Okay, so you read every jewelry making book and magazine available. You’ve studied the tutorials online. You’ve wrapped so many loops until you thought you’d be counting tiny crystals and beads in your sleep, and you’ve come up with some stunning jewelry. Now what?
Well unless you plan on a) keeping them for yourself, or b) giving them to friends and family from the goodness of your heart, you probably would like to sell them, right? Let me tell you, there is nothing like selling your jewelry to someone who loves and appreciates the time and energy you put into something that you made yourself!
Making the jewelry is the easy part, getting it seen and sold is another issue altogether. Hopefully the following will help you not only get your jewelry some much needed exposure, but turn your much loved hobby into a bonafide business!
SOCIAL NETWORKING
CREDIT
Sure we use outlets like Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace to keep up with friends and family, but you can also use these social networking tools to make a name for yourself and your brand. Take Facebook for instance…you can set up a “fan page” for your jewelry designs. Add photos, descriptions, and your prices, shipping, and ordering policies, and how you wish to receive payment. While overnight success is probably not realistic, having a fanpage on facebook will get your jewelry and your name out there. Visit other jewelry artisans pages and become a fan of their pages, adding in your message that you would like for them to fan you back. 10 times out of ten they will be happy to do so. What’s really cool about this process is that every time you post a link on your fanpage, it shows up on their home pages, getting your jewelry seen by their friends, and their friends and so on and so forth! Another cool thing about Facebook, is that your posts can be connected to your Twitter account, Etsy, or Artfire stores, which we will touch upon next. Remember with Facebook it’s all about promotion, so the more work you put into it, the more you will get out of it.
ETSY, ZIBBET, ARTFIRE, ETC…
Having a storefront to showcase your jewelry is an absolute must for online selling. Sites like Etsy and Artfire offer you a venue to reach millions of consumers of handmade products. You are allowed to list your products, and accept orders via Paypal. You may also indicate on your storefront that you will accept alternate methods of payment. The basic membership for Artfire is free, but it may be a great idea to upgrade in order to get a ” kiosk” which you can also connect to Facebook. Etsy in my opinion has it’s pros and cons. The good thing is that it has it’s own stream of traffic so your jewelry is more likely to be seen, however it is very saturated with jewelry artisans, so be sure that your jewelry stands out from the rest. Definitely look at what other artisans are selling, and how much they are charging. Etsy does use Paypal, but a credit card is required in order to become a seller.
VENDOR BOOTHS
This is a great way to connect with people and potentially turn them into customers. Of course you will need the proper licenses and permits, but having a vendor booth at say a weekly farmers market, or even in an area that draws a magnitude of tourists is ideal if you live in a major metropolitan area. Craft fairs, flea markets, and art shows are also ideal. I know someone who goes to her local hospital every week and sells her jewelry and turns a nice profit every time. Remember to have plenty of business cards on hand, and give them out regardless if people buy or not. You never know when someone may contact you to purchase something!
JEWELRY PARTIES
Jewelry parties are alot like Tupperware parties, but instead of plastic sandwich containers and thermos’, your selling jewelry. This is a great way to sell your jewelry because everyone you are inviting knows why they are coming, to buy jewlery! It’s important to have a varied selection at hand. Give out invites that showcase photos of your work to get people interested. Offer guest the opportunity to earn free jewelry if they bring a friend or two…or three! I would definitely have jewelery for every price range. Offer jewelry that is inexpensive and easy to make such as memory wire bracelets, and rings and offer two for the price of one. Definitely serve refreshments, but keep it limited to drinks and finger foods. People will be handling your jewelry, and you don’t want it smudged by dirty fingers!
Be sure to have plenty of mirrors on hand as your guests will no doubt want to try on the jewelry to see what it will look like. If at all possible, it’s always a good idea to have a means to accept credit cards. People are inclined to spend more money when they are swiping their Visa or Mastercard. Offer free gift-wrapping or better yet, package each purchase in an attractive little bag with tissue, just in case the purchase is intended as a gift. If you have any other ideas I would be open to hearing them and posting them! Good Luck!
