Handmade Jewelry Marketing Tips

2008-01-29T08:42:00.000-08:00

Unusual Places to Display Your Handmade Jewelry Designs

Hi gang! You probably already know you need all the publicity you can get for your jewelry designs. Here's an article that lists some unusual places to display your jewelry designs:

Unusual Places to Display Your Handmade Jewelry

Hope it helps. :-)

Kristie

2008-01-13T19:15:00.002-08:00

How to Use the Power of Suggestion to Sell More Handmade Jewelry

Hi everyone! I hope the holidays were good to you. I've gotten a bit behind on posting but will try to be more timely in the future. If you haven't signed up for the Handmade Jewelry Marketing tips newsletter, that's another way to get more information on marketing jewelry. Just send a blank email to handmadejewelry@aweber.com and you'll be added to the list.

I just published a new article. Here it is:

How to Use the Power of Suggestion to Sell More Handmade Jewelry

Hope it helps.

Kristie

2007-12-25T19:18:00.001-08:00

How to Make a Name for Your Handmade Jewelry Business Locally: Part 2

Happy Holidays! I hope you ate lots of delicious holiday food and took
a brief break from your jewelry business. I sure did! I guess all good
things have to come to an end and it's time to get back to work.

I just published a second article in the series on how to make a name
for your handmade jewelry business locally. Here's a link:

How to Make a Name for Your Handmade Jewelry Business Locally: Part 2

Enjoy the rest of your week. :-)

Kristie

2007-12-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

How to Market Your Jewelry Through a Personal Jewelry Shopping Service

Hi everyone! Hope you had a great weekend. If you live in New
England, it sounds like you had a rough weekend of weather.
Hope you're all safe and warm now.

I just added an article on the website on how to start a personal
jewelry shopping service. I know several people who are doing
this successfully. If you live in a city, you might want to consider
giving this business a go. Here's a link to the article:
How to Market Your Jewelry Through a
Personal Jewelry Shopping Service .

Thanks for reading. :-)

Kristie

2007-12-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

How to Make a Name for Your Handmade Jewelry Locally Part One

Hi everyone! I hope you have a great weekend. Today I'm starting a series of articles on how to make a name for your jewelry business locally. After we complete this series, we can move on and talk about making a name for your business more globally through the internet. I hope this will help each of you sell more jewelry. That's my goal! Here's a link to the article:

How to Make a Name for Your Handmade Jewelry Locally Part One

Have a great week. :-)

Kristie

2007-12-02T17:52:00.001-08:00

Finding New Outlets for Handmade Jewelry

Hi everyone! Well another weekend flew by! I just don't know
where the time goes. A trip we took this weekend prompted
the latest article that I just posted on the website. It discusses
a rather unconventional place to display your handmade jewelry.
Here it is:

Finding New Outlets for Handmade Jewelry

Thanks for reading. :-)

Kristie

2007-11-25T16:01:00.000-08:00

How to Intrigue Your Craft and Jewelry Show Customers and Get
Them to Buy More.

Hi everybody! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I can't
believe anotherChristmas is upon us. Time is really flying these days.

I just published an article called, How to Intrigue Your Craft and
Jewelry Show Customers and Get Them to Buy More. I hope
you'll enjoy it. To read it click here.

Keep up the good work everyone. And keep marketing!

Kristie :-)

2007-11-18T17:40:00.000-08:00

How Does Your Body Language Influence Your Jewelry Sales?

Hi everyone! I hope you had a nice, long, relaxing weekend. :-) I love weekends and they just don't seem to last long enough. Here's the most recent article. It's a bit different, but I hope you'll find it to be helpful. Thanks again for reading. :-)

How Does Your Body Language Influence Your Jewelry Sales?

Kristie

2007-11-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

A Unique Way to Market Your Handmade Jewelry to Boutiques

Hi everyone! I'm having a terrible time publishing to my website and I'm
not sure why. That's why you haven't seen more updates. I'm hoping
today's article will show up. Here it is:

A Unique Way to Market Your Handmade Jewelry to Boutiques

I hope I can get these computer problems straight so I can update for
you'll more often. I'll keep you informed. Take care. :-)

Kristie

2007-11-05T07:36:00.001-08:00

Holiday Jewelry Trends for 2007-2008

Hi everyone! I've been having a ton of computer problems lately so I haven't been updated as often as I should. I hope you'll bear with me. It took me 45 minutes just to get an article uploaded today. Finally, here it is. :-) .

I did some research to try to keep you abreast of some of the upcoming holiday jewelry trends. I know that most of you have your own unique style and you don't want to change that based on trends. Sometimes this information can help you make subtle modifications to your jewelry line that can help your jewelry sell better. Here's the article:

Holiday Jewelry Trends for 2007-2008

All the best to each of you. :-)

Kristie

2007-10-29T05:56:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! I've been having more problems with my computer so I've
been a bit slow to update. I wanted to update you on another niche market
for your handmade jewelry. Here's the article:

Another Excellent Market for Your Handmade Jewelry

I'm glad to know some of you are doing very well with your jewelry online.
Keep up the good work. :-)

Kristie

2007-10-22T01:49:00.000-07:00

How to Tell a Handmade Jewelry Story

Hi everyone! I hope you have a great weekend. I finally have my computer
back on track. Here's the article I promised:

How to Tell a Handmade Jewelry Story

Hope it helps. Thanks again for reading. :_)

Kristie

2007-10-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm having problems with my computer this morning. I
think I need to purchase a new router. I have an interesting article
ready to publish as soon as I get the computer situation resolved. I
should have it up by Monday morning at the latest.

The article is called How to "Tell a Handmade Jewelry Story". I think
you'll find it to be very helpful for increasing sales when you to go craft
and jewelry shows. Check back with me over the weekend or on Monday
and I should have it posted.

Thanks for reading. :-) Also, be sure to get on the mailing list for the
handmade jewelry marketing tips by sending a blank email.

Have a great weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-10-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

A Unique Market for Your Handmade Jewelry

Hi everyone! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. We took a trip to Asheville, North Carolina this weekend. This is a very art oriented city with lots of galleries, unique boutiques, and, of course, handmade jewelry. If you have a chance to visit this area, it can be a great source of inspiration.

I just published an article on another unique market for your handmade jewelry. Here's the link: Another Unique Market for Your Handmade Jewelry.

Hope this helps. Have a great week. :-)

Kristie

2007-10-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Hi! I hope you had a nice weekend. We went to a gathering at a local country club in our area over the weekend. This experience made me think of what a good market for your jewelry business these clubs could be. ( I really don't like country clubs so it was a nice way to pass the time). The women that I saw had on a LOT of jewelry. Made me wish you all could be there with your jewelry. Wouldn't their eyes pop out of their heads at all that jewelry?

I just published an article on selling jewelry to the country club crowd. Here's a link: Another Local Market for Your Handmade Jewelry.

Let me know what you think of this market if you give it a try.

Take care. :-)
Kristie

2007-10-04T07:00:00.001-07:00

How to Approach Boutique and Gallery Owners to Sell Your Jewelry

Hi! I've been getting lots of questions about how to approach retail store owners about carrying handmade jewelry. I've published a few guidelines. Here's the link:

How to Approach Boutique and Gallery Owners to Sell Your Jewelry

P.S. You have to learn to overcome your shyness. What's the worse thing that can happen?

Kristie

2007-10-01T04:58:00.000-07:00

Another Unique Market for Your Handmade Jewelry

Hi! I hope you had a great weekend. :-) These warm summer days
are drawing to a close. :-(. The good news is we're entering into the
holiday jewelry selling season. I hope all of you have the best year
ever.

I just published an article:

Another Unique Market for Your Handmade
Jewelry.

Hope it helps. :-)

Kristie

2007-09-25T06:24:00.000-07:00

How to Use the Power of "Free" to Sell More Handmade Jewelry

We all like to get something free. Just the sound of the word "free" is enough to entice many of us to take a second look. I just published an article on how to use "free" to sell more jewelry. Hope this helps. :-) Here's the link: How to Use the Power of Free to Sell More Jewelry.

Kristie

2007-09-20T03:31:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! I just published a new article. Here it is: A Powerful Merchandising Strategy That Increases Sales. Hope it helps. Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

P.S. How are the jewelry sales going?

2007-09-17T05:45:00.000-07:00

Do You Really Know How to Sell Your Own Jewelry?

Hi everyone! We finally got a break from the brutally hot weather. It finally feels like fall! I would love fall if I didn't know winter followed it so closely. Hope you had a great weekend.

I just published today's article: Do You Really Know How to Sell Your Own Jewelry?

Hope it helps all of you! I want you to sell TONS of handmade jewelry and be HUGE successes and I KNOW you can do it.

Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-09-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

How to Sell More Handmade Jewelry This Holiday Season

Hi everyone! The holiday season is just around the corner and it's one of the best times of year for jewelry sales. I just published an article on how to increase your sales this holiday season. Here it is:

How to Sell More Handmade Jewelry This Holiday Season

Hope it helps. Enjoy your afternoon. :-)

Kristie

2007-09-10T05:38:00.001-07:00

Do You Know Who You're Marketing Your Jewelry To?

Hi everyone! I can't believe the summer's gone. Time moves so quickly these days. Kind of scary, huh?

How well do you really know your jewelry customer? If someone were to ask, could you say in three sentences or less who your typical customer is? If not, you may want to read this article: How Well Do You Really Know Your Jewelry Buying Customer?

Hope you're selling lots of jewelry! Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-09-10T05:38:00.000-07:00

Do You Know Who You're Marketing Your Jewelry To?

Hi everyone! I can't believe the summer's gone. Time moves so quickly these days. Kind of scary, huh?

How well do you really know your jewelry customer? If someone were to ask, could you say in three sentences or less who your typical customer is? If not, you may want to read this article: Do You Know Who You're Marketing Your Jewelry To?

Hope you're selling lots of jewelry! Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-09-04T05:52:00.000-07:00

How to Use Jewelry Trunk Shows to Market Your Handmade Jewelry

Hi everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. We just had a trunk show at our bead store last weekend which started me thinking about this article:

How to Use Jewelry Trunk Shows to Market Your Handmade Jewelry

Hope this will help you sell some jewelry. :-)

Kristie

2007-08-29T05:18:00.000-07:00

How to Photograph Your Jewelry for Auctions and Online Selling

Hi everyone! I noticed that a lot of people don't know what they need to take good digital photos of their jewelry. Here's an article that shows you how to get started. I'll be following up with more articles on jewelry photography in the future. How to Photograph Your Jewelry with a Digital Camera

As usual, thank you for reading. :-)

Kristie

2007-08-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

Are You Using Customer Contact Effectively in Your Jewelry Business?

Hi everyone! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. We had a chance to visit a local craft show this weekend in Lexington, Virginia. I didn't see any awe inspiring displays at this show, although it seemed as if most of the jewelers were selling pretty well. Hope your craft shows are going well.

I just published an article that may help you market more effectively to your craft show and online customers. Here it is: Learn How to Master Repeat Customer Salesmanship and Watch Your Jewelry Business Thrive!

Have a great week. :-)

Kristie

2007-08-22T05:14:00.001-07:00

Need a Profitable Jewelry Niche?

Hi jewelry designers! I know you've heard me rant and rave about the importance of having a niche for your jewelry designs. Well here I go again! I just published an article that will reveal a lucrative market for your handmade jewelry. Here's the link: A Profitable Niche Market for Your Handmade Jewelry.

Have a fantastic day. :-)

Kristie

2007-08-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

Exciting New Way to Market Your Handmade Jewelry!

Hi! I hope your weekend was cooler than the one we had. The temps were in the low 90's, but combined with the humidity, it made for a very stuffy weekend. Oh well, it was a good weekend to stay inside and make jewelry. :-)

If you're looking for new ways to market your jewelry, you'll want to read my latest article on an exciting new service you can offer. Here's a link: Exciting New Way to Market Your Handmade Jewelry.

Have a great day! TRY to stay cool.

Kristie

2007-08-15T06:37:00.001-07:00

Fall/Winter 2008 Jewelry and Bead Trends

It's hard to believe that the summer's almost over! It went by FAR too quickly. I thought I'd better publish an article on the upcoming Fall and Winter jewelry trends. Here it is: Fall/Winter 2008 Jewelry and Bead Trends.

I hope you have a FANTASTIC day. :-)

Kristie

2007-08-13T05:36:00.000-07:00

How to Make an Ebay "About Me" Page That Sells Jewelry

Hi everyone! I hope you had a nice weekend. It was quite hot here in Virginia with temps in the 90's. I'm sure you were having much of the same. It was a good weekend for staying home and making jewelry. :-)

I'm continuing my series on selling jewelry on Ebay. You can access the latest article: How to Make an Ebay "About Me" Page That Sells Jewelry .

Hope this helps. :-)

Kristie

2007-08-10T05:23:00.001-07:00

How to Get More Jewelry Design Ideas

Hi everyone! Have you ever had a creative block? If so, you know how frustrating it can be. I just published an article that will help you get more jewelry design ideas. Here it is: How to Get More Jewelry Design Ideas.

Have a great weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-08-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

How to Increase Your Profits Hosting Earring Parties

Hi everyone! If you're looking for a fun way to increase your revenues from jewelry making, you may want to read this article: Why Not Host a Custom Earring Party. Let me know what you think. Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-08-06T05:23:00.000-07:00

Why Isn't Your Jewelry Selling on Ebay?

Hi everyone! I still believe Ebay is a good market for handmade jewelry. I believe the key to selling jewelry on Ebay comes down to smart marketing. That's why I wrote this article:
Why Isn't Your Jewelry Selling on Ebay. Hope it helps someone. :-)

Kristie

2007-08-01T05:12:00.000-07:00

Using Squidoo to Market Your Handmade Jewelry

Hi everyone! I started thinking yesterday that we really haven't talked enough about using the internet to market your handmade jewelry. I know many of you have web pages, online stores, and sell on auction. I thought I would do some articles on internet marketing. One of my favorite ways to promote my website is through Squidoo. Here's a link to the article: Using Squidoo to Market Your Handmade Jewelry

Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

Don't Let Fear Stop You From Being a Jewelry Success Story!

Hi everyone! Hope you had a great weekend! I just published an article that I'm hoping will help a lot of people. Please let me know what you think. Here it is: Don't Let Fear Stop You From Being a Jewelry Success Story!

Thanks again for reading. :-)

Krisite

2007-07-27T05:34:00.000-07:00

How to Use the Power of Words and Names to Sell More Jewelry!

Hi again! I'm so glad the weekend's here! I hope you'll have a good one. Maybe this would be a good time to take a break from jewelry making and have some fun! Your business will still be there on Monday. Sometimes you're more productive after you've given your mind and hands a rest.

I just published this article: Use the Power of Words & Names to Sell More Jewelry!

Have a great weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

Does Your Jewelry Display Need an Update?

Hi everyone! Hope your jewelry sales are going well. If you're exhibiting at craft and jewelry shows this summer, you may want to read my new article. Here's a link: Does Your Jewelry Display Need an Update?

If you have any input or feedback, let me know. I love to hear from readers! Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

10 Secrets to Selling Alot More Jewelry at Craft Shows!

Hi everyone! Sorry to be so late today getting the blog posting up! No excuses, just too many things to do. :-)

I just posted today's article on selling more jewelry at craft shows. Here's a link: 10 Secrets to Selling Alot More Jewelry at Craft Shows.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

How to Research Jewelry Trends at Your Local Mall

Hi everyone! I have a fun article today. It's time to get serious about the upcoming fall jewelry trends! I'll be publishing an article on fall/winter 2007 jewelry in the next week or so. Until then give this a try: How to Research Jewelry Trends at Your Local Mall.

Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-16T04:11:00.001-07:00

Need Jewelry Design Inspiration? Do the Jewelry Scramble!

Hi everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. They just go by too quickly! I have a fun exercise for you to do today that should help you get inspired to create. Here's a link: Do the Jewelry Scramble!

Have a great week. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-13T05:29:00.000-07:00

How To Get Out of a Jewelry Design Rut!

Have you ever been in a jewelry design rut? It's frustrating when you lose your creativity and your enthusiasm for your business. Here's a link to an article that may help you: How to Get Out of a Jewelry Design Rut and Recharge Your Jewelry Design Talents.

Hope this helps somebody! Have a great weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-11T01:35:00.000-07:00

Can Your Local Bead Store Help You Sell More Jewelry?

Hi everyone! I hope you're not having the kind of sizzling, hot weather we're having here in Virginia! It sure makes you want to stay home in the air conditioning. Hope your jewelry marketing is going well. If you haven't signed up, I'd love to send you my jewelry marketing tips sent to your mailbox every 5 days. Just send a blank email

Here's a link to today's article: Can Your Local Bead Store Help You Sell More Jewelry?

Thanks again for reading. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-09T04:15:00.001-07:00

Sell More Jewelry By Dazzling Your Customer with Good Taste!

Hi! I hope each and every one of you had a great weekend. Here's an article to start your week off. It's called: Sell More Jewelry By Dazzling Your Customer with Good Taste!

If you haven't signed up for the free jewelry marketing tips delivered every 5 days via email, send a blank blank email to subscribe

Have a great week. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-06T03:12:00.000-07:00

Do You Jewelry Designs Need an Update?

Hi everyone! I hope you had a nice fourth of July! Ours was quiet. We didn't want to be out on the road with all that heavy traffic. No grilling out this year. We actually ate at an Indian buffet! How's that for fourth of July spirit?

Now that we're into the summer season when jewelry sales can be slower, it's a good time to take a fresh look at what you have to offer. I just published an article that might help you do that. Here it is: Do Your Jewelry Designs Need an Update?

Hope the article help! Have a good weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-07-02T06:07:00.001-07:00

Could You Sell Your Jewelry to the Medical Market?

Hi everyone! Aren't you glad it's a short week this week due to July 4? I hope you're going to have a great one. :-)

I just published an article on adapting your jewelry to the medical market. Here it is: Could You Sell Your Handmade Jewelry to the Medical Market?

Have a productive day! Talk to you soon. :-)

Kristie

2007-06-29T03:47:00.000-07:00

A Local Niche Market For Your Handmade Jewelry!

Hi everyone! I hope you have a nice weekend planned. We don't have anything special planned just hoping to have a chance to relax!

I just published an article for you on another way to market your jewelry locally. Here's a link: A Local Niche Market for Your Handmade Jewelry.

Hope this helps. Have a FANTASTIC weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-06-27T04:01:00.000-07:00

How to Sell MORE Jewelry at Home Parties!

Hi everyone! Thanks again for being a reader of my humble, little blog :-)

I know many of you sell your jewelry through home parties. I just published an article that'll show you how to sell MORE! Here's a link: How to Sell ALOT More Jewelry at Home Parties

Now that the craft and jewelry show season's underway, I'm sure you could benefit from some fresh ideas for selling more jewelry at these events. There's nothing more frustrating than paying all that money to exhibit at a craft show and then barely making your show fees! If you want to get ideas for knock-em-dead craft booth displays (I know many of you say you have problems with this) and find out how to double or triple your profits at craft shows, this book can help. Sometimes one idea is all it takes to increase your jewelry sales and profits. Hope this helps. Have a great afternoon. :-)

Kristie

2007-06-25T04:41:00.000-07:00

How to Use Surveys to Sell More Jewelry!

Hi jewelry designers! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. It's so nice that summer's here and we can be outdoors more. Are your summer craft and jewelry shows going well? I'd love to get some feedback from you. :-)

I just published an article on using survey forms to sell more jewelry. Here's a link: How to Use Surveys to Sell More Handmade Jewelry. Hope it helps. Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-06-22T02:34:00.000-07:00

What Should You Do With Jewelry That Doesn't Sell?

Hi everyone! I just published an article I hope you'll find useful. We've all had jewelry that just won't sell and it can be super discouraging. Here's an article that'll show you what to do with your jewelry designs that don't sell: What Should You Do With Jewelry That Doesn't Sell?

Have a fantastic weekend!

Kristie

2007-06-20T03:53:00.001-07:00

Are You a Jewelry Artist or a Jewelry Maker?

Hi everyone! We're having super hot weather here in Roanoke with temperatures in the low 90's, but it sure beats the cold weather and snow! Hope you're enjoying your summer. :-)

I just published an article that will, hopefully, help you clarify where your product fits in the world of jewelry design. Here's a link to the article: Are You a Jewelry Maker or a Jewelry Artist?

Have a great afternoon. :-)

Kristie

2007-06-18T02:27:00.000-07:00

How to Promote Your Home Jewelry Party Business!

Hi everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. It was extremely warm here in Roanoke, with temperatures in the mid 90's. It's still better than cold weather!

I know many of you sell your jewelry through home parties. To get new hosts for your jewelry parties, you recruit guests from your current parties.

If you want to expand your home jewelry party business faster, you can make a separate business card that promotes only the home jewelry party aspect of your business and post it in public areas. There are tons of people out there who would love to make extra money giving home jewelry parties~ Here's a link to an article that might help: How to Promote Your Home Jewelry Party Business.

Have a happy and productive day!

Kristie

2007-06-15T04:13:00.000-07:00

How to Sell More Earrings At Craft Shows!

Hi everyone! You probably already sell earrings at craft shows and home parties. If not, you should be! They make great impulse purchases. I just published an article on how to sell more earrings at craft shows and home parties. Here's a link: How to Sell More Earrings at Craft Shows and Home Parties.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend :-)

Kristie

2007-06-13T03:21:00.000-07:00

Why Customers Are Your Best Source for Jewelry Design Ideas

Hi again, everyone! If you have topics or suggestions you'd like for me to cover on the blog or website, let me know and I'll be happy to do it. Also, feedback is always appreciated. I want to give you the kind of information you need to sell more jewelry!

I just published an article on getting jewelry design ideas from customers. Here's the link: Why Customers Are Your Best Source for Jewelry Design Ideas. Hope it helps!

Thanks again for taking the time to visit the website. :-)

Kristie

2007-06-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

An Unusual Way to Build Your Jewelry Marketing Mailing List

Hi everyone! I hope you have a great weekend. :-)

If your jewelry sales are slow right now, don't feel down. It seems like retail sales are slow everywhere right now. After talking to several stores in our area, they all report very slow sales of jewelry and apparel. I guess with gas prices so high, no one wants to drive to the stores or spend money. It's times like these where you really need to step up your marketing efforts. Keep handing out those flyers and business cards!

I just published an article on a somewhat different way to build your mailing list. I hope you don't think I've gone off the deep end. :-) Here's a link: An Unusual Way to Build Your Jewelry Mailing List.

Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-06-08T04:55:00.000-07:00

Boost Your Jewelry Sales by "Connecting" With Your Customers!

Hi everyone! Hope your jewelry sales are going well, although this tends to be a rather slow time of year. I just published an article on how to "connect" with your customer to make more jewelry sales. Here's a link: Boost Your Jewelry Sales by "Connecting" With Your Customers!

Hope this will help you think a bit about how you can use this concept in your own jewelry
business.

Have a great weekend. :-)

Kristie

P.S. Have you signed up for a free handmade jewelry marketing tip delivered to your mailbox every five days? If not, send a blank email to marketjewelry@aweber.com.

2007-06-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

Market Jewelry Through Fashion Shows (and have fun at the same time)

Hi everyone! Who says marketing jewelry shouldn't be fun? I just published an article on a fun way to get some attention, free publicity and sales for your jewelry designs. Hope this helps. :-)
Here's the article: How to Use Fashion Shows to Sell Your Handmade Jewelry!

Kristie

2007-06-04T05:06:00.001-07:00

Sell More Jewelry Online with Jewelry Marketing Power Words!

Hi! I hope you had a great weekend! We went to Pittsburgh this weekend for a short break and really loved the city. It has a beautiful skyline for a city its size. We didn't have much time to look at jewelry since we were gone for only a day. Oh well, maybe next time.

I just published an article on using copywriting skills to sell more jewelry online. Using the right words can make all the difference in your jewelry sales. Here's a link to the article: Sell More Jewelry Online with Jewelry Marketing Power Words.

Have a great week!. :-)

Kristie

2007-05-31T04:08:00.000-07:00

How to Harness the Power of Niche Marketing for Your Jewelry Business! It's Powerful!

Hi gang! We're heading up to Pittsburgh today for a day, so I'll make it brief. I wanted to make sure you have something to read while I'm gone. :-) Here's your latest article: How to Harness the Power of Niche Marketing.

2007-05-29T04:05:00.000-07:00

How to Get More Reorders for Your Handmade Jewelry! Jewelry Marketing!

Hi everyone! I hope you had a great Memorial Day holiday. We didn't do anything special, just enjoyed the spectacular weather!

I just published an article on a method to help you get reorders on your handmade jewelry from your craft and jewelry show customers. The trick is to keep your name in front of them so they don't forget about you. Here's a link to the article: How to Get More Reorders for Your Handmade Jewelry.

Have a good week. :-)

Kristie

2007-05-25T05:06:00.000-07:00

Are You a Good Spokesperson for Your Jewelry Line?

This may sound like a silly question, but it's actually more important than you think. I just published an article that explains. Are You a Good Spokesperson for your Jewelry Designs?

Have a great holiday!

Kristie

2007-05-23T03:22:00.000-07:00

How to Add Value to Your Jewelry Designs

Hi again, everyone! We're enjoying such beautiful days in our part of the country. Hope you're having great weather too!

Today I want to explore how to give your handmade jewelry designs more value and importance to your customer. In the increasingly competitive jewelry market, it's important to make your designs stand out. Here's a link to the article: How to Add Value to Your Jewelry Designs.

Have you subscribed to the Jewelry Tips Email that comes out every 5 days? If not, send a blank email to handmadejewelry@aweber.com and you'll start receiving it right away.

Have a great afternoon. :-)

Kristie

2007-05-21T03:24:00.000-07:00

How to Create Your Own Jewelry Showroom

Hi everyone! How was your weekend? We had stunning weather with temperatures in the high 70's and sunny! Wish it could be like that every day.

I just completed an article on creating your own jewelry showroom in your own home. There are lots of advantages to this arrangement. Here's a link to the article: Start a Jewelry Showroom in Your Home.

Are your jewelry sales going well? If you have any particular questions you'd like to have discussed through an article, let me know. I'm always happy to help. Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-05-18T05:33:00.001-07:00

Ideas for Marketing Your Handmade Jewelry Locally

Are you getting the word out to your local community that you have great jewelry designs? If not, you'll want to read my latest article that gives you simple ideas for selling more jewelry in your local area.

Sometimes in our efforts to market online, we forget to market to the area where we have a competitive advantage, our home town. Here's the article: Quick and Easy Ways to Market Your Handmade Jewelry Locally.

Have a great weekend!

Kristie

2007-05-16T05:14:00.000-07:00

Must Visit Jewelry Marketing & Design Websites

Hi! I hope you're all doing well. :-)

I wanted to give you some of the best sites online for keeping abreast of jewelry trends and getting up-to-the-minutes news on what's happening in the jewelry industry. These are great sites to bookmark and refer to again and again trend information or marketing expertise. Here's the article: Resources of Interest for Jewelry Designers and Marketers

Have a great afternoon. :-)

Kristie

2007-05-14T03:29:00.000-07:00

Brand New Idea for Increasing Your Handmade Jewelry Sales at Shows

I hope all of you had a fantastic Mother's Day. We went out to eat at a delicious buffet, although I ate FAR too much. Oh well, it tasted good. :-) It was nice to be able to treat my mother who also happens to be my bead store partner. After overindulging ourselves, my mom, dad, and husband sat outside by the hotel pool. The weather was absolutely beautiful! A very nice day, all in all. Hope you have the same.

Today, I want to inspire you to think about how you can use add on, impulse items to increase your sales at craft and jewelry shows. I've written an article on the website that describes one such item. Here's the article:

Jewelry Designers! Here's an Impulse Item to Sell at Your Next Jewelry Show!

Hope this helps. Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-05-11T01:08:00.000-07:00

How to Use Blogging to Boost Your Handmade Jewelry Sales

Hi everyone! Today I want to show you how blogging can increase your jewelry sales. Even if you don't have a website, a blog can be a useful tool for keeping up with your customers. Do you sell on ebay auctions? Why not use your blog to direct customers to your Ebay auctions or Ebay store. Do you sell in an online gallery such as this one? A blog can be an excellent means of directing traffic to your listings. Here's the full article.

Have a great weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-05-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

How To Get a Free Moving Bilboard for Your Handmade Jewelry Business

Hi everyone! I think you'll agree with me that the best forms of advertising are free or almost free. Here's a super easy and super cheap (almost free) form of advertising that will work for you 24 hours a day. The complete article is published on my website. CLICK HERE

How are your jewelry sales coming along? I'm always interested in hearing from readers. If you'd like to sign up for the free jewelry marketing tips email that goes out every five days, just send a blank email to handmadejewelry@aweber.com.

I hope you have a fantastic day today. :-)

Kristie

2007-05-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

Another Niche Market for Your Handmade Jewelry

I hope you had a nice weekend! We took a short trip to Colonial Williamsburg this weekend. I had an opportunity to look at the jewelry in some of the specialty shops and galleries in the area. One thing I noticed is jewelry which made a strong statement in the form of a unique design seemed to sell the best. Also, again, jewelry that fulfilled a particular niche was popular. I noticed a line of sterling silver jewelry with a floral theme was selling extremely well which seems to be a big trend right now. If you can adapt your designs to reflect a nature theme, you'll probably have an excellent sell through rate.

Speaking of nature and spring, we all want to experience that sense of renewal as the weather gets warm. That's why so many women are visiting health and rejuvenation spas these days. Could these be a market for your handmade jewelry? Read the article I just published and find out. Here it is: Another Niche For Your Handmade Jewelry.

Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-05-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

9 Great Ways to Supplement Your Jewelry Design Income

Hi everyone! As you know there are times the jewelry business can be slow. Do you need a way to supplement your jewelry design income? I just published an article on the website telling you nine ways to do this. Here's a link: How to Supplement Your Jewelry Design Income.

How are your jewelry sales going? I'm always interested in getting your feedback. If you have any questions or concerns, email me at beadsindeed@cox.net. If you'd like to sign up for the handmade jewelry marketing tips newsletter, send a blank email to handmadejewelry@aweber.com. You'll receive a jewelry marketing tip in your mailbox every 5 days like clockwork.

Hope you enjoy the article. :-)

Kristie

2007-04-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

Sell More Jewelry by Increasing Your Productivity!

Hi everyone! I don't know if you suffer from the same syndrome I do, but I tend to be a procrastinator at times. That's why it's so important I structure my day in order to be productive. Through lots of trial and error I've found a few ways to increase my productivity I'd like to share with you. We all have a certain amount of time in a day and we need to use it to it's maximum advantage. Here's an article I published on the website to give you some ideas on how you can increase your jewelry making productivity. Here's the article: Make More Money By Increasing Your Jewelry Making Productivity.

By the way, if you haven't signed up for the handmade jewelry marketing tips email, you can do it by sending a blank email to handmadejewelry@aweber.com. You'll receive a handmade jewelry marketing tip by email every 5 days.

Thanks again for reading and keep selling that jewelry!

Kristie

2007-04-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

How to Make Your Handmade Necklaces Sell Faster

Hi everyone! I just published a brand new article on how to add special touches to your handmade necklaces that will distinguish you from the competition. I've found from my experience that making a few subtle changes to your necklace designs can mean a big increase in your sales. Here's a link to the article:

How to Make Your Handmade Necklaces Special!

Keep handing out those business cards and putting up those flyers! I want to see your
jewelry businesses grow! Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-04-23T05:56:00.000-07:00

Another Lucrative Market for Handmade Jewelry

Hi everyone! I hope you have a nice weekend! We had gorgeous weather in our area. It was hard to stay inside so my husband and I took a short hike through the mountains. It's amazing how many jewelry design ideas you can get from looking at nature. I've wanted to pick some pretty objects from nature such tiny pinecones, leaves etc. and have them cast in silver. Just haven't had the time yet! Take a walk through the woods sometime and see if you don't get inspired!

I just published an article to the website on a lucrative little business you can add to your jewelry design business. Here's a link to the article: The Profit Potential of Custom Made Bridal Jewelry.

I hope you enjoy the article. If you haven't signed up for the handmade jewelry marketing tips email that comes to your mailbox every 5 days, send a blank email to marketjewelry@aweber.com. Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-04-20T06:14:00.000-07:00

A Better Way to Sell Your Handmade Jewelry Online?

Hi everyone! I just published an article on my website that shows you an alternative way to sell your handmade jewelry online. Here's a link to the article: A Better Way to Sell Your Handmade Jewelry Online. Have you had any good or bad experiences with marketing your jewelry on the internet? If so, I'd love to know about them. Are there any jewelry marketing articles you'd like to see added to the website? Feel free to email me at any time at marketjewelry@aweber.com. Keep looking for new markets for your handmade jewelry, carry those business cards, and have a great weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-04-18T05:35:00.000-07:00

Jewelry Trend Update for 2007

Hi everyone! I wanted to give you an update of the jewelry trends for spring/summer 2007. It's important to know what's currently in demand in the world of jewelry design so you can maintain the freshness of your line. As I mention in the article, you shouldn't make major changes in your jewelry designs based on trends alone. You want to occupy your own unique niche in the jewelry world. Trends come and go so quickly in the jewelry world that you can't afford to make major adaptations to your line when every new trend that comes along. Still it pays to know what's hot so you can make SUBTLE changes to your line to maintain it's newness. When you make these subtle changes, be sure to test them in the marketplace before going into production. Here's a link to the article: Bead and Jewelry Trend Update 2007

Thanks again for being such loyal readers! I love each and every one of you. :-)

Kristie

2007-04-16T05:49:00.000-07:00

Would you like to add an additional profit center to your handmade jewelry business and promote your jewelry at the same time? I just published an article on the website that will show you how to add an additional profit center to your jewelry design business. To access the article click here. If you haven't signed up to receive a new jewelry marketing tip in your email box every 5 days, you can do it by sending a blank email here. You won't find any of the jewelry marketing tips listed on my website as I want to keep them unique.

Two more resources you may want to visit with information on jewelry design and marketing are here and here. These are Squidoo lenses which are miniwebsites that where you can share information on any topic you wish. If you haven't put one up to market your jewelry, you may want to consider it. You can show photos and give information about your jewelry as well as direct people to your website from your Squidoo lense. Squidoo lenses tend to get ranked well in the search engines which further drive traffic to your lense as well as indirectly to your website. They're quick and easy to put up. Much less time consuming than a website!

Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

2007-04-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice if you could market your handmade jewelry and make extra money at the same time? I just published an article on my website showing you how to add an additional profit center to your jewelry business that will help you sell more jewelry. Click here to read the article. I've got lots more handmade jewelry marketing "profit centers" to tell you about in the future. Stay tuned!

Also, I'd love to get some feedback on how I can serve you better. What would you like to learn more about in the world of jewelry marketing? What would you like me to talk less about? Please email me with your suggestions. Thanks for all of your help! I appreciate each and every one of you. :-)

Kristie
http://www.jewelry-marketing.com

2007-04-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to deal with jewelry marketing on a day to day basis? Well, some jewelry designers have found a solution that allows them to do just that. They enlist the help of a jewelry rep. I just posted an new article on my website that will tell you how to find and work with a jewelry rep. Hope you'll find it to be helpful!

How are your jewelry sales coming along? I'd love to hear about your successes and frustrations. You can always contact me via email. I'll continue to put new articles up for you ever day or so. Thanks for reading. :-)

Kristie

2007-04-09T05:36:00.000-07:00

Do you need some helpful ideas for displaying your handmade jewelry at shows? I just posted an article on the website that will hopefully give you some fresh ideas. Here's a link: The Art of Displaying Your Handmade Jewelry at Shows. An eye catching and creative display can make a huge difference in your jewelry sales so it's important to give this aspect of your business some thought. Is it time to make a change?

Also, I wanted to update you on a local market I may have mentioned in the past. High end, independent shoe stores can be a good market for your handmade jewelry. I've received word from several readers regarding success they're having selling their jewelry to shoe stores. It might be time to get out the trusty yellow pages and see what shoe boutiques exist in your area. Give them a visit and see if your jewelry would be a good fit for their store. If so, make an appointment to speak with the owner. Let her know how your jewelry is a nice compliment to her shoes and how the additional sales will give her a great additional source of income. She may not have considered selling handmade jewelry in her store and will be likely be quite pleased to work with you.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter! My husband and family took our bead store manager out to a Easter buffet and, of course, we talked beads and jewelry most of the time. I just can't seem to get away from it. :-)

If you have a chance, check out the article above as well as my Jewelry Marketing website. Talk to you soon. :-)

Kristie

2007-04-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

Think jewelry marketing has to be complicated? I just posted an article on the website outlining a super simple way to market your handmade jewelry locally. Here's the link: Jewelry Marketing Simplified I'm going to be publishing alot more low cost and free ideas for marketing your jewelry locally in upcoming posts. The less time you have to spend on jewelry marketing, the more time you can spend designing jewelry. I'm finding out that time really is our most precious commodity when we're in business for ourselves. Let's use if wisely by outsourcing as much of the marketing as we can.

Two more resources you can check out if you have the time are two Squidoo lenses I created. One is for marketing handmade jewelry and the other is for creative jewelry design. On the creative jewelry design site, take a look at the video on casting metal jewelry near the middle of the page. Interesting stuff! Makes me want to buy the equipment and get started!

As always, I'm open to your questions and comments. Thanks for reading. :-)

Kristie

2007-04-03T06:46:00.001-07:00

Well, the website's finally up, although it's still a work in progress. The address is: http://www.jewelry-marketing.com. I'll be adding lots more articles each week and will announce them on the blog. I added a new article this morning on what to do if your jewelry isn't selling. Here's a link to it: Help! My Jewelry Isn't Selling!

I wanted to keep you abreast of my plans for the future. I'd like to eventually have an area on the website where you can display your jewelry to be purchased wholesale by boutique and gallery owners across the country. Oftentimes, these owners don't have the time to surf the internet looking for unique jewelry to purchase for their stores. If they could find it all in one place, I'm sure they would buy. If you're interested in seeing this concept developed, let me know.

I'm also added a jewelry website evaluation service to my offerings. For a one time $15.00 charge, I'll objectively evaluate your website and send you a full email report of what you might do to improve your sales. I'm going to keep the fee at $15.00 for a short period after which I'll raise it to $25.00 as this can be very time consuming. The $15.00 fee is payable via Paypal. If you're interested, send me an email at beadsindeed@cox.net Please allow me up to 5 days to issue your report due to volume. (I'm only one person. :-) )

I hope you'll enjoy the website! Please feel free to send me any suggestions on how I can make it better. You should be seeing more blog postings in the future. It's nice to be back. :-)

Kristie

2007-03-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm still working on the website which
should go up in the next 10 days or so. I was slowed
down a bit by a death in my husband's family, but am
back on track again. If you'd still like to sign up to
receive a free handmade jewelry marketing tip every
5 days, send a blank email to:

marketjewelry@aweber.com

Talk to you soon. :-)

Kristie

2007-03-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

New Changes to the Blog

Hi everyone! I wanted to let you know that I'm in the process of building a website so I can provide you with more handmade jewelry marketing information. Eventually, I'd like to add a forum so you can share you thoughts and many more additions to help you with your business. I won't be doing my regular postings while I'm working on the website but will post here to let you know how it's progressing and when it will be available. In the meantime, I'm sending out a handmade jewelry marketing tip via email every 4-5 days. If you'd like to sign up, send a blank email to mailto:marketjewelry@aweber.com and I'll add you to the list. I really appreciate all of you and am looking forward to working with you in the future!

Kristie

2007-03-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

Email Your Way to Handmade Jewelry Success

There's no doubt about it! Email is one of the best ways there is to market to your handmade jewelry customers. The key is to offer your customer something of value in every email rather than making your emails an obvious attempt at self promotion.

Hopefully, you have been collecting emails from customers at every craft/jewelry show and home party that you attend or host. The easiest way to do this is to have a large notebook prominently displayed at every event you participate in.

When a customer checks out with you, encourage them to sign up for your free email updates. If you have a website, be sure to have an opt-in form on your site for people to sign up for your emails.

The best way to manage your lists and your messages is through an autoresponder. They are a huge timesaver and will allow you to automate all of your mailings. Here's the one I use: Click here. They have an excellent reputation and can even be reached by phone if you should need technical suppport.

Once you have your email list saved on your auto responder, you can compose a series of messages that will be automatically sent to your customers at predefined time periods of your choosing. I would suggest emailing no more than every 10-14 days. Your messages can include such useful information as:

1. How to care for handmade jewelry, remove tarnish, coordinate jewelry with your clothing etc.

2. The latest jewelry trends

3. Updates on your upcoming jewelry shows.

4. Celebrity jewelry trends

5. Special sales and offers relating to your handmade jewelry

6. Articles on how to wear jewelry to special events such as proms, weddings, parties etc.

7. How to choose jewelry that enhances your complexion, build, face shape etc.

8. How to choose jewelry as a gift for someone else.

The beauty of it all is that you can compose all of your messages at one time and schedule them to be mailed out at regular intervals via your autoresponder. This will free you up to spend less time on your computer and more time designing jewelry.

With a little effort on your part, you'll be surprised at how fast your mailing list will grow.Your customer will appreciate getting useful information from you and will be reminded that you have the handmade jewelry they need for themselves or to give as a special gift to someone else.

Spend a little time building that list and I think you'll be quite pleased with the returns!

For more handmade jewelry marketing ideas like these, send a blank email to marketjewelry@aweber.com. You'll get a unique idea for marketing your handmade jewelry every 5 days. These ideas are available only to subscribers and won't be discussed on the blog. Don't miss out!

Thanks for reading!
Kristie

2007-03-12T05:20:00.000-07:00

Handmade Jewelry for the Prom

As prom season rolls around, teenagers focus on picking out the dresses and accessories that will help make their prom night memorable. You can be a part of the fun and sell more handmade jewelry at the same time!

I would suggest locating a boutique in your area that specializes in selling prom dresses. Ask the owner if she'd like to host a special "get ready for the prom" party with you to help promote her dresses and your handmade jewelry.

If she has a storefront, you could host this special event in her store and give you a commission for sales of your jewelry to pay for your portion of the space. She could advertise the event through her store while you could promote the event via flyers placed in high visibility locations, free publicity, as well as direct contact with all of the high schools in your area.

On the evening of the party, you could have light refreshments such as hot tea and a light dessert. I would recruit some girls from the high schools to model prom dresses along with your jewelry. You could even have a mini fashion show on the evening of the event!

The girls would have an opportunity to try on a wide variety of prom dresses and have them coordinated with your handmadejewelry. You and the store owner would circulate around and provide help in selecting the dresses and jewelry. Be sure to take some photos of the girls in the dresses having a great time so you can use it your next "get ready for the prom" promotion.

Not only should this generate sales of both the prom dresses and your jewelry, it will also give your jewelry lots of free publicity. Be sure to give business cards to all the girls as they leave and let them know you do custom orders if they should need a handmade piece of jewelry for a special occasion. Also, encourage them to visit your website for more great handmade jewelry. Encourage sales by offering a 10% discount if they order from your website in the next 7 days.

The fashion show concept is an idea you could potentially carry out any time of the year in conjunction with a boutique in your area. They would provide the clothing and you supply the jewelry. It could be marketed as a fun night out "just for the girls" and a chance to keep abreast of the upcoming clothing and jewelry trends. Add a few refreshments and some upbeat music playing in the background and you have the prescription for a successful jewelry marketing event.

Give this marketing idea a try. Not only is it potentially lucrative, but also lots of fun!

For more handmade jewelry marketing ideas like these, send a blank email to marketjewelry@aweber.com. You'll get a unique idea for marketing your handmade jewelry every 5 days. These ideas are available only subscribers and won't be discussed on the blog. Don't miss out!

Thanks for reading!

Kristie
Jewelry Design Resource Page
Jewelry Selling Resource Page

2007-03-08T03:34:00.000-08:00

The Subscription Plan for Handmade Jewelry

Here's an idea that would be a fun and profitable
way to sell more handmade jewelry. How about
starting an earringof the month club? This has
been done successfully by others in the past
which proves that it's a viable business idea.
Plus,it assures that you always have a steady
supply of orders foryour handmade jewelry.

I would choose earrings over necklaces and
bracelets since they're quick and inexpensive
to make. I would give the customer the option
of choosing silver or gold-filled findings as well as
a mixture of the two if they like both. You could
add a page to your website describing the program
and show samples of what you might receive on a
monthly basis.

I would emphasize the gift giving potential of this
program andlet potential customers know that
their purchase will come beautifully wrapped
in a box along with a small gift card each month.
Emphasize how overjoyed their gift recipient will
be when she sees the elegant presentation. Also
let you potential customersknow that this is the
perfect gift to give themselves. It will be like
Christmas every month when they open their box
and find a beautifully handcrafted pair of earrings!

You could market this idea online as well as at craft,
jewelry shows,and home parties. If the volume of
subscribers should become high, you could contract
out some of the earring construction to local high school
or college students so that you continue to develop your
other lines of jewelry.

I don't know about you but I think it would be exciting
to have a different pair of earrings delivered to my door
every month! Even though I'm a jewelry maker myself,
I'd be tempted to subscribe. If you give this idea a try,
please let me know the results.

I wanted to do a quick survey and find out if any of you
wonderful readers would be interested in a blog where I
show you Ebay auctions that feature unusual pieces of jewelry
to inspire you as well as auctionsthat have unusually good deals
on wholesale beads and findings. If so,which would interest you
more? You can either comment here or email me via
this link

Need ideas and new insights into selling handmade jewelry at craft shows? The author of this ebook tested a variety of techniques and documented EXACTLY what worked and didn't work. If you read this book and practice the techniques she describes, you will see results. You get 176 pages of rock solid, hard hitting information and ideas as well as 3 bonuses for a VERY reasonable price. Check out her ebook. CLICK HERE You'll be glad you did!

Thanks again for reading!

Kristie

2007-03-06T04:48:00.000-08:00

How to Make a Customer Feel Special (and Sell More Handmade Jewelry at the Same Time)

What do you do to make your customer feel special?

Sometimes in the day to day activities of running a business, we forget about the most important component of the success equation - our customers! Without customers all the beautiful jewelry in the world will just be ornaments and you'll have to find another way to put food on the table. We don't want that to happen!

It's important when we feel tired and frustrated after dealing with a particularly demanding customer that we keep our priorities in perspective. The customer is still number one and we need to find ways to let her know she's special if we want to have a vibrant and successful handmade jewelry business.

What are some simple steps we can take to make your customers feel special?

1. Never underestimate the importance of a smile and a friendly greeting. This simple act can go far towards making your customer feel comfortable and she's likely to stay around and browse much longer than if she's ignore. If she's a repeat customer, greet her by name and let he know you're glad to see her again.

2. Really listen to what your customer says and acknowledge her request or concern. If she has a particular request, show you've listened by repeating back to her what she said. Let he know that you'll do your best to help her. NEVER make a customer feel like she asked a stupid question (although she may have :-) ) . Give her requests and concerns your undivided attention.

3. Ask for your customer's advice. Nothing makes a customer feel more special than to be asked to share their opinion. Why do you think people are so willing to fill out survey forms? It makes them feel good to know someone values what they think. Your customer respects what you do and may even be in awe of the beautiful jewelry you're capable of making. Think how good she'll feel if you sincerely ask her to share thoughts about your business. Plus, you may get some great ideas for new products and services!

4. Make the customer feel good with a sincere thank you at the checkout station. Instead of a rote "thank you" mumbled in an insincere tone, why not jazz up your "thank you" like this?"Ms. X, thank you so much for purchase. We really appreciate having nice customers like you. Enjoy your new necklace!"In this world of half baked, half hearted customer service, this type of response will definitely have an impact.

5. Include a small, inexpensive gift with each purchase. An unexpected gift can go a long ways toward promoting goodwill. How about adding a piece of chocolate wrapped in elegant gold foil to your customer's bag? To make it an even better brand builder, consider having your company name stamped on the foil. Your customer is going to have very positive thoughts about you as she experiences that first sweet bite of chocolate!

6. Speaking of candy, why not have a bowl of inexpensive candy in an elegant, faceted crystal bowl in your booth? We have a supermarket in our area that offers small cups of fresh coffee to shoppers while they shop. Even though their selection is more limited and their prices are higher, I go there just for that coffee!

Little indulgences mean alot to customers and they can cost you very little.The "take home" message is that I want to encourage each of you to focus on your customer and to be aware of how you and your employees interact with them. Go the extra mile! Do the unexpected! This is probably the least expensive and most effective method you can use to distinguish your business from the myriad of handmade jewelry competitors out there.

If you have any suggestions of your own for making a customer feel special, let me know. :-)

Need ideas and new insights into selling handmade jewelry at craft shows? The author of this ebook tested a variety of techniques and documented EXACTLY what worked and didn't work. If you read this book and practice the techniques she describes, you will see results. You get 176 pages of rock solid, hard hitting information and ideas as well as 3 bonuses for a VERY reasonable price. Check out her ebook. CLICK HERE You'll be glad you did!

Thanks for reading,
Kristie

2007-03-05T04:56:00.000-08:00

How to Make a Dynamite Display for Your Handmade Jewelry

There's no doubt about it! A great display will help you sell your handmade jewelry. I've seen a number of jewelry designers at shows who have beautiful jewelry but have used little attention to detail in designing their display design. I can just imagine how much more they might be selling if they could be as creative with their display as they are with their jewelry designs.

A great display has the important function of drawing people into your booth and holding their attention once they get there. If your display lacks originality, potential customers will walk by without giving you a second look. After all, there's alot to see at craft and jewelry shows and people have limited time.

Your display is also making a statement about the quality of your jewelry. If jewelry is carelessly displayed, potential customers will assume that it must not be of particular value and will pass you by. This holds true at craft shows, jewelry shows, home jewelry parties, and even when you display your handmade jewelry in galleries and boutiques.

With display being such an important element in marketingyour handmade jewelry, what can you do to make yours the best it can be? Here are some suggestions:

1. Maximize your lighting. Good lighting is absolutely critical to making handmade jewelry look enticing. Without it, those beautiful gemstones aren't going to give off their sparkle and your customer is not going to pull out her wallet to purchase. This is probably the most important element to consider when displaying your jewelry. This really can make or break you! We'll have a more detailed discussion on how to maximize your lighting in a future post.

2. Make sure your jewelry items are displayed at eye level. Studies have shown that customers buy items that are displayed at eye level while ignoring items they have to make an effort to vision. Make it easy for them by displaying your most important pieces in their line of vision. Also, please remember that jewelry should never be displayed on a completely flat surface.

3. Make sure your display compliments your handmade jewelry. If you sell natural stone jewelry, it will create confusion in your customer's mind if your display is glitzy and loud. Make sure you have CONSISTENCY in both your jewelry line and your display.

4. Group similar jewelry pieces together as a group or family. This is a great way to encourage your customer to purchase multiple items from you. If they like one piece in the group, chances are they'll like them all and will end up buying more than one piece.

5. Consider having attractive signs displayed with your jewelry telling your customer a little about your jewelry and why it's special. This can go a long way towards increasing the perceived value of your handmade jewelry.

6. Avoid clutter at all costs! Clutter creates confusion in the mind of your customer which will decrease your chance of making a sale. Keep your display as streamlined as possible without sacrificing interest and originality.

7. Don't forget the mirrors! Customers need to know how your jewelry is going to look on them. I would recommend having multiple mirrors as a customers don't like to wait and will often vacate your booth if they aren't given immediate gratification. How do you feel when you have to wait in line for a dressing room in a clothing store?

8. Make your booth easy to navigate. Make sure customers can easily access your handmade jewelry even if there's a crowd.

9. Consider the "touch" factor when designing your display. This is a sticky situation since many jewelry designers are hesitant to encourage touching due to the potential for shoplifting. Keep in mind that previous studies have shown that customers are 4 times more likely to buy something they have touched or tryed on. You may want to consider having additional help at your booth to keep an eye on people as they handle your jewelry.

10. Regularly assess and reevaluate your display to make sure that it's still effective and consistent with your theme. It may be a good idea to do periodic updates to maintain consistency and to compliment any changes in your jewelry line. Freshness sells! Don't let a poorly designed display keep you from maximizing your jewelry sales.

Give those jewelry displays as much attention as you give your jewelry designs and you have a great recipe for success!

Need ideas and new insights into selling handmade jewelry at craft shows? The author of this ebook tested a variety of techniques and documented EXACTLY what worked and didn't work. If you read this book and practice the techniques she describes, you will see results. You get 176 pages of rock solid, hard hitting information and ideas as well as 3 bonuses for a VERY reasonable price. Check out her ebook. CLICK HERE You'll be glad you did!

Thanks for reading,
Kristie

2007-03-01T05:23:00.000-08:00

Supplementing Your Handmade Jewelry Income with Teaching

Let's face it! At times the jewelry business has it's slow periods
which can be stressful for even the most seasoned professional.
Wouldn't it be nice to have another source or two for earning
extra money while still promoting your jewelry business?

Periodically, I'm going to be giving you with some ideas
on how you can enhance your jewelry income while still promoting
your jewelry design business.

The idea we'll focus on today is how to earn money by teaching
your jewelry making skills. Rest assured I have lots of other ideas
that I'll be presenting periodically, so stay tuned!

Probably the best way to get started teaching jewelry making to
others is to offer a class at your local bead store or craft store. We
have an employee, who also designs jewelry, who has set up a series
of wireworking classes for our customers. The classes are extremely
popular and she's making a fantastic additional income. She charges
around $35.00 for each class of which she keeps 80% of the fee.
If she averages 10 students per class, that's a pretty good return for a
few hours work. This kind of return definitely makes it worth your time.

I would suggest visiting your local bead store and discussing the
possibility of a similar arrangement with them. I would write
down descriptions of the classes you want to teach as well as
how much you would charge Emphasize to the bead store owner
how much these classes will help the store in the sale of supplies
for the classes. Plus, it will convert non jewelry makers into long
term, jewelry making enthusiasts who'll be purchasing again and
again!

Another possibility is for you to teach a series of classes at your
local college or university as part of their adult continuing
education program. The best way to do this is to call the college
or university and get the name of the program coordinator. You
would then write up a proposal for a series of classes and mail it
directly to that person. Again, let him or her know the benefits
your classes would offer to the participants and to the
university.

The public schools also are receptive to having classes taught in
the area of beading and jewelry making. We have an employee at
our bead store who stays busy visiting some of the local schools
teaching beading to the students. Most schools have set aside
some funds for outside art education and will probably be quite
receptive to having you teach some classes. This can be a great
way to get publicity for your jewelry design business!

How about offering a bead retreat with a variety of jewelry making
classes? You could locate some jewelry designers at shows who
would be willing to teach classes. You could sponsor a day long
retreat where participants would learn the basics of jewelry making.
You could emphasize the stress relieving aspects as well as fun and
fellowship in your advertising. I'm sure you'd get lots of participants!

If you want to make it even simpler, you can offer to teach jewelry
making in the comfort of your own home or studio. You could take
on several students at a time and give them individualized attention.
It's also an opportunity for them to see your beautiful jewelry designs
and tell all of their friends about you!

If you find from experience that you really enjoy teaching jewelry
design, you can always take your show on the road and teach jewelry
making workshops across the country. You may also want to
consider submiting a proposal to teach a class at a national jewelry
show. One of our glass bead makers did that and has gone on to make
quite a name for himself as a result of the publicity he received from
teaching nationally.

In addition to the reimbursement you receive for teaching classes,
you could derive additional income from your class participants by
selling supplies, kits, and instructions for them to take home. The
possiblities are limitless! Plus, you might just find that you have
alot of fun doing it!

Give it a try! You might just find that teaching is a great second income.

If you need an additional resource on how to get started teaching
and seminars, you might want to look at this. This book will show
you how to set your fees as well as market and promote your
workshops and seminars. You'll also learn how to create marketing
materials for your jewelry seminars that get results.

Have a great weekend. :-)

Kristie

2007-02-27T14:34:00.000-08:00

How to Promote Your Website at Craft & Jewelry Shows

Wouldn't it be nice if all of your jewelry and craft show customers
visited your website to make a purchase after they returned home?
They might do just that if you know how to effectively market your
website to your physical customers. Here are some ideas:

1. Make sure a business card with your web address goes into the
bag of every person who purchases from you. This should be an
automatic routine for you.

2. Have a separate sheet printed up offering a discount for purchases
made through your website. Have a code on the sheet they can fill
in at the time of purchase on your website in order to automatically
receive the discount.

3. If the customer purchases a necklace from you, mention that you
have some earrings that would go nicely with the necklace on your
website. Give them a card with your web address.

4. Put up a sign in your booth that says, "We're open 24 hours a day
online at "insert web address."

5. Ask each customer if they'd like to be on your email list to receive
tips on how to care for and wear their jewelry as well as special offers.

6. Wear a button that says, "Visit us at "insert web address".

7. Run a contest for a free piece of jewelry. Have them sign up for a
chance to win on your website. This is also a great way to get
subscribers to y0ur email notifications.

8. Do you best to get a short and memorable domain name that
ends in dotcom. It's important that your web address be easy to
remember and catchy enough to stick in people's minds. If you're
looking for an excellent price on new domain names, take a look here.
I host all 105 (I'm embarrassed to admit) here. I'm a domain name
junkie. Well, they ARE a good investment. :-)

9. Have your web address stamped onto the front of the shopping
bags you give customers when they purchase.

10. Include your web address on your jewelry hang tags.

11. Let them know you have informative articles on how to care for
and clean their new purchase on your website.

12. Offer a free ebook they can download on your website with
suggestions on how to maximize their jewelry wardrobe with hints
on ways to wear your necklaces and what to wear them with etc.
Customers love free things!

From my own experience, I've found #12 to be particularly effective.
Give some of these suggestions a try! I think you'll be pleased with
the results. If you have any ideas to add, feel free to do so in the
comment section. It would be fun to hear what's worked for you.

Do you need to sell more handmade jewelry online? I know how
tough it can be to get traffic to an independent web page. Plus,
it steals all your time away from making more handmade jewelry.
Place your jewelry in an elegant online gallery setting. You get a
14 day free trial to see if the site is right for your jewelry. I've had
several readers email to say they're having success here. Give the
free trial a try! Go to http://www.beadiest.com/.

Thanks again for reading,
Kristie

2007-02-26T04:54:00.000-08:00

Can Packaging Increase the Sales of Your Handmade Jewelry?

How you package your handmade jewelry at the time the customer purchases can have a big impact on the customer impression of your business and may influence whether or not they choose to purchase from you again. Many of your customers are giving your handmade jewelry pieces as gifts and expect to have it presented in a suitable manner. Plus, a customer subconsciously forms an impression regarding the value of your pieces based on how you handle them and what you package them in. This is something to be aware of when you wrap purchases at shows and home parties.

Men who are purchasing jewelry for their wives or significant other are particularly likely to expect presentation packaging and are not likely to purchase if you send your item out in a plastic bag. They simply don't want to go through the additional hassle of finding an appropriate box and having the item gift wrapped.

Plus, jewelry has a very strong emotional appeal and the packaging can in many cases make or break that appeal. How would you feel about purchasing a beautiful piece of handmade jewelry and having it carelessly thrown into a plastic zip lock bag?

Packaging also give you an additional opportunity to market and brand your jewelry line. You can strategically place your name and logo on the jewelry packaging as well as on the outside bag that the customer carries around with her as she walks through the show. This is a moving billboard for your business!

So, how can you go about packaging your jewelry at craft shows and home parties without breaking the bank? You shouldn have to spend a fortune to make a impression with your packaging.

One simple and effective presentation is to purchase nice quality boxes of the appropriate size and have a customer sticker printed up with your business name, web address, email address, phone number, as well as your logo. The sticker can be attached to the top of the box and placed in the bag along with any other promotional material you may have for your customer. I use this simple form of packaging when I go to shows and I have had many people contact me later to purchase an item because they still have that box with the sticker containing my contact information.

I would also recommend having a high quality bag printed up with the name of your jewelry business and logo. This is not as costly as you might imagine particularly if you order in quantity. You can get a variety of types of bags including paper merchandise bags and paper, foil, or plastic totes.

I personally use and recommend the tote bags as they are sturdy and can stand alone on a counter without support. Every customer who leaves your booth with one of those bags will be indirectly advertising for you. If the bag is particularly pretty, other show attendees will ask where they got the bag and the customer can point to your booth. Believe me, this does happen! I have had it happen many times.

I would also invest in some pretty tissue paper to put into each bag. You only need a small amount to put into each bag. These little touches let people know that you are indeed a jewelry design professional and not just a weekend crafter. I would make it a point to have a small display showing your packaging so that customers will know how their final purchase will look.

You also may want to consider having a few velvet boxes available in the event that a customer purchases one of your more expensive items. Other additional perks you might want to consider is providing small, free gift card if the customer is giving an item as a gift or if you have the time and inclination, free gift wrapping.

All of these extras will make your customers feel special and will help to reinforce your name in their minds. A customer that feels special after they leave your booth will be a happy repeat customer!

Would you like to learn to create stunning, wire jewelry that sells super fast at craft fairs? Check out the free videos here.

Thanks for reading, folks! I really value each and every one of you. :-)

Kristie

2007-02-23T05:14:00.000-08:00

Sell More Handmade Jewelry Through Office Marketing

I'll keep it short today as I know everyone's getting ready for the weekend. I'm so glad it's Friday!

Here's a quick idea for marketing more handmade jewelry. Do you have friends and family who work in offices? If so, you might want to consider having them be your "handmade jewelry rep". Here's how it works:

1. Take a shallow box that has a top and line the inside of both the top and the box with black velvet. Line the outside of the box with some luscious fabric.

2. Find a friend or family member who works in an office that has alot of female workers, the larger the better. Ask your friend if she'd like to earn some extra money and free jewelry by showing your jewelry at her job site. Let he know you'll provide her with everything she needs.

3. If she agrees, offer to give her 20% commission on any item she sells at work from your collection. You can also offer her a free pair of earrings if she sells a certain amount.

4. Label the handmade jewelry that you wish to sell with a stock number and price then place the pieces into the velvet lined box you made in #1. Prepare some sheets for special orders.

5. Let your friend take this box with her to the office to show her fellow workers on their lunch hour. (be sure this is allowed at her work site). Since you may only have one of a particular item, have her use the special order sheets to take orders for you.

6. You fulfill the orders and give your friend her commission and free earrings.

I've always found offices to be very enthusiastic buyers of handmade jewelry. This isn't surprising since the employees have limited time to shop. Why not bring the shopping to them?This can work particularly well around the holidays and can be a continuous revenue source for you. Have your friend show your new pieces every two weeks or so and build up a loyal following. Pretty soon employees will come to you first for their gift giving needs as it's far easier to purchase from you than try to go to the shopping mall on their lunch hour. This type of marketing frees you up to do what you do best. Make and design jewelry!

Do you need to sell more handmade jewelry online? I know how tough it can be to get traffic to an independent web page. Plus, it steals all your time away from making more handmade jewelry.Place your jewelry in an elegant online gallery setting. You get a 14 day free trial to see if the site is right for your jewelry. I've had several readers email to say they're having success here. Give the free trial a try! Go to http://www.beadiest.com/.

Have a great weekend!

Kristie

2007-02-22T02:38:00.000-08:00

How to Add Value to Your Handmade Jewelry Designs

We all know how competitive it is in the world of jewelry design! When I attend craft shows these days it seems like every other booth is filled with jewelry. Now, more than ever it's important to add value to your handmade jewelry designs. When you add value to a piece, you decrease the need to compete on the basis of price and you give your jewelry special features that help it to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

So, just how do you go about adding value to your jewelry designs? Here are some ideas:

1. Tell your customer how you make your jewelry designs. You can do this by having a sequence of photos taken while working on your designs along with captions explaining the design process. This should be displayed in your portfolio or prominently displayed in your booth. One of our customers had a beautiful poster made showing how her jewelry is made step-by-step. She placed it in her booth and swears that her sales have increased by 20%.

2. Sign each handmade jewelry piece that you make. This adds value to your pieces in the customers eye and makes them seem truly one-of-a-kind. Plus, it reinforces your name and brand in the marketplace. Think of all of those pieces of jewelry out in the marketplace with your name on them. Great publicity. :-)

3. Use your hangtags to further reinforce the value of your jewelry designs. Make sure your hangtag has a brief blurb about what makes your jewelry special. Mention any special techniques or materials you use in your work. If you use a kiln or a torch or if your designs use all natural materials or found objects, be sure this is emphasized on your hang tag. Customers very much want to know the origins and meaning of the jewelry they buy.

4. Speaking of meaning, you can add even more of it to your handmade jewelry designs by giving each piece a name. With this simple act, you take your piece out of the realm of mass produced jewelry and into the world of art. If this is not practical for you, consider grouping your handmade jewelry items into groups based on similarity and calling them a collection. For example, "The Spirit Collection".

5. Always include copies of any press releases or publicity you've received in the past relating to your jewelry. Make sure these are posted prominently in your booth. It also doesn't hurt to list your past education as well as any special workshops you've attended where you learned new techniques. Customers like to think they're purchasing from an expert artisan.

6. Only produce a certain number of copies of each handmade jewelry piece you create and let that be known to your customer. Give your pieces the designation of "limited edition". Not only does this make the piece more special, it also encourages the customer to purchase now as there are only a certain number available.

7. Did you know you can project value by how you handle your pieces in front of a customer? When you show a piece to a customer, treat the item with the reverence it deserves. Lay it out on a velvet board with good lighting and use hand mannerisms that suggest the piece is of great value. Body and hand language say alot when presenting jewelry to a customer.

8. Do you give any of the proceeds of your jewelry line to a particular charity? Be sure to add that to your hangtag and your literature if you do. If not, you should consider it It's a great way to do well for yourself while doing good things for others. Have you ever noticed how those charity auctions on Ebay always get bid way up? People love to support a cause while pleasing themselves at the same time.

9. Give a memorable guarantee on each handmade jewelry piece that you sell. One of our customers gives what she calls a "hundred year guarantee". She promises that she'll repair any problems that occur with the jewelry she sells over the next hundred years. Customers love it!

10. Display your items in the very best light and setting possible. Never, clutter your booth up with too much jewelry. This makes your handmade jewelry designs look mass produced and decreases their perceived value.Make sure your display is elegant, simple, and consistent with your theme.

11. Add value with your packaging. Look for elegant boxes and wrapping paper that won't break the bank. If a customer purchases alot, you may want to have some gold embossed thank you cards prewritten by hand thanking them for the business. This is a touch that won't be soon forgotten.

12. Dress elegantly and wear one of your most beautiful pieces of jewelry. I always recommend wearing a solid color to a jewelry show. You need a simple background to show off your jewelry designs. I usually wear a solid black top and pants along with a showstopping necklace. Bring along an extra showstopper as sometimes customers will want to buy the piece you're wearing right off your neck!

These are just a few of the many techniques you can use to add value to your pieces. If your jewelry isn't selling as well as you think it should, don't automatically lower your prices. Why not add value instead?

Need ideas and new insights into selling handmade jewelry at craft shows? The author of this ebook tested a variety of techniques and documented EXACTLY what worked and didn't work. If you read this book and practice the techniques she describes, you will see results. You get 176 pages of rock solid, hard hitting information and ideas as well as 3 bonuses for a VERY reasonable price. Check out her ebook. CLICK HERE You'll be glad you did!

2007-02-20T05:16:00.000-08:00

So You Want to Market Your Handmade Jewelry to Galleries?

Hi everyone! I just completed a project and I want to share the results with you. I know many of you would like to get your handmade jewelry into galleries. I wanted to find out directly from the gallery owners and decision makers what jewelry designers need to consider before approaching a gallery. To do this, I called a representative group of 20 galleries across the country and ask them for pointers I can give you on how to approach them. (believe me it's not always easy to reach the person in charge). Here’s what I found:

1. Gallery owners overwhelmingly prefer that you approach them only after calling first and setting up an appointment. Drop in visits particularly during busy days are frowned upon. Several of them noted that Saturday is the absolute worse day to approach them either in person or by phone. One gallery owner said that if a designer drops in on a Saturday unannounced, she’d be unlikely to even consider them for her gallery as it’s a sign of unprofessionalism.

2. Your personality can play a role in whether or not your jewelry is accepted into some galleries. Gallery owners don’t seem to appreciate pushy designers and those who push too hard to “sell” their products. A polite demeanor and good manners go a long way towards establishing a relationship and can increase your chance of acceptance if you have a good product.

3. Several gallery owners emphasized the importance of having up-to-date wholesale price lists with you when you walk in the door. These should have wholesale prices listed and be marked as such. They said some designers will have the retail price printed on their sheets without specifying this. Retailers don’t like to have to ask whether or not the price listed is wholesale or retail. Make it easy for them!

4. Most gallery owners emphasized that they’re looking for jewelry designs that their competitors don’t have. While it may not be practical for you to grant them “exclusive rights” to your designs, I wouldn’t advise selling to their competitor down the street. Most gallery owners said they wouldn't purchase from a designer who sold to their close competitors.

5. "No" doesn't always mean no. Most galleries said they may turn down your work initially for a variety of reasons including an overabundance of jewelry or that particular style of jewelry, being overextended on their inventory purchases, not having the time to properly evaluate your line etc. They implied that a designer should follow up with them at least one time at a later date do see if anything has changed.

6. A few gallery owners emphasized the importance of having a full line of jewelry not just a few choices. It's difficult to create an appealing display or theme if there are only a few choices in your handmade jewelry line.

7. If you live outside the area of the gallery you're approaching, you can contact the gallery owner by mail. Be sure to include clear photographs and a wholesale price list. Mark your prices as wholesale so there's no confusion to the gallery owner as to whether the stated prices are wholesale or retail. Include your minimum order requirement.

8. When a gallery owner places an order with you, be sure to address all of the details regarding shipment. When will it be sent? How will it be sent? Who pays for shipping and handling? When a shipping date is established, please be sure to follow through. Gallery owners are very critical of jewelry designers who don't follow through with shipment in a timely manner.

9. Contrary to what you might think, gallery owners love working with jewelry designers and welcome new contacts. This means new and fresh merchandise for them which is the life blood of their business.

This should give you some idea as to what gallery owners expect from you as a jewelry designer and professional. It's important to maintain good communication with any gallery you establish a relationship with and to practice the art of good customer service. It really is a mutually beneficial relationship and partnership between you and the gallery as you're helping them as much as they're helping you. Be sure to nuture that relationship and it will help your business grow.

Do you need to sell more handmade jewelry online? I know how tough it can be to get traffic to an independent web page. Plus, it steals all your time away from making more handmade jewelry.Place your jewelry in an elegant online gallery setting. You get a 14 day free trial to see if the site is right for your jewelry. I've had several readers email to say they're having success here. Give the free trial a try! Go to http://www.beadiest.com/.

Thanks for reading. :-)

Kristie

2007-02-19T05:17:00.000-08:00

Jewelry Designers! There's Strength in Numbers!

Good morning! I want to start by asking you how many other handmade jewelry designers do you know in your area? Why not join forces with them so you can combine your marketing power to the mutual benefit of everyone.

There would be lots of benefits to joining forces with other designers:

1. You could sponsor a jewelry show open to the public several times a year featuring the group's work. Each member of the group would contribute a portion of the funds to rent out a site for the jewelry show. For an event like this, you'd be likely to gain some free publicity for the show from your local media. You could schedule the shows around times of the year when gift giving is a priority such as Christmas or Valentine's Day. You might consider making the shows more upscale by offering wine and cheese to the customers as they look through your group's offerings.

2. The group could join up with a few wholesale jewelry supply companies that offer discounts for large purchases. Members could then order supplies through the group and get lower prices than they would if they ordered individually.

3. If you are able to form a large enough group, your group may be able to rent out a small retail space to showcase and sell the group's handmade jewelry. Each member could work a certain number of hours a month to keep the retail space staffed.

4. You could bring in guest artists and teachers to lecture on topics such as how to market handmade jewelry and teach workshops on new jewelry design techniques.

5. You'll have the opportunity to learn from other successful jewelry designers. You'll be able to bounce ideas off of them and find out what works for them and what doesn't. A great way to get feedback on your work!

6. You can potentially swap jewelry making supplies with other members if you have items you can't use or have excess stock of a particular item.

7. Jewelry designers organized as a group are more likely to get media attention than an individual designer might.

In our area we have an active and very talented bead group, most of whom market their work both locally and online. One way they have been able to generate publicity for their work is to display their group's items in display cases at our local libraries. The libraries are more than happy to have their gorgeous pieces in their showcase. Included with each member's items in the case is a brief synopsis of the artist. A nice way to get your work noticed by the public and to build name recognition.

What's the best way to get a jewelry design group started?

1. When you go to a craft or jewelry show, collect the business card of all of the local jewelry designers you can find.

2. Check with the local arts council in your area to see if they have a listing of jewelry designers in your area.

3. Ask art galleries that exhibit the work of local jewelry designers and see if you can get a card with their contact information.

4. If you have a local bead society, make an appointment to talk to the person in charge. Tell them what you'd like to do and see if they can help. They probably have members who would like to be a part of your group.

5. Check with your local colleges and universities that offer silversmithing and jewelry design classes to see if they know of any graduating students who would like to be a part of your group.

Once you have at least 7-10 people who are interested, arrange a meeting to determine your goals and how best to achieve them. Appoint a person to be in charge and set up regular meeting times. Many libraries are pleased to have groups like this meet at their facilities free of charge. Keep looking for new members which will help to increase your buying power for wholesale supplies and reduce individual costs for each member to display their items at the shows you sponsor.

In addition to helping you increase your sales of handmade jewelry, you'll also benefit from the friendship and comraderie gained from working with other jewelry designers. Why not give this idea a try? Have a great day. :-)

Kristie

Need ideas and new insights into selling handmade jewelry at craft shows? The author of this ebook tested a variety of techniques and documented EXACTLY what worked and didn't work. If you read this book and practice the techniques she describes, you will see results. You get 176 pages of rock solid, hard hitting information and ideas as well as 3 bonuses for a VERY reasonable price. Check out her ebook. CLICK HERE You'll be glad you did!

2007-02-16T06:07:00.000-08:00

Unleash Your Creativity & Renew Your Enthusiasm for the Handmade Jewelry Business

Hi gang! We talked yesterday about the importance of giving your jewelry line focus, consistency and a signature. We also pointed out that your handmade jewelry must be original to be a bit hit in the marketplace. If your jewelry is to be original, you need to be open to new ideas and be able to unleash your inner creative potential. After all, this is how you come up with new jewelry concepts to develop.

Sometimes the best way to develop your jewelry making creativity is to allow yourself a day every few weeks to "play". If you have a line of jewelry that you're producing on a larger scale, it can be frustrating for many of you to make the same items over and over. Eventually, you can become burned out and frustrated with your jewelry business. A creative day of play is often the answer to renewing your enthusiasm for your handmade jewelry business.

I would suggest setting aside one day on your calendar every three weeks as a day you've chosen to explore creative jewelry making ideas. On this day, there are no jewelry making rules and it's okay to think completely out of the box and try crazy new techniques. All you'll need for this exercise is a large space in a comfortable setting, a big black cloth, your digital camera, and some beautiful music playing in the background.

Remember all of those jewelry findings and parts you have stashed away in a drawer that you did't know what to do with? Well, it's time to bring them out along with all of your other findings, components and beads. I would put a big black piece of cloth on the floor for a neutral background and spread your components out on the cloth. Put on some classical or new age music to get those creative brain waves synchronized, settle down on the floor and start playing with your jewelry parts.

Don't be afraid to try new combinations that might seem unconventional. Remember there are no rules on this day and your thoughts should be as uncensored as possible. When you find an interesting combination you haven't thought of before, take a photo of it with your digital camera to save for future reference.

Here are some exercises that'll help you come up with new combinations:

1. Pick a random word from the dictionary and arrange your jewelry components to give a visual representation of that word. For example, how would you arrange your components to describe a sunset or a forest?

2. Take a handful of components, close your eyes and arrange them by touch only. No peeking allowed! Try this several times until you come up with something interesting and unique.

3. Bring to mind an important historical figure or mythical character. Visualize what kind of jewelry they might have worn. Design a fantasty necklace for that character using your jewelry components. Don't forget to take a digital photo!

4. Look at your components with new eyes and ask yourself how they could be altered to achieve a new look. Could they be wire wrapped, painted, etched, soldered together, cut into pieces, enhanced with beads, put on a headpin, sandblasted, shellaced, drilled or otherwise altered?

5. Open a fashion magazine and randomly pick a fashion photo. Look at the clothing the model is wearing. Use your components to put together a unique jewelry concept for that particular outfit.

I know many of these ideas seem a bit unconventional but sometimes that's what you need to infuse creativity into your jewelry making. Besides, it's also fun and a great stress reliever.

Don't forget to download your digital photos to a special folder once you've completed the exercises. You can peruse them later and pick out any designs you feel might have the potential for being developed and added to your handmade jewelry line.

I hope you'll make this type of jewelry play a regular event. You'll be surprised how simple exercises like this can not only expand your creative options but also reinvigorate you and give you a more positive attitude towards your jewelry design business.

Do you need to sell more handmade jewelry online? I know how tough it can be to get traffic to an independent web page. Plus, it steals all your time away from making more handmade jewelry.Place your jewelry in an elegant online gallery setting. You get a 14 day free trial to see if the site is right for your jewelry. I've had several readers email to say they're having success here. Give the free trial a try! Go to http://www.beadiest.com/.

Thanks for reading. :-)

Kristie

2007-02-15T06:30:00.000-08:00

The Five Things that Can Doom Your Handmade Jewelry Business Fast!

After observing so many people attempting to enter the handmade jewelry business and watching their successes and failures, I think I've come up with the five primary reasons why a jewelry business fails. I think if we can address these issues, we'll achieve a much greater degree of success in our businesses. Here they are:

Lack of Focus

I know we've discussed this before and you're probably tired of hearing it but I see this mistake made so often. You must have a focused jewelry collection with a signature style in order to successfully establish a brand with the consumer.

When you go shopping for clothing by Ralph Lauren, you expect to see an all American, classic, almost preppy look to his pieces. How would you react if he decided to come out with a line of frilly, fussy pieces with loud prints? You might feel a confused and even a bit betrayed. Wouldn't your customers potentially have the same reaction? Confusion in the mind of a consumer definitely doesn't help to boost sales.

Spend some time studying some of the more successful handmade jewelry lines on the market and see if you can define their focus or their signature look. Chances are that most of the successful ones have one. What's yours?

Caveat: This doesn't mean you can't introduce some newness into your jewelry line. In fact, it's important that you do. (see the next entry). Just make sure you do it gradually and that it's still consistent with your theme.

Lack of Originality

You can't make what everyone else makes and expect to be successful in the jewelry design business. If you do, you end up competing on the basis of price which is a sure recipe for failure. Consumers are always seeking out what's new and different in the marketplace. If you have the "same old, same old", they're going to walk right by your jewelry booth.

Inability or Unwillingness to Market

You can make the most beautiful jewelry in the world, But, if you don't know how to market it, it's never going to leave your possession. It's important to define who your market is and how you're going to reach them. Start with one marketing idea and test it thoroughly. Do it consistently for a period of time and monitor the results.

Remember, consumers need to see an ad at least 3 times before they take action. Don't be afraid to try new and unconventional marketing techniques. Try them methodically and test as you go. Lastly, use your time wisely by marketing your handmade jewelry at every opportunity i.e. leave a business card with your payment at a restaurant, wear your jewelry etc.

Lack of Belief in Yourself

This is an important one that we've spent very little time discussing. If you don't believe in yourself and project that belief, neither will anyone else. It takes time to establish a market for your handmade jewelry designs. You have to persevere, try new marketing techniques, and believe that you will ultimately achieve success.

One of the very best books I've read for motivation and overcoming self limiting beliefs is this one . It's very inexpensive book that's worth every penny. I've read my copy at least five times and will probably reread it again. If you don't believe you can succeed at this, you're going to quit at the first sign of rejection. Studies have shown that people often quit at the point when they're starting to make a turnaround. Don't let this happen to you!

Not Researching the Marketplace

Although you need to have a unique style that differentiates yourself from other jewelry designers, you don't want to design in a vaccuum. If the prevailing trend is tiny post earrings, you don't want to go overboard with huge earring designs that hang down to the shoulders.

Likewise, if it's the year where all of the fashions shown are in neutral shades, there's not going to have much of a market for your pastel beaded necklaces. Keep up with those trends but don't allow yourself to be completely dictated by them.

These are the five main points I wanted to discuss that can make and break you in the handmade jewelry world. There are other minor points such as pricing, display etc. but if you address the issues outlined above, the minor points will likely fall into place. Ask yourself if you're making any of the above mistakes. If so, take action and see if you aren't rewarded with increased sales.

Do you need to sell more handmade jewelry online? I know how tough it can be to get traffic to an independent web page. Plus, it steals all your time away from making more handmade jewelry.Place your jewelry in an elegant online gallery setting. You get a 14 day free trial to see if the site is right for your jewelry. I've had several readers email to say they're having success here. Give the free trial a try! Go to http://www.beadiest.com/.

Thanks for reading. :-)

Kristie

2007-02-13T05:16:00.000-08:00

Updating Your Handmade Jewelry Line to Increase Sales

We all know it's important to always offer our handmade jewelry customers something new and unique. Plus, trends change requiring you to make subtle changes to your jewelry line. One of the best ways to offer a new look and take advantage of the trends is to subtly redesign some of your handmade jewelry pieces to give a fresh, updated look. You can then test market these redesigned pieces at shows to gauge the response before starting to produce them.

So, what changes can you make to your handmade jewelry line that won't destroy the integrity of your unique look and still add freshness to your line? Here are some ideas:

1. Try using a different metal or material in your work.

Previously, I was designing primarily sterling silver jewelry for our bead store until the trend started to favor gold. I tried producing a few gold filled pieces and found they sold rapidly. This resulted in a whole new profit center for my business.

You may also want to consider incorporating copper into your jewelry line. Every piece that I've ever made using copper has sold quickly and it's a great metal for redheads! Copper jewelry is also harder to find in the marketplace which gives you a competitive advantage.

If you're a beader and use primarily semiprecious beads in your necklaces, try adding a few ceramic beads with interesting glazed surfaces to your necklaces. These can really enhance and complement the semiprecious beads.

2. Add a unique clasp or ear wire to your handmade jewelry.

I believe a beautiful clasp can transform a piece from nice to extraordinary. If you can't find a clasp that meets your needs, there's always the possiblity of having a unique clasp designed and cast for your by a casting company. This could be your "signature clasp" which would further serve to brand your jewelry line.

If you're an earring designer, you know that an interesting earwire or post can really change the look of a pair of earrings. It's a quick and simple way to add newness to your jewelry line. Some unique Bali silver posts such as these, can go a long way towards freshening up your line.

3. Add a few interesting focal pieces that you haven't used before.

How about adding a small dichroic pendant or piece of sea glass to a necklace? A piece of textured metal with a patina surface would also make an interesting centerpiece to update your jewelry line. I also love the idea of using subtle sterling silver tassels such as these to add interest to a neckalce.The possibilities are endless. The point is to try something new but don't go overboard until you've test marketed. It's also important that anything you try be consistent with your overall theme or niche.

4. Try some new color combinations.

Keep abreast of upcoming color trends. Try adding very subtle touches of the new, trendy colors to your current jewelry line. Don't go overboard with this! You don't want to compromise your signature look, just give it an updated look.

5. Try expanding the types of jewelry items you offer.

If you've always sold necklaces, bracelets and earrings, try test marketing a few related items such as beaded watches, anklets, beaded rings, beaded hairsticks etc. One of my best selling items is a beaded hairstick that I market to hair salons. The trick is to make sure that these have the same signature look as the rest of your collection.

As you can see there are lots of ways to add "newness" to your jewelry line. The key is to introduce changes subtly and slowly based on the results of your test marketing. Shows are an excellent medium for test marketing new handmade jewelry pieces. When you display at a show, always take along a few of your test pieces to gauge the response. You may also want to test the market by listing a few of your new items on Ebay. This is a quick and easy way to get feedback on your new ideas.

The customer of today is more demanding than ones from the past. They seek out new and unique jewelry as a form of self expression. Be prepared to offer them something new on a regular basis and you'll be rewarded with increased sales. Thanks for reading. :-)

Do you need to sell more handmade jewelry online? I know how tough it can be to get traffic to an independent web page. Plus, it steals all your time away from making more handmade jewelry.Place your jewelry in an elegant online gallery setting. You get a 14 day free trial to see if the site is right for your jewelry. I've had several readers email to say they're having success here. Give the free trial a try! Go to http://www.beadiest.com/.

2007-02-12T05:30:00.000-08:00

Selling Your Handmade Jewelry on Consigment

In our last posting, we talked about wholesaleing your handmade jewelry through boutiques. Although this is the ideal situation, if a boutique doesn't want to pay for your jewelry outright, there is the option of displaying your items on consignment. A boutique may feel more comfortable with this arrangement since there is little risk to them and they only have to pay for the item if it sells.

How does this arrangement work?

You would establish a price for your handmade jewelry, possibly with some input from the boutique owner since she knows what price points sell in her store. When the item sells, the boutique owner keeps an agreed upon percentage of the sales price and gives the remainder to you. The percentage varies depending up on the retailer and the consignor, but is usually between 60/40 and 75/25 in favor of the seller. I wouldn't accept a percentage less than 60% since you're tying up handmade jewelry inventory that could be sold elsewhere without a large enough return.

Advantages to Selling on Consignment

1. It may be a way for you to get your foot in the door of a boutique that wouldn't normally purchase from a new vendor.

2. You keep a slightly higher percentage of the profits than if you sold wholesale. This is can be significant if you're able to secure a 75/25 split.

Disadvantages to Selling on Consignment

1. Your inventory is tied up so you're unable to sell it elsewhere. This can result in cash flow problems.

2. Increased paperwork for both you and the boutique owner. It can be difficult keeping track of what's sold and what hasn't if you're in several stores.

3. Because the boutique owner hasn't taken title to the merchandise, she may not treat it with care and respect handmade jewelry deserves. This can result in damage to your pieces.

4. The boutique owner may not display your items as prominently as items that she's purchased outright.

5. The boutique could go out of business suddenly without returning your merchandise. You would likely not be paid and still be out the merchandise. Not a good situation. :-(

Judging from the list, it would certainly seem as if the disadvantages of selling on consignment outweigh the advantages. This may be true but if you're trying to establish a relationship with a new, high traffic boutique, it can in your best interest to pursue a consignment relationship if all else fails. Here's how to avoid some of the problems:

1. Research a boutique thoroughly before commiting to consignment arrangement. You want to know how many years they've been in business. Since most businesses fail within the first two years, a boutique that has been in business at least that long may be worth taking a chance on.

2. Find out if the boutique has done consignment before. If so, ask for a copy of the consignment contract before you commit your items to their store. Make sure you understand all of the details and "fine print".

3. Keep accurate records and counts of all items you consign with the boutique. As each item sells, remove it from your consignment list

4. If you're consigning locally, keep a close eye on your merchandise. Check back every two weeks to make sure your items are well displayed and are not being damaged or pilfered. It's also a good idea to replace slower selling items with fresh ones to spark new interest in your jewelry.

5. Try to avoid a consignment arrangement in out-of-town boutiques unless you're able to make a trip every two weeks to monitor the situation.

6. Try to negotiate as high a percentage of the sales price as you can to make it worth your while. Aim for 70/30 if at all possibile.

7. Once you've proven that your handmade jewelry will sell, encourage the boutique owner to purchase your items via wholesale. You may want to establish upfront that you only sell on consignment on a temporary basis for new retailers. Most boutique owners will be glad to purchase wholesale after they see that your handmade jewelry is a quick mover.

I know of several handmade jewelry designers who are quite happy with the consignment mode of doing business and use it exclusively. So, it is an arrangement that can work and be profitable. My feeling is that you should wholesale to boutique stores if at all possible in order to increase your cash flow and reduce the time required for record keeping. If a consignment arrangement is the only way you can get into a high traffic store, by all means, give it a try. You may find that the rewards greatly outweigh the disadvantages.

If any of you wonderful readers have sold your items through boutiques, let us know if you used a wholesale or consignment arrangement and your experience with each. This would be very useful information that would help us all to grow our businesses. Thanks. :-) BTW, if you still want to sign up for the handmade jewelry marketing tip emails, just send a blank email with the subject line "handmade jewelry tips" to beadsindeed@cox.net

Do you need to sell more handmade jewelry online? I know how tough it can be to get traffic to an independent web page. Plus, it steals all your time away from making more handmade jewelry.Place your jewelry in an elegant online gallery setting. You get a 14 day free trial to see if the site is right for your jewelry. I've had several readers email to say they're having success here. Give the free trial a try! Go to http://www.beadiest.com/.

2007-02-09T03:37:00.000-08:00

Your Appointment with the Boutique Owner

In the last post we discussed how to get an appointment with a boutique to show your handmade jewelry as well as how to prepare for the meeting once you get the appointment. Before we talk about how to handle the meeting with the store owner, let me just reiterate and add a few points that may not have been covered in enough depth in the previous post:

1. Make sure your retail pricing is consistent across all sales outlets. If you sell your item to more than one store, your standard retail price should be the same for each store. If you sell on online, through an online gallery, at home parties, at craft shows, again, your retail price should be the same as you've set for the stores. Never undercut the price that a boutique is using to sell your handmade jewelry. This creates an enormous amount of bad will.

2. Be prepared with answers to the following questions when you meet with the store owner:

- Do you have a minimum order amount? Alot of jewelers set their minimums at $100.00. You might want to offer an incentive for ordering over a certain amount. For example, offer a free display or piece of jewelry if they order over $300.00.

- How rapid is your turn around time? They simply want to know how quickly you can produce your handmade jewelry and when they can expect to receive it.

- What are your terms of payment? In other words, how and when do you want to be paid.

- Do you sell in other stores, on the web, at shows etc? Again, they're concerned about being underpriced and that you might sell to their competition down the street.

- How do I go about reordering? Reassure them that you'll check back with them on a regular basis to see if they need anything. The last thing the retailer wants is for your handmade jewelry to sell like crazy and then not be able to restock.

3. If the owner of the boutique is unwilling to purchase outright, there's also the possibility of a consignment arrangement for your handmade jewelry. We'll discuss this in a future posting.

Well, you're finally ready to meet with the store owner! You're nicely groomed, wearing one of your best handmade jewelry pieces. Your jewelry is carefully arranged in a professional looking carrying case along with brochures, price lists, business cards etc. Congratulate yourself for taking the initiative to find new markets!

Make sure that you time your departure so that you arrive on time. The owner will draw conclusions about your ability to produce your handmade jewelry in a timely manner if you're late. On the other hand, don't be too early. The owner will likely be tied up with customers and won't appreciate the additional pressure of having to divide her attention.

Be pleasant and try to establish good rapport with the owner from the beginning. As you show your jewelry, take the time to answer her questions in an unhurried manner. Reassure her that you'll be available when she has questions or needs to reorder. Let her know that you won't be marketing your handmade jewelry to stores in her immediate area.

Give her the time she needs to look at your jewelry without pressure. You may suggest some ideas on how to display your items and how best to merchandise them. Tell her which of your items have been most popular at shows etc. This is all valuable information to the retailer and further reinforces your professionalism as a designer.

If you are rejected, please don't take it personally. There are many reasons a store doesn't purchase from an individual vendor. They may be overstocked with merchandise, already have items of a similar nature, feel uncomfortable ordering from a new vendor, have insufficient funds for ordering at present etc. Let them know that you'll check on them again in the future to see if their needs have changed. Be sure to leave a business card and encourage them to call if they have any questions.

After the meeting, it's always classy to send a thank you card whether or not they chose to place an order. This small gesture goes a long way towards promoting good will and can result in an increase in sales of your jewelry.

On the next posting, we'll talk a bit about the consignment arrangement and it's role in marketing to boutiques.

Have a great weekend. :-)

Do you need to sell more handmade jewelry online? Place your jewelry in an elegant online gallery setting. You get a 14 day free trial to see if the site is right for your jewelry. I've had several readers email to say they're having success here. Give the free trial a try! Go to http://www.beadiest.com. If you're having success selling via a particular online site, please email and let me know. The more we share information, the more handmade jewelry we can all sell. :-)

Kristie

2007-02-08T03:53:00.000-08:00

Getting Your Handmade Jewelry Into Boutiques

I’ve received several emails from people who have questions about how to approach boutiques to sell their handmade jewelry. I thought we’d cover this topic today both to clear up some of the confusion as well as motivate you to take the steps you need to take to get your handmade jewelry into boutiques.

I know that approaching a new jewelry outlet for the first time can be slightly scary since there's always the potential for you to be rejected. It important to keep rejection in perspective since no jewelry, no matter how beautiful is right for every market.

To reduce your chance of rejection when approaching a boutique, it important that you do your research first to make sure your jewelry appears to be the right fit for the store. I would first visit the store as a customer. Look around the store and make a mental note of the types of fashions and jewelry they carry. Make note of price points, how the jewelry is displayed, and how much emphasis is given to jewelry in the store. Is your jewelry of a similar general style and price point? If you design sterling silver jewelry pieces with semiprecious stones, your jewelry probably won't sell well in a store that emphasizes lower end costume jewelry. Each boutique tends to attract a certain type of customer who has particular needs and tastes. Make sure your jewelry is consistent with what that store particular customer wants to buy.

When the sales person approaches, don’t reveal that you’re a jewelry designer at this point. You’re in the store anonymously to do your research. If you feel the store might be an appropriate market for your jewelry, take a business card from the store with you. so you’ll have their contact information.

Once you’ve identified a group of stores that might be a good market for your handmade jewelry, you can begin the process of contacting the store owners. Select your first business card and give the store a call. Politely ask to speak with the owner. Let her know that you’re an established jewelry designer and would like to set up an appointment to show your latest collection. In one or two sentences, let her know why you think your jewelry would be a good fit for her store. (this shows you’ve done your research). If she says she’s not interested at the present time, ask if you can contact her at a later time or send her a brochure. If she agrees to this, place her business card into a special file to remind you to contact her again in a few months or send her a brochure. If you get the appointment, congratulations!

Now, let's prepare for the big appointment. I would start by selecting a representative group of jewelry pieces from your collection. Try to choose a few pieces from each style of jewelry that you make. You don’t want to overwhelm her with too many options since this can create indecision which diminishes your chances of a sale. On the other hand, the more types of pieces you take, the more you can sell.

Important! Please transport your jewelry pieces to the store in a professional manner. You don’t want to roll your pieces into a towel and stuff them into a bag. One professional option would be to purchase jeweler trays that you place inside a carrying case. Make sure the jewelry is firmly pinned onto the display so you don have a tangled mess when you arrive. This doesn't make a good first impression! Also be sure to bring along business cards, an order book, copies of any favorable publicity or recognition you've received, and your portfolio.

Make sure you have a pricing sheet typed out and ready to take with you. Generally, boutique retailers use a keystone markup which means they double the wholesale price. Occasionally stores with higher overhead will mark up 2 to 3 times the wholesale price. Keep this in mind when pricing your handmade jewelry. You want your prices to be consistent with prices of other pieces in the store.

You're almost ready to head out the door! Don't forget to make sure that you're well groomed and wearing one of your pieces of handmade jewelry, of course. On our next posting, we'll discuss what to say at the appointment.

Do you need to sell more handmade jewelry online? Place your jewelry in an elegant online gallery setting. You get a 14 day free trial to see if the site is right for your jewelry. I've had several readers email to say they're having success here. Give the free trial a try! Go to http://www.beadiest.com. If you're having success selling via a particular online site, please email and let me know. The more we share information, the more handmade jewelry we can all sell. :-)

Thanks again for reading. :-)