Keep Your Jewelry Fresh

I know what you are thinking....jewelry is NOT produce why does it need to be fresh! :) My point is that you must not be stagnant when creating jewelry. You may have a signature line or piece but in order to offer the customer something different (or fresh) so they'll come back to see what you have now.....

Here is one way I let my customer's know what's fresh or NEW at Designing-Diva Jewelry; when folks sign up for the newsletter, they are asked what they would like to be notified of general updates, sales, new designs, etc...

The folks who sign up for New Designs will get an e-mail with the new design and a discount for a limited time. I know people like these for two reasons:my e-mail stats and the fact if I don't have a fresh/new idea at least once a month I get e-mails say where's the new design sneak preview.

For those of you who don't have a website, make sure that your display a retail event/markets highlights "What's New". Create interest for returning customers and new customers alike.

The other thing you can do to keep your jewelry fresh is important as well. Invest in your education; learn new skills. I started out just straight beading with my business. I have added the following skills to my repertoire:

1. Crocheting with 26-28 guage silver wire

2. Wire Wrap Techniques

3. Viking Knit

4. Chain Maille techniques

5. Fused & Dichroic Glass

6. Metalsmithing

7. Lampwork glass beads

What does this mean? I can offer truly ORIGINAL designs to my customers.

5 Business Actitivities You Must Do Consistently to Grow your Jewelry Business

1. Get in front of customers every day. For me that means, I advertise online and offline to drive customers to my online jewelry boutique.
**I post for FREE everyday in Craigs List
**I have Google Ads
**I hand business cards out everywhere I go because I "wear" my business and get comments all the time.
**I submit online press releases
**I submit articles to my local paper

2. I add a new offline or online venue to contact every single day. I call mid-upscale boutiques ( the newspaper is a great resource) and ask to speak to the owner or retail buyer; this is how, I have attained several wholesale accounts. I also search other venues online that I can write an article for in exchange for a link, or a place that I can post a blurb (social networking sites) about what I do, etc...

3. Ask for a Referral. Whenever I have a customer, I always tell them if you love the jewelry,

Tell your Friends

. Another example of viral marketing (yes, I do sound like a broken record).

4. Customer Service Excellence: offer the best customer service starting with their shopping experience, checkout and impression of your jewelry (package and display). But it doesn't stop there, keep in touch with your customers ( I use e-mail) and I offer Customer Rewards (Diva Bucks, private sales and trunks shows).

5.LISTEN to your Customers: if you just listen, they will tell you what you could do to improve and if they don't ASK.

Is there anything that we could be doing better? Did we meet your expectations?

These are just a few ways to get feedback. If you do get negative feedback, do NOT react. Write it down and look at what they have said. Is it an angry customer or is it a valid point? If it is valid, you better change and quick because it could be hurting your business.

In order to have a successful jewelry business, you must do these 5 activities consistently.

If you found this information helpful or if you have soemthing to add, post a comment. If you would like to see other topics covered, post that too.

Jewelry Marketing Tip #1-gift giving problem solved

Jewelry Marketing Tip #1

Solve a Problem

Every product or service on the planet solves a problem. Do you know how your handcrafted jewelry solves a problem?

Jewelry solves many problems:
*Gift
*Romance
*Love
*Special Moment-birthday, anniversary, wedding, graduation

Get the picture. You are offering a solution/service/product that people are looking for!

Convert that solution into a press release. Here is an example of headline you could use for a press release:

Mother's Day Gifts Under $50 by Designing-Diva Jewelry

If you were a reader, would you care enough to read on? Yes. Mother's Day is a huge retail day and people are looking for gifts so they will read on. You have just provided a solution to their problem.