Should You Start a
Jewelry Making Business?

© by Lenna Green; all rights reserved

It's not hard to start a jewelry making business from home. The components, tools, and finished products are small and easy to store and transport. Manufacturing materials aren't hazardous and probably won't pose any major storage problems.

Most people can easily operate from one room in their home - and I know people who don't even devote an entire room to their jewelry business.

If you've been making jewelry as a hobby, starting to make jewelry for profit won't take much more room. The transition from hobbyist to professional requires little or no adjustment in the way you manufacture your products.

You may already have sufficient work space in the form of a shop or workroom. Because you will be increasing production volume, you will probably have to find or create adequate storage space, and you'll want an office of some sort for attending to all the details of running a jewelry making business. Otherwise, you probably already have most of the tools and other items you need.

What you may not have is confidence. Confidence is every bit as important as skill. You must have confidence in your jewelry, in yourself, and in your ability to run a business and sell your products. Our goal is to help you develop that confidence by helping you understand how to successfully run your own business.

It's important never to think of your products as "homemade," but rather as being meticulously handcrafted to exacting standards. Handcrafted products are in great demand, because they provide customers with a quality you don't often find: they're handmade, they're unique, and they can be individualized.

Handcrafted jewelry often sells for a premium, because customers are willing to pay for something unique and special.

No one but you can determine whether you should turn your jewelry making hobby into a business, but certain indicators can lead you toward the right choice. For example, if you're a competent artisan - even a good one - but have no patience for or interest in managing a business, then you'd better work for someone else and treat jewelry making as a hobby.

Even if the idea of being self-employed as a home-based craftsperson appeals to you, and you either have or are willing to get the necessary skills and knowledge - you still need to understand your strengths and weaknesses.

This is part of the planning stage of your business. It's a process that's never too early to start, and one you should continue throughout the life of your jewelry business.

Return to Home Jewelry Business Success Tips home page.