Jewelry Business Blog ArchiveSeptember - November 2004 blog entries
Here is our Jewelry Business Blog archive from September - November 2004, filled with fantastic tips and info on marketing handcrafted jewelry. For more blog entries, visit: November 30, 2004 In response to readers' questions about her online jewelry store setup, guest author Heidi Batiste of Mia's Treasure returns with a second article: Setting Up Shopping Cart Software for Your Online Jewelry Store Thanks for this great extra info, Heidi! :o) November 29, 2004 Do you make bridal jewelry? If so, you may want to check out the National Bridal Service directory. For $299 you can have your website listed along with a large ad for your business. (I think jewelry is in the "Other Essentials" category.) National Bridal Service will be running a national TV commercial campaign to bring brides to their site, so both local and national targeted traffic are expected to be high. For more info, the contact phone number is 1-800-355-6945, ext. 12. November 28, 2004 Don't miss this newest Jewelry Business Success interview. Heidi J. Hale of Heidi J. Hale Designs shares excellent tips for a successful jewelry business: Heidi J. Hale Thank you for this great interview, Heidi! November 26, 2004 I've just sent out Issue #14 of Jewelry Business Success News to 2829 subscribers. This one includes Cool Dichroic Glass Info, a neat jewelry-related website to visit, and an article on How to Build Your Jewelry Business with Joint Ventures. If you subscribe to Jewelry Business Success News, you won't miss any issues! Who knows what you'll find in the next edition? November 24, 2004 Here's another jewelry blog I recommend visiting: Bench News by jeweler Lee Lally. Bench News is well illustrated and covers bench tricks, tools, techniques, news, and trends. November 23, 2004 Here's a currently hot jewelry niche you may be interested in: pet jewelry. Many animal lovers are thrilled to buy either special kitty / doggie sized necklaces, or charms and dangles to attach to their pets' collars. And studies show that some pet owners are willing to spend as much on a piece of pet jewelry as they would on their own jewelry. If you venture into this interesting market niche, consider offering animal-theme packaging for your pet jewelry. November 20, 2004 Please meet our newest guest author, Heidi Batiste of Mia's Treasure. Her first article for us deals with getting a jewelry business online: Jewelry Website Building for Dummies Thank you for this encouraging article, Heidi! :o) November 19, 2004 Today I'm unveiling an exciting new section of Home Jewelry Business Success Tips. I'm interviewing successful jewelry artists about their paths to jewelry business success: Jewelry Business Success Stories You'll enjoy our first Jewelry Business Success Story: Paul Tarlow of Izm Studio Thank you, Paul, for being our first success story! And jewelry artists, watch for more inspiring success stories coming soon. November 16, 2004 I'm pleased to introduce our newest guest author, Eugenia Bivines of the Wholesale Jewelry Connection online store. Eugenia's article delves into an area that's mysterious to most of us: What Jewelry Stores Don't Want You to Know About Their Pricing Thank you for this helpful article, Eugenia! :o) November 14, 2004 Do you have a jeweler's loupe? If not, you might want to acquire one. It's a magnifying tool intended for looking into diamonds and other gems, but I use mine for closely examining my finished jewelry for flaws. The "correct" way to use a jeweler's loupe is to hold the loupe close to your eye and bring the gem or jewelry gradually closer loupe till you can focus clearly on it. The focal length is typically about one inch, so you'll need to bring the jewelry quite close to get a good look at it. November 13, 2004 I'm introducing our newest guest author today - Rickina Velte of Spipo Designs. With the busiest time of year in full swing for most jewelry artists, we tend to burn out and lose touch with our creativity. Rickina offers us some great solutions: A Cure for Jewelry Designer's Block Thanks for this helpful article, Rickina! :o) November 11, 2004 I've just sent out Issue #13 of Jewelry Business Success News to 2679 subscribers. This one includes a fun historical jewelry quiz, a medieval jewelry-related website to visit, and an article on How to Get Customers to Stop at Your Booth. If you subscribe to Jewelry Business Success News, you won't miss any issues! November 10, 2004 I'm pleased to bring you our newest guest author, Dennis Shea of National Jeweler's Supplies. His first article for us has some fascinating information on gemstone testing: Moissanite Testing - Is It a Diamond or Moissanite? Thanks for this interesting article, Dennis! :o) November 9, 2004 I've just come across a free Jeweler's Assistant software you can download. I haven't tested it out myself, but I wanted to mention it in case you're interested. November 7, 2004 I'm excited to bring you an article by our newest guest author, Susi of Silver Jewelry Crossings, who has spent more than twenty years in the international gemstone and jewelry trade. Here Susi shares her insight into a rapidly growing niche of the jewelry market: Men's Silver Jewelry Today November 6, 2004 I'm pleased to present a new article from returning guest author Laura Christensten Wells of Christensen Studio: Charity Jewelry - Good Karma for Your Business Laura, I love this inspiring article; thank you for sending it in! :o) November 4, 2004 This is my first off-topic blog entry - but I feel moved to share this opportunity to help someone. Melanie and Buddy Brannan are a lovely couple adopting a special needs baby from the Ukraine. Both of these hopeful parents are blind and understand the needs of a disabled child. Right now they're working on raising the necessary funds to travel to the Ukraine to complete the adoption and bring their special baby home. Without these loving parents, this child would most likely spend a lonely childhood in an overseas care center without love, medical care, or education. After I made a simple donation via Amazon, I wanted to share this opportunity with you too. If you're interested, see how you can help make the Brannan family complete. November 3, 2004 Do you have an extensive collection of jewelry making tools, or just a few multi-purpose favorite pliers? Our newest guest author, Vicki Todd of Bead Lady's Kharma, writes about the importance of tools: How Many Tools Do I Need? Thank you, Vicki! You've inspired me to re-do my own tool storage. :o) October 31, 2004 If you're selling your jewelry through a gallery, it's a good idea to help them in their publicity efforts any way you can. Make yourself available to attend any of the gallery's promotional events you can. Helping out the gallery will build a strong relationship between you and its owner. And making yourself a part of their events establishes your artistic reputation with their customers. October 29, 2004 When editing your jewelry photos, be careful not to over-enhance the appearance of your stones or other aspects of the piece. When customers receive jewelry that doesn't resemble the photo in color or quality, they are likely to return it for a refund, and shop elsewhere in the future. The important thing about editing your jewelry photos is to make your picture as clean, clear, and appealing as possible while accurately representing the appearance of the piece. No more and no less! October 27, 2004 Don't hesitate to kindly tell your customers when you can't take on an order they request. Whether you're too overloaded from your holiday sales, or you don't know the jewelry making technique for what they're requesting, or it's a jewelry project you just don't do - it's best to be cheerfully upfront with them. Don't be afraid to say politely, "No, I'm sorry; I can't do that" when you have any doubt about your ability or desire to fulfill a customer request. Customers admire your honesty and will more than likely return later with more business for you. And don't feel guilty about turning down business occasionally - I believe it's more important to keep your jewelry business what *you* want it to be than to let it start running in directions you don't enjoy. October 25, 2004 Give your customers a delivery date that’s a little beyond when you expect to finish their custom order. That way, if you get held up in completing their order, it won’t make you look like you don’t deliver on time. And if you deliver it earlier than expected, they’ll be very impressed with your service. October 24, 2004 Are you planning to teach some jewelry making workshops? It's important to teach only your own original designs. Never teach someone else’s jewelry design unless you have their express, written permission. Otherwise you are violating their copyright and are vulnerable to a lawsuit from them! October 22, 2004 If you'll be selling your jewelry at shows and parties between now and Christmas, I hope you're set up to accept credit cards! Particularly at this time of year when people are doing so much shopping, you'll sell MUCH more jewelry if you accept plastic. Read up on how to accept credit cards and don't miss out on all the extra business you could be getting. October 20, 2004 From returning guest author Ellen Leonard of Prophecy Girl Designs we have some new jewelry display tips: A Truly Original Display Thank you, Ellen! I always enjoy your creative approach to jewelry business challenges. :o) October 19, 2004 I'm pleased to present our newest guest author, Lisa Jay of of Lantana Designwear. Like many of us, Lisa is both a jewelry artist and mom - and here she shares some wonderful tips for managing your time: Time Management Tips: How to Add Extra Hours to Your Day When You Work at Home Thank you, Lisa! I found several things in your article that I can do to waste less time and work more efficiently. :o) October 18, 2004 Yesterday the the 12th issue of "Jewelry Business Success News" went out to 2363 e-mail subscribers! This issue's topics include a tip on keeping your jewelry safe while working in the kitchen and "A Deal Your Jewelry Customers Can't Refuse". To subscribe or check out the back issues, please visit the Jewelry Business Success News subscription page. October 17, 2004 Have you written out a jewelry business plan? Or are you putting it off because it seems too technical or uninteresting? Here's a simple explanation of what a business plan should contain: Your Jewelry Business Plan Thank you, Vishal, for simplifying this important matter for us. :o) October 15, 2004 I've just written an extensive new article to add to our Jewelry Website Success Tips section: Link Popularity - A Key to Jewelry Website Success October 13, 2004 There's nothing more frustrating than not having your booth completely set up when customers start coming by to shop at the beginning of a show. So be sure to arrive early enough to allow extra time to set up your booth - including the time needed to unload your vehicle, move it to a more distant parking area, and walk back to your booth. There always seem to be lots of things slowing down my setup - everything from chatting with other vendors I haven't seen for awhile, to helping a neighbor unfold his tent. October 12, 2004 An excellent way to sell jewelry is to make pieces that appeal to a special interest group. And the great thing about this is that there's an infinite number of groups who would love to buy special jewelry related to their particular interest! A few examples of special interest groups that purchase jewelry are: students or alumni of particular schools, fans of sports teams, Red Hat Society, pet lovers, members of various religions, people touched by special causes (awareness jewelry), mothers / grandmothers, body piercing fans, members of particular professions, etc. October 10, 2004 You can't always tell from a customer's appearance what kind (or price level) of jewelry they're looking to buy. Some of my biggest sales have been to customers who looked like they hadn't changed their clothes for a week. At the other end of the spectrum, I've also had women resembling duchesses carefully look over everything in my booth and, without buying a thing, ask if they could have a free velvet pouch. October 6, 2004 Olga Brycht's article on blogging has sparked so much reader interest on that topic, and questions about how to blog for a jewelry site, that I've added a new article: Jewelry Blogging Tips for Success October 5, 2004 I just discovered that a link I posted in yesterday's issue of Jewelry Business Success News was incorrect. For our "neat jewelry related site", the correct link is Buttermilk Lane pressed flower jewelry. My apologies for the mixup! Do visit Buttermilk Lane and enjoy how the artist combines three of her interests - real flowers, gardening, and glass art. October 4, 2004 Today the the eleventh issue of "Jewelry Business Success News" went out to 2171 e-mail subscribers! This issue's topics include a tip on detangling jewelry chains and "A Unique Idea for Attracting New Jewelry Customers". To subscribe or check out the back issues, please visit the Jewelry Business Success News subscription page. October 1, 2004 Do you have a favorite gemstone? Guest author G.L. Bycz does: The Emerald: One of Nature's Precious Wonders Thank you, G.L.! :o) September 30, 2004 I'm pleased to introduce new guest author and fellow jewelry blogger Olga Brycht. Her first article for us is a gem for anyone wanting to increase their online jewelry sales: 5 Reasons Why Blogging is Great for Your Jewelry Business Thank you, Olga, for this wonderful tip! September 28, 2004 We have a great new article by guest author Ellen Leonard, who previously sent in the article about making a home jewelry studio. Here is her newest one: Art Fairs - Preparation or Procrastination? Thank you, Ellen, for the good tips for our shows! :o) September 26, 2004 On Friday, the tenth issue of "Jewelry Business Success News" went out to 2061 e-mail subscribers! This issue's topics include "How Your Chamber of Commerce Can Help Your Jewelry Business Grow", a gemstone quiz, tips on jewelry consignment agreements, and more. To subscribe or check out the back issues, please visit the Jewelry Business Success News subscription page. September 24, 2004 Here are some ideas for making your displays sell more in between shows. In particular, the part about setting up at local events has potential for jewelry artists. September 21, 2004 Several readers have asked for sample jewelry consignment contracts. So here is our latest article: Jewelry Consignment Agreement - a contract to protect you September 19, 2004 Here's an interesting concept I came across today, regarding selling your work at shows. See what you think about it: "The people we're most comfortable are with are our friends, those who are the most like us. Build good relationships with your customers and turn them into business friends. You don't set up at a show to sell things; you're there to help people to buy." So in this philosophy, you don't see yourself as "selling" - you see yourself as helping others purchase. I thought this perspective might help jewelry artists who have a hard time with the sales part of selling their jewelry. September 17, 2004 Consider introducing your new jewelry lines or styles with a bit of flash. Create a special display area in your booth showcasing your latest designs, with a tasteful sign saying something like "Latest Jewelry Fashions" or "New Earring Styles". Your repeat customers are more likely to purchase if they can find your newest pieces easily. You can use this same idea on your jewelry website, either showcasing your latest designs on your home page, or on a separate page with a teaser photo and link from your home page. September 15, 2004 If a customer at a show asks you a question for which you don't have an answer, don't stress out over it. Turn a potential negative into a positive by telling the customer you don't have this information with you at the show, but you'll look it up when you get home, and contact them with the answer right away. This gives you the opportunity to get in touch with the customer a second time, and to demonstrate the personalized service you extend to your shoppers. Very often this extra customer care develops the kind of trusting relationship that leads to good sales and a repeat buyer. September 13, 2004 What do you do with your handcrafted jewelry that you don't want to sell? Everybody has pieces we don't feel comfortable marketing - our "learning curve" jewelry, or things made from second-quality beads or base metal, or styles we've discontinued. I recommend finding a local women's shelter or similar charitable organization, and donating your unsellable jewelry. Many of these ladies are interviewing for jobs, and a little jewelry to wear with their interview outfit could really help them feel beautiful and confident. If you do donate jewelry, be sure to get a receipt for your donation, so you can take the tax deduction for it. September 11, 2004 Do you worry about competition from other jewelry artists in your local area? Most of us probably do to some extent! :o) But how about thinking of each other as "colleagues" instead of "competition"? By linking up together, we can help each other out in innumerable ways - such as referring business to each other, combining jewelry supply orders for better prices and lower shipping, borrowing findings if we run out and are in a pinch, etc. September 9, 2004 I'm excited to bring you an extremely useful article from our latest guest author: Tips for Sorting and Identifying Beads Darlynn, this is an awesome article that will help many of us solve our bead mysteries. Thank you so much for contributing it; we hope to read more from you in the future! :o)
September 8, 2004 Are you interested in selling your jewelry through shops and galleries? Here's a new article to help you get started: Approaching Shops and Galleries with Your Jewelry September 7, 2004 Whenever you purchase new jewelry display elements, think "efficiency". If you're drawn to large or bulky displays, be sure you have the space to store them at home, and room in your vehicle to transport them to shows. Also, think about whether you'll need help carrying them from your vehicle to your booth space - for example, many tables are too heavy and bulky for one person to move and set up without assistance. September 6, 2004 While we're talking about setting up a jewelry display at shows, here's an article I've just put together about finding shows, fairs, festivals, etc. for selling your jewelry: Art and Craft Show Listings September 5, 2004 I've just added a new article about displaying jewelry. Readers often ask how I display my jewelry, so here it is: My Jewelry Display for Shows and Parties September 3, 2004 When showing my jewelry to a new shop, I ask the buyer to select a free pair of earrings to keep as a gift, after they've made their selection of my jewelry to carry in the shop. It's a small gesture that can go a long way toward establishing a great relationship with the buyer. The buyer can keep the earrings for their own use, or use them as a prize for a store promotion. September 1, 2004 Are you planning an open studio show to sell your jewelry? Don't forget to play some artsy background music that complements your jewelry. Not loud enough to make conversation difficult, but enough to fill in any silences and give your event just the right ambience. Depending on your jewelry style, good choices might be Native American flute, esoteric new age, Celtic, instrumental jazz, Indian sitar, reggae, or Vivaldi. Ethnic music enhances the handcrafted impression of your jewelry. For more great jewelry business tips and info, see our other blog entries: Current jewelry business blog Return to Home Jewelry Business Success Tips home.
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