| If you've ever tried to sell your work on the | | | | gets zero bids. Lisa's item sells for $30. Here's the |
| tremendously competitive and crowded pages of | | | | lesson: The final bidder was willing to pay $30, but |
| Ebay, your quick answer to the above question | | | | she was tempted by the idea that she could get |
| may be no. But don't be so quick to answer. If | | | | it for nothing. Ebay buyers are always looking for |
| you keep these few things in mind, you can have | | | | a bargain! |
| a successful jewelry business on Ebay. | | | | Featured Listings: Another very important thing I |
| Up until recently, I sold my jewelry designs | | | | learned is that you must have at least one |
| exclusively on Ebay. And, as with any business, | | | | Featured Listing at any given time. You pay a |
| with an Ebay business, you need to have a | | | | premium for Featured listings on Ebay ($19.95), |
| business plan. The odds are against you on Ebay if | | | | but they put your listing in the top page of your |
| you simply make a few pieces, list them, and | | | | category for the duration of the listing. Featured |
| hope for the best. Your chances are much better | | | | Listings are your best portal into this very |
| if you spend enough time to develop a significant | | | | competitive market of jewelry artisans. You |
| inventory of several types of items that show | | | | cannot think of the expense of a Featured Listing |
| your individual style. After all - you may only have | | | | as a selling expense against the one-featured |
| one chance with an Ebay buyer... if they visit your | | | | piece, but as an advertising expense for all your |
| auctions, and you have only a few unrelated | | | | listings and storefront. (For instance; if you have |
| items up for sale, they may never come back. | | | | twenty auctions in a week and one is featured, |
| But, on the other hand, if they see a nice | | | | you can consider that you've spent $1 per piece |
| inventory of things that they would love to buy, | | | | to get ebay buyers in the door to your store.) |
| they will bookmark your store. | | | | You must understand that you will not get rich |
| You will also need a listing/sales strategy. There | | | | selling handmade jewelry on Ebay! I always felt |
| should be two types of items in your storefront: | | | | that what I averaged per piece on Ebay was like |
| Store Items: Have a well thought out inventory of | | | | wholesale prices. But - let's face it - if you are |
| items in your Ebay store. (These items will always | | | | selling through stores that resell your work, you |
| be there at a fixed price.) All you need to do is | | | | will not be making retail on your work either. Plus, |
| make a sample, upload a photo, and remake the | | | | you will be running around, schlepping your work, |
| pieces as the orders come in. (Earrings are great | | | | and most likely leaving it on consignment with |
| store items.) Ebay has a low store-listing price of | | | | boutiques. After all, wholesale on ebay is pretty |
| $.05 per listing, and a monthly $15 store fee. | | | | good when you're able to work from home, list |
| Remember, you will have to sell enough to cover | | | | the things you want and make your own hours |
| this Storefront expense above and beyond the | | | | doing something you love! |
| per piece profit, however. | | | | The biggest mistake jewelry sellers on ebay |
| Auction Items (or fixed price listings): These | | | | make is to step into it too casually. You must |
| listings are much more expensive per piece, but, | | | | have a certain amount of patience, and |
| no will find your store without them! It may | | | | understand that there will be upfront expenses |
| unnerve you to start a listing at $.01; but, your | | | | that will not come back to you immediately. (In |
| best bet is to start your auction listings low. Let | | | | what other business venture would we expect |
| me give you a typical example that I have seen a | | | | such a thing?). If you take the time to study |
| hundred times: Sue starts a choker at $9.95, | | | | Ebay, watch what the successful sellers are doing |
| because that is what she paid for the materials. | | | | and develop your own inventory and a strategy - |
| Lisa starts the same choker at $.01. Sue's item | | | | you can be successful on Ebay! |