| If you sell handcrafted jewelry, you probably | | | | appropriate. Selling handcrafted jewelry is all about |
| experience times when your jewelry won't sell | | | | consistency. |
| despite your best marketing efforts. If you're | | | | 4. What does your jewelry card say? Does it tell |
| dependent on your jewelry as your primary | | | | a story about you and your handmade jewelry? |
| source of income, this can be a very frustrating | | | | Does it make people feel good about buying from |
| and even scary experience. No need to panic! It | | | | you? This is what separates your jewelry from |
| may be time to take a fresh look at your | | | | mass market jewelry which is often produced |
| jewelry designs. | | | | overseas by a disinterested group of workers. |
| How to Sell Handcrafted Jewelry When Nothing is | | | | Let your customers know about you, the jewelry |
| Selling | | | | designer and why your designs are special. |
| The first step to correcting this problem is to | | | | Establish a connection with your customer and |
| step back and take an objective look at what | | | | you'll make your customer feel good about buying |
| you're offering your customer.Take a brief time | | | | from you. |
| away from your jewelry designs to release any | | | | 5. How about your prices? How do they compare |
| emotional energy that may be blocking your ability | | | | to what you see similar handmade jewelry selling |
| to be objective. Sometimes jewelry designers are | | | | for? Don't assume that your jewelry can only be |
| so emotionally involved with their craft that we | | | | priced too high! Underpricing can give the |
| can't see their own work objectively. Take a day | | | | perception that your jewelry is of poor quality or |
| or two off and do some things that you really | | | | that you have no confidence in your design ability. |
| enjoy doing. Take long walks through the woods, | | | | Sometimes raising prices increases sales. |
| take some scenic bicycle rides, have a leisurely | | | | 6. Are you selling your handmade jewelry in the |
| lunch and don't think about selling handcrafted | | | | right places? Many people sell their jewelry designs |
| jewelry. Soon you'll be relaxed and ready to start | | | | at craft shows and local boutiques. If you make |
| the reevaluation process. | | | | unique, high end jewelry that should sell at a high |
| Take out some of your pieces of jewelry on | | | | price, you're not going to have much luck at your |
| their display cards and place them on a large, solid | | | | local flea market. It may be time to apply to |
| white cloth. Try to look at your jewelry designs | | | | some of the juried, higher end art and craft |
| as if you're seeing them for the first time. Ask | | | | shows. Likewise, higher end jewelry isn't going to |
| yourself these questions: | | | | be a big hit at a boutique that sells discount |
| 1. Do your designs look as updated and fresh as | | | | clothing. |
| when you first started selling handcrafted jewelry | | | | 7. Is your jewelry consistent with the prevailing |
| or do they look like last year's offerings? | | | | color and size trends? Of course, you don't want |
| Customers love newness! One difficult aspect of | | | | to be completely dictated by the current fashion |
| the jewelry business is that it's subject to trends | | | | mania, but you may have problems selling little |
| - which makes people want to always see | | | | button earrings when the hottest earring trend is |
| something new. On the other hand, it's a positive | | | | a shoulder dusting dangle. If the big color trend of |
| because people have to keep buying to stay in | | | | the season happens to be pastels, it stands to |
| style. | | | | reason that people will be eager to buy jewelry to |
| 2. Can you buy jewelry designs similar to yours at | | | | go with the current clothing colors. You may have |
| local department stores and other mass markets. | | | | a problem if your jewelry consists primarily of |
| Be honest. Do you TRULY have something unique | | | | dark, muted shades. |
| to offer your customers? If not, you'll end up | | | | Now that you've taken a fresh look at your |
| trying to compete on the basis of price when you | | | | jewelry designs, is it time to make some |
| sell handcrafted jewelry which isn't a good | | | | changes? One word of warning, don't make more |
| situation. | | | | than one change at a time. Start with one simple |
| 3. Is your jewelry display card consistent with | | | | change and test your market to see how it |
| your jewelry and your overall theme. Natural | | | | responds so you can identify which change |
| stone jewelry shouldn't be displayed on a brightly | | | | brought results. Give this method a try when |
| colored card. An understated, elegant card with | | | | selling handcrafted jewelry and see if it helps to |
| soothing, natural colors would be more | | | | jumpstart your jewelry sales. |