Consistency is Key to Artisan Jewelry Business

I'm blessed to be creating artisan jewelry and gifts full-time from my home studio . I'm often asked how can I be successful in the competitive world of artisan jewelry? My one word reply is always "consistency".

Here are my TOP 10 business activities that I do consistently...

1. Create jewelry daily to find my "artistic voice and style". This excess inventory is never wasted ....some pieces may sit a while before being sold or may even be broken down and recycled. This is how you can create collections that have your artistic style stamped all over them!
2. Make contact with at least one boutique /week for wholesale accounts. Do NOT take NO's personally; it may mean no today but not tomorrow /another time!
3. PR-send out press releases, write in blogs, write articles, donate pieces for a good cause,etc..
4. Host a jewelry trunk show online/in-home at least monthly.
   
5. Look for festivals and markets to host trunk shows. Do research to see if festival/market is compatible with my target market before I plunk down any dollars!
6. Ask for referrals daily...from customers to people who stop me on the street to comment on my a piece that I'm wearing. I admit this was hard at first but now I find it easier and easier to do.
   
7. Add at least one new jewelry item/week to online boutique to keep it fresh.
8. Monthly newsletter-keep in touch & in front of customers.
9. Network and share business & artistic skills.
10. Don't give up.....keep repeating activities that are productive creatively and financially. What are your time wasters? Eliminate as many of those as possible! It can take 5-7 years for any artisan to maintain enough clients to be self sufficient.....you will have dry spells...use those to create new works or find new markets.

Here is to your success selling artisan jewelry!

Stand Out from the Crowd with a Personal Touch

The internet has allowed us to reach out and touch customers around the world 24/7 and e-mail has replaced much business & personal communications but somehow we are more disconnected than ever .....

Although I run an e-commerce boutique and Etsy shop, I get the most satisfaction out of doing trunk shows where I can meet my customers face to face and share my story and jewelry and glass gifts.

Whenever possible, I try to inject personal touches in an increasingly impersonal world. With each order, I include a handwritten note that may include information about the inspiration behind the design, something unusual about the materials used or just a simple thank you for your business. I can't tell you how many times I've had a customer contact me when they have received their package to thank me for the note. I hope you noticed that they never said a word about the item they just purchased.......that simple handwritten note was as good as a simple conversation-the human touch/connection we all crave! Do NOT underestimate this powerful way to connect with your customers to make a positive and lasting impression.

I also package each handcrafted jewelry treasure or glass gift as thought it were going to my dearest friend. That means attention to detail-tissue, packaging, etc....This reflects on their perception of what they've just purchased and how valuable it is.

Pick up the phone! Yes, that's right actually talk directly to your customers. My e-mail box is over flowing everyday but I always make time to pick up the phone and touch base with my customers about their orders. Yes it takes time but it is an opportunity to connect , have a conversation and make an impression that will last a lifetime.

I urge you to make personal touches in your business and watch the ripples come back to you in unexpected ways!

Do you do something to stand out from the crowd? Please share with others and leave a comment.

New Jewelry Marketing Resource: The 5 Keys to Selling Handcrafted Jewelry by David Weiman

Boost Your Handmade Jewelry Sales: Get The 5 Keys to Selling Handcrafted Jewelry DVD

Genius Idea-Make What You Love.....
I've always believed this and am passionate about creating in my voice and NOT driving myself crazy by "thinking" I need to produce what everyone else is doing!!! Check out this video clip by David Weiman the mastermind behind the DVD to Boost Your Handmade Jewelry Sales:

When you come into contact and have conversations with potential customers, it only makes sense that they will feel & hear the passion when you tell the story of the jewelry you design and they will snap it up!

This new DVD and workbook by David Weiman is so timely considering I just posted about the importance of personal and business development! How much MORE JEWELRY could you sell if you knew ...

• -- how to set and achieve your goals in a way that would
• help you, even when you're not consciously thinking about it ...
• -- how share your goals with others so that you are more likely to achieve them ...
• -- how to start taking massive action for maximum success ...
• -- how no identify any obstacles you might face in pursuing your
  business goals and dreams ...
• -- why you should write a business plan and an outline that will help you write one quickly and easily ...
• -- what the elements are of a successful marketing plan ...
• -- why you should focus on what you love to make ...
• -- how to write a great description of your products ...
• -- how to assess your competition ...
• -- how to price your jewelry correctly and avoided under-pricing ...
• -- how to identify the prospects who are your ideal customers ...
• -- how to identify the right places to sell your jewelry ...
• -- options for promoting your jewelry selling business ...
• -- how to correctly handle the common objections that
  prospective buyers raise about your jewelry ...
• -- how to raise the level of your selling skills ...
• -- how to increase your product knowledge so that buyers feel confident and comfortable with you ...
• -- why story-telling is so important to selling
  jewelry and how to do it well ...
• -- how to represent yourself in the most effective way so
  that you form a strong relationship with prospective and
  current clients ...
• -- how to develop a set of customer service principles
  that will ensure you give extraordinary service ...
• -- what books, magazines and websites you can read to supercharge your business knowledge ...

The DVD & workbook costs only $97. I DARE you to sit down and write all your marketing money and shows you've done with less than stellar results....how much did this cost your handcrafted jewelry business? If you are like me, I wish I had this resource several years ago when I started....whether you're new to the business side or been around the block, you will find this the best investment you made this month even if you do have to give up Starbuck's for the month!

Get yours now.... Make More Money from Your Handcrafted Jewelry! The "5 Keys" DVD Shows You How

Teach a Jewelry Making Class at your Local Bead or Rock Shop

Want to establish yourself as an expert? Why not teach a jewelry class in your community!

As jewelry artists, we all have a variety of special skills & knowledge from simple beading, basic wire wrapping to advanced metal smithing, stone setting, and other embellishment techniques (like enameling, etc).

Your jewelry class can focus on a single project that that teaches the "basics" or it can be more complex (chain maille design), etc...That is the hard part, choosing the project that you are willing to teach to a group.

Once you've decided on a project, you need to research and put together a list of materials required and instructional materials for your students. These preparations can be a lot of work but once done you have a "teachable class" ready to go for future use!

Things to consider:
**How many students can you supervise & not be overwhelmed?
**Will you provide supplies with your class cost? or will your students purchase on their own?
**What basic tools will your students need?
**How long will the project take for a beginner? (ask a few girlfriends over to try out your new project and get some feedback)

Once you have your project, your materials, & costs figured out, it's time to market your skills!

Call on your local bead or rock shop and see if they would like to sponsor a class. Be prepared to show your "final" project, materials list, costs, etc to the owner or manager! What about your local community college or even high school arts program? How about a "slower" week night at a local coffee shop---they will appreciate the extra business brought in by you and your students. Then there's moms clubs, ladies groups and church groups as well.

Students love making things with their own hands and will be begging for more classes. If you have the space, why not have one on one instruction and charge more for your time!

Do you have any great project ideas or places to market your "jewelry class" that you would like to share?

Please feel free to drop a comment!

Generate a Little Buzz for your Biz with the new Online Paid PR Resource

I just found out about a new paid press release service called PRBuzz.com.They have a guarantee that at least 5 websites will pick up & back link to your press release.

It costs a flat $49 to use the service. They DO NOT send directly to journalists, magazine editors, etc... but they do help you be found easily using SEO (search engine optimization) via keywords & will be adding anchor text links in the future. Basically it means that they make "your business" easier to find for customers and the media who are searching using your "keywords".

If your website is struggling in the search engine competition, this may be worth investigating to increase the traffic to your website.

Please note that I'm NOT affiliated with PRBUZZ.com and this was provided as information only.

Jewelry Display Idea for Trunk Show

With the V-day trunk show for Etsy Dallas tomorrow, I'm always looking for innovative ways to display my jewelry & fine glass gifts.

Here are few ideas of looking at things in a new way ( a few of these you may already have lying around the house):

• Photo clips are great if you have your earrings /pendants on card stock. They are inexpensive and come in a wide variety of styles. I picked up an elegant enameled shoe and dress photo clip at Ross and these never fail to draw compliments from customers & other vendors.
• Picture frame or Shadowbox can be padded with quilt batting or even foam board (can you tell I have kids with school projects) and covered with your choice of fabric ( I love digging through the scrap bin at the local Joann's). I've sewn little "loops" for my jewelry to hang from but even if you don't sew you can use iron on tape or "U" pins to hang your jewelry.
  
• Old wooden shutters to hang jewelry from. You can screw in little hooks or take advantage of the slats.
• Cake platter with a doily
• Fill a plate with black beans or coffee and lay your jewelry down....especially bright pieces and watch them "pop"
• Interesting pieces of rock or wood
• A children's step stool or shoe rack can create height and allow you take advantage of shows where you have limited table space
• Use a vase with tree branches to "dangle" jewelry from
• Ornament hangers

The whole point is to draw customers to your jewelry based on the display. Just be careful that the display doesn't overpower your jewelry. How will you know? People will ask you about you bought your styling props and not even ask about the jewelry. Ouch!!

Anyone else have some display ideas that they would like to share?

Invest in Your Education-Jewelry & the Business Side

As I network online & off with other artists, I notice that the financially successful artists are the ones who invest in themselves, their art and their business education.

Is this coincidence? I think NOT!

Personally, I think one of my favorite personal development books is by Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. As with anything in life, it is important to take ACTION; it is not enough to just read the book but to "practice" what is important /pertinent to you and your personal situation. I'm a huge believer in setting personal & business goals, writing them down and sharing them with people who will hold me accountable. Go to the public library or the nearest Half Price Books and check out the self-development area and find some books that speak to you. Read them. Set some goals and take DAILY actions to make those goals happen. If you do NOT see results, you have 2 choices-change your actions or change your goals (was it realistic)!

No matter what type of artist you are or what medium you work in, it is important to expand and develop your capabilities in your chosen medium(s). As a busy wife and momof 2, I lack the time to take "classes" but have found a variety of books, online forums (Ganoskin and Warm Glass are my personal favorites) and peers that have helped me grow as a jewelry artist,metalsmith & fused glass addict! Everyday, I try to "learn one new thing" about my art.....of course, 'experimenting' in the studio brings me the greatest joy! :)

Marketing your art/jewelry, should be just as important as generating new pieces or a collection! You need to inject the same passion and enthusiasm for creating your art/jewelry into your business. I have learned a tremendous amount about PR from reading blogs like the Publicity Hound by Joan Stewart as well as the Switchboards forum. I've learned about marketing from the Switchboards, Perry Marshall, Dan Kennedy, and previous job experience.
There is NO excuse for not taking the steps to learn the business side. You are the person who creates the art and must educate your potential market about the art/jewelry you create.

As Nike say, JUST DO IT! Make the time to educate yourself and take ACTION to further yourself, your art and your business!

Shout it from the Roof Tops

Market the shows your in....need I say more?

Join me & over 40 Dallas crafter's & artisans this Saturday, February 9th
South Side on Lamar in the Artist's Corrridor
1409 S. Lamar Dallas, TX (across from Dallas Police Dept)
11am-4pm