If you feel that your creative talent in bead jewelry has reached its peak and now you would like to make some money out of it, well, that’s great news and you have reached the right place to find out how to make money out of your beaded jewelry. lab grown diamond engagement rings
There are many options available online and offline for you to choose from and you can try out any one of them or all of them! But do try.
- Things to do Before You Start Selling
- How to Make Money by Selling Beaded Jewelry
- How do You Price Handmade Beaded Jewelry?
- Is Making And Selling Jewelry Profitable?
- How do I Start a Beading Jewelry Business?
- How Much do Beaded Bracelets Sell for?
- How to Make Jewelry to Sell
- Best Ways to Sell Beads Online
- How Much Money Can You Make Selling Beaded Jewelry?
- Handmade Jewelry Trends
- Where to Sell Beaded Jewelry
- How do Beginners Make Jewelry?
- How Much Does it Cost to Start up a Jewelry Business?
- How do You Determine How Much Jewelry I Worth?
- Is Bead Making a Lucrative Business?
- How to Become a Bead Distributor
- Laws on Selling Handmade Jewelry
- Selling Glass Beads
- Bead Selling Sites
- How to Sell Handmade Jewelry
- Sell Jewelry Making Supplies
Things to do Before You Start Selling
Before we go ahead with the selling part, we must make sure that the following things are already in place.
- Quality: Nobody wants to own something which is broken or low on quality. The quality of your product will decide if in future the same customer will come back to you. And the customers who back are the ones who will build a good client base for you. So don’t compromise with the quality.
- Pricing: Pricing is probably the most crucial factor in selling jewelry because we all know that a price tag can be a turn off or turn on for a customer. Set realistic prices for your beaded jewelry taking into account bead cost, findings, stringing material, transport cost, packaging material and lastly the most important one of all, the labor cost. Once you have decided on the price then you have finished ten percent of your job. Remember that if you have set realistic prices, then takers for it will increase as well.
- Packaging: How many of you have still kept the old perfume bottle shaped like a leaf? I am sure many of them have. Yes, an attractive looking package will draw attention. Then why not package our beaded jewelry with the same enthusiasm. A necklace in a box or a goody bag look much more attractive than in a plastic cover. Do you agree? So spend some time on packaging your jewelry as well. This will be an added bonus.
- Naming your shop: A name, a brand lasts longer in people’s minds. So make sure you name your shop and make your work have its own entity.
- Visiting cards/Contact details: Try printing your own visiting card or simply make a handmade one! A customer who buys from you must be able to come back to you.
- Believe/know your product: A confident seller attracts more customers. This is the truth. Seller’s answers to the customer’s queries will set the pace for the customer to buy the jewelry. So be ready tackle all questions!
If you have taken care of all the above then let’s set the ball rolling for making money.
How to Make Money by Selling Beaded Jewelry
There are many ways in which you can make money by selling your beaded jewelry. Let’s list down.
Selling it to your friends/relatives
This is where it all starts! Your friends and relatives are the best customers you can get. You can start wearing your designs in the beginning to parties/gatherings. Once your friends start noticing your designs you can let them know that you are planning to sell your jewelry. And before you know you would have sold your first piece and made money!
Read Also: Earn Cash With Coffee Making In Your Local Area
To encourage sales, you can gift a few as well to your friends and they will end up buying the next one. Remember that your friends are your best judge and their honest feedback will prove very useful to you.
Selling it to your friends and relatives will also spread a word about your work and many will start approaching you with orders! You have taken a baby step towards achieving a bigger target.
Selling it in your apartment complex
Your apartment complex is also a good place to start selling your jewelry. Just put up a notice on the board welcoming all the people of the apartment to take a look at your jewelry with sample pictures of your work. And people will come and see your work and buy one or two as well! This will also give you the much needed word-of-mouth popularity and increase client base.
Exhibiting your work in crafts shows
Every neighborhood has craft shows. Keep finding about all the crafts shows happening around your neighborhood and call the organizer of the show to find out if you can set up a stall of your own. Once the deal is done, just exhibit your beaded jewelry works and people coming to the show will buy! These crafts shows also require some amount of work from you.
Arranging/displaying jewelry in the stall: An eye catchy arrangement of your works will draw the customer towards your stall. A shabby arrangement is a major turn off. There are many online tutorials on how to arrange your display in an attractive way like in pinterest which you can make use of the platform.
An attractive display is the key thing for craft shows
Confident body language/Smile: Giving a good smile to the customer and taking interest in his likes will make the customer more willing to buy your works. Give respect to the customer and you will get it in return as well!
Clearly display the price tag: By displaying the price tag clearly, you will get to fix the price on the item and keep bargaining customers at bay. The idea is to make money with a profit and not just sell your jewelry.
Give the customer your contact card with the item: Once your product is sold, give the customer your contact card along with the package. This will ensure that your customer comes back to you for more if needed and spread a good word about you as well.
Keep an eye on all the craft shows/holiday sales around your neighborhood and make money.
Selling at your workplace/friend’s workplace
This is probably the most hassle free way to do it. Your workplace is teeming with potential clients! All you need to do is let your colleagues know that you make jewelry and are ready to sell. Send a mail to all your friends asking them to meet around lunch time or after working hours in your cafeteria or some other convenient place (this is of course keeping the office policy rules in mind) and show them your items.
If they like it they will buy it. You don’t have to worry about shipping, payment or even delivery. This is because you meet your office colleagues everyday and communicate with them on daily basis. Simple isn’t it? Before you know your client base would’ve increased tenfold and orders will keep coming.
Make a deal with a shop to sell your jewelry
There are many boutiques, shops, all-in-one stores which sell jewelry. A shop which sells women’s clothing will indeed have a jewelry section. You can introduce yourself to such shops and ask them to sell your products. This of course will require that you would have to shell out a commission to the shop but that will only prove to be a boon in disguise.
The amount of publicity your product will get in a shop will be unbeatable. All you have to do is make beaded jewelry and supply it to the shop. This way you can keep your brand name and do not have to do the marketing. But you must be ready to explore multiple shops because of competition.
Shops may not be that encouraging but do not lose hope and keep trying and one of them may take you in. But remember to keep your brand name on the product.
Converting your garage/room into a small shop
How about converting the garage of your house into a shop? If you live in an apartment, a nice little corner of your room can be set up to sell your jewelry. All you need to do is arrange and display your jewelry in an artistic way to attract anybody who enters your home. You can put up an ad on your door about the sale.
And see how many will knock at your door. This way you can stay at home and sell your works and personally manage your clients and take orders as well. You don’t have to worry about shipping and delivery.
The beaded jewelry paraphernalia can also be displayed for the customers to know how exactly you work. The homely effect will attract customers in a big way.
A nice little corner in your room can be used to display your works.
Selling in a Flea market
A Flea market is a place where they sell a range of products belonging to any category. It may include old furniture, bags, shoes, basically anything under the sun. All you need to do look for a table in the market and reserve it for specific dates. The flea market may come with a rent and sometimes free.
Flea market attracts lots of customers and it would be a great place to showcase your jewelry items. Make your display attractive and invite customers to look at your items and try them on. You will surely be able to sell half of your works in a day.
Selling your jewelry online
This is indeed the easiest way to sell your jewelry. There are many websites available that facilitate such sales. Etsy, eBay are some of the good ones. The website will provide you with a page where you can display the images of your product and online customers can order it from the site. Once you receive the order, all you have to do is ship the product to the customer’s address.
The payment will be done via online mode (like PayPal) and you get your money. This option is best for those who can work only through the confines of their home and who are not comfortable communicating directly to the customer. High-quality images of your product, delivering on time, and packaging the product well will ensure better sales.
Setting up your own website and sell online
If you are very particular about the way you would want to showcase your works then you can personally set up your own website. You can upload high quality images of your beaded jewelry and give it multiple options of sorting by category (like price, occasion, and popularity).
Unlike the sites which give you only a specific set of pages, you can own multiple ones and even add a DIY page to it to make it more interesting. By using the services of PayPal you can sell your works online and ship the items.
But remember that you need to advertise your website using social networking sites, blogs (WordPress, Blogspot) or just by email. Once your website gets a set of clients then there is no turning back!
Using the social networking sites
There are many social networking sites like Facebook, Tumblr which provide means of setting up your page to sell your works. Once you create your page, your friends (and their friends) automatically get to know about it. There are options to boost your page views, invite friends and even place an ad (paid) on the site.
The social networking is the in thing now which will automatically fetch you huge client base to sell your beaded jewelry. The payment options and shipping may have to be worked offline (via phone, chat, mail) but the world gets to see your jewelry and isn’t that good enough?
Writing a blog/joining pinterest
There are many ways to start a blog. The world of internet has thousands of options available. Google’s blogspot, pinterest etc can provide you the perfect platform to show your works. By giving tutorials, uploading your beaded images and inviting users to comment on the works will, in long term provide a strong client base.
But you must try to be very regular in these kinds of sites for the user to feel connected to you. Once the user has become part of your group, you can start selling your works.
Video uploads and selling
Today video uploads have become a rage. There are many websites which host your video for free. YouTube is one of such media. You can upload the display of your works on the site and invite users to make orders.
A video will definitely give a real picture of the product because images may sometimes show colors very differently but a video will never lie. Take a video of your beaded jewelry items and include your contact number and mail id for the users to contact you. All this you can do from your living room.
How do You Price Handmade Beaded Jewelry?
There’s an easy formula you can use for working out the right price for your handmade jewelry:
Materials + Overheads + Labor + % Profit = Wholesale Price + % Profit = Retail Price
With any item you make, take into account the cost of the materials used. Don’t forget to include costs like beading thread and findings for each piece you make. These materials can often be overlooked as you might already have a large stock of these items, but it’s important to note that these are still material costs.
Be as specific as possible by finding out the cost per bead used for your jewelry item. For example, if you buy 1 x bag of 50 beads for $2.99 plus postage and packaging, add the cost of the postage and packaging onto the price for the bag of beads and divide this new price by 50 to give you the exact cost per bead. Then you can add up the price of the beads used to make each item of jewelry.
Your overhead costs might be a website, domain name, studio, Etsy fees and more. These are the general running costs for your business that you need to pay for on a regular basis. The labor cost is the amount that you’d like to charge for your time in making your handmade jewelry.
The easiest way to work out your labor cost is to decide what your hourly rate will be and then calculate the amount of time it takes you to make a product. Don’t undersell yourself here by working for anything!
For each piece of jewelry you make, after you’ve factored in the cost for materials, overheads and labor, you’ll then need to add on some profit. How much is up to you, but make sure that you do add some on! For example, you might want to charge 20% or 100% to reach a new figure and this will be your wholesale price – the lowest amount you’ll sell your item for.
Once you’ve set your wholesale price, add on more profit to reach a retail price that you’re happy with (what you think the market will bear). You may want to use the same percentage again to keep things simple, but it’s your choice.
Is Making And Selling Jewelry Profitable?
In 2020, more than 29 million people purchased jewelry online daily. So buying and selling jewelry online is big business and can be hugely lucrative!
With jewelry being a billion-dollar online marketplace, why wouldn’t you want a slice of that pie?
Because jewelry is a consumer product, it knows no boundaries! Jewelry appeals to both men and women no matter their age (or culture)! With this in mind, you know that you’ll never run out of buyers.
How do I Start a Beading Jewelry Business?
Before you dive into starting your own jewelry business, take a good look at these five most-often asked questions about starting your own jewelry business.
Determine the right prices.
This is probably the number one question that I hear from anyone who sets up at a craft show, flea market, church bazaar, or fine craft gallery. You need to cover your costs for materials, your time, your overhead (which includes things like insurance, utilities if you have a studio, and office supplies), but you don’t want to end up charging $4,000 for a single bracelet.
While there are no hard and fast rules for pricing your beadwork, the general rule of thumb is to calculate your materials costs, plus anywhere from 25–40 percent profit on materials; and a fee for your time. I beg people, PLEASE charge a fee for your time!
Even if you only want to charge $7 an hour (or somewhere around minimum wage) for the time you spent creating your beaded jewelry, it’s important to recognize that the time you spent working to create inventory for your jewelry business is valuable.
If you do all this and you still get sticker shock when you see what you should be charging for your beaded jewelry, take a good look at your market. Where are you selling these pieces? Who is buying them?
If you take a table full of $400 neckpieces to a flea market, you probably won’t get many sales. But if you take that same inventory to a high-end craft show at an art gallery, chances are you’ll be pretty happy with your sales.
That said, please don’t change your prices depending on the venue where you are selling jewelry. Keep your prices consistent. If you must, change your venues or take a better look at who’s buying your beaded jewelry. Understanding who your customer is can make all the difference between making the sale and ending up with a box full of beaded jewelry that’s collecting dust in a cabinet somewhere. How to effectively use a blog and social media.
We are truly living in the digital age—it seems like everybody is online, has a blog, or has a Facebook or Twitter account. These tools are mostly free to use, so take advantage of them! Learn how to set up a Facebook page and Twitter account for your business, and if you’re the kind of person who likes to tell stories about your beadwork, consider setting up a blog.
Keep your social media accounts active. After all, if you’re not using them, no one is going to see what you have to say! Posting on social media 2–3 times a day usually works best, and try to blog at least three times a week. Share those blogs on Facebook and Twitter to drive traffic to your blog, and make sure you always include links to your products in your Etsy, ArtFire or other online shop so that interested customers can make a purchase! Don’t expect overnight success.
This is probably one of the most important things to remember when you’re starting a jewelry making business: things take time. Don’t expect to be able to quit your job two weeks after you open your Etsy shop. Just like any other kind of business, building a successful jewelry business can take years.
Be gentle with yourself, too. If you aren’t happy with your sales after six months, re-evaluate your marketing practices, such as social media and blogs, or take another look at your customer base. Remember, too, that you’re competing with thousands of other handmade jewelry businesses online, and establishing a name for yourself can take time. Seek advice from your local chamber of commerce.
Once you’ve decided to start your jewelry business, you’ll need to figure out how to obtain a tax ID number, collect and pay sales tax, register your business, and possibly obtain a license to operate a business in your county or state.
Because each of these things vary widely from state to state, or even county to county, it’s best to contact your local chamber of commerce or economic development center in your community. These organizations exist to provide free or low-cost assistance and advice to anyone who wants to start their own business, and are often staffed by successful small business owners just like you.
Check your local community college, too, for continuing education classes that deal with business skills like software, accounting, and even product photography.
Any kind of small business class is well worth your time and effort if you want to have a successful jewelry business! Make what you love.
When you’re just getting started with your home jewelry business, you might think that in order to make any money at all, you should be making jewelry that looks like what everybody else is making, even if your heart isn’t in it.
The most important thing to remember when making jewelry as inventory to sell is that you need to put your heart and soul into what you create—if you aren’t enjoying the pieces that you make, chances are, your customers won’t, either.
How Much do Beaded Bracelets Sell for?
The general rule of thumb with retail sales is to triple your expenses to find your selling price. This means that, if you’ve made that beautiful little pink quartz bracelet with a base cost of $1.18, you should sell it for $3.54 (or round it to $3.50) in a retail situation. However, you’ll need to think about how and where you’re going to sell before you put a price tag on your work.
How to Make Jewelry to Sell
If you’re crafty, and you enjoy making jewelry, you can start your own business based around your products.
Before sites like Etsy came around, getting your products to your customers was challenging. It often involved setting up displays at craft fairs and vendor shows, trying to build a name in the local market and hoping for referrals from previous customers.
But, you don’t have to run that display circuit anymore (unless you want to, and a lot of people think it’s fun!). Instead, you can set up your own business from the comfort of your home by following these steps:
- Decide what makes your business unique. There are tons jewelry sellers available to consumers, so you must stand out. What makes your business special? Do you use fair-trade components in all your products? Are you the best price around? The thing that makes you different is called your “unique selling proposition” — use it to build your brand!
- Know what your profit margin is. If you aren’t careful, you can actually lose money selling your jewelry. Make sure you calculate the cost of all your materials, your fee for labor (your time shouldn’t be free!), shipping costs, and any fees for selling. Then use this information to price your products so you stay profitable.
- Decide where to sell your jewelry. You have options for selling. You can create your own website and market directly to consumers through there. Other options include setting up a seller profile on Etsy, Zibbet, eBay, or similar online marketplaces. Then you can sell your products from there. Just be sure to read the fine print carefully so you understand what your fees will be.
- Make your jewelry. Do your best work on every single piece. Remember that your product and customer service are your reputation, and you want it to be a good one. The more people love your work, the more likely they are to buy more or refer you to a friend.
- Take beautiful pictures. Remember the saying a picture is worth 1000 words? This is especially true online, when people can’t pick up your jewelry to examine it themselves. Take high-quality photos of all products available for sale. Think about what you would want to see before purchasing, and make sure you capture all relevant angles. You can get decent photos using a newer smartphone, and there are lots of tutorials online to help.
- Put time into your product descriptions. What will your buyers want to know about your pieces? Give them the information they want in your product descriptions. Don’t take shortcuts here, or your sales will suffer. Include the essential information and a great description of every piece. If you’re listing your necklaces online, it will also help to think about the phrases people might use to find your necklaces and use those in your copy.
- Start marketing. Even if you have the most incredible offers, you can’t expect buyers just to show up. You’ve got to spread the words about your business. To market your products, consider using Instagram and Facebook, or any other social media platforms where your ideal buyers hang out. For jewelry specifically, Pinterest is another great option!
- Collect reviews and testimonials. As customers buy your product, encourage them to leave reviews of your pieces. If someone emails you a glowing review, ask for permission to use it as a testimonial. This is called social proof, and it’s important to help grow your sales.
Best Ways to Sell Beads Online
Selling beads online is easy. Much easier than selling from a bricks & mortar shop or a trade show. Also, because beads are small and relatively light, they are an ideal product to trade online. You can sell them by the strand, in batches of loose beads, or strung together as necklaces or bracelets. It all depends on your supply, if you can get a lot, then strand or loose will sell faster online.
Here are my top ten tips for selling beads online:
- Make sure your heading is catchy and descriptive. The heading is the first thing that catches the eye of a potential buyer when selling on auctions. Unless the heading is good a buyer won’t even get as far as looking at your auction. Especially with so much competition these days. Go through eBay and note good selling titles for similar beads you want to sell.
- Make a good photo. The main thing an online buyer has to go is the photograph – good pictures sell! Get in close, crop hard, enhance the contrast, and reduce to about 400 pixels wide. Although many have broadband these days, too large an image will put off buyers with a dial-up connection. If your camera won’t focus close enough to fill the frame with your beads, then shoot from further away and crop with an image editing program. One of the fastest and easiest to use is ACDSee – not as sophisticated as Photoshop, but much cheaper and simpler to use. To down load for under $50 go to http://www.acdsystems.com/.
- Get the price right. If you are selling on auctions, then many other sellers force you to set your minimum bid at a competitive price. With too high a price you won’t get any bids. Check successful sales of similar beads to give you a guide.
- Work out your best strategy selling on eBay. This will depend on what site you’re selling on. In the US eBay increased fees make a preference to sell on 7-day auctions. Where on their UK site I favor 10-day listings because they cover two weekends (when most buyers are online), and don’t cost any more. eBay gallery pictures can be expensive if you have a lot of listings, but I think the increased exposure more than covers it.
- Good contact between you and the buyer is important. Answer e-mails fast (within 24-hours most of the time), and send out prompt letters to winners, non-payers, and problem customers. Make as much clear on the actual action as you can to save unnecessary letters. Especially shipping prices and payment options.
- Offer Paypal as a payment option. Paypal is simple once set up, fast, and economical. It’s also the best way for buyers to pay internationally. And make sure you do offer sales to international buyers – there’s no disadvantage with a wider catchment.
- Don’t just rely on eBay auctions. One tip worth more than your computer system is to establish an eBay store – easy and cheap to do. Then just put your best sellers on auction and everything in the store, relying on links from the auctions to bring sales to your store. Works a treat and saves you a packet in eBay bills. And the more stores you have, the more you will sell. If you’re selling a lot, consider a MarketWorks store too. This is linked to your auction sales and encourages extra add-on purchases outside of eBay. And for high-volume sellers, Miva offers the best online store software – get the store for free by signing a hosting contract with someone like NetNation at http://www.netnation.com. Because of less competition, you should also sell at a higher price in your store. The MrBead store is a Miva.
- Don’t lose out on postage & packing! It’s not a rip-off to charge buyers more postage & packing than the mail costs you. Consider all the time it takes to sort and mail orders, apart from purchasing materials and the actual packing. If it’s a business, someone has to pay for this time. I bet your bank charges you more for a simple letter than most sellers charge to mail a string of beads. Also, eBay doesn’t take a commission from your shipping charges.
- Don’t try to do everything yourself. Sign-up to an auction management system like MarketWorks Adviser at http://www.channeladvisor.com/mw (the best) or Andale at http://www.andale.com/. Any fees incurred will be more than covered by the increased sales you have more time to make. Many of this management systems list automatically, send personalized winner letters, combine shipping on multiple wins and automate feedback.
- Find a good bead supplier like MrBead at http://www.mrbead.com – click the wholesale link to see what you can save. MrBead gives up to 40% off for re-sellers, see here. Buying in bulk will allow you a larger mark-up on sales. Always buy more than you need because you don’t want to lose future sales if you can’t get anymore the same. It’s a lot of work photographing and listing new items, rather than relisting older beads. However, to keep sales rolling, you do need to keep adding fresh stock to your inventory too.
How Much Money Can You Make Selling Beaded Jewelry?
Are you wondering how much you will likely make from your beaded jewelry business? Here is a success story to motivate you.
Fire Mountain Gems has a large collection of articles on their website (look at the left column, near the bottom, to find them). Many are about ways to sell your work. We were just over at their site because we were looking for a piece that was in their catalog a few years ago, but here’s the gist of it. . . .
Hard times for the family, the wife takes a couple of dollars out of the grocery money and buys some seed beads and earring findings. She makes 50 pairs of earrings out of those materials, takes them to a flea market and sells them all for $2 or $3 a pair.
She buys some other beads with the profit and makes a mess of bracelets (or were they necklaces). She sells all of those at the flea market for $12 or such. She finds the skull from a steer and beads around it. She sells it. She digs around for other skulls, cleans them up, and beads them. Big success.
Handmade Jewelry Trends
So this year, let’s go over these 5 super classy Jewellery Trends 2021 which you really might want to try.
1. Eyeglass Chains
When the retro fashion from the grandma’s closet is officially fashionable, eyeglass chains have now transformed from being totally functional to downright dapper. The trend of eyeglass chain was introduced by Emmanuelle Khanh back in the 1970s.
So this is the age of retro revival where many styles from the 70s and 80s are becoming full-blown fashionable. When Gigi Hadid made a statement with her pearly eyeglass chain, why not give your sunglass a spin?
2. Pouch Necklace
If you even hate a clutch to carry let alone sling bags, then you certainly might want to catch up on these pouch necklaces for your next party. This tiny little pouch necklace will certainly become your style statement which is out-an-out useful.
Slide in your favorite lipstick or a credit card and lose yourself on the dance floor. There is a reason this style has found its place in the list of Jewellery Trends 2021.
3. Pearls
This classic style that flaunts every look and outfit, is surely daunting to the jewellery trend 2021. The dainty little pearl studs are sure-fire trends and sit proudly in every girl’s trinket box. From classic pearl choker to pretty bobby pins, hair clips and headbands, this elegant jewel rules every heart. Yes, every heart because when Harry Styles wore an elegant pearl neckpiece at the Brit Awards 2019, this jewel made its way to men’s jewellery trends 2020.
4. Handmade Jewellery
During the lockdown, people started spending more time exploring on social media giving a chance for local businesses to showcase their talent on the digital platform. This style became one of the top jewelry trends and is in high demand due to the materials used.
On the other hand, this handmade jewelry trend gives an excellent boost to local craftsmanship. Boho bracelets, trending earrings, and chunky necklaces made up of polymer, beads, leather or fabric, this style trend is surely going to stay in the market for long.
5. Sustainable Engagement Rings
When we are at the brink of facing a backlash from the nature, majority of fashion and jewellery brands are diverting their marketing strategy to sustainability.
Sustainable engagement rings which are one of the new jewelry trends involve using conflict-free diamonds and jewels as well as using secondhand rings in order to conserve the environment and support the human rights of the diamond mine workers.
Where to Sell Beaded Jewelry
1. At Work
Your workplace can be a really good source of customers for a budding jewelry business. Make a new piece for yourself and wear it to work. Show it off to your coworkers. Let them know that you made it yourself and, if they are interested, they can purchase that style too. If your coworkers like your handmade jewelry, you will have people begging to get the latest style in no time.
2. Craft Fairs
Craft fairs are great options for selling handmade jewelry. The shows usually cater to a niche market which means visitors are interested in the products on display. This increases your chances of getting sales.
Find out whether there are any upcoming local craft shows or fairs and sign up for one that is a few months away. This will give you time to make several pieces of jewelry in various price ranges and colours for the show and to prepare your display.
Ask the organizers of the craft fair about the visitors that usually attend the show to determine the age range, gender etc. This will help you to determine the best kind of jewelry to make and your price point.
Craft shows are great for testing new products. You have access to hundreds or thousands of potential customers. You can get face-to-face feedback about new products or ideas. This way you can either avoid wasting time and energy on products that customers do not respond to or go full-steam ahead if the reaction is positive.
3. Shopping Centres
Shopping plazas or malls have kiosks where you can sell handmade jewelry if you really are serious about starting a business. The rent may be pricey so make sure to have your accounting in order. Kiosks are usually in the centre of all the action and are highly visible which will aid your chances of getting sales.
4. Shops
One way to start your handmade jewelry business is to supply gift shops or boutiques. Stores are always looking for inventory and sometimes are great supporters of locally-made products. Make an appointment with the store owner or manager and showcase your products and wholesale prices.
While you may not profit as much as if you were selling at retail prices, you can make up for this by selling to multiple locations.
5. Online
You may consider creating your own online store. This route can prove to be difficult if you are new to the technicalities of running an eCommerce website. Also, you are the sole person responsible for driving traffic to the store.
How do Beginners Make Jewelry?
Making your own jewelry is not only a fun and addictive hobby, but it also has the added benefit that you get to wear what you create! However, many people don’t really know where to start.
Here are 10 simple tips to get you started with beginner jewelry making!
1. Choose what type of jewelry interests you most
It can be really overwhelming when you first decide you want to try your hand at making jewelry because there’s such a broad range of possibilities!
Just as you wouldn’t expect to learn to crochet, knit, hand-sew, quilt, and embroider all at once, it’s unrealistic to try to tackle every type of jewelry making when you’re first starting out. Instead, choose one kind you’d like to make first and go from there.
Perhaps you like wearing beaded jewelry best, or maybe you prefer the simple look and personalization of metal stamped jewelry. Maybe you want to work with leather, clay, or glass.
Choose one medium to focus on first, knowing that you can always try something else later… and in fact, the skills may even build on each other and you’ll have an easier time learning a new technique because of what you can already do!
2. Master a few basic skills
Whether you’re planning on working with beads, clay metal, or another type of jewelry first, there are a few skills you’re going to want to know for just about every project you make.
Most projects, for example, will require that you have a basic knowledge of how to open and close a jump ring properly and form a simple wire loop.
Once you master these skills, they transfer to whatever type of project you’re creating!
3. Invest in good quality tools
For your first attempt, it may work okay to just “borrow” the wire cutters and pliers from your household toolbox. But the reality is, the better the tools you have to work with, the easier the process will be and the better your project will turn out.
At first, it may seem like a bit of an investment, particularly when it comes to specialty tools like metal stamps, etc., but in the long run, they more than pay for themselves when you’re able to create rather than buy your jewelry as well as make jewelry to give as gifts and/or sell to others.
Once you have the necessary tools in your stash, it’s usually very inexpensive to make any particular piece.
4. Learn the terminology
What’s the difference between and head pin and an eye pin? Is 12-gauge wire thicker or thinner than 20-gauge wire? And what are “findings” anyway? You’re going to need to know!
Before you purchase anything, make sure you know what it is that you need. It’ll save you the time, expense, and frustration of having to return and exchange the wrong items.
There are lots of great resources to help you
5. Get your hands on some supplies, literally
There are countless options for where to purchase jewelry-making supplies. Online shops like Goody Beads, Lima Beads, and P&J Tool Supply have wide inventories, and you can also always find just about anything you’re looking for on Etsy.
Before you choose your favorite online vendors, though, I’d encourage you to find a local craft store and literally get your hands on some of these tools and supplies. Look at them, touch them and choose exactly what you want. I’ve ordered things before that ended up being not at all what I expected just because of my lack of experience.
Go get your hands on some things and familiarize yourself with them. Later, once you get into a groove and know what you like working with, by all means, go for the ease of ordering online, but I still personally love the experience of seeing things for myself before I buy.
6. Have an organized, dedicated workspace
There’s nothing more frustrating for a crafter (or their family!) than having random supplies strewn everywhere. If you can’t find what you need, you waste precious time that you could use for creating.
Choose a room of the house or at least a certain table, desk, drawer, etc. that you can devote just to your hobby. Once you have it, sort your supplies and label, label, label. There are all kinds of jewelry making storage ideas like inexpensive bins and boxes you can get that already have dividers in them to easily store various beads, findings, and more.
Figure out a system that works for you and stick with it. That way you’ll always know what you have and it’ll be at arm’s reach when inspiration strikes!
7. Check Pinterest, blogs, and of course Craftsy for inspiration
Sometimes a great idea for a new jewelry piece will just come into my mind. But more often than not, when it comes to making jewelry, I get inspired by what I see. Look all around you for inspiration.
Check out the jewelry for sale in your favorite clothing and accessory stores. Browse around on Pinterest. Find a few favorite bloggers whose style you like and check out their jewelry archives.
And, of course, search right here on Craftsy for ideas! There are over 2100 bracelet projects here alone, not to mention that there are over 11,000 total jewelry projects including necklaces, earrings, and more. Sometimes, you’ll find a great tutorial that you want to follow step by step, or you may just find something that appeals to you and you want to tweak the colors, size, or style a bit to suit your own preferences.
8. Take a class
Is there something specific you want to learn? Take a class and let an experienced instructor walk you through the process! You’re already in the right place.
Craftsy offers all kinds of classes, some of which are even free, where you can learn a variety of jewelry making skills.
You can take a basic beginner-level class or choose a course about a specific technique like wire wrapping or working with resin.
You might also be able to find a class at your local craft or specialty bead store where you can learn in person.
9. Don’t get discouraged
Like any other skill, making your own jewelry has a learning curve. The first wire loop you try to create is going to look like a hot mess. And that’s ok! Because the second one will look better and by the tenth one you’ll feel like a pro. Don’t let one difficult or failed project ruin your enthusiasm. Just keep trying, keep practicing, and remember that all skills take time to develop.
10. Take risks!
Don’t be intimidated to try a particular skill because you think it looks or sounds difficult. I always love having the opportunity to let friends play around with my metal stamping tools and see just how easy it is to create their own personalized pieces. So many folks are intimidated by the idea, but with the right tools, they’re amazed at what they can do!
Also, don’t limit yourself to a certain style, color, or size of the jewelry. Play around with your supplies, try new things, and see how you like them!
Experiment with different materials and see what happens
How Much Does it Cost to Start up a Jewelry Business?
Wondering how much it costs to start a jewelry making business?
- The minimum startup costs for a jewelry making business: $652
- The maximum startup costs for a jewelry making business: $24,100
- The average startup costs for a jewelry making business: $12,376
Here’s a detailed list of a jewelry making business startup costs:
Software Expenses
Your jewelry making business needs software to run efficiently!
Why spend money on software? Because it can help you save time and automate certain parts of the business, so you can focus on the most important matters. Software and technology can help you grow your business, and save you from expensive personnel costs.
| Cost | Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs |
|---|---|---|
| CRM Software | $0 | $250 |
| Email marketing tool | $0 | $100 |
| Design Programs & Software | $0 | $50 |
| Accounting & Invoicing Software | $0 | $50 |
| Social Media Management Tools | $0 | $50 |
| Project Management Software | $0 | $25 |
Office Space Expenses
It will be your call to determine if you need office space. It is not a requirement but may be necessary as your jewelry making business grows.
| Cost | Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $0 | $2,000 |
| Office Supplies | $25 | $1,000 |
| Utility Costs (office space) | $0 | $150 |
| WiFi | $10 | $100 |
Equipment & Supply Expenses
Starting a jewelry making business may require purchasing some equipment, whether that’s for producing the product or packaging the goods, or equipment needed in the back office.
| Cost | Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Technology Office Equipment | $500 | $5,000 |
| Cleaning Supplies | $25 | $500 |
| First-aid Equipment | $25 | $500 |
Inventory Expenses
If you sell a physical good, you’ll likely have to start with some inventory.
| Cost | Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Storage | $0 | $5,000 |
| Package Design | $50 | $3,000 |
| Shrinkage | $0 | $1,000 |
| Distribution costs | $0 | $750 |
Advertising & Marketing Costs
| Cost | Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Influencer Marketing | $0 | $750 |
| Local fairs and festivals | $0 | $500 |
| Press | $0 | $500 |
| Facebook & Instagram Ads | $0 | $350 |
| Direct Campaigns, Printing and Mailing | $0 | $300 |
| Google Ads | $0 | $300 |
| Affiliate Marketing Commission & Fees | $0 | $250 |
| Business Cards | $0 | $50 |
Website Costs
Every business should have a website, and it’s worth spending a bit of money to set it up right.
| Cost | Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs |
|---|---|---|
| A Domain Name | $12 | $200 |
| Email hosting | $5 | $75 |
Other Expenses
| Cost | Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Time! | $0 | $500 |
| Credit Card Processing Fees | $0 | $300 |
Specific Industry Expenses
| Cost | Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Handyman Tools | $0 | $500 |
How do You Determine How Much Jewelry I Worth?
The intrinsic value of jewelry is the simplest and easiest to understand. The equation for intrinsic value is:
intrinsic value = metal value + gem value
The metal (gold, silver, platinum, etc.) and gems (diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, etc.) are valued as raw materials based on current market rates. So, gold jewelry value, in this context, is largely determined by the current spot price of gold. Intrinsic value can be viewed as the recycle value of jewelry.
Imagine the jewelry as a pile of metal and gemstones, not as a whole piece of jewelry. Some other names for intrinsic value are: cash value, cash wholesale value, and scrap value.
Let’s look at an example. Assume a ring is made out of 5 grams of 14k gold and it has a 0.25 carat diamond. It has a gold value, of approximately $121 when gold is $1,300 per ounce, and a diamond value of roughly $250. That makes its intrinsic value $371.
Here is how to calculate the gold price.
- Find the daily gold spot price in dollars per troy ounce (a website like kitco.com is good for that). In this example, we’ll use $1,300. Curious about what a troy ounce is?
- Convert that price into dollars per gram by dividing it by 31.1 which equals $41.80 per gram.
- Multiply that by the gold purity of the jewelry. 14 karat gold is roughly 58% gold and 42% alloy. So, that would be $41.80 × 0.58 = $24.24 which is the price per gram of 14 karat gold.
- Multiply the per gram price by the number of grams in the jewelry item. So, you have: $24.24 × 5 grams = $121.
Here’s the complete math for our example ring: $121 = $1,300 / 31.1 × 0.58 × 5. This would be the full spot price for the gold.
The diamond price is more complicated. It is basically the common wholesale price modified by the cut grade of the gem. The wholesale price is a dynamic price that changes daily and is influenced by the source selected. One of the most popular diamond price guides is Rapport.
The prices are arranged by shape, size, color, and clarity (the 4 C’s of diamonds). Once the initial price is determined, the last step is to adjust the price by the cut grade of the individual diamond.
Resale Value or Retail/Wholesale Price
Some used jewelry has a resale value that is higher than its intrinsic value. This price includes the intrinsic value plus the workmanship to create the jewelry. Furthermore, if the jewelry is desirable in the market place, then a design premium is added. The equation for resale value is:
resale value = intrinsic value + workmanship + style
Of course, this isn’t an exact science, and other factors can influence the resale value as well. For example, two identical diamond solitaire engagement rings can have vastly different resale values, if one is stamped “Tiffany” and the other is not.
Appraised Value or Replacement Cost
The appraised value is the most confusing value partly because, on the surface, it seems to be the simplest. Most people are aware of jewelry’s appraised value. But, the key to understanding appraised value is that this value is only theoretical. It is not stating what the jewelry is worth, but what it would cost to replace the item in new condition.
Jewelry appraisals are the documents that deal with jewelry worth. There are actually a few different kinds of appraisals, but when most people talk about jewelry appraisals they mean insurance appraisals. This is the heart of the problem of what jewelry is worth. Jewelry insurance appraisals don’t have anything to do with the worth of the jewelry item, only its replacement cost.
The purpose of a jewelry insurance appraisal is to detail what it would cost to replace a jewelry item if it is lost, stolen, or damaged. It is not meant to show what the item’s market value is at the time.
Here’s an example. If I were doing a jewelry type of appraisal on a 2000 Toyota Camry, I would value it at around $25,000. Why? Because that is how much it would cost to replace the 2000 Toyota Camry with a new 2014 Toyota Camry. Now, no one is saying that the 2000 Toyota Camry is worth $25,000, but it would appraise for that amount.
When this is done in the jewelry world, people come to a false understanding that their jewelry is worth what the appraisal value states. Just like the 2000 Toyota Camry, the jewelry may be used and out of date. In many cases, the jewelry is only worth the intrinsic value. This could be as little as 5% to 20% of the appraised value.
New Value vs. Used Value
Another big point of confusion with jewelry values is that the value of a used piece of jewelry can be dramatically different from what it cost new. The cost of a new jewelry item includes the intrinsic value and (like resale value above) the cost of workmanship which could be 2 to 5 times the value of the gold and gems alone.
Even before the work begins, there is the value added by the jewelry designer. This can double the cost of the finished jewelry, or it can have a negligible impact.
There are still more costs to consider with new jewelry. There is the cost of bringing it to market which can include: wholesale costs, import costs, marketing costs, transportation costs, and more.
Finally ask: is the jewelry store a high-end retailer that can get a two or three-times mark up over wholesale cost? Are the salespeople receiving a high or low commission? What are the overhead costs where the jewelry is being sold? What is the regulatory and taxation environment like?
Here is an example breakdown of how some of these costs can look. This is a bit exaggerated, but it is just meant to show how much the final price can vary.
| Cost | Amount | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Intrinsic cost | $100 | $100 |
| Design cost | $10 to $100 | $110 to $200 |
| Workmanship cost | $100 to $500 | $210 to $700 |
| Wholesale cost | 10% to 33% | $231 to $931 |
| Import cost | 0% to 40% | $231 to $1,303 |
| Marketing cost | 20% to 100% | $277 to $2,606 |
| Jewelry store mark up | 35% to 300% | $332 to $7,818 |
| Commission | 5% to 40% | $349 to $10,945 |
| Taxes | 0% to 10% | $349 to $12,040 |
With all of the possible variations, it is easy to see that the price paid has little correlation to the intrinsic value of an item of jewelry. The price of a new jewelry item is based primarily on the jewelry stores’ business model.
If it is a high end jewelry store with a lot of overhead and added value, then the jewelry price could be 5 to 10 times more than the intrinsic value. If it is a discount jewelry store, then the price over intrinsic value could be from 1 to 3 times.
So, how much is your jewelry worth? It is definitely worth its intrinsic value. Every other price just depends on the situation. If you’re curious about how much your jewelry is worth, we recommend that you deal with a professional gemologist who can explain each of the values to you.
Is Bead Making a Lucrative Business?
Beads are now setting the pace in the fashion industry and for fashion-conscious ladies, they have become a must, without which dressing would not be complete.
Beads in different designs are pieces of jewelry that are trending now, as many women, including socialites, now prefer them to other types of pieces of jewelry. As a result, many discerning ladies are venturing into the business, churning out adorable designs and making good returns from the business.
Bead-making is a very lucrative business and it has a lot of money making potential as long as you know your art and your target market. Beading does not require a lot of space or significant technical training, which means you can do it right in the corner of your home.
Unlike some other enterprises, it is important to undergo training, as this will give would be entrepreneur more experience and edge in the business. There are schools set up by government where one can learn business like this. You can as well prefer a private school or even learn from an established bead maker, whichever one suits you best. The experience will enable you to make different patterns, which will probably make you unique in the business.
You can also expand your investment by selling all these beads-making accessories. The advantage here is that you will be able to get your items cheaper and get an opportunity to display your products to other people that will be patronising your store.
How to Become a Bead Distributor
The craft and hobby segment of the retail sector has grown into a $27 billion industry while other retail sectors have declined. Jewelry crafters find it easy to turn their hobby into a moneymaking home business by selling beads and jewelry patterns and creating jewelry-making kits for beginners.
These small businesses are eligible for business tax deductions and can help finance the owner’s hobbies.
1. Write a business plan for your bead selling business. Formulating a business plan will help you identify consumer markets based on the types of beads people are buying, start-up costs, operating costs and pricing.
The local office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers free help and business courses to small business owners getting started. Contact the SBA Answer Desk at 1-800-827-5722 or answerdesk@sba.gov to find the nearest SBA center.
2. Organize the bead business’s finances. Determine start-up costs, accounting procedures and inventory control. Start-up costs include beads and supplies, advertising and fees for business licenses.
For inventory control, bead businesses can purchase products that make inventory management easier since some Internet software companies sell bead inventory spreadsheets and inventory tracking software.
Set up accounting procedures to track expenses and maintain budgets. The IRS offers Publication 535, “Business Expenses,” to help small businesses with record keeping and help them identify business deductions.
3. Select a location for your business based on area bead buying habits. Bead businesses must consider all revenue streams such as professional jewelry designers, professional associations and craft fairs; and most hold classes on bead and jewelry making as a way to sell product.
When selecting a store location, choose a place with easy access, high traffic counts and reasonable rents to increase profitability since labor costs become a consideration. Many bead business start as home businesses to lower start-up costs, avoid store rent and reduce labor costs. Register your bead business with the state, and check whether your county or city requires licensing for businesses.
4. Find wholesale bead vendors. Bead businesses keep in touch with bead trends to help them determine the types of bead inventory to purchase. Find wholesale bead manufacturers by reading magazines focused on bead and jewelry making such as Jewelry Artist.
Purchase beads in bulk, since making beads by hand is labor intensive. Drop-shipping companies found on the Internet are an excellent source of exotic beads. These companies often provide ad copy and photos as part of the bead sale. Other wholesale bead vendors sell exotic beads; Bead for Life, for example, sells handmade beads to help women in Uganda.
5. Create a website storefront and open for business. Build a bead e-commerce website or hire someone to do so to establish a legitimate business presence within the industry.
A website gives a business legitimacy, and a website is an excellent marketing tool for showing bead inventories and presenting jewelry ideas. In physical retail locations, display beads in trays, in presorted bags and in craft kits.
Laws on Selling Handmade Jewelry
You can start making jewelry and sell it to your family, friends, neighbors. There are no legal requirements. When you get good at it, you might want to start an Etsy store and sell online.
You might also want to look into farmer’s markets and craft markets near your home and see if you can get a table space. That usually works with you paying a fee in advance to rent a space. Then you go in with your table and a little canopy tent and sell your jewelry.
Some craft fairs are indoors and some provide the table. You can also make your own website to sell jewelry. You could also place your jewelry for sale in local shops — but this can get kind of tricky since jewelry will sometimes be stolen from a shop. It seems like the jewelry makers who do the best have a specific style of thing that they make, and they get known for that.
If you are in the USA you can sell on Etsy. You don’t really need any legal requirements – but you need to have a pay pal account that you can collect.
You need some money to start with, then over time add products to your store. You need to spend money on Etsy for advertisement, otherwise your business won’t grow.
This business will never become very big, but it is a good practice.
Be very careful of two things:
- Shipping costs (don’t ship anything that is too expensive)p
- Scammers (there are many “customers” who want to scam you).
Selling Glass Beads
After creating some amazing glass beads, you have built up your confidence and have decided to start selling your work. However, you soon realize that you lack the sales and business experience. Don’t fret; check out our tips below to give you an idea on how you can improve product and business:
1. Establish Yourself: Are You A Full-Time or Part-Time Jewelry Maker?
This tip may sound off, but it’s crucial to determine your jewelry maker goals. Decide on if you are a full-time jewelry maker or a part-time jewelry maker. By doing this, you can set a budget and have realistic goals business goals in mind.
2. Know Your Target Audience
If you are serious about turning your jewelry making passion into a business, you must know who you want to sell to. Determine if your target audience is interested in colorful beadwork, hammered metals, semi-precious stones, etc.
3. Unleash The Salesman Within You
Here’s the reality: some of use just aren’t salesmen. Unfortunately, for those of us who have a hard time positioning ourselves as salesmen, we have to work a little harder. After all, you can’t sell something if you you can’t communicate well with other people about your product or business.
Starting out by selling your beadwork online or asking for networking help through friends and family can be a step in the right direction.
4. Use The Internet and Social Media
Utilize the internet and social media. The internet is a great place to sell your beadwork without doing any face-to-face selling. eBay and Craigslist are great starts to selling your jewelry, but don’t stop there! Social media is a powerful tool that you can use to your best advantage.
Create a Facebook page for your business. Engage with customers on Twitter, and post new items on Instagram. All of these outlets can help generate traffic towards your work.
5. Expand Your Collection
Don’t just stick to one theme in your beadwork, expand your collection! Don’t be afraid to try out new designs. You can learn a lot from video tutorials and jewelry making blogs online.
Bead Selling Sites
There are many online marketplaces suitable for selling jewelry online:
- Amazon Handmade – Amazon is a giant in the online space so you’ll benefit from the trust that’s already built into the name and the ridiculous amount of traffic they get every month. They have also waived the monthly fee so that’s an amazing deal.
- Aftcra – If you live in the U.S., Aftcra caters specifically to you. Crafters can list their products for free on the website. You’re only charged 7% of the sale price once you’ve sold a product. Listings expire after 6 months.
- ArtFire – There are three different plans on this website. The most affordable one starts at $4.95 monthly, plus a listing fee of $0.23 per item.
- Big Cartel – If you want to set up an online store and don’t mind paying a monthly fee, this may be the website for you. Plans start at $9.99/ month but there are no additional listing fees.
- Etsy – This is probably one of the best known websites. They charge a fee per listing so there’s no monthly fee to worry about.
- Folksy – Live in the UK? Folksy is an online marketplace for crafts made in Britain. There’s a pay-as-you-go option as well as a plan with a monthly fee.
- ShopHandmade – Who doesn’t like free stuff? Well, if the idea of having an online store completely free appeals to you, check out this website.
How to Sell Handmade Jewelry
If crafting your own bracelets and necklaces has gone from a hobby to an obsession, it might be time to figure out how to sell handmade jewelry to offset your supply costs or earn some extra money. Maybe you even hope to quit your job one day if the business takes off.
Unfortunately, the handmade jewelry industry is a bit oversaturated thanks to sites like Etsy that make it easy for anyone to sell their wares online, but these tips will help you get started on the right track for the best chance at success.
1. Decide What You’re Selling and Who You’re Selling To
It’s tempting to want to start up a business right after you complete your first jewelry making tutorial, but a few handmade jewelry pieces does not make you a master. Take a second to slow down and hone your craft. Perfect your jewelry making style so your pieces are cohesive, unique to the brand you want to create, and well-made.
While you’re working on refining your jewelry making skills, take the time to decide whether your business will focus on fine jewelry or costume jewelry. Fine jewelry requires a larger upfront investment, as materials like precious metals and gemstones are costly.
Costume jewelry is trendy and inexpensive; it’s cheaper to make, but because costume jewelry is less expensive and sells faster, you’ll need to keep a larger inventory on hand.
As you work through the beginning stages of setting up your jewelry business, also think about your ideal customer avatar. Conceptualize the type of person who will be purchasing your wares. This will help you in choosing the types of pieces to make, where to sell them, and how to market them. Find a customer avatar worksheet online to help you through the process.
2. Set Up the Business
If you aren’t sure whether a jewelry business is for you, sell your handmade jewelry locally at a craft fair to test the waters. Hold back from starting your own online store until you have solidified how your brand is going to look, how your accounting will work, and have all the necessary paperwork filed. Your first impression as an online business should be a professional one.
Once you’re confident in your jewelry making skills and you know that you want to start a business, thoroughly plan the business side of it. Write a business plan, create a brand storyboard, and sign up for a tax ID. Pick a fitting name and register for a DBA. Consult with other professionals to perfect your business model before you go to market.
3. Pick Your Selling Venue
Figure out if you’re going to sell online, in person, or both. Do you want to open a brick and mortar shop? Do you want to only do craft shows? Do you want your own website built with a service like Squarespace or Shopify or do you want to sell on a site like Etsy? Determine where you want to sell and how your inventory will be managed.
Conduct market research on other jewelry businesses that have had success selling in these venues to gather insight.
4. Establish an Inventory
Even if you only want to sell online, you’ll need more than just a few pieces to sell. It’s common to think that you can just make pieces here and there as the other ones sell. However, in order to gain forward momentum, you need to start with a healthy inventory.
Then make sure you continue adding pieces regularly for the first few months. This will help potential customers take your business more seriously.
As you work on your inventory, keep on top of jewelry trends by checking fashion blogs and Instagram accounts daily. Part of keeping a fresh inventory is making sure the pieces you’re selling are fashionable.
5. Master Photography
To have your jewelry business stand apart from others, photography is important. Well-composed, properly lit photography is an important skill to perfect even if you plan on selling locally.
You may plan to sell at craft shows exclusively, but you’ll still want to maintain some online presence to connect with previous and potential customers. Having professional-looking photos for these platforms will help.
If you’re taking photos yourself, the easiest option is to photograph each of your pieces on a white background. Use a photography light box to ensure that your photos are uniformly lit and look cohesive. It may be tempting to get creative with setups or use models, but if you’re not a professional photographer, it’s best to keep it simple.
6. Get Social for Free Marketing
Take some online courses to learn how to take your social media presence to the next level. While a fantastic website and blog were once the primary ways small jewelry businesses marketed themselves, nowadays, you can get away with not having a website and just maintaining an active social media presence.
Become your own PR person and reach out to bloggers and influencers to see if they’re willing to share your jewelry with their followers.
The two words to remember here are consistency and cohesiveness. Keep your feeds consistent with your brand and limit personal posts. Make sure you post at least a few times a week so you don’t lose touch with your target audience. Schedule posts in advance and take advantage of free tools.
Sell Jewelry Making Supplies
Once you’ve cleaned up your spare craft supplies and inventoried what you have, it’s time to try selling them.
First, ask around among your friends and acquaintances. Many crafters are active in groups for their crafts, and that would be the best place to start when looking for a new home for your extra supplies. You may sell everything without having to write a single online listing.
If talking to friends doesn’t yield anyone who wants your supplies, you can try running an ad in a local craft guild newsletter or renting a table at a craft show. These approaches often bear fruit and may not cost much.
Read Also: How to Start a Boating Business
Another option is eBay, especially if you already have an account there and sell other items (if not, setting up an account is fairly simple). There can be tens of thousands of listings for craft supplies on eBay at any given time.
eBay is an especially good option if you have many craft supplies that you’d prefer to sell as one large lot, as opposed to separately. Listing on eBay is free, but if you sell your supplies, you’ll pay a small percentage of the sales price to the site as a fee.
Craigslist also hosts many listings for excess craft supplies. It’s an easy site to use and completely free. However, you may get better prices for your items on eBay.
Finally, if you already have an Etsy store where you sell your handcrafted items (or even if you don’t), you can consider selling your spare craft supplies there (search for “destash” to see the huge selection of what’s for sale). Etsy has a variety of rules you’ll have to follow, and you’ll do well to familiarize yourself with them before posting items for sale.
Don’t wait start making money
So what are you waiting for? Pick the best options and start making money. All you need is a little hard work, trying out multiple options and keep expanding your business as time progresses. In no time you will become a small business owner to a jewelry brand.
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