Getting good publicity for your business is a great way to up the odds that you’ll sell more.  So often we just think about advertisements, but they are enormously expensive for someone just starting out.  Actually, they’re enormously expensive, period, but they are (probably) worth it for folks who are well-established.  To get there, think about adopting some of  Jan Hansen’s tips in Get publicity for your jewelry business.
Build your own ultimate press list Meredith Keller’s steps to success helps you to think outside the usual box.
9 things to do to make sure your next blog post is read by …read more

In this installment of Beyond Spring Cleaning (jewelry and bead business tips), we’re going to consider sales. Yes, there are other ways to make an art income, including teaching, writing, designing for others, etc, but for most people, sales is the backbone. If you’re really serious about making your living from your art, sales will most likely figure into the mix somehow.

Alyson Stanfield has an absolutely excellent series called The first four steps towards selling your art.   She is careful to say that these things aren’t all you have to do, but they are the way to get …read more

Here are a few random thoughts about jewelry and bead businesses that I’ve been collecting for awhile.  They don’t seem to fit anywhere else, so it made (some sort of sense) to just lump them all together!

Think long and hard before you commit to a name, a logo, or any kind of branding materials for your business.  Here’s why   I know that someone has recently corrected this over-simplified chart, and you can visit the new link if you’d like, but the point is still worth considering.  Consistency is important.
Aileen Wong has written a very thoughtful article on how …read more

Now that we’ve made it through the spring and summer, getting our websites up to date, working on our techniques and design skills, looking through our options for what, where, and how to sell, I want to revisit the topic of sales sites.  Ultimately, I think it’s most people’s dream still to have their own website, but that isn’t always the best answer for everyone.  Sometimes it’s better to keep your website as a “gallery” or “portfolio” and conduct your sales elsewhere.  And if you’re just getting started in sales, it makes a lot of sense to test the waters …read more

Even though it isn’t spring anymore, I still want to  continue bringing you links to sites that have the best business and sales information available.  “Spring cleaning” our businesses shouldn’t really end…it’s a year round set of tasks, a work in progress that is never completely finished.

If you are interested in selling your work on consignment or wholesale through someone else’s store or gallery, Modish Biz Tips has two posts that are must reading: Consignment and Wholesale.  You should really read both parts, to help decide which, if either, is for you.
Jewelry Repair Jobs can provide another (perhaps unexpected) stream …read more

Most of us already know that Fire Mountain Gems has an archive of articles that will help us in our jewelry making, but did you know that they also have articles that will help you with your sales?  Try these out for starters:
Setting the selling stage: backdrops and displays
Create marketing materials that convey fun
Own a bead store?  5 tips to increase sales
5 ways to boost your beaded jewelry sales
Selling your jewelry through a shop

Now that we’re all starting to get more familiar with social media sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and the rest, I thought I’d share a list with you of some specialized sites for those who are interested in fashion.  Any of these sites can become a part of your marketing strategy if you’re interested in selling your jewelry.

Now honestly, I haven’t used any of these listed below except for StyleHive, Kaboodle, and ThisNext.  I really spend most of my time in forums devoted to beading and jewelry education, and I haven’t even used my Facebook account for business…just to keep …read more

I wrote about a new sales venture called America Creates about a month ago.  Recently, Sharon Sinclair, Co-founder and Creative Director, contacted me to let me know what’s new!  For one thing, the new home page design is much easier to navigate…not that I thought the beta design was bad, but it sure is easier to find jewelry now 
Sharon writes:
Thank you for your blog entry about America Creates. We’ve been building the web site for over 3 years, but have just recently “re-launched” with many more features, including artist videos. Our goal is to help promote …read more

If you’d like to get a better price for your work than Etsy sometimes is able to command, and you live in the USA, you might want to check out America Creates. I don’t really know anything about how the sales are going there, as I haven’t been selling via any site other than my own websites since my old eBay days. However, I can say that the site looks beautiful and very polished.
The Jewelry category is hiding under Fine Craft, not under Wearables, so don’t let that throw you!

Kathy Reading of Catju Designs shares what she learned about organizing an open house for jewelry sales. Before you launch into your own plans, read what Kathy learned through the experience of having her “open house” off site in a larger facility. Rena Klingenberg has Kathy’s article posted, along with hundreds of others on making your home jewelry business a success. If you haven’t yet visited Rena’s site, plan to spend some time…there is a wealth of business information here!

Vintage Button Bracelet by Kathy Reading