What's Stopping Your
Jewelry Business?

New Business No Customers  Hi everyone,

I started my online sterling silver jewelry business over 9 months ago. I have diligently sat and worked on various aspects of SEO and ...

I am too overwhelmed with inventory to price my work correctly  I started making jewelry a couple of years ago and have created quite a few pieces not to mention have purchased a multitude of items (beads, crystals,...

Jewelry Designer  Visibility of my Jewelry. I have a website now but having a chance for people to see it is been hard. I do well at craft shows but most shows being so ...

Adding Wholesale Jewelry  Hi, everyone.

I am really thinking about adding wholesale jewelry to my collection. I read a previous post about it but I do not know how to get started....

Good Books on Starting a Jewelry Business  Hi, everyone!

Quick question: any suggestions on good books to purchase on how to start a jewelry business? I have been reviewing this site and it has ...

Oh the details!  After having just read the page on how to manage the less exciting aspects of trying to run a jewelry business, I have to say that its those details that ...

Too Old to Be a Starving Artist?  I'm 50, single and my son is off to college (don't worry...this is not a personal ad!).

I've had a successful corporate career for the past 25 years ...

Help! What Am I Doing Wrong?  Hello, I am a self-taught crafter. I have been crafting one thing or another since I was a little girl. Once I got in my early 20's I got into woodworking,...

Please help for ideas on craft show displays and sales....  Hi,

I have been to a few craft shows since July 2011, and so far at only 1 of my shows have I made anything. I do not know what I am doing wrong. I ...

Horizon? What Horizon?  As I navigate the tributaries of "An Artist in Business" I have found many obstacles to overcome. Some are directly related to business but some are not ...

I'm Coming Unglued! (literally!)  I'm becoming quite desperate and even a bit hopeless about ever being able to sell my jewelry.

My 2 problems? Jump rings and glue! HELP!! I have tried ...

How to market niche jewelry business  I know of a few people that sell polymer keepsake jewelry and rosaries in my area.
I thought they did nice work but didn't like the solid color of the ...

HELP! I need a finding I can't find!  Hi!

I received an order for 85 key-chains but my supplier doesn't have the findings I use anymore! I need your help! Do you know where I can find the ...

Not Yet Ready to Sell Online  Hi, my name is Lorna Olaes. I am a newbie in jewelry making and I haven't sold any of my jewelry online because I'm worry about taxes, permit, etc.

I ...

Taking Credit Cards  Hello,
My name is Gina and I have been designing Jewelry for a little over 3 years now. I am a self taught jewelry artist and with my third child starting ...

Honest Opinions are Needed  Good Morning,

First of all, thank you so much for responding to my previous post. It really helped me in locating other places to purchase much needed ...

Trying to Get My Business Up and Running  Here is my story...for a long time I have had a love for jewelry making. I have never bought a book or a taken a class, I just have a knack for it. I ...

Having a Jewelry Busines in Country Australia  Listening to some of my fellow jewelry artisans from all over the world, I sometimes get just a little jealous.

I hear about courses to learn different ...

Pricing Jewelry: Custom Made vs. Store Bought Pieces  Hi, everyone. My name is Barbara and I am thinking about started a jewelry business. I have made pieces for myself and received many compliments and a ...

How to Repurpose Old Jewelry? Please Help  I have been making jewelry for many years and have sort of burned out on the process because I just don't have any new ideas and methods.

A friend of ...

Pricing in this Economic Environment...  I am a jewelry designer with many one of a kind pieces. I have several price points, lower $20-35 wholesale to $100-300 necklaces.

They are all hand-...

Home Jewelry Shows  I have had pretty good success with an open house style show at my home around the holiday, and people have asked me to do home parties, but I feel I couldn'...

Not Sure Where to Go from Here  Hi, Never done this type of thing before so please bear with me.

I am starting my own business online and getting very nervous reading some of the stories ...

Beading Class Competition-Need some advice.  I used to teach kids how to make simple beaded jewellery a couple of years ago for workshops and it was fun. I started making jewellery for sale just recently ...

Wire Breakage   Hi everyone! I've enjoyed reading so many of the posts here and have picked up a number of helpful ideas that have been incorporated into my work.

While ...

Where to Get Supplies for a Storefront?  I have started to do a business plan but have no idea how to price out my products or where to order from.

Everyone I speak to is excited for me to ...

Allowing Life to intrude including the past.  Hi

I started my craft business in 2008, with research on making and designing etc. It is now 2011 and I feel as though I have just started. I have ...

Is Anyone Selling Sterling Silver Jewelry?  Hi Everybody!

I don't know about all of you, but I am having trouble selling my sterling silver jewelry in this economy. Things definitely have slowed ...

I Don't Know Where to Start!!  I have made a few pieces... put them on etsy... no success.

And I'm tossing around the idea of do I want to make jewelry and sell it or do I want to ...

Procrastination!! The Story of the World's Biggest Procrastinator...  Hi guys,

My name is Cerries, and I am from the UK. I really wanted to share my story with you all, and tell you about what has been stopping me from ...

I Wasn't Being True to My Own Style  Hi everyone,

First off, this is an amazing and helpful site; I've come back many times for great advice, so I'd like to 'give back' if I may.

I make ...

Shanelle Smith, Fashionista and Owner of Snaketwist.com  My story is simple. I don't own a TV, a new iPod or a nice car. I don't spend money on hobbies like camping, scrapbooking, etc.

I'm of the tribe who ...

Stingy Clients  I started making jewelry for sale after I learnt a few tricks in beading. I was a resource person for a beading workshop for a couple of months and started ...

How to Work Faster and More Efficiently?  Hi, Rena!

I'm so excited that I've found your site, it gives me many ideas and inspiration but I too have encountered some problems with my home jewellery ...

Not so much stopping as not starting.....  I've just recently learned about PMC (yes, I know, I must have been living under a rock) and am dying to work in this media.

I'm a potter and have ...

Toggle Clasps vs. Elastic String for "One Size Fits Most" Bracelets  I love this website. I get so many wonderful ideas, tips, and knowledge to help me grow my jewelry making skills and business.

So here is my issue ...

Rude "Customers" Who Man-Handle Your Items  It is really important to me to ALWAYS be nothing but positive and enthusiastic in my booth at art shows... but I'm noticing an alarming trend - and wanted ...

Am I Too 'Old School' to be Successful in Jewelry Sales?  I guess I could start with a little background about myself. (I promise to give the abridged version.) OK, here goes:

~ I'm an artist who sews, sculpts,...

Having Trouble Finding Shows in My Area!  I have been making jewelry, and I think I am ready to sell at a booth or festival. I would like to sign up and have a deadline so I have all my pieces ...

Gems2Go Jewelry That is Not Going!  I have been creating handcrafted jewelry for several years and have sold a piece very now and again. However, during this time I also bought some beautiful ...

Dishonest Customers  I have seen a couple replies to another post about keeping the customer sweet and always swallowing your pride even when not in the wrong.

The only ...

How To Get a Good Market For My Jewelry?  My name is Jemimah,from Kenya in East Africa. I am physically challenged but my disability has not hindered me using my talent.

I make beaded jewelry ...

HELP!!! I've Tried Everything...Yes, Everything!  I started making jewelry as a hobby when I was a child. However, going to college and medical school, plus medical training to become an Internist left ...

Can't Find a Way to Increase Jewelry Sales and Have a Steady Income  I design hand painted jewelry, and I have had many sales but I am having trouble generating steady sales from my website.

I think one reason I don't ...

What Kind of Merchants Want Handmade, One of a Kind Jewelry?  I used to sell only at fairs, but now find it too strenuous physically and would like to sell through merchants in my area. How do I find a number of ...

Is social networking worth it for your jewelry business?  So, Ive been creating for many years and come upon many roadblocks.

This time around I am ignoring any roadblocks and moving forward. The computer ...

Lazy or Crazy?  Hi everyone. I love love designing and making jewelry: necklaces, bracelets, pendants, earrings, etc. for adults and children.

My problem is that #1 ...

"It Will Never Happen"  I want to begin by saying that I have tried everything from balloons to making ribbon flowers. Nothing ever worked because I jumped right in thinking ...

Selling My Handmade Jewelry Plus Other Jewelry  Hi,

I have always had an interest in jewelry since I was young, and I recently took a jewelry making class to pick up a hobby and I LOVED it.

I ...

Limited Resources for My Jewelry Business  As a stay at home mother, I thought it would be an excellent idea to start my own jewelry business.

I have been making jewelry since I was a teenager ...

High Production Costs Might Make My Spiritual Jewelry Seem Like a Money-Making Venture  I am in a personal/emotional crisis.

I have a design of living linked to a piece of jewelry that I designed. I cannot create the piece without the help ...

I Don't Know What the Problem is  I started designing jewelry about five years ago, but didn't do much with it. Then, in April I started working at this craft gallery that has beautiful ...

When Jewelry Components Break - Advice Please?  It's me again! I asked you guys out there with help on making my jewelry stronger from my last post about breakage after a successful jewelry party . I ...

I Love Making Jewelry, But Just Nervous to Start a Business  I am from Tucson, Arizona, but live between Cairo, Egypt and India with my husband. I use natural materials from both countries to create my jewelery.

I ...

New to Jewelry Making and E-Commerce... Ideas to Spread the Team Spirit?  With the failing economy, my fiance losing his job and expenses growing while income diminishing, my fiance and I HAD to come up with something to bring ...

Help With Jewelry Party Returns Due to Breakage!!!!  I did a home jewelry party a few weeks ago and it was a great success but my fears have come true, 3 items have been returned due to wire or clasp breaking....

How to Get in the Local Village Markets?  We are living in Costa Brava Spain and as designers we would love to get on the local markets with our stuff like jewellery and original creations.

Every ...

Trying to Get Good Images of My Jewelry is Difficult and Time Consuming!  Hi Rena,

Thank you sooo much for this site. I am a jewelry designer and artist. I started creating jewelry many years ago in New York and sold many ...

Selling through Third-Party E-commerce Services  So, I've been working on getting my jewelry store front up and going for a while now.

Been researching a couple of different Third-Party E-commerce ...

I'm an Artist, Not a Social Butterfly  I am starting to feel a little better after finding this site and hearing others going through the same things I have.

There is so much to learn when ...

Just Starting Out on the Internet - What's My Next Step?  I make beaded and wire wrapped jewelry. I use mostly beach glass, shells and semiprecious stones.

I have been in different craft shows and do well....

"Mid-life Crisis" or "Surely Someone Will Like this Piece?!"  I've been making jewelry for 2 years or so and I've recently created my own website and online business.

My sister has a skincare studio about 500 miles ...

Jewelry Business with a Broken Arm  Several months ago I fractured my arm and was depressed because it interfered with my jewelry making - and most everything else.

You encouraged me to ...

Setting Your Jewelry Business Goals - Create a Vision Board!  Having Trouble Setting Goals for Your Jewelry Business? Try a Vision (Story) Board!
Several months ago, I wrote an article about having a hard time ...

Making 3000 Sales (or More) on Etsy  What does it take to make 3000 sales (or more) on Etsy?

My mind works in the "Why?" zone.

One question keeps coming up here in Rena's website is ...

No One Knows I am Alive  I have been making jewelry for a while now. I have opened up a small shop out of my home and do shows.

I have run ads in all the local papers and have ...

What's Going On - Why Aren't I Selling?  I'm having a hard time getting away from clients who are cheap and want top items for a giveaway price.

I'm tired of them wanting me to give my jewelry ...

Holiday Ornaments? Holiday Blues  When my Mother expressed an interest in selling her handmade beaded Christmas Ornaments online, I was all exited to help her.

I had already gotten a ...

Jewelry Display Ideas for Jewelry Artist in a Wheelchair  Hi all, jewelry artist Lynda sent in this special request, and I'm hoping you have some great jewelry display tips and ideas for her.

Lynda says:

I ...

Getting Customers to Buy Online  I just opened my online shop a couple weeks ago on Etsy - it's Starseed Jewelry . If I could have $1 for every time someone told me I need to get a website,...

Pricing and Selling My Jewelry  I have looked at many of your articles and just want to say what a lovely compassionate person I think you are and want to thank you for all the lovely ...

Tools for a Person with Difficulty Using Hand  Dear Rena,

Hi! My name is Krista, and, like so many others, I have some physical issues.

I have a problem on my left side which makes using my left ...

Help  Nervous, scared, broke, and 57 years old. I currently work two jobs (full and part time), I have B.S. in Business Administration and make less than 25k ...

I love my creations too darn much!  "Moderately successful" is probably the best description of my experience designing and selling handmade jewelry on the Internet for the last five years....

Age and health  I am 48 and suffered a brain haemorrhage and stroke in March 2008. I was very lucky to have survived but now I have been left with disabilities and in ...

Necklace Photography  I am a willing photographer and would like to know how this necklace made by Sandy is viewed by you.

I need to get a handle on this and appreciate your ...

Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself  Instinctively, we want to find The One obstacle but reality is more complicated than that.

Take an extremely talented individual, add her lack of self-...

Niche Market and Lack of Venues/Sales  I make steampunk jewelry, by choice. It is a fairly niche market, so I try to run ads on a tiny handful of affordable (Project Wonderful) enabled steampunk ...

Why isn't MY jewelry selling??  Everyone comments on how beautiful my jewelry is. Everything is reasonably priced (probably too reasonably low!) but most of the shows I go to have WAY ...

The Reality of Selling Jewelry Online  I don't know if I would say it is stopping me, but what I am finding is that after spending many hours with a web designer, spending much money setting ...

Website Traffic vs. Website Sales  This is more of a response to Kim Isner’s (Galena, Ohio USA) post than a new subject. However, after writing this I surmised that it was much too long ...

The Kiss Theory  Here I go again, LOL. Speaking from experience, and I might add I paid prem-o dollars learning about life, I will suggest some things to think about when ...

Have an Idea, But Don't Know How to Have It Manufactured  I have a jewelry line idea, but it is not something I can make on my own. I want to have a model made and hopefully manufacture the design.

I have no ...

What's Holding Back My Jewelry Business  I was finally able to develop a website to sell my jewelry, after three years of problems. I did not have success with the website tools I had, so attempted ...

Absolutely Frightened of the Possibilities  I guess the best way to describe what is happening to me, is that I am stuck in fear mode.

To give you a bit of a back story . . . I have been beading ...

The Business of Beads - Bookkeeping  When forming LinnyGirl Designs, I did a lot of research about how to set up my business properly in the state of California. There were several forms ...

I lost trust in my own forces  My head is just full of creative ideas...and I know I can make it all come true, but here is what stops me:

1. My baby boy - taking care all day long ...

The Difficulty of Selling Jewelry  I always liked arts and crafts since I was a child, and with 44 years old I started to make jewellery as a hobby, as far as family and friends told me ...

Struggling With Balance  I am not unlike many other jewelry designers that have a more than full-time job and full life and added the hobby that they love as a business - on the ...

Getting To The Boutique's Owner  I have been making jewelry since 1991, long before beading became widely popular.

At first it was just a fun hobby I took up using only plastic, glass ...

Older and Wiser?  I don’t know ladies; I think everyone can use a little pep talk now and then. I regularly read everything here and of late I see a spiral downward relating ...

Online Ignorance LOL  I love making jewelry and have made a lot of it! However, I'm ignorant, I don't know how to blog, or anything else, except to set up my Etsy shop. Which ...

Baby on the Way!  I have a baby on the way. My first child, a girl of course! I am happy to have a girl so maybe I can share my love of beads with her.

My baby shower ...

Starting Out  My friend started selling my jewelry at her job, and it went very well because my price was too low.

So my sister decided we were going to rise the ...

My Marketing Strategies Don't Work!  I've been selling jewelry online and showing at occasional venues for the past two years. I give out plenty of business cards and post flyers where ever ...

Made A List - Here it is  I sat down earlier this week and made a list for myself. Now I see an opportunity here to share it with others:

1.) Procrastination - why? I want all ...

Living in a Busy City  I have been creating jewelry for the last five years. I was doing well selling at home parties, craft fairs, farmers markets, local spas and resort gift ...

Not Being in One Place for a Long Period of Time  I've been designing and building jewelry for about 10 years and I've been dreaming of making it into a business. But, just when I think I can start going ...

No One Knows My Jewelry Exists  I have been designing jewelry for about 10 years and I totally love it.

My problem is, I had never had any success marketing online and as I am a Graphic ...

Too Busy Living Life!  I have a fairly profitable jewelry business, but also own a full time piano studio and am a part time music teacher in a private school! That combined ...

Fear of Making It Real  I've been making jewelry for a long time - since high school. I love working with gems and metal to create new designs.

For quite a while, my selling ...

Choose your venue carefully  I am a beginner at selling my handmade jewelry even though I've been creating for four years.

I recently received an opportunity to display my jewelry ...

I find it hard to sell my own work  Hi there,

I've been designing jewelry for about 10 years now.

I find it hard to sell something I made. I think I'm afraid of criticism.

I can ...

Me is Getting in My Way!  While I do believe I have talent as an artist, artisan and jewelry designer, perhaps I lack the motivation to complete all my great creative ideas or tasks ...

Other People Tell You Your Business Will Fail  Early on in my jewelry business, I found that you have to be careful about who you talk to about it.

Most people's reaction is, "You know most businesses ...

Hard to Balance Jewelry Business with a Job and Family Life  My main problem with getting anywhere in my jewelry biz is that I just don't have time.

I work 30 hours a week in an office job, have 2 kids who are ...

Negative Spouse or Partner  Readers occasionally ask me what they can do about selling their jewelry when their spouse / partner is unsupportive and negative about everything involving ...

Difficulty finding a source for BIG bails and end caps  I have been braiding horsehair for several years but I'd like to make some horsehair bracelets. I am having trouble finding end caps and bails along with ...

Advertising To Increase Web Traffic  A wonderful website won't work without traffic.

Pass out your business cards. Tell your friends. Register with several sites and groups of moms (mamsource ...

Creative Director  I have a full time job, and three sons. Combining housework, helping the children with studies and other obligations that take almost all my time.

But ...