Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

2008 PR Calendar

I just thought I would share this resource-2008 PR Calendar. I thought this was awesome because not only does it have major holidays but other events (sports & political, etc) in case your jewelry line has a niche market (sports theme, etc).

Do you have any "events" or "dates" that are not in the calendar that you include in your annual PR campaign? Feel free to drop a comment!

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas

Wishing your family a Merry Christmas!

Here's to spending time with family and loved ones!

Hugs,

Designing-Diva

aka Randi-Sue

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Making the Most of Jewelry Shows-wholesale & retail


I always try to make the most of every retail market show that I do by really engaging with not only my customers but vendors too!

I always try to engage my customers by asking them what drew them to a particular piece so I can share the inspiration behind the design, color or technique I used to create that particular piece. One of my most popular limited edition designs is the ring pictured above...Three Pebbles, Three Wishes; I designed it to honor my grandfather who would patiently tell me bed time stories . My favorite was about a princess who had 3 extraordinary pebbles that could become magical wishes. This ring is a way for customers to share a thoughtful sentiment with someone they care about.....by giving them 3 wishes.

I often end up taking orders for these rings at shows because each Three Pebbles, Three Wishes is unique because the three silver pebbles are fabricated by hand with love and little help from my torch! ;)

The other thing I do is always ask my customers for referrals; when they say, I just love your work. I don't just say thank you. I ask them to tell their friends and family as well as their favorite shopping spots. A valued customer telling a boutique owner about a new jewelry artist will mean more than a cold call from me!

I always try to network with other vendors at the show by asking what shows they have done in the recent past, what shows they are doing in the future, and getting their feedback on the quality/target customer of the shows they have done. It is critical to know about shows well in advance to be able to participate....some shows need up to 1 year for your application because of the juried process!! More often than not, they will tell me what shows they think might be best for me after viewing my jewelry line and sometimes I even get referrals from them to boutique owners!!

As a result of my engaging not only customers but vendors, I have the opportunity to be referred to other customers, business owners and learn about new shows that may be of interest! More often than not, I get business up to 4 weeks after a show through the online jewelry boutique, with comments when they check out...." I spoke to you at XYZ show or my friend bought a necklace and told me about your designs....etc"....So, I know that engaging and asking for referrals does work for me!

Do you have any comments/suggestions for making the most of the jewelry shows that you do?
Please post a comment so we can all learn something new!

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Packaging-Does Your Brand Stand Out?


Does your brand stand out with your packaging? Is it recognizable from one show to the next? Do people ask about your packaging (how much do I have to spend to get one of those purses/bags)?

I get these darling pink vellum bags from Nashville Wraps for my larger sized jewelry and I have smaller ones for earrings & rings. I use chocolate tissue paper and it is a very distinctive look and I get wonderful feedback/comments from customers & other vendors at shows.

Your packaging should show you care about your product and deem it worthy to be "special". Whether you buy or make your own packaging, think about how you can your brand stand out and be recognizable from show to show.

Do you have a great packaging tip to share? Please leave a comment!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Impulse & Incentive Buys Can Increase Your Show Sales

I'm busy getting ready for theDallas Urban Street Bazaar this Saturday at Dallas Market Hall. I want to share a 2 of of my favorite tips great way to increase your show at sales....

1. I always have special incentives for customers to buy from me. Whether it is a BOGO (buy one get one at a discounted price) or just plainly clearly marked reduced price, this always works for me.
My most successful offer is on earrings. I will offer my dichroic glass silver earrings at $25 or 2 for $40. I always have a great assortment of these earrings on posts, french wires and leverbacks for customers to choose from.

At 2 for $40, the $20 price range is a great gift or small treat item!

Plus, I like to have a sign that mentions the gift that keeps giving...the Earring of the Month Club!

2. Shop my Sale Trunk
I always carry a little sale trunk with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants ,etc...that start at just $10! All items are in little plastic baggies with the price clearly marked and they can save up to 75% off by "digging" through the trunk.

I also offer ALL customers who make a purchase to shop the sale trunk while I'm wrapping up their purchase. More times than not, people find a little something to add. These impulse buys often end up being 20-40% of the shows revenue.

Do you have a tip to share that has helped you increase your jewelry show sales? Please leave a comment so we all can profit! :)

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Accept Credit Cards at Retail Shows

I recently did an event at Stonebriar Country Club ; 95% of my sales were paid with a credit card ( I had one cash and one check).

I accept all major credit cards and use a wireless device , Way System that includes a printer. My merchant account is through NABancard ;I've been very happy with the service from this credit card processing company.

I know many other vendors use ProPay and you pay only a "yearly fee" which may be more cost effective for the seasonal business. Rena Klingenberg has a short article on ProPay on her Home Jewelry Business Success Tips that may be of interest if you are in the research phase!

If you use another credit card processor/system, drop a comment and share!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Promote Events---Shameless Plugging Works

Phew, 2 big shows with one day in between......crazy but in a GREAT way!

I just did Shecky's Girls Night Out in Dallas and it was spectacular! I owe my success at the show to a few things ( I spoke to 2 other jewelry vendors...one made NO sales and another only sold 2 items):

1. I contacted everyone on my local contact list to let them know I was a vendor at this event and that the sample sale would be for up to 40% off at this event only! Guess what....I had several of my customers come because they didn't want to miss the 40% off !!

2. I blogged about the event and told potential customers about new designs that were going to be previewed at the event (which sold out BTW).

3. I was mentioned as one of the local designers (pre show) in the Dallas Morning News.

4. The height of my one table display ( literally I went up 3 1/2 to 4 feet) because we only got one 8 foot table!!!

5. I know you are thinking...it must have been location....NO! There were NO assigned spots and I was directly across from 2 jewelry vendors, had one on my left (one space over), had one on my right (one space over) and one right behind me!!!!

My sales were great for the night and I got valuable feedback from my target market. I tripled my mailing list in one show! Now, that is marketing success! I "plugged" my next big "public" show ....the Urban Street Bazaar...I got Dallas excited about the Indie Artist Holiday Shopping opportunity!! Woohoo.

Make sure you promote your events...verbally, online, press releases, mailing list, etc....it DOES and CAN make a huge difference to your sales at any show!

Monday, November 5, 2007

Use E-Cards This Holiday to Connect with Your Customers

If you have an e-commerce jewelry site, you will most likely have a "newsletter/updates" sign up where you can keep in front of your customers. I just found a great article on using E-cards during the Holiday Season to connect with your jewelry newsletter subscribers/list by Gail Goodman, the CEO of Constant Contact.

I use Constant Contact for my jewelry newsletter list because I can create 'newsletters' and choose to send at specific dates/times. This allows me to have my updates on autopilot and allows me to get busy in the studio creating jewelry!

What are you doing to put your jewelry business on autopilot when it comes to holiday marketing?

Friday, November 2, 2007

Shameless Self Promotion...Just Do It!

The biggest retail season is upon us and it's going to be a tough sell this year. All the major retailer's are doing their big Thanksgiving "sales" 3 weeks ahead of time. OUCH!

Hopefully, you have all your "holiday marketing done or on autopilot" by now.

Don't forget to wear your jewelry whenever you are out (think tasteful) and when you receive compliments make sure you whip out a business card to share...let them know what upcoming shows you have, if you hold private trunk shows (tell them), and of course if you have an e-commerce site or are carried in local shops (tell them too)......in other words, do a little shameless self promotion.

Now is the time to get out of your comfort zone to see $$$ in your bank account from selling your handcrafted jewelry !

What do you do to "shamelessly promote yourself?" Make a comment!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Handmade Pledge....Get Your Customers on Board

I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org


Get your customers to pledge to only buy handmade goods this year by supporting indie artists...

They can take the handmade pledge here...

Here is my handmade pledge....feel free to share yours!

" I pledge to only buy handmade goods because I love unique gifts by indie artists. I love sharing the stories behind the gifts and my friends and family can't wait to see what goodies I have found for them."
---Randi

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Rena Klingenberg offers 19 ways to sell more jewelry this Holiday Season

I'm a huge fan of Rena Klingenberg. I purchased her book , The Ultimate Guide to Your Profitable Jewelry Booth, when I first started out (less than 2 years ago). I still refer back to it and am amazed at what golden nuggets she offers jewelry artists.

I would be struggling business wise if I had not read this book or had the resources like The Switchboards at my fingertips!

Anyhow, I digress....check out her latest article on How to Sell More Jewelry This Holiday Season...
She shares 19 wonderful ideas to help you have a prosperous holiday! Thanks Rena!!!!
PS
Don't forget to get her newsletter....watch our business grow as you learn from Rena and other featured artists!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Example of a Holiday Gift Guide for the Independent Jewelry Artist

The deadline is looming and here is a sneak preview of the Holiday Gift Guide that I will be sharing with my customers this year.

I think it is important to point out a few things about the gift guide.

  • I have some inexpensive gift ideas that have mass appeal (the wire wrapped hearts in 3 colors and priced under $20)
  • Gifts with value (the gift that keeps giving)-Earring of the Month Club
  • Hostess Gifts
  • Special Gift-Capture the Magic with Three Pebbles
  • I will also be adding some fused glass designs with silver plated bails that will be priced under $25
  • The only thing I'm missing is my Luxe line....one of a kinds that range from $100-$500
  • Use your gift guide to highlight some of your products in a unique way!

Here's to a successful and profitable 2007 Holiday season!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Holiday E-Mail Marketing....

Uggh... I do apologize for my silence. I try hard to post at least 3X /week but last week was very hectic with shows, wholesale orders, etc..
I hope that you've found the Holiday Sales & Marketing series helpful . Every business is a little different but there are core business principles that apply to all business models.

I just wanted to remind everyone that if you can set up your holiday e-mail marketing on autopilot so you can focus on your customers/business during this busy season. A little pre-planning can help your stress level!

Personally, I use Constant Contact to keep in touch with my newsletter subscribers. I currently have several newsletters scheduled to keep in touch with my customers/subscribers. They will be automatically sent out on the days I have scheduled them.

You can use holiday e-mail marketing to remind your customers about holiday sales, new items that have arrived, customer services you provide, etc.....It is much easier to keep a customer once they have purchased from you than to convert a new customer!

Here's to a successful and profitable holiday season!

Friday, October 5, 2007

Holiday Gift Press Releases....Deadline Loomin!

Designing-Diva has created a Holiday Gift Guide that will be released mid-October. The Gift Guide will include the boutique's best sellers, gift ideas under $25, and introduce the new art glass line (home decor and desk accessories).

Don't miss out this Holiday season......

Holiday Gift Press Releases Due Now


It is no secret that the fourth quarter is the biggest and most important quarter for companies marketing to consumers. Holiday shopping can make or break many companies. That's why many financial analysts wait to see how a company weathered the holidays to determine its financial health and outlook. However, holiday shopping doesn't just happen. It takes hard work through marketing, advertising, and PR efforts. Unfortunately, many fail to address their PR campaigns until it is too late, missing what is probably the most cost effective way to promote their product or service. While shoppers don't engage the holidays in earnest until Thanksgiving, the fact is that most publications have already put their holiday gift guides and product reviews to bed. December is late. November is not as bad but you've already missed the publishing schedule for most monthly and weekly publications (which are often working one to three issues in advance).

While a minority of newspapers or websites might be receptive to a holiday press release in early December, the fact remains that the perfect venue for these types of press releases is high-circulation consumer magazines: Better Homes and Gardens,Business Week, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, Essence, People,Newsweek, Seventeen, Men's Health, Entertainment Weekly, Woman's World, Car and Driver, PC World, US Weekly, Popular Mechanics, Food & Wine, Marie Claire, etc. Many late November and December
magazines are chock full of holiday gift guides and product reviews. Early December is too late if you're seeking coverage in magazines. In fact, a trip to the newsstand in early December
will provide all the evidence you need. All the December issues of monthly magazines will be stocked and ready for purchase --some have been there for a week or two. Even the weeklies will already be dated early to mid-December.

What to do?

Get your holiday gift press releases in circulation now. While many publications prefer getting their holiday gift guides ready in August or September, many still receive and compile gift
articles and reviews through the month of October. That's right. The deadline is looming.

This deadline is not just for magazines. Most newspapers close their calendar for holiday gift ideas by the end of October or early November. While they may pounce on a hot gift idea
closer to the holidays, don't risk the exposure you may be missing by waiting.

Get your holiday gift press releases out over the next couple of weeks. While you can always follow up with a second release later in the season, there is little you can do to change the past if you find yourself reading about a competitor's product in a holiday gift guide when you didn't get your press release out in time.

****this excerpt was borrowed from a newsletter sent by www.erelease.com

Monday, October 1, 2007

Planning Your Jewelry Sales & Marketing for the Holidays, part III

This is the 3rd and final installment holiday planning guide for your jewelry business!

You've got your fall-winter designs ready for the 2007 Holiday Season and are maybe even going to test some of your spring-summer 2008 designs on the "holiday crowd"....

You've got some great sales and marketing ideas like giveaways, partnerships, gift certificates and more.....

NOW WHAT???

Communicate to your "niche market"......How?
  • Write a free how to guide and send it to your local paper......(How to choose classic jewelry, How to buy pearls , etc..) Establish yourself as an expert in your field. Provide the guide as a free service!
  • Have a website? Create a 2007 Holiday "gift" landing page....include your best sellers, have some gifts under $20....make it easy for shoppers to buy !
  • Communicate with your customers (e-mail, post card, etc)....tell them about your free how to guide, the gift guide, etc...
These are just a few ideas on how you can communicate to your niche market. Don't forget the call to action with great photos. Inspire them to buy from you.

Did you miss part I or part II??

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Attract More People to Your Jewelry Booth....

I just read an article by Jeff Tullock ( Wrap It Up Jewelry) that will have you wishing you had thought of this sooner....

He uses an electronic picture frame to show off his jewelry and draw customers into his booth.

What a fantastic idea!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Color Choice Made Easy

" The whole world as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color. Our entire being is nourished by it. This mystic quality of color should likewise find expression in a work of art."

-Hans Hofmann, Artist

I am so excited! Fire Mountain Gems now has a Pantone ® Shopping color guide . Woohoo and it's only $40.

Don't be afraid of experimenting with color, use a color wheel to help your creative juices flow.

You can plan ahead for the Spring-Summer & Fall-Winter 2008/2009 with the help of the Color Forecast Guide.

Even though each season has 24 colors selected to be the hottest, don't let these rule your design choices. Remember rules are meant to be broken and many women stick to "safe" or "classic" colors.

My favorite color for Fall-Winter 2007-2008 was jet black....because black is a staple in so many women's closet! What was yours???


Amazing Jewelry Display Case...you can make it!

I'm always on the lookout for crafty and creative ways to display my jewelry that makes a great impression but doesn't make a huge dent in my very small budget!

I just had to share this ingenious and downright gorgeous jewelry display case tutorial that is make with a box, fabric, wallpaper, trim and some velcro. NO sewing involved...just a hot glue gun and craft glue.

Check out Carolina Gonzales and her amazing jewelry display case!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Creating an Artist Statement and Bio

On my business to do list right now is to "update" my artist statement/bio. I want to have a "condensed" version and a "long version". I decided that I needed to do more research so that my "voice and personality" comes through and I connect with others (by sharing my story). My current bio/artist statement is "lacking"!

Here are links to a few resources that I've found to be helpful:
Writing an Effective Artist's Statement
How to Write and Use an Artist's Statement
How to Write an Artist's Statement

I feel like I'm back in high school english class or worse my 1st year university literacy course. This is what I currently have for the condensed...

I loved numbers and math as child and left the "art" to my brother who loved to draw detailed cartoons. Now with a Clinical Scientist degree gathering dust, I realize that art and number aren't worlds apart. In fact, they are so much alike because they are universal languages. Experimenting with metal and glass I'm excited by the infinite combinations possible.My voice is heard when the hammering, bending, cutting and fusing is done; my artisan jewelry is my connection with others where no interpreter is required!

I like the fact that your statement/bio is dynamic; as we progress or diverge in our craft, we can update our statement/bio to reflect what is going on.....well, I'm off to work on another draft!

Do you have any great tips/resources for creating an artist statement or bio? Share and post a comment!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Are You Marketing to Local Jewelry Customers Online?

I receive the Duct Tape Marketing newsletter and thought I would share this with those of you who run their own e-commerce websites to sell their handcrafted jewelry.


7 Steps to Local Search Dominance
Local shoppers are going online to find products and services in your town - get found when they do!


Right now, in every community in America, increasing numbers of people of all ages are turning to the world wide web to find products and services right their at home.

This trend, known generically as local search presents a huge opportunity for small businesses who focus on winning in this arena. Below are 7 steps every local business should explore today in order to gain a competitive advantage in their local markets. (Someone in your market and industry will do this, why not you?)

1) Register with the primary local and social search engines
Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL, Ask, Local.com and TrueLocal are all awaiting your information as they build local search directories. Make sure you are listed.
Judy's Book, Craig's List, and Insider Pages are sites building directories with user generated reviews. Get in those as well and manage your online reputation.
(You can get this done for you and get a local profile page on Duct Tape Marketing gaining you page 1 results on Google for key local terms with a Duct Tape Marketing Local Search Profile)

2) Optimize your web site for local search
Put local terms in you page titles - not Home page - Kansas City Electrical Contractor
Put local terms in your anchor text - not Kitchens - New York Kitchens
Put local terms in your H1 and H2 tags
Put local terms in your body copy
(If some of the above sounds like Greek to you - check out Harness the Internet

3) Put a map on your site

The whole mapping category just keeps getting easier to use. Google Maps, both mapping and local directory, recently added a feature that makes it super easy to embed a map rather than simply copy an image or link to a map. This means that you can use a map with all the functionality right on your web page. Many businesses can benefit from this tool, especially when it comes to local search.

To create a map for your business, simply visit Google Maps, conduct a search for your business (you've got to be in the Google Maps directory to show up - get listed), hit the "link to this page" link and copy the HTML code for your map. I've simply pasted that code below so the map shows up in this post, but you could put it on any web page. Then create directions in text to your business from various routes and you've created some nice local keyword rich content. (This is a good web content strategy even if your clients don't need to find your office.)

4) Check your InfoUSA listing
InfoUSA compiles lists for direct mail and telemarketing but they also provide a great deal of the directory listing information for many of the smaller search directories. Go here and make sure your listing is correct and up to date. You can also add things like your web site address to the profile.

5) Add local content
You should create several pages of content on your site focused on local angels. You can report local news, talk about your firm's history in a town, give an overview of non-profit activities, even report on the various suburbs your staff hails from. Don't forget to put your physical mailing address on every page - that's local content too.

6) Add a Blog
A blog - not a free blogger one, but one that resides on your domain - is one of the most powerful local search tools going. You can simply post about things going on in the community, school events, neighborhood block parties, the local sports teams. It's helpful if you can do this and post content that is relevant to your primary business, but as long as the towns and neighborhoods you want to score well in the search engines with are in your posts and titles, you will get some serious lift for those terms.

7) Get local inbound links
The search engines give lots of credit for links that are coming back to your site from other sites. Go out their and find some local directories or strategic partners that will link back to your site but don't have them link back to your business name - Joe's Pet Shop. Have them link back to your site with a local search term like - Toledo's Biggest Pet Shop.


Related article:
Basics of Small Business Web Site Optimization


. ~ ~ ~

John Jantsch is a veteran marketing coach, award winning blogger and author of Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide published by Thomas Nelson.

He is the creator of the Duct Tape Marketing small business marketing system. You can find more information by visiting http://www.ducttapemarketing.com

Reprinted with permission.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Listen to Nike and Just Do It!

The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.
- George Eliot


Think about this quote for a little bit and how it relates to your jewelry marketing plan. If it is just a plan and you've taken NO action , your business isn't going to move forward! You must take action and it does NOT need to be perfect; in fact, it just needs to be professional and follow the tone of your niche market.

I don't know about you but I don't have a degree in the dreaded M word.....marketing. Everything I've learned is either from experience (on and offline sources), self-education or mentoring.

For example, I don't dread writing a press release even though it is not my favorite thing to do. I'm comfortable in doing my own research and pitching various on and offline publications, tv, and radio.

Just remember, you need to put your jewelry marketing plan into action. Tackle just one thing on your plan this week. Make business goals and stick to them! There is NO such thing as failure only an opportunity to LEARN and GROW!!!

Leave your thoughts or comments!

Friday, September 14, 2007

Planning Your Jewelry Sales & Marketing for the Holidays, part II

Wow, can't believe it is the middle of September already. I'm working on the Spring 2008 Signature Diva Collection and have shows booked through Feb 2008. Phew! ;)

Here is part "deux" of Planning Your Jewelry Sales & Marketing for the Holidays. At the bottom of this post, you will find a link so that you can read the first installment. Look for the 3rd installment by the end of September.

Now that you have a color palette and designs created what do you do? How about generating some buzz with these promotional ideas...

  • Create a higher "retail" ticket jewelry design up for grabs. For example, if you are strictly e-commerce based, you can have a "lottery" entry and increase your chances of winning with every purchase. Depending on your pricing, maybe there name is dropped in every time they spend $50. Notify your customer base (on and offline), potential customers (prominent spot on your website), and send out e-mails to various blogs that may be interested (they can post a blog entry about the contest).
  • Offer a promotional holiday related or jewelry related item with each minimum purchase. Be creative. It doesn't have to be jewelry...it could be an ornament, candle, etc??? Or it could be a nice velvet pouch or polishing cloth to protect their jewelry purchase. It's amazing what you can find for under $1-2 that can pack a punch. Plus, if you are pricing properly this will not hit your bottom dollar because you include packaging and incidentals in your price (right!!).
  • Do you have a loyal customer base??? Send each of them a FREE gift certificate (NO strings attached) . I know you're thinking is she crazy.....Absolutely NOT. Yes, some customers will ONLY come in to get a FREEBIE but many will come and spend more; every time I have done this my sales have increased ( I track the gift certificates).
  • Consider a partnership. For example, consider a similar business (fashion or beauty) that can cross promote with a particular item. For example, maybe a bath and body product with any purchase over a certain $$ amount (the other vendor will do the same with your jewelry). Trust me....you both will win. You both get exposed to new customers and your customers are getting value ( and they will remember this).
  • Offer services to make your customer's purchase EASIER...free gift wrapping, free drop shipping, free gift cards, or if they are local (a private trunk show). The point is by adding value your customer will feel appreciated and think of your jewelry and business in "warm and fuzzy" terms which is a GOOD thing!


Read Part I of this holiday jewelry marketing series? Do you have any fab suggestions that you would like to share? Leave a comment!

Read part III of this holiday jewelry marketing series!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

On and Offline Partnerships-Having your Jewelry in More Than One Venue

People won't buy your handcrafted jewelry if they can't see it . Duh! So simple right.Have you considered other partnerships that do not necessarily cost anything up front to get you the exposure you deserve? It can be a wholesale arrangement (when a piece sells you give them a cut up to 50%).

Although, I run a "virtual" jewelry boutique, I have also partnered with other online shopping sites like Mintd, Bagadoodle, and Artisans Market. I'm currently working on two other online partnerships to showcase my jewelry. At my partner sites, I sell jewelry that meets the "feel" of that particular site; all of these sites, take a small % of the profits but it is still cheaper than advertising. Once they are a customer, I can encourage them to sign up for the Diva Newsletter to keep in front of them.

Offline, I have also partnered with other business's from art galleries to salons. One of my most profitable ventures was with a "travelling" art show for corporate events in the DFW.

My point is by partnering with other business's on or offline you will not only get your artist name, business but your handcrafted jewelry in front of more people which ultimately will help you be more successful.

Do you have any partnerships/venue's on or offline that you have had success with? Drop a comment and share your success!

Monday, September 10, 2007

Display Tips for Jewelry Shows

This weekend, my family and I stopped by the St. Ann's Annual Carnival/Festival. This year, there were 2 large tents with vendors. I was amazed at the "quality" difference at the various booths with very comparable merchandise.

It is important when you do any jewelry show (festival, retail, wholesale or private trunk show) that your "booth" or "table" does NOT have a flea market(messy and unorganized) look; it will hurt your sales because people will assume it's cheap/junk and either not bother to look or think the jewelry is overpriced.

There are several different ways you can approach how you display your handcrafted jewelry art so it looks professional:

  • Color group your jewelry (neutral, dark, color) so it looks like a cohesive collection
  • Group your jewelry by style /technique (classic, funky, modern or wire wrap, chainmaille, simple beading)
  • Group your jewelry by "design" (earrings, necklaces, bracelets)
Use your creative juices to come up with "creative display props" that will fit how you've approached your display. Hobby Lobby ,Garden Ridge and even the Dollar Store are fantastic places to scout out inexpensive display props. One of my favorite displays is a wooden cigar box that I decoupaged with "antique looking" scrapbook papers; I fill it with earrings in little Ziploc bags with my business card and keep it by the "checkout" area for impulse buyers. More often than not, while I'm ringing up their sale they rummage through my mini trunk and "add" to their original purchase.

Get your jewelry up and off the table. Your customers shouldn't have to bend over to examine any piece.

Lighting, lighting, lighting. Make sure your jewelry is well lit. At outdoor festivals or when no electricity is available, maximize the natural light that is available by using "lighter colored displays".

PPP. Practice. Practice. Practice. Set up your jewelry display at home before you go to a show. Yes, I know it is a lot of work but stand back take a look. Can you see all the jewelry? If not, can you vary the height of your displays so you can. Is the display balanced? If one area is "heavier with more jewelry", consider how you can spread that out so the customer's eye doesn't stop...you want them to be able to see all the jewelry clearly and to be drawn across the display.

Label. IMHO, it is important to label items clearly with information and pricing. I include the materials the design is made from, the "inspiration/story" behind the design, care and of course the price. Many customers thank me because they love a stone but can't remember the name and want to be able to tell others.

Keep in touch. Have promotional items like biz card, flyer's, biz info , etc on hand to share with anyone who stops at your booth. Also, always ask if they would like to be kept updated about new designs, sales or your trunk show schedule. Would you believe one of my best customers originally wasn't a paying customer? Julie met me at an outdoor festival and kept my card even though she didn't buy anything. At my next trunk show , she bought a $15 ring and got so many compliments that she arranged a private trunk show at her office for me. I've also been requested to hold other trunk shows and made custom jewelry as a result of her referrals!! Just keep that in mind....:)

If you also have some display tips you would like to share, please leave a comment so we all can learn!

Friday, September 7, 2007

Is Your Packaging/Presentation Drawing The Customer In?

Early on in my biz I held a trunk show at an upscale women's business luncheon, I had several women ask how much they had to spend to get one of the pink vellum purse's that was displayed. Yes, that's right the pink vellum purse that was worth 50 cents had that much pull. This is my standard packaging ( I carry the vellum purses in two sizes) so they would get one with any purchase but that's when it struck me how important packaging /presentation is!! One of many light bulb moments for me!;)

Over the course of my business, I have experimented and noted which package and displays did better at the different shows. Yes, I have noticed a difference between the retail, wholesale and private trunk shows. More often than not it's the "creative" less expensive route that has generated the most buzz for me at any of these shows.What has your experience been?

Whatever packaging/presentation you choose, it must fit the look and feel of your jewelry designs and business logo/colors, etc...

I currently get most of my packaging from Nashville Wraps because I can try out new packaging in small quantities and their customer service to date has been excellent. I use custom stickers so hot stamping is not an issue for me. I also sometimes purchase packaging/display items from Rio Grande as well.

Do you have a favorite packaging resource that you would like to share ? Please leave a comment so others can check it out. Thanks!

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

A Meeting of Creative Minds-The Switchboards

Do you feel like your spinning your wheels in your handcrafted jewelry biz ? Does your artist self struggle with your business self ? Marketing over your head ?

I have found the forums on The Switchboards to be an invaluable resource in building my business, e-commerce site, marketing and promo ideas, etc...It is a meeting place for like minded creative business women to connect, share and learn.

Just in the last week, I have several things added to my " to do " list as a result of being inspired by these other creative minds...

1. Revamping my current down loadable press kit
2. Marketing to national magazine editors
3. Defining my signature brand
4. Working on Spring 2008 collection
5. Revamping the layout (not template) of my current website
----think of ease of navigation and creating groupings (collections) for a more coherent presentation

That's just my top 5...not in set order...but just what I thought I could do to improve my brand and jewelry biz!

This is a fantastic resource that you should bookmark...and watch our business grow as you learn from a very talented group of creative and successful businesswomen!

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

The Finishing Touch...don't let them forget!

Use stamped tags with your signature, company name or logo to the custom handcrafted jewelry you make.

WHY?

  • Branding-customers may forget where they purchased or if it was a gift are curious about what other designs are carried
  • Finishing Touch-details are important and it shows customers that you as an artist and business person think highly of your jewelry to put your name on it


Check out Rio Grande's quality tags in sterling silver or 14k GF (14/20). You can order the the tags in a variety of shapes : oval, round, rectangle and hearts. Have a custom stamp created and you can produce tags as you need them.

Your customers will not only perceive your jewelry to be of higher quality (because you put your business name /mark on it) and they will remember your brand (be able to determine where the jewelry was bought).

If you are not using custom tags & stamps in your jewelry, what are you doing to brand your designs?

*If you use another wholesale supplier that other jewelry artists might be interested in, please leave a comment with the supplier's information.

Offer More Than Just Your Signature Jewelry Brand

With the busy holiday season coming up, I always like to design and carry some fashion conscious inventory that will serve to draw new customers and serve up a dose of "the moment style" for my fashion-forward clients.

Of course, I've worked hard to define my brand that identifies me and my jewelry line as the Designing-Diva. The signature that my customers have come to love is a jewelry collection that is unique .....a woman can express her personal style and taste without having to worry about it being another cookie cutter accessory.

But I can support my brand and signature with some more fashion forward designs that still have my "stamp" on them. These designs will support and complement my signature designs and not compete with my signature. During the holidays, these lesser value fashion-forward designs do well because so many people are looking for unique affordable gifts but still want to pack a punch ( the packaging...designer artisan jewelry gets them all the time).

How do you know what is fashion forward? Easy...check out the malls, open a fashion magazine, etc...Take what you see and translate it into something that complements your signature/brand that will draw in new fashion conscious customers and offer a great unique affordable gift for your current and new customers alike!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Reasonable Online Advertising for Indie Jewelry Designers


I just love this online magazine, N.E.E.T. (click on the photo go to the publication), and advertised in the Sept 07 issue. Would you believe you can advertise for a full page for only $45 ?

N.E.E.T. began in December 2005 as a quarterly, online publication, laid out in a magazine format - as a showcase for grassroots creativity. It would be impossible without the wonderful contributions of all those involved and many thanks goes to a wide network of global talent, with the Internet playing a vital part in research and communication.

Whenever I advertise online, I offer a coupon code. Why? First, I can track all the links using my web stats from "online advertising". Second, if someone checks out using a coupon code I know exactly where they found me. Third, I can determine if that advertising venue is effective for me by comparing how many people clicked vs converted (used a coupon code).

If you are e-commerce based and not watching your web stats, you are missing out on a lot of vital information. As a small business owner, I can't afford to "waste" any of my advertising and marketing dollars!

The next issue is for December 07 and we all know how huge the holidays can be for our business so if you would like to advertise or submit a product for consideration, hurry on over to N.E.E.T. magazine!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Promoting Your Jewelry for a Charity/Non-Profit Group or Cause




I was recently approached by She Finds (as well as other indie jewelry, fashion and accessory designers) to create a jewelry design to help educate, raise awareness and support the non-profit organization, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF).

There were a couple of "rules"; the indie designers had to use teal the official color of the OCRF an incorporate the letter "O" in our design. Other than that, we were encouraged to be creative and share our inspiration behind the design.

During the month of September, She Finds will be promoting National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the indie designer's efforts.


I created the Love & Hope necklace. This necklace incorporates a teal fused glass design (one rule down ..another to go), a hammered sterling silver ring ( my letter O"), and a white freshwater pearl for love & hope. Designing-Diva Jewelry has pledged that 25% of the proceeds will benefit the non-profit organization, OCRF.


Ironically, two of my dear Bunco Sister's (and you know who you are) mother was diagnosed last week with ovarian cancer. She saw the oncologist today and was told that it has metastasized to her major organs ; she is scheduled for a biopsy tomorrow morning to determine how her chemotherapy tx should be administered (scheduled to start mid-September). The whole reason I got involved in this women's health issue is because I was appalled there is NO early detection method for ovarian cancer and that it is the #1 gynecological cancer killer and 5th cancer killer of women. As a daughter, wife, mother and friend to many, this is my way of supporting a cause that just might prevent a tragedy like my Bunco sister's are experiencing right now from occurring!

I issued a press release when I first created the design online and have had a few other blogging sites that will be posting the design and helping raise awareness regarding ovarian cancer. Since September is just around the corner, I have pitched the following press release to the Dallas Morning News and local tv stations. Cross your fingers that we can get this in the public's face! I'll let you know if I hear anything back.

FOR RELEASE THROUGH SEPTEMBER

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL:
RANDI-SUE DECKARD- (469) 877-0805

Local Jewelry Artist is Baking Up Glass to Support Ovarian Cancer Research Fund

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and a local jewelry

artist is baking up glass at a whopping 1500 degrees to help support the Ovarian Cancer

Research Fund (OCRF). The artist named the teal fused glass design Love & Hope as a

tribute to survivors and for those who have departed but are not forgotten.


Randi-Sue Deckard, a Dallas based jewelry artist, wanted to support this

important women’s health issue because at this time there is no early detection method

and this gynecological cancer is the leading cause of death in the US and

the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women in the US. With a friend’s mother just

recently diagnosed Deckard urges all women to get the facts at www.ocrf.org

Deckard states, “As a daughter, wife, mother and friend to countless women, I wanted

to help support research, education and raise awareness so that some family may be

spared a tragedy. “


The artist has pledged 25% of the proceeds from the sale of Love & Hope to the

OCRF. The teal fused glass design may be purchased online for $49.95 through

December 31, 2007. Love & Hope is available at www.designing-diva.com.

###

Randi-Sue Deckard is available for interview by calling 469-877-0805 during regular business hours.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Are You Missing out because you don't have a "luxury" ticket price on your jewelry?

I just read a fab On Style article by Christina Binkley online at the Wall Street Journal titled,The Psychology of the $14,000 Handbag .

Christine bring up some interesting points why so many successful companies have at least one high end almost absurdly priced item. Many people will buy a lesser priced item as a consolation prize even though it is the high $$$ ticket item they really covet.

Looking at my current business model, the highest priced jewelry item I have had in the past is my sterling silver crocheted designs with pearls and gemstones (Retail: $300-400). Did I sell a lot of them? No, but they are a great draw; so many folks can't resist picking up these necklaces even though their eyes bug out at the price!

Sterling silver wire crocheted necklace with pearls and peridotAnyways, I thought this was worth sharing with y'all as so many artists struggle with pricing their craft....often they undercharge...which is a whole other story!!!

Keeping Up with Google-Universal Search

One of the challenges for my e-commerce jewelry boutique is keeping up with the changes at Google. Hey, I'm an artist and all this SEO and marketing takes a chunk out of my design/studio time!
I found a great article that discusses how to optimize your site for "universal search". The article is written by Tony D. Baker. He is Oklahoma’s leading Internet marketing expert with over 1000 clients and over 10 years of Internet marketing experience. As an author and public speaker, Baker has written several ebooks and has spoken at conferences throughout the United States. Tony D. Baker is currently the host of Xeal Radio, Sunday nights at 6pm on Tulsa's Talk Radio 1170 KFAQ AM.

In a nutshell, Tony says your website can be optimized for universal search using press releases,images,video content, site map so search engine can find links (keep it updated), and the basics like links, keyword rich text, etc...

At this point, I need to add some video content...maybe of me designed fused glass, soldering, etc..."Artist at Work Series" and update my site map....

Hey, if I can do it so can you!!! Don't invent the wheel or make mistakes...there is a lot of great information out there and you can make a difference!

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Planning Your Jewelry Sales & Marketing for the Holidays, part I

Just because it's summer doesn't mean you should be slacking off in your jewelry business. In fact, this is the perfect time to prepare for the biggest selling season of the year-Holiday 2007!

This is part I of a series geared at helping you plan ahead for the lucrative holiday season and get the most out of your sales/marketing resources!

It is still smoking hot in N. Texas but I'm already thinking about the Fall/Winter Fashion Forecast. Whether or not your customers follow the fashion trends, they will notice color palettes whilst out and about shopping. Go into any major dept store and look at their displays....hint! hint! It's a great way to see for yourself what the dominant color palette of the season is. Yes, I know Pantone has a forecast but it's not the same as seeing the real deal...a retail merchandise display!

So, what can you do to translate this into lucrative jewelry sales? Plan to create jewelry using the dominant color palette and also find innovative ways tie it into your packaging. For me, that means I will be highlighting my "chocolate brown" more than my pink in my packaging The good news is that the colors for Winter 2007 have shifted marginally with designs favoring individuality. Now that has me excited as that is what Diva designs are all about ...individualism and dynamic personality!

It's always a great idea to create pieces that are versatile? Create pieces that can be dressed up or down. Think what can be worn at the office but would still look compliment a "holiday party/girls night out" outfit. Or think about a necklace that can be wrapped into a bracelet? Or a necklace with a removable/interchangeable pendant?

Combine gold and sterling silver rich colored stones in red, green, blue and purple. Textures are another way to offer style. One of my favorite ways to add texture is to incorporate silk and various fibers into my design. I've been known to haunt Quilt Shows for hand-dyed silk ribbons to use in my designs.

I do hope you've enjoyed part I of this series. Read part II of the Jewelry Sales & Marketing for the Holiday here. Part III will be released by the end of September.

Got a comment or suggestion? I'd love to hear it!

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Reduced Price Advertising Opportunity with Daily Confection She Unlimited

WOW! Just had to shared this amazing deal on advertising from Veronica over at Daily Confection She Unlimited with you. I'm taking advantage of this oppportunity and here are the two design banners that Tink designed at no extra charge for me. Normally, it costs $2k to start an advertising campaign but due to the relaunch your bank account will be shocked at how affordable it is for a featured or sponsor ad and the best part...they will lock in the advertising price. This indie jewelry artist is saying Woohoo......

Scroll down to see the offer that Veronica so graciously let me share with y'all....



Daily
Confection She Unlimited
Hey There! We wanted to let you know about our special offer below, and to please pass this along to your clients, that would be fabulous!!! This is only till Aug, then we go back to $2000 to start a campaign

Like Don Corleone in The Godfather, I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse. A one time, life long offer, guaranteed to enrich your profits, increase your readership and further your quest for success.

Due to the recent merger and relaunch of Daily SheUnlimited-Daily Confection, we are offering for a limited time only, drastically reduced prices on advertising. We’re not talking small reductions here. We are so thrilled with our new relaunch, that we want our advertisers to join in the celebration.

SheUnlimited-Daily Confection has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. The prospects for the future are brighter than bright. In the next six months alone, we expect to triple our readership. The same is true with the growth of our multi-media ventures, including pod casts (which are well over 300,000 subscribers now) the launch of our new print magazine and of course, our high tech advertising.

Featured Ads

Featured ads have a predominant place in the upper-right hand corner of every single page on the website. We don’t hide ads under tables, on obscure pages or at the bottom of the heap. We show them off!

Normally a featured ad runs for $100 weekly. Now, for a short time, we are offering you an astounding offer: $30 a week. And that’s not all…for joining us in our celebration, if you purchase at least two weeks at $30, we will give you an two additional weeks at $18 each. I can hear you now, no, we’re not crazy, just excited. That’s a mere $96 per month; a whopping $304 off the standard rate.

Wait…there’s more! I know, I know you’re wondering how can there be more?

Take us up on this fabulous offer now, and it is locked in for life. That’s right, you will never have to go back to the old rates again.

Sponsor ads

Sponsor ads are placed on the highly visible right-hand side of each and every page.

Normally sponsor ads run for $25 weekly. While our relaunch festivities continue, we are offering these high traffic ads at $12.50 per week. That’s 50% off the regular price; a mere $50 per month.

Like the featured ads, any sponsor ads purchased during this time are locked into a lifetime opportunity.

If you are looking for a place that will take your sponsorship seriously, and a place that can offer a high level of multi-media advertising from newsletters, to pod casts, to glitzy moving banners, take a gander at our advertising page.

Our growth is your growth!


Tink, Online Advertising

Manhattan, New York, 718.312.8437
Asia/Pacific, 81 (50) 5539.6883
Fax: 1.270.423.7485

veronica marie, Publisher-CEO 1.718.312.8437

unlimited media group
she unlimited network

usa
general nyc & advertising 718.312.8437
fax 1.270.423.7485


Headquarters- Asia Pacific Tokyo Japan
A-2 Maison Tamano, 22-1 Aza-Kamishinden. Ichinomiya City,
JAPAN 494.0013
81.50.5539.6883

editors & product submission

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Marketing Tips for Your Handcrafted Jewelry ----The Office Shopping Lunch

One of my favorite gigs is pitching larger sized office or buildings to host a "shopping lunch". What the heck is a shopping lunch?

This is where you the vendor can come in and set up for a few hours so the employees can shop on their lunch hour.

Generally, I set my shop hours from 11am - 2pm depending on the office.

I get thanked all the time for these lunch time diversions! Why? I'm saving people time . I'm providing a service. They love the fact that they can get a gift or treat themselves without running around town. I offer free gift wrapping and hand crafted note cards for those purchasing a gift. My business has been a lifesaver many times or so I'm told!

Best of all, I've never had to pay to be a vendor. In fact, I've been offered money to show up (which I declined in lieu of blatant promotion).

What makes an office shopping lunch successful?
Promotion--When I approach the office or building manager, I either get permission to approach the different companies within the building to promote my "Shopping Lunch" or if I get lucky the folks in Communications will send out an e-mail and a day before reminder. Either way, I offer an incentive for folks to come visit. A FREE DRAWING (no purchase necessary) always pulls people in record numbers.

When I set up, I always have a Free Drawing and Newsletter Sign-Up area with the incentive of 10% off if they sign up....This way I can keep in contact with folks and funnel them to my website/keep in front of them until the next show.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Link Building Tips for New Websites

Check out these 15 tips for link building for new websites from Dosh Dosh. This is a great article and can be used when you first start selling your gorgeous handcrafted jewelry/goods online. It isn't just enough to have a website..."Build it and they will come"...mentality will get you zero traffic and zero sales. Yikes!

I feel pretty good that I've done a lot of thins on this list...good thing because I've had the virtual business for over a year now! ;)

For my virtual jewelry boutique, I have submitted www.Designing-Diva.com places like DMOZ, Google, and Yahoo. Check out this add your url website for more SEO friendly places to submit your url.

If you run a blog like this, you can also build traffic for your blog by submitting your blog url to a variety of blog directories.

I have several link partners to help with PR (page rank).

I have written several press releases since I started my "virtual boutique" which you can see about 2/3 of way down on my press page on my website. I have used PR Leap's free and paid service. I like the fact that I can log in and check my stats.

I get traffic to my main website and blogs through my several lenses on Squidoo.

I have written several articles using Ezine such as Marketing Your Handcrafted Jewelry.

I blog on several other blogs and forums as an expert.

I've held several successful contests.

See even us creative artists can learn the business side!!!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Advertising-spend your dollars wisely

Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.
- Stephen Leacock

Online and off line advertising can bring you business if you know who your target market is. Some of the best advice I ever got early on is, learn who your target market is (who buys your product) then decide how to get your product/service in front of them.

Do you know who your target market is?

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

How to Create Web Traffic Using Keyword Research

How to Create Web Traffic Using Keyword Research

Building your web page content around specific keyword phrases is a must in order to generate free organic search results for your website you must invest some time in keyword research and creating keyword rich content.

Keyword content means content organized around the precise search terms that your target market is using to find websites and business like yours - locally and globally.

There are many Internet-based research tools that can provide insight into the most frequently searched terms along with other data such as the competitive nature of the terms. These tools can help you determine the highly searched terms as well as search terms for which you might stand a fair chance achieving a ranking.

In short, the more generic the term, the less likely you will be able to rank well. The competition is just too stiff. From a true prospect's point of view, the more specific the search term, the more qualified the prospect.

A person searching for a car might use any one of these terms:


  • Used Cards
  • Cars
  • Used Saab
  • Used Saab convertible
  • wholesale used Saab convertible
  • wholesale red used Saab convertible

The more specific the search, the more likely it is that surfers will find web pages that offer what they are truly seeking.

Keyword research tools

The following online tools are very useful to help you create and refine your keywords for your website:

  • Good Keywords - http://www.goodkeywords.com - free software
  • WordTracker - free lite version http://freekeywords.wordtraker.com
    Pro version http://www.wordtracker.com - subscription-based and very powerful keyword tool
  • Yahoo! Search Term Suggestion Tool - http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion -free tool that shows search terms from the Yahoo search advertising system

  • Google AdWords Keyword Tool - https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal -Google's search suggestion tool based on Google's search data


  • Keyword Discovery - http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/ - an entire suite of search and keyword tools getting lots of praise

  • TopRank Blog by Lee Odden has a nice list of keyword research tools here
By thoroughly researching the important keywords and phrases for your market before you ever design your website, you may gain some real clarity in the most effective way to lay out your entire site to more effectively generate higher search engine rankings.

It's important that you take a realistic approach to your keyword research. You simply can't compete for most highly competitive search phrases or generic industry terms, so aim for a larger list of less obvious terms. If you can collect top 10 search placement for a handful of lesser searched, but more specific terms, you may actually be better off in terms of the quality of the traffic you can generate.

Once you develop a list of keyword phrases you intend to build your content around, you can create entire pages with the goal of ranking highly for specific search terms. This type of high-quality, search engine-friendly content is one of the most effective search engine optimization practices available.

In the logs

Another often overlooked place to find good keywords is in the data that your website is already collecting in something called server logs. Most web hosting companies can provide you with your site's visitor statistics, including the search terms visitors most often use to find your site. Your keyword strategy may involve making some minor changes that can improve your ranking for those terms.

Google is currently offering a very powerful tool that allows you to learn a great deal about the traffic coming to your site. The tool is called Google Analytics : http://www.google.com/analytics/sign_up.html

What to do with your keywords

Now that you have a list of keyword phrases that you want to use to build traffic to your website, you can work on creating search engine-friendly pages built on those phrases

The following elements on each web page should include your keyword phrase-

Title - Use your phrase in the title
Headlines - Add the phrase in an H1 tag
Anchor Text - Include it in the highlighted link text (Don't say "click here"!)
Body Text - Use some variation of your term in the beginning and again at the end of your body text.
Bold, italic and lists - Special-emphasis characters get more weight, so bold, italicize and bullet your keyword phrase.

Small Business Marketing Ideas and Human eyes are going to be reading these pages too, so it's important that while your keyword phrase appears in each element, your content must still read well. It's a bit of an art. Work the phrases in and then edit for clarity.

More is not more, though. Use your keyword phrases as described above, but don't think that simply filling a page up with your keyword phrase will produce better results.


About the Article Author-

John Jantsch
is a veteran marketing coach, award winning blogger and author of Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide published by Thomas Nelson.

He is the creator of the Duct Tape Marketing small business marketing system. You can find more information by visiting http://www.ducttapemarketing.com

Short and Quick SEO Checklist

Patsi and Denise of the Blog Squad recently shared this gem-a SEO checklist courtesy of Tom Antion.

1. Create a simple html site on a specific niche
topic (one keyword phrase is best).

2. Create lots of short article pages about your
specific topic (each page uses a different
keyword relating to your niche).

3. Place specific keywords about your topic
properly on the page (keyword placement counts
more at the top and in headings).

4. Get lots of links coming into your site (high
quality links are worth more).

5. Create a blog on your specific topic (to link
and send traffic to your site). Also your website
link on your blog will help it get indexed faster
by the search engines.

Friday, July 6, 2007

Partner with a a Non-Profit /Charity Group and Have a Jewelry Fundraiser

Partnering with a non-profit/charity group and hosting a jewelry fund raiser is a win win situation for all parties involved. Even if your product/service is NOT jewelry related, you can still use this information and resource!

1. The non-profit can raised funds for their cause
2. You sell your jewelry wholesale or donate a % of the proceeds from sales and gain valuable exposure in your community
3. Both parties can use this in a PR campaign to of course raise awareness and funds

I was just recently introduced to a company, Smart Raise, by the co-founder, John Keating. I love their business model. It can help any non-proift/charity group have an internet presence to assist in fundraising.



SmartRaise is a 100% free fundraising program that allows school groups, community organizations, and other charitable causes to easily develop an internet presence and safely raise money online.
At SmartRaise, groups earn money by inviting their supporters to make everyday purchases through our network of leading online merchants. In turn, the merchants in our network pass a portion of their sales back to each shopper's designated cause. Supporters pay the exact same prices they always would (or even less thanks to our many discount programs) and automatically earn financial rewards for their favorite causes. It's that simple!**

Personally, I can think of several organizations that I could approach for fund raising projects...
1. My children's school
2. Animal Shelter
3. Church
4. Women & Children's Center...

**This information was collected directly from the website Smart Raise.

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Press Release for Designing-Diva Jewelry

I was recently involved in Swag Bags for a celebrity studded event. This alone is great PR for Designing-Diva Jewelry. But to truly leverage, I also wrote a press release:

Designing-Diva Jewelry Announces Its Participation In The 2007 Reebok Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game Gift Bags

I also have access to photos that I can use in my PR kits with the title , "As Seen In", when pitching national magazines and other media outlets. This is what I call leverage. There is already "buzz" about my jewelry designs but I'm just trying to keep the momentum and buzz going lone enough for it to convert into sales....yep, it's all about new customers! ;)

The point is that it is not enough to just be in a swag bag and advertise. You want to leverage this into sales/new customers.