Handmade Pledge....Get Your Customers on Board

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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??