Things I've Learned About Jewelry Business

by Josianne Brousseau
(Quebec, Canada)

First of all, Thanks Rena for this great site with a lot of information. I'm an unconditional fan, I read all the new articles. The first day I found your site I learn about the other experiments and I think it's the best way to learn.

But what makes me advance my career is that the last two months, one weekend each month, the little coffee-shop that's a 3-minute walk from my home let me make a little jewelry show for only my jewelry.

I make jewelry since 2008.

At first I do it because I was devastated by the death of my friend and I didn't want to go outside. The only thing that I wanted really do was puzzle, so I puzzled a wine bottle cap and brass wire 16 gauge. That was AWFUL!

At this time I had no job, no friend in this town because I had just moved, and the only friend I had was my boyfriend: Sebastien.

After I made the awful kind of necklace (and not sure at all that was a necklace), Sebastien told me that his mom maybe had the old pliers of his Gramma, who made jewelry.

So his mom gave me the pliers and took me to a little artisan workshop, and we bought like $50 of beads.

Ring by Josianne Brousseau


I start that way my jewelry business. I do it all by myself, and I didn't take a workshop class.

Maybe two weeks later, my mother-in-law asked me if I can make a necklace for her friend's birthday. I said yes, and I charged her 10 bucks.

After that, Sebastien said: I'll make you a website, and we're going shopping for beads.

I continue to sell jewelry to my entourage a little, but not enough to live on.

When I realized that for the moment I can't live off my art, I went to an organization that helps young people like me (18 to 35) to start their dream.

So the coach I had there was sometimes really rude, but I think it's a great way to say: "You can make better than it is."

So she presented me to a real jeweler who works only sterling. And it's my first real friend I made in my new town. She was what I search in a friend: confident and really spontaneous. She gave me a metal course and taught me a lot: the presentation, the way to feminize my jewelry, etc.

When the organization said it's the time to go in the world by yourself, I took a part-time job in marketing. Two weeks later: their budget is low, so goodbye.

I was a little stressed about money, so I took a second part-time job in archive, and the same thing happens.

I said to my boyfriend: We have to talk.

And we make the decision to register our business and I'll live off that.


Earrings by Josianne Brousseau


I took all the precious tips of Home Jewelry Business Success Tips and called the little coffee shop, asking if he would be interesting in new clients.

He said yes, so I make publicity and I make my little jewelry show for three days. After the three days the owner offered me to do that once per month.

And I saw many people and some people have their little business and was interested to have my jewelry in their place.

I also made a friend who organizes for me once in a while, a little show in her beauty salon. That is amazing.

Now I have regular clients, and some once in the while, but I know they like my products and they know what I do.

The things I really learned:

• Be open to others.


• Create what you love and find your style.


• Be a good listener.


• At shows, always smile.


• Be generous.


• Go for small talk with a potential client, maybe they don't buy the first time, but they will remember you or call you back.


• Don't be discouraged: One day of bad sale doesn't mean you're bad.


• People like to be considered and have a little plus: I gave discount on my jewelry if they gave me their old ones that maybe will go in the garbage.


• Give your card.


• Have a little booklet that you suggest to people enter their name and email for promotion. You send it once in while and people don't forget you.

Josianne Brousseau
Creation Ornelia