When pitching do you send a jewelry sample or not.....

When pitching accessory magazine editors (on or offline), you want your business and jewelry designs to be noticed. Have you wondered if you should send a jewelry sample or not?

First, ask yourself if your business model can afford this marketing expense? Sending samples with every pitch can add up quickly!

Will the sample be returned? Well that depends on the media outlet and if they requested it. Margie Zable Fisher just recently wrote a post titled, "Should The Media Return Your Product Samples..." that you may want to read before sending a jewelry sample without it being requested.

Note that many online magazine/fashion/accessories editors will request a sample in exchange for a review of your jewelry product. Often times, these type of "blogs" will review your jewelry design and have a give away/contest which can generate more PR than just a review alone. Ask if you are allowed to offer a discount/special offer as an additional incentive for readers to visit your website/online shop.

Happy pitching. Please chime in. Do you send jewelry samples with your pitch or do you wait for them to request a sample? Leave a comment!

~Randi
P.S.
I do not send samples unless requested. I used my press kit materials with high res. product photos to impress the editors.

Increase Holiday Jewelry Sales with items under $20

City Lights, $18.00

Even if you don't sell jewelry, this applies to any craft/product business so read on.....

Looking for a way to increase holiday jewelry sales? Offer handcrafted jewelry designs under $20.
Why? This is great "gift" retail point for many shoppers who have a long list. They are looking for something unique on a under $20 budget.

Here are some tips on designing handcrafted jewelry under $20....

1. Design items that are quick to make like earrings so you're still being paid for your time.
2. If you can afford it, buy your "most used" findings like headpins and ear wires in large quantities so you get better pricing (means more profit for you!).
3. Push your creativity by using left over materials to create new designs.
4. Consider making non-traditional jewelry like purse bling ( purse fob), book bling (book mark with beads), wine glass jewelry (charms for wine glass), etc.....
   

When selling at craft/gift markets, make sure your under $20 items are clearly marked. Put some by the "check out " area of your booth so you can let folks browse while they pay. Impulse and upsell purchases can really add up.

I've shared my dichroic glass pendant, City Lights, as an example of what I sell under $20. What do you sell for under $20? Leave a comment so others can check out your "pretties" too!

Free PDF Gift: 50 Great Jewelry Selling Techniques

Woot. I feel like it's my birthday and I've just been given an awesome gift......50 Great Jewelry Selling Techniques by one of my favorite resources, David Weiman.

David usually sells this e-book for $17 so you can see why I'm so excited. That's the equivalent of
how many beads? ;-)

It can feel like your birthday too. You can get the free PDF, 50 Great Jewelry Selling Techniques, by signing up for David's e-mail updates here OR just download it here. The choice is yours!

Let me know what your favorite selling technique is from the guide! Leave a comment....
~Randi

Valentine Advertising opportuntity (wholesale)

If you wholesale your handcrafted jewelry, I think you will find this to be an exceptional value at only $40.


Boutique Up! Daily (BUD) is launching a wholesale Valentine’s Day catalog full of new products for Kids and Moms that retailers can use to rev up the economic health of their stores. This is a win-win situation for both product manufacturers and retailers: you get to showcase Valentine’s Day products to retailers, and retailers can contract hot new merchandise to kick-start V-day shopping.

Interested?

Space is limited to 20 products per category, so please take advantage of this opportunity sooner than later.

Product spots are $40 per product for exposure to 800+ retailers, review blogs and unlimited consumers.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS: November 3, 2008 or sooner if spots fill up.

Get all the information you need from Boutique Up! here.....

Have a fabulous day! Remember to pitch early ( at least 6 months in advance to national mag's ) and often!

~Randi-Sue

Surviving the Economy.....

Do you think the economy is affecting/will affect your handcrafted jewelry business ?

As an artistic entrepreneur and indie business owner, it is difficult not to panic when listening to US and world financial reports. It is important to take creative action so that your handcrafted jewelry business survives the current economy.

I recently was at a "retail" Craft Fair & Gift Market and my sales were 1/4 of what they have been in past years. Ouch! There was plenty of traffic but not a lot of shopping going on.
Unlike other vendors, I did not mill around and complain about lack of sales! I focused on having conversations with potential customers and increasing my mailing list (and making mental notes of what items those folks were drawn to so I can send targeted e-mail offers).
I took action that positions me to grow my business by expanding my customer base!

Being consistent with my marketing activities resulted in Designing-Diva having a stellar month in sales for September and still going strong! The average purchase has been in the $50-$75 range so I will continue to highlight jewelry items in this price range.

On the wholesale side, I have noticed retail buyers interested in a range of prices trying to attract potential customers with a variety of products and price points.

I truly believe in order to survive the economy, handcrafted jewelry artists and other indie crafters will have to approach their business with the same creativity they inject into their designs.

If you are on a very limited marketing budget, pitch other business's with a partnership:

• Offer a non-competitive give away to gain a wider customer base.
  
• Hold a trunk show at a local business & offer them a % or encourage them to let you donate % to community based charity. The charity donation would make a great pre-show press release for your local paper.

Can't afford to booth fee.....???

• Host a trunk show in your home or a friend's and offer an incentive to stop by and shop. Find other indie business's and hold your own mini event! Eg. Offer door prizes or discount coupon if they bring a friend.

Do you have a great creative tip to surviving the current economy? Please leave a comment so others can benefit from your expertise!

Shameless Self Promotion....Vote for Randi-Sue!

I recently sponsored The Spirited Woman video contest by donating three fused glass necklaces with a retail value of $100 for the winner.

Nancy Mills encouraged me to enter the video contest myself (it didn't matter that I was sponsoring prizes for the winners)....so I entered my alter ego the crown wearing Dallas Designing-Diva!

Well, I have some exciting news....I was 1 of 7 finalists chosen. Woo Hoo!

Please help me win by Voting for Randi-Sue before October 13th. Don't forget to tell your family and friends too!

See, there is nothing wrong with a little shameless self promotion!

~Randi-Sue