A Jewelry Niche Market Gets
Shop Owners' Attention

© by Karen Palevich; all rights reserved

How did I discover my jewelry niche market?

A Lifetime Appreciation for Jewelry

I have always had a passion for jewelry, ever since I was a little girl and watched my mom get dressed up to go out for black-tie events.

This was when her "special jewelry" came out that I was never to touch. I remember the sparkles and glitter, and how I wished I could wear things like that.

When I became an adult and had a job, I was able to purchase many of the same types of sparkles and glitter that my mom wore. I always wanted to try making many of these things on my own.

When my children were both in school, I had the perfect chance to give it a try.

Starting Out with a Few Beads ...

I started small, purchasing a few glass beads and some memory wire and tried making a memory bracelet.

I made it as a gift for a close friend, and showed it to several people to see what they thought. I received rave reviews and decided to make a number of pieces and try selling them to the public.

As I got deeper into making and selling jewelry, I found that the everyday type jewelry market was saturated, and that I need to find a jewelry niche market - to create something different that wasn't seen as often.

Choosing a Jewelry Niche Market
that Follows My Passion

So remembering how I loved sparkly glitter, I decided to create black-tie occasion jewelry. Now I specialize in formal wear jewelry using Swarovski crystal and Swarovski pearls.

I went to a local bridal salon and showed the owner my work. She was very impressed and asked me to do one of her bridal shows.

After I did the show, she agreed to display my pieces in her store at no cost. We agreed that she would receive a percentage of every piece sold, as a commission.

Selling Jewelry through
Other Businesses in the Same Market Niche

She sent me many clients and we began a really great business relationship.

After her busy season started, I offered to work for free in the store a few hours a week to help her out. Now I work in her store on weekends, and she no longer takes a commission for selling or showing my pieces.

She calls me when someone is in the store and needs a custom order, or when someone wants something I have in stock that's not in the store.

I also found a huge success doing shows in hair and nail salons. Many women are there for at least an hour at a time.

Very often the person they are there to see is running behind and this gives customers the chance to see what you have.

Have the salon post a notice that they will be having a jewelry show on this date and this time and you will find that many women who don't even have appointments on that day will show up, just to see what you have!

I had a simple website for customers who aren't able to come see me, or needed to find an idea for what they are looking for.

Keeping with the black-tie theme, I chose the jewelry business name of Black Tie Jewels. This enables people to remember my jewelry market niche!