1. New Jewelry Business Tips and Techniques:
   - 2 inspiring new articles
   - 4 clever new jewelry display and packaging ideas
   - 1 bonus new jewelry artist story

2. Sell More One-of-a-Kind Jewelry

3. Share Your Article, Project, Tip, or Photo -
   and Get a Valuable Link to Your Website

4. Your Profitable Jewelry Business:
   Jewelry Trend Spotlight: "Re-Purposed Vintage"

5. Sell More Jewelry at Shows, Fairs, and Festivals

No matter how you sell your jewelry online, you must do your own marketing if you want to make sales.

Using the step-by-step strategies you'll learn in my book, Social Networking: Sell Your Jewelry Online the New Way, you can easily develop your own online customer base, and you won't have to worry about competition from other jewelry artists.

A reader named Ramona says, "I've done some social networking already, and I thought I knew what I was doing until I read your book. Because your strategies and tips are amazing, and now I have a great roadmap to follow instead of the hit and miss stuff I was doing."

Social networking on the Internet is still relatively new - but it's growing at a tremendous rate. By starting now, you'll have a huge advantage over other jewelry businesses, large and small, that start their own social marketing later.

Invest in this 192-page, step-by-step resource now:

1. Drop Shipping Jewelry - A Cautionary Tale
   Considering drop shipping jewelry as a sales strategy? You may want to think again after reading Aaron Rome's tips and this drop shipping horror story.




2. Jewelry for Generations
   Joanne Green shares what she and her granddaughters learned from each other about jewelry business, when the girls came for a summer visit.




3. Make Your Own Promotional Postcards
   You can make your own postcards and use them to promote your jewelry business, get your work seen by more people, and build your image as a professional artist. Charlene Anderson shares her own lovely postcard designs and ideas.




4. Inexpensive Earring Display
   An easy, inexpensive earring display made from balsa and scrap wood by Laina. No hardware needed!




5. Reddish Leaves
   Beril from Turkey shares a lovely photo showing how a neutral white display perfectly sets off an "autumn leaves" necklace.




6. Professionally Printed Earring Cards for (Almost) Free!
   Three new photos have just been added to this article! Erin Prais-Hintz sent in this great idea a few weeks ago - but these photos are brand new, showing her professional looking earring cards - and how she does them.




7. New Jewelry Stories
   Read and comment on these new stories by jewelry artists - including the story of retired teacher Laudelia Rivas from Brazil, who makes jewelry from natural materials while her husband creates wood sculptures. You can also join the fun and share your own jewelry story or photo!

Do you prefer to make one-of-a-kind jewelry? Learn how to find people who want exactly what you make - and can afford to buy it.

Don't miss out on these prime opportunities to sell your jewelry to customers who are VERY willing to buy your unique handcrafted jewelry – again and again. It's the main way I sell my own jewelry now.

You'll find everything you need to get started selling your own jewelry this way, in my book Secrets of a Handcrafted Jewelry Shopping Service.

A reader named Kim says, "I can't believe I never heard of selling jewelry this way before! It makes so much sense, especially your tips for offering customized jewelry for businesses to give as gifts. I'm really psyched to get out there and start selling."

Invest in this 115-page, easy-to-read guide now, and make this your best jewelry selling year ever:

Share your own jewelry business article, tip, project, or advice - and build traffic to your website at the same time. You can also include any photos you have that illustrate your contribution.

When I publish your contribution, you'll receive a free permanent link to your website from my site - and your content will be read by thousands of people in the jewelry industry. My guest authors report a significant flow of traffic coming from their links on my sites!

A current jewelry trend I love is the use of vintage odds and ends in contemporary jewelry designs.

This melding of modern techniques with items from yesteryear results in wonderfully unique jewelry that (depending on the elements used) can feel romantic, gothic, kitschy, or iconic - and people of all ages are attracted to it.

These "re-purposed vintage" designs are usually handmade and one-of-a-kind - so customers sense that if they fall in love with one of these pieces, they'd better buy it now.

So what types of vintage items make good jewelry components, and where can you get them?

Ideas for Vintage Jewelry Components:

Naturally if you want to make wearable jewelry, it's a good idea to use elements that are sufficiently small and lightweight to be worn comfortably.

And while you're hunting for items you can use, look beyond what most people see. Especially consider vintage items that don't have anything to do with jewelry.

Also look for items you could take apart, and use the parts. Similarly, look carefully for possibilities in broken items - can you use any parts of them in a jewelry project?

Here are some types of vintage items that can work well in jewelry:

• antique keys
• postage stamps
• old photos
• bits of old letters or postcards
• pictures clipped from vintage magazines or catalogs
• old jewelry you can take apart for clasps, lockets, stampings, beads, etc.
• typewriter / adding machine parts
• scraps of lace, ribbon, or fabric
• antique buttons
• game pieces
• vintage sewing supplies
• old clocks and watches, taken apart - gears, etc.
• small appliances, taken apart
• small toys, dolls, or the parts thereof
• small vintage travel souvenirs
• antique spoons or other silverware
• crocheted doilies
• tiny containers - bottles, tins, etc.
• bottle caps
• Crackerjack prizes or cereal-box toys
• pieces from old tools or equipment
• medical, dental, and optical supplies
• old eyeglasses
• marbles
• baby items
• sentimental occasion items - wedding favors, anniversary items
• shards of china, pottery, or glassware

Now that you've got some ideas, it's time for a treasure hunt! Where can you find things like these, at good prices?

Finding really neat vintage items that work well in jewelry is part location, part strategy, and part persistence.

Some Good Locations for Finding Vintage Components:

• yard sales / garage sales / tag sales
• flea markets
• resale stores / thrift stores
• estate sales
• auctions (auctions often have boxed "lots" of related items, and these can be a great treasure trove of potential jewelry components!)
• antique stores
• eBay (although by the time you pay for shipping, this isn't always the best deal)
• attics, closets, and jewelry boxes of friends and relatives who'd like to get rid of these things (it never hurts to ask - often people have been wanting to unload older items but have no idea what to do with them).

Now for Some Treasure Hunting Strategies:

• Most antique and resale stores move inventory in and out all the time, so it's a good idea to check back often for new stuff in your favorite shops.


• Instead of going out in search of a specific item, go with an open mind and be ready for serendipity to show you some cool possibilities. Look at things with your creative eye, see past the dust, and imagine what you can do with various things you come across.


• Let friends and relatives know what kind of stuff you're looking for, and ask them to keep an out for these things for you. Our loved ones often enjoy being part of the treasure hunt, and can turn up some fantastic finds we'd miss otherwise!


• Ask antique, resale, and thrift shops if they have a mailing list for their newsletter or announcements of their sales, events, and new inventory. If so, be sure to get your name and address added to the list!


• Owners of this type of store tend to be friendly and helpful. Let them know the kind of stuff you're seeking, and ask if they have anything like it in the "back room" or wherever they keep items they haven't put out yet.


• Check through everything at yard sales, estate sales, and tag sales. At most of these events, the items for sale aren't well organized - so a great find might turn up anywhere in the offerings.


• Also, at these sales you'll get the best deals at the end of the day (or on Sunday, if it's a weekend-long sale). By the end of the sale, owners just want to get rid of everything and will often accept any offer (or toss in all kinds of other items) just to unload the stuff that didn't sell.


• Boxes of assorted items are often where you'll find just the treasures you're looking for.


• If you're considering purchasing a broken or damaged item so you can use the parts, be sure to ask whether you can have a discount because of the item's condition.


• It's a good idea to be prepared to pay with cash or check. Private sales (and some shops) don't take credit cards.


• When you find a flea market vendor or an antique, resale, or thrift shop that tends to yield a lot of good finds for you, let them know what you're interested in. Often the owners of these places are willing to keep an eye out for things you'd like to buy from them as they select their new inventory. Also, if something comes into their shop that they think you'd like, they're often willing to call you so you can come have a look at it.


• Bring a flashlight and magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe with you if possible. It's often a good idea to take a close look at the condition of vintage odds and ends before you buy them.


• While you're out on your vintage treasure hunt, keep an eye out for items you can use in your jewelry display. Fabrics, baskets, interesting trunks or boxes, elegant vintage gloves, wig stands, various racks, picture frames, hangers, etc. can often be cleaned up, painted if necessary, and turned into fantastic, unique jewelry displays!

I Love These Etsy Jewelers Who Use Vintage Elements:

birdzNbeez

greavesdesign.

Sell more of your jewelry this year with the success secrets you'll learn in my book, Ultimate Guide to Your Profitable Jewelry Booth.

A reader named Rhonda says, "I am so glad I read this book! My knees were knocking just at the very thought of selling my jewelry at craft fairs. Everything I need to know is in this book and so...much more!! This book is priceless! What a valuable resource! Thank you Rena."

Don't wait to discover hundreds of things you can do to sell your jewelry like crazy at shows, fairs, and festivals. Invest in this 176-page, step-by-step resource before your next show:

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