting for three weeks for appointment.

SCENE 2

Same gallery in Minneapolis. JEAN is dressed neatly and is wearing a tasteful amount of makeup. She carries a display case filled with handmade jewelry.

OWNER 1: Nice work! But too high-end for here. Go to Chicago or New York.

JEAN: I'd rather not go to those places. I'd like to sell in Minneapolis. At this gallery.

OWNER 1: Okay, but I'll need more wearable stuff.

JEAN: No problem. But I don't really know what I'm doing. I've never sold at a shop before.

OWNER 1: That's okay. You'll figure it out.

JEAN: I'm doing this as a sort of experiment, so I can write about it someday.

OWNER 1: Huh? Anyway, when you come only bring bracelets. Necklaces don't sell here.

JEAN: Okay.

OWNER 1: And bring something low-end for quick holiday sales but no earrings. They don't sell here.

JEAN: Okay.

CUT to JEAN in her studio making lots of bracelets. Receipts from bead purchases are scattered everywhere.

SCENE 3

Art gallery. JEAN carries a box of the jewelry and presents it to OWNER 1.

OWNER 1: (Making a face.) They all have too many beads--everyone knows how to bead now, so beads don't sell.

JEAN: Oh. That would have been helpful to know because that's pretty much what I do.

OWNER 1: Hmm. And these don't have stylish colors.

JEAN: But I used the colors of the latest palette from New York's fashion week.

OWNER 1: But this is the Midwest, not New York. These look too nineties; these are too hard to put on; these are bangles, and no one wears bangles, especially in Minneapolis. But I'll put everything out anyway to see what happens.

JEAN: Can I have a receipt?

OWNER 1: Um, we don't usually do receipts.

JEAN: What? I need a receipt.

OWNER 1: Ooookaaay. I'll just sign your delivery list there.

CUT to JEAN waiting anxiously as holidays come and go. One bangle is sold. JEAN receives a check for $25.

SCENE 4

JEAN calls OWNER 1.

JEAN: Let's lower the prices on my pieces.

OWNER 1: Okay, yeah, you set them too high.

JEAN: Why didn't you tell me sooner?

OWNER: I don't know. Prices are tricky.

One bracelet and one bangle are sold in February. JEAN receives a check for $75. In the meantime, a resort town shop owner visits OWNER 1's gallery.

CUT to JEAN receiving a call at home from OWNER 2.

OWNER 2: Can I put your stuff in my shop? We want earrings and anklets, too.

JEAN: Sure, I guess. How did you get my number?

OWNER 2: I saw your work in that gallery. I know the owner.

JEAN: Oh, okay.

JEAN calls OWNER 1.

JEAN: I want my stuff back because I'm sending it up North to see if it sells there.

OWNER 1: Okay. If you ever have metal jewelry, bring it in because beads don't sell here.

JEAN: (Jean rolls eyes.) Um, oh. Thanks.

SCENE 5

JEAN'S studio as she makes more stuff to add to the old stuff. She sends it North. Summer comes and goes. One bracelet and several earrings are sold at the tourist trap. JEAN receives a check for $95. Tourist season ends.

OWNER 2: Can you come pick your stuff up?

JEAN: No. You're four hours away.

OWNER 2: Okay, we'll send it back to you via USPS.

The bracelets and anklets are returned, but the remaining earrings are mysteriously missing. Inside the box is an envelope. JEAN opens it and finds a $5 bill for shipping. Knowing this business is not for her, JEAN laughs hysterically.

THE END

I've since decided that I like writing about beadwork, not selling it! If you decide to try selling your work, read my tips and learn from my experience.

Tips for Selling Your Jewelry in Shops and Galleries

Editor — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Last year I decided I'd try my hand at selling beadwork. Oh, I'd sold a few pieces here and there, but nothing at a shop. What happened is a whole lot of learning and not so many sales. (Read my short piece "Beads for Sale!" if you want to relive my experience.) I’ve since decided I like writing about beadwork, not selling it!

Here's a list of what I learned:

Have a long, hard think about whether you really want to do this. Selling beadwork isn’t glamorous. It’s sales. Research, marketing, production, fulfillment. If you’re into beadwork for the creative outlet only, this gig may not be for you.
If you decide you’re up for the challenge, visit lots of shops and galleries, especially those with a textile bent if you’re selling off-loom work. Don’t even bother with the large retail places--most only take high-volume production work from major manufacturers.
Once you find a place or two that feel right, fully research the shop’s stock. Is your stuff too similar to what’s already there? Is it so different that it wouldn’t fit in? Don’t be afraid to look at the prices. This will help you set your own prices to compete with what’s already there.
Make an appointment with the gallery owner. Never barge in. These people are busy running their business.
Once you have an appointment, dress nicely and come totally prepared to present your wares. Think about it as you would if you were making a presentation at the office. You’re selling a whole package—yourself included—since you and the gallery owner will have a relationship of sorts.
Bring a variety of samples and know your prices down pat. Talk frankly with the owner about what sells well in the shop.
Know that your work probably won’t be accepted at the first place you try. You may have to make appointments all over the city, and it’s possible that you’ll need to send digital images if you need to solicit shops farther away.
Once you’ve been accepted, clearly discuss the terms for payment. Many small shops don’t offer a contract, but contracts are important! So if they don’t offer one, simply hammer something out that outlines your discussion about payment, how the work will be displayed, how long the pieces will be held, and who will be responsible for returning the pieces. Also include a clause about damaged or missing pieces—some shop owners are less friendly with their wares than others.
When it’s time for delivery, come armed with dozens of pieces for the owner to choose from. Have each labeled with a price tag. You could even include little gauze bags or other doodads to make each piece a more attractive buy. Attach your business card to each piece. (The shop owner might remove all this extra stuff, but it’s worth a try and makes you look like a pro.) Oh, and don’t forget that contract for the owner to sign!
Check in periodically to check on your work. You can call, but it’s even better to stop by the shop and see if your stuff’s being displayed and treated properly. Talk with the salesperson or owner to see how the work is selling.
If you’re selling the work, great! Keep doing what you’re doing. If not, and you really like the shop, strategize with the owner on what might work better and adjust accordingly. Remember owners are in it for the money, too, so they want your work to sell.
Don’t keep your work in the shop indefinitely if it isn’t selling—there might be a shop around the corner that will turn your work over like gangbusters.
Finally, remember that shops and galleries aren’t the only places to sell your work. One of the most successful beadwork sellers I know throws one huge pre-holiday sale in her home every year. She works for months creating high-end jewelry she knows her friends and family will love for themselves or to give as gifts. She invites everyone she knows to come, serves snacks and beverages to create a party atmosphere, and sits by the till and watches the dough roll in. She makes a quarter of her yearly income this way! You can also sell your work successfully at beauty salons, high-end clothing shops, church bazaars, school fundraisers, bead society sales, and online.

Jean Campbell writes about beading and life every Wednesday on Beading Daily. If you have comments or questions for Jean, please post them on the website. Thanks!

12 Reader Tips for Selling Your Jewelry

Editor — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

I never used to wear jewelry to the grocery store, but after reading about all the sales that Beading Daily readers have had standing in the checkout line ("Your First Sale"), I'm rethinking that business strategy! Here are a dozen more jewelry business tips and stories from Beading Daily readers.

1. Wear your jewelry outside the house.

"First sale was off my ears in a checkout lane. Don't be afraid to answer compliments with 'Thanks, I make these to sell!'"

"Some of the ladies at work asked me why all of my jewelry matched my clothes. I told them that was because I made it myself. They then started asking me, 'How much would it cost to make me one?'"--Yvonne Norman

"I first discovered beading because of an arts class I was taking at college. My kids were young and not in school, so I would take them to the Child Watch at the local YMCA and do homework while they played. Some other mothers that were there loved a pair of earrings I had made and one bought a pair for her daughter for Christmas."--Kassie, The Beaded Butterfly.

2. Ask others to wear your creations . . . or to sell them for you.

“I made a peyote stitch bracelet for my husband and he wore it to work. A couple of his co-workers liked what they saw and asked if I sold my jewelry. My sweet husband who is so proud of my work said of course! So my husband and I made my first sale.”

"I'm creative and love to design jewelry and have mastered many techniques, but the art of selling is not something I've done successfully. I'd sooner give my work away before I sell it, and when I think about how to price my creations, I severely under-price. So a very good friend of mine decided that she needed to step in and sell for me. She took approximately 50 pieces that I had made (many of those pieces were made years ago) and managed to sell 95% of the pieces to her co-workers on the floor where she worked!"

3. Find your niche.

"With Bike Week coming into town, I decided to make amulet bags with motorcycle and patriotic themes. I took them to a jewelry store that was near a famous bar. The owner took them all on consignment--I was amazed. I was pessimistic about them selling because I priced them on the high side. After Bike Week, I got a phone call telling me to come down and pick up a check! She had sold every one of them and asked for 12 more. I was in a daze floating out the door with cash in my purse."

Left: "Making gemstone 'name bracelets' for young men launched my line of Bad Beadz and a jewelry business, Anuenue Gems & Jewels."--Jeri Lynn Endo

Right: A beaded doll by Debi's Designs.

"I am the owner and designer of a needlework company, Always Time to Stitch. I design and sell needlework leaflets. I started making scissor fobs. I do a beaded faux chain. I just sold 18 to one shop in Florida recently!"--Jennifer Rodriguez

"I belong to a Red Hat Society Group and I made custom colored magnetic bracelets in purples and reds."--R.A. Fazio

4. Don’t forget about special commissions.

"I sold two amulet bags to a local college professor who was looking for some special little wearable works of art to give to two students that she had mentored for three years. It was an incredible feeling to know that my work was special enough to be chosen by her for this occasion!"--Jennifer VanBenschoten

5. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean someone else won’t.

“[My first sale] was, in my opinion, the ugliest piece I had ever made."--Heather D.

6. Take a picture, it lasts longer.

“It was very satisfying to know that someone other than myself appreciated the creativity and craftsmanship that was placed on the piece enough to purchase it. The only regret that I had at the time, was not photographing it. I now photograph each of the pieces that I sell.”--Teresa Garza

7. Grow and change your business as you grow and change as an artist.

"I began making earrings and found it so much fun that I just couldn't stop! So I would bring my box of earrings around to groups I work with and many were sold at a very reasonable price. Now I am sharing the fun of beading by writing directions and making kits for beaded rings."--Rose Allen, Capitol View Creations

8. Price it right.

“I HATE selling my items, I prefer to gift them! So I put an outrageous price on something hoping that will deter folks. Sometimes it doesn't!”

"Forgot to include the sales tax in my quoted price just today--don't do that!"

"I made a bunch of Czech bead looped bracelets with vintage glass beads to sell at a craft fair at a local church. My friend kept saying I was making pieces that would not appeal to the type of customers the church attracts at these yearly events because the folks are socialites, upper class, the type who buy real gold and silver pieces. I charged ten bucks a bracelet, while he made cool looking gemstone pendants with silver settings that he priced at 35 bucks. I made a little over 200 dollars in bracelet sales and he sold two pendants at 35 dollars.”

"Back in the early 1970's, I started making beaded earrings. I worked in an antique shop and took apart broken bracelets and necklaces. I used the beads to make earrings which I sold for a dollar a pair. Sometimes I bought the week's groceries on the money I made from those earrings."--Rona O.

9. If you don’t get fortune, you still might get fame.

"A woman I worked with was invited to a gala event that Oprah Winfrey would be at and wanted something special to wear. She had seen the jewelry I'd made and commissioned me to make something for her. I made a necklace and earring set (priced barely above cost) which she wore proudly to the event. Sadly, she never got close enough to Oprah."

"One of the first sales I made was during a jewelry sale I hosted in my home. A lot of friends and family came, including the boyfriend of a friend who is a singer in a rock band. He became very interested in a necklace I had made just by chance with all the mismatched beads that I had left over. He bought it and when I got his next album, there he was on the cover wearing the necklace."

10. Start young . . . or not.

Robinsunne started her artistic journey at the age of four. She now creates quilted vessels with beaded edgings.

At left: Could It Be? 4" x 8". Fabric, thread, glass beads, 14K goldfill beads, computer chips, and bone beads.

"The first beaded piece I ever sold was actually to a teacher in high school. I was so addicted that I would bring my beads to school and work on things in class. One of my teachers liked my stuff so much that he bought a piece for his wife and for his mom. Of course, I was told that I should probably not be beading during class."--Chantel

"The first time someone asked me if she can buy a necklace made by me I was very surprised. For 50 years I never made something anyone would buy!!!"

11. Turn a rejection into a sale.

"Last April, I created a set for the Swarovski contest, but it was not selected. I sold 2 bracelets and twice the earrings at my supply store."

12. Selling that first piece can change your life.

"I struggled for years thinking I was a 'fine' artist with no success at all. When I discovered beading and started my first project (a 3-panel peyote stitch 'stained glass' hanging) it was sold before I even finished it. I've sold more beadwork in the last 3 years than I ever sold over the decades of painting in every medium I tried. I finally found out where my heart is!"

"I started to make earrings for fun, and now it has blossomed into a business. I was even able to quit one of my jobs last year, and now I work part time."--Nicole, Paw and Claw Designs

"I had been an editor and writer for many years, and beading was a hobby. In the first year of hobbydom, I sold $900 worth of beaded jewelry! Hmm, I thought, maybe I'm onto something here. A few years--and many more sales later--I turned my beading into my full-time business and said farewell to the land of scholarly footnotes. Haven't regretted it a single moment."--Kelli P.

New Poll: So many of you had great advice on clasps ("Choosing the Right Bracelet Clasp?") that I created a new poll: What's your favorite type of clasp? This poll will end February 8, 2008.

Today is the last day to enter the Beader's Stash Contest!

Michelle Mach is the editor of Beading Daily. She enjoyed hearing all your stories about selling your work!

Your First Sale: Reader Stories

Editor — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:00:00 GMT

have never sold a beaded item that I've made. I've come close more than once, including one time at work when two coworkers were arguing over how much a necklace of mine should sell for! (And not in the way you might assume--they actually kept upping the suggested price!)

At the time, I felt so personally attached to what I'd made that I didn't want to let it go. Sure, I could make another one, but what was the fun in that? Now that I've been beading longer and I see the delight my friends and family get from my beaded gifts, I understand the appeal of selling your work beyond the obvious financial rewards. Many of you already see the appeal--89% of the more than 1,400 respondents to the question "Have you ever sold a beaded item?" answered YES!

At left: One of my "almost" sales, my "Waikiki Wishes" necklace. (Instructions in Creative Jewelry coming out summer 2008.)

Your First Sale

Bracelets (31%) and necklaces (30%) were the most popular first-sale items. Other common items included earrings, badge holders, Christmas ornaments, and bags. Some of the more unusual items included bookmarks, hair stick, stitch markers, scissor fob, lighter cover, roller skating outfit, peyote stitch “stained glass” wall hanging, a sculptural rabbit with a loomed beadwork belt, and a macramé and beaded plant hanger. (Yes, this last item was sold in the 1970s!)

Not surprisingly, many first sales were unplanned:

“I had not planned to sell anything, but a friend just HAD to have them for his girlfriend after he saw me wearing the set!”

"I had just learned to make crocheted ropes and was wearing a white necklace with a sterling slide. A waitress in a restaurant admired it and the next thing I knew she bought it right off my neck."--Thea

Many first customers included friends and family:

"My first bracelet I sold to a friend--who I wanted to give the bracelet to--but she insisted on paying me!"--Aurora Fox

"My first sale was to an uncle of mine who bought a blue necklace for his wife. She loved it so much that he ended up ordering the bracelet and earrings that matched it."--Sue Gumina, ShironaDesigns.com

Co-workers were also popular first customers:

"I had brought some of my necklaces that I had made into work just to show off and one of my co-workers wanted to buy it. She still wears it today and brags about how talented I am and tells everybody that I made it for her."--Cissie

When you think about selling your jewelry, you might naturally think about craft shows or galleries. While those places were mentioned by readers, they were outnumbered by more ordinary places: beauty salons, churches, doctor and dentist offices, garage sales, grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, and workplaces.

"My kids were young and not in school, so I would take them to the Child Watch at the local YMCA and do homework while they played. Some other mothers that were there loved a pair of earrings I had made and one bought a pair for her daughter for Christmas."--Kassie, beadingbutterfly.com

“I was wearing one of my beaded bracelets while grocery shopping. A woman followed me around the store until I became uncomfortable enough to ask why she was following me. She wanted to look more closely at the bracelet and ended up buying it right off my arm!"--Lady Jamaica

And there were more than a few who didn't even leave their homes to make those first sales:

"My first sale happened where I keep and work on all my beaded jewelry--in my bedroom! One evening, I was looking through all my pieces I made (at that time was about 50) and a friend of mine happened to stop by. When she saw my jewelry, within 15 minutes, she had me put aside 3 pieces she was buying. She paid for half up front to have me hold them for the following week when she could pay me the rest."--Kim, beadnbear.com

"In 1985, I had my first "Beaded Jewelry Home Sale." The first piece I sold was a multiple strand necklace for $85. I was especially delighted (and encouraged) with that sale because it was to a total stranger, a casual friend of a friend who had invited her to my sale."--Robin Atkins

A few people had first sales online at places like Ebay or Etsy, but they were in the minority. This makes sense, given how surprised so many people were by their first sale. Selling online requires planning; wearing a bracelet to a restaurant and having someone buy it off your arm does not.

"I discovered the website Etsy.com a couple of months after it went live. I had a huge stash of stuff I'd made, but didn't use, and all my friends had been 'gifted out.' I decided to list a couple of paper pins I had created and, lo and behold, they sold! I asked next to nothing for them, much less than now, but I was absolutely in heaven because somebody liked them enough to pay for them."

Those who didn’t sell their jewelry gave it away as gifts, traded it, donated it for charity auctions, entered it into art shows, or were eventually planning to sell it.

“I refuse to sell my beadwork for something at trite as $ to strangers. I sometimes trade or gift them but never sell!"--L.S.

“I have been asked to sell my work, but no one wants to pay for the cost of the materials, let alone my time. So I keep it for myself, or give it as gifts.”

"I am afraid it would take the fun out of it when there would be quotas and deadlines. My hobby would become work."

Those who did sell their work often found rewards beyond the money, including friendship and self-confidence:

"I spent a day at a craft show with my beading club and sold one simple necklace. The best part of it was not the $15 sale, but the fellowship at the booth with fellow beaders."--Barbara Yelverton

"I was amazed! Someone else other than me actually loved something I made, wanted to own it, gave me money, and wore it."--Karen Swartz

Warning: Selling your work can be addicting!

"I went to an art fair and fell in love with a particular necklace. When I looked at the price, I almost fainted! I've always been pretty creative and decided I would try beading. I found a tremendous amount of help at my local beading store and was off and running! Made my first necklace and ladies at work started asking me to make items for them. One day, I complimented a friend on a necklace she was wearing, and it turned out to be one I'd made for her quite some time ago! That's when I knew I was hooked."--Suzanne Hines

Current Poll: Do you listen to music while you bead? So far the "yes" group is winning! What do you think?

Michelle Mach is the editor of Beading Daily. She loved all the helpful hints from readers about selling your work and will be sharing more of them in an upcoming newsletter.

Elegant Netted Bracelet

Editor — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:00:00 GMT

Can I get you a bracelet with that moose?

Does it matter where you sell your jewelry?

Over the weekend, I had two very different experiences shopping for beaded items.

On Saturday, I went to a craft show in another town. The show, held in a historic building, was arranged with like items grouped together in separate rooms--all the ceramic dishes in one room, all the jewelry in another. As a shopper, the arrangement made it easy to focus and quickly find items I was interested in. At the same time, the display of jewelry was so overwhelming, I felt it difficult to appreciate any individual pieces.

My shopping experience on Sunday was very different. I was wandering around a local health food store and found a display of children's beading kits--brightly painted beads and hemp for stringing--in between the cheese and crackers. It was easy to focus on the kits, but only because it was so oddly out of place like fruit punch at a brie-and-caviar reception. None of the other shoppers seemed to notice the kits and just breezed right by.

Those two experiences left me with far more questions than answers. Is it better to sell at expected places like craft shows? Should you seek out the more unusual venues? Does it hurt--or help--to have the competition clustered around your work? How much does location matter?

Elegant Netted Bracelet

This week's featured project, Elegant Netted Bracelet by Deborah Meyer, is from Beadwork magazine. It uses size 11 seed beads, hex-cut bugle beads, 4mm cubes, 5mm crystal bicones, and a button with a shank. This is an easy project to coordinate with your holiday outfit by making simple changes: switch out the button, change the crystal color, replace hex-cut bugles with plain ones, use larger seed beads--the possibilities are endless!

Interviews with Two Lampwork Artists

When you're admiring lampwork beads, it's always fun--and sometimes surprising--to learn about the artist behind the torch. In my conversation with bead artist Lori Greenberg, for example, I learned that she prefers working with earth tones rather than bright colors. I would have never guessed that looking at the many bright and beautiful beads on her website!

Check out the interviews with lampwork artists Lori Greenberg and Cindy Gimbrone.

See the new Interviews page for other bead artist interviews you may have missed!

At left: Lori Greenberg's Amber Marquis Bead. At right: Cindy Gimbrone's spiral bead in the "Spiral of Kronos" necklace by Sandi Wiseheart.

Coming This Week: On Wednesday I'll share some ideas for using buttons in jewelry and on Friday I'll announce the winners of the first Beading Daily challenge!

Are you making handmade gifts this year? This poll ended November 30, 2007.

Michelle Mach is the editor of Beading Daily. She is in post-Thanksgiving recovery mode today.

4 Jewelry Business Tips

Editor — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Welcoming a New Jewelry Designer

A few weeks ago, I had an email from a new jewelry designer. She enjoys working on projects like Leslee Frumin's right-angle weave necklace, Puttin' on the Ritz. (Her version is pictured at left; instructions are in Beadwork February/March 2007). She also enjoys making her own designs and wants to start selling her work. After I emailed her with some advice, she wrote back to let me know that she had to put her business website on hold because of . . . algebra.

Did I mention she's 12?

One of the wonderful things about working in a creative field like beading is that your age doesn't matter nearly as much as the quality of your work. Part of my advice to Becca was to not let other people tell her she was "too young" to start following her dreams. What advice or encouraging words do you have for her, or other new designers? Please share your wisdom in the comments section, so we can all enjoy and learn!

Bead Crochet and Wire Necklace from Step by Step Wire Jewelry

Harvest Gold Necklace
by Judy Zedalis

This fall-inspired project combines wirework and bead crochet in autumn colors of amber, gold, black, and brown. Even if you aren't interested in bead crochet, you might take a look at some of the wireworking features (like the coils pictured at right) and try incorporating those into a design.

Check out the Winter 2008 issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry for great projects like wire embellished beads, 4-in-1 chain maille earrings, a pearl cuff bracelet, and a flowing collar necklace by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong that will challenge advanced wireworkers. View the full table of contents

4 Jewelry Business Tips

Home Shows
"No costly booth to buy, no jury fees to pay, and best of all, no competing jewelers--home shows are a fun and easy way to sell your jewelry."--Stephanie Riger, "Selling Your Jewelry the Easy Way," Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Winter 2008
Business Name
"Think about the impression your business name will make on potential customers. There's a world of difference between Barbie's Baubles and Barbara Norton Custom Jewelry. They both work--but for different markets, different styles."--Viki Lareau, Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry
Pricing Your Work
"That rate must reflect not just the hours put into a particular piece but all of the investment in acquiring the skills to make it that well and that quickly: all training, both casual and formal, and all related experience to date."--Merle White, "What's Your Time Worth?," Jewelry Artist, October 2007
Fear of Rejection
"Those few who don't mind being told 'no thanks' a number of times, having door after door shut in their faces, and being turned down by shows and stores have a clear advantage. Instead of letting rejections get them down and giving up (which is most often the case), these people use criticism and rejections as lessons to make their products better."--Viki Lareau, "Bead Biz", Beadwork, December 2007/January 2008

Coming Next Week: Holiday-related projects to kick off your gift-making season.

Today's the last day to answer the current poll question: Have you ever sold a beaded item you've made?

Story Update: The instructions for the o-ring necklace by the Sleepless Beader (see the photo in Monday's post) will be published in the March/April 2008 issue of Step by Step Beads.

Michelle Mach is the editor of Beading Daily. She is going to start on her holiday beading this weekend!

More Craft Show Advice

Editor — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:00:00 GMT

After I wrote about selling jewelry at craft shows, I received a wonderful email from Beading Daily reader, Wendy Hitchins who recounted her own experiences with craft shows and offered some advice on the topic:

"I've done craft shows now for over 5 years. It's a gruelling way to start selling your jewellery but absolutely essential. It's true that by selling at shows you become known. You gain valuable insight into what your customers want and what sells and doesn't sell. I've learned there are no magic answers when it comes to shows. If the weather is too hot, people don't come. If it's too cold or wet, they don't come. To make up for fewer customers you need a range of prices for your work. Some days earrings sell and others necklaces. Be flexible in your selection. Always look professinal. Don't eat at your display. Definitely DON'T read a book. It's okay to work on some jewellery but I find it may take me a full day to do something that usually takes 15 minutes. Keep your tables covered in a way that hides all the periferral stuff like boxes, etc. Be prepared for any eventuality. Don't forget your tools. If anything is going to break it will break as a customer picks it up. Murphy's Law.

Picking the right craft show, in my experience, is a lot of trial and error. Even those that say they are juried can be disappointing. I try to stay within 1 hour's drive of my home. If they want a lot of money for entry fees, I want to know why. Just because they bill the show as huge, with a large audience, doesn't mean those people will shop.

My first outdoor show was over a long weekend. The weather was shockingly bad. The organizers promised over 10,000 people would visit the over 400 vendors. They all did visit—on the last day. And, they were just looking. Most had kids in strollers and there were so many people going by my booth they looked like they were riding a conveyor belt. It was a crush. Not condusive to those impulse buyers we all need. So, I learned that bigger is definitely not better."

Wendy also generously offered to answer some questions on this topic, so please post your questions below!

Should You Sell Your Jewelry at Craft Shows?

Editor — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:00:00 GMT

Summer is a popular time for craft shows. As you wander down the aisles, you may be wondering about selling your own jewelry at a local show. Is it worth it?

Viki Lareau, author of Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry and the "Bead Biz" column in Beadwork, advises, "Regardless of whether your ultimate goal is to have a catalog, sales reps, your own gallery, or be a private stylist to movie stars—I think everyone needs to start with doing some craft shows. Why? Because shows will prepare you for any other direction you decide to go. They give you exposure and experience with the public, they let you try new designs and pricing structures, and they give you the chance to network with other people in the same business."

This is not to say that the craft show route is an easy one. There are a number of challenges you'll want to consider—increased competition, the mix of handmade crafts alongside cheap junk, and the hard, physical labor of setting up a booth and standing behind it all day. More than a few beading and jewelry bloggers have some good advice to consider. Here's a sampling:

Nicolette Tallmadge tells you why you need to know what other booths will be selling
Katie Hacker talks about differentiating your work from the competition
Lori Greenberg offers a show checklist to make sure you have everything you need
Tammy Powley suggests checking out other types of festivals
What do you think? Have you tried craft fairs? Would you advise a new beader to go this route?