4 Jewelry Business Tips

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

tinakstep — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:45:02 GMT

my most successful moments have happened when i use my beading talents for my community. many times i have donated work to auctions or sales to help raise funds for a community need and then ended up with customers. also, teaching in small group settings has stimulated interest in my retail items. just like selling an item right off your wrist, this can be an unexpected source of sales and can also generate intersting new friendships.

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

SusanL@125 — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:06:15 GMT

just don't give up! I graduated Nursing School in 1996 (and caught Chicken Pox from my children) in 1999 I took care of a patient with full-blown open Shingles and he was my patient for two nights when I had to do full dressing changes. That was in about July of 1999, by October 1999 I was soooo sick with an upper respiratory infection and was diagnosed with Post herpetic neuralgia, the chicken pox virus went internal on the main nerve that goes around your body at bra level and it causes excruciating chronic constant pain, I am now disabled and can not longer work as a nurse and when a friend suggested beading to me (and bought me some stuff that I needed, that was all it took, and that was in Oct. 2005, the rest is history - S. Lydic Designs, "Dress Your Ears!" and I'm going okay for right now, I'm wating to do Ebay!

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

NitzaA — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:13:35 GMT

The Sky is the limit... continue your dreams.

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

MARJORGOODS — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:36:44 GMT

TO BECCA AND ALL NEW DESIGNERS, I WAS IN MY LATE 50'S WHEN I STARTED TO BEAD. I SELL A FEW PIECES NOW AND THEN. GO WITH YOUR HEART AND KEEP ON LEARNING. YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG OR OLD TO LEARN. BECCA, I THINK YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL GIFT AND WILL REAP REWARDS WITH IT. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND SHOW US SOME MORE BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS, MARGIE IN SOUTH CAROLINA

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

ozbianca — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:11:54 GMT

My advice mirrors what others have said: do not give up. THis is not only applicable to Becca - too often I speak with beaders who have just opened a web or other shop, and are disappointed that the customers do not flock. Know your customer, understand how and where they shop and target your market. Plan ahead. Creativity is wonderful but running a business requires other skill such as planning and changing your strategy. Always focus on quality and craftmanship and have a story to tell that is compeling. Most of all, take time, don't strive to be successful overnight.

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

Bjmack1213 — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:31:00 GMT

There a 3 basic rules to remember and you can apply to life or business. The 3 R's.
Respect for yourself
Respect for others
Responsibility for what you do
If someone critizes something you make remind yourself You like it, but remember why they didn't, maybe you can use it later to make something they might buy.
Good Luck
BJ

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

Kathryn Tyre — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 05:10:08 GMT

I hope that age is not a factor. Two years ago, at 62, I dove head first into making jewelry to sell at art shows. It is only now beginning to take off, but I have never been happier or more fulfilled. It's never too late to dream and believe.

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

BonnieT@19 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:54:41 GMT

Hi Becca! As you get older and get to look back on your life, you will probably find out that your interests, talents and abilities follow you! They mature as you do. To encourage you, I would share that in the store I work, we have been selling the earrings of a young girl who lives in town for two years now. She started with a local school craft fair and began to upscale her work. People love her earrings. I say: Dare to dream! I'm 55 and have been beading a couple of years now and my necklaces also sell at the store. It's a wonderful compliment when someone likes a piece that you have done. Not everyone has the same taste, so try to vary your work...you'll be surprised who will pick up the piece you like the least and say: WOW! Best wishes ~ Bonnie

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

AmeliaV@3 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:06:10 GMT

Becca, I have been a life long crafter of one kind or another. It started when my grandmother gave me a corner of her new quilt to stitch. From there I was into everything else. Now at 75 I'm a beader. Go for it, girl! You may be the next great designer-Jeweler!!

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

bodhikt — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:23:33 GMT

To Becca:

Stick with the math-- eventually, it WILL be something you can use to help yourself.
Algebra is good... and a class in statistics can be very useful when you want to figure out where to go business-wise. The class excercises tend to be yawn-inducing and probably unrelated to anything YOU can relate to, but try to read between the lines and apply it to what you do.

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

OliviaS@5 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:41:31 GMT

Not getting discouraged over age is a big big part of owning a jewelry business at a young age and being an entrepreneur. I started making jewelry when I was 10 and made it into a business when I was about 11. You can see my jewelry at www.oliviashope.com. When you own a jewelry business your age doesn't matter. What matters is the quality of your work and the integrity you have in making it. Most importantly enjoy it!

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

SherryR@15 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:22:33 GMT

Becca, follow your heart and dreams! Get as much education as you possibly can and try your hand at more than just beading alone. Explore all your options, use common sense and be true to yourself and you can't go wrong!

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

Timaree — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:20:38 GMT

Actually, I am going to use you, Becca to encourage my granddaughter to go for her dreams. She is too unsure of who she is yet, unlike you but perhaps when she sees what you have made she will want to do more with her talents. Nothing like peer pressure! I don't have any tips for you as I don't sell my beadwork, just give it away as gifts. It's an alternate path that I find rewarding but then, I don't need to earn my living. Go for it with all you've got but I agree with some others, pay attention to your schoolwork too. It's not nearly so much fun but it is necessary. Good luck. Hope to see some more of your work here.

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

JanisF@5 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:12:40 GMT

How exciting Becca. Age doesn't matter and the earlier you can start the better. At your age I could only daydream of doing what you are doing. Now, only at 52 am I finding my creative talent. You go for it girl!

re: 4 Jewelry Business Tips

daffymommy — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:04:38 GMT

It's so wonderful that you found your talent in beading so early in life! I say, from personal experience, dream big and you'll come to even bigger adventures.

Keep something special evey month or so of something that you bead, so when you get older you can look back at your earlier work and see how far you have come.

Remember to make time to bead a little everyday.