Post from: Jewelry and Beading

Even if they don’t have a specific book you are looking for, don’t forget that they can borrow from other libraries. It’s called Inter-Library Loan (ILL) and most libraries has set up relationships with other libraries in the same state that allows them to borrow books.

So, if you see something on Amazon.com and would like to read it but not necessarily buy it (at least not right away), ILL is a good alternative if your library doesn’t carry the title.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

I had no idea about running a business when I first started back in 1998, so I did a lot of research on my own, sort of going to virtual jewelry school if you will. One place that was helpful was my local office of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Now, with the Internet, the SBA is even easier to access and has tons of great (free by the way) information on:

• Writing a business plan
• Pick a business name
• Licenses and Permits
• Marketing

Well, you get the idea.

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Post from: Jewelry and Beading

I spent about 8 years on the art show circuit in Florida, and as my husband used to say, “We were data collecting.” I learned a lot about the jewelry business, what I liked and didn’t like about it, and the more jewelry I made and sold, the better my skills became. So, yes it was worth it.

Would I like to starting doing it again now? Heck no! It was a huge amount of work, and granted, I did make money at it, but when I would calculate all the time and the PIA factor, for me, it wasn’t enough. Selling to shops was better, but still, the marketing required was more than I wanted to deal with.

I had another email recently from a reader who has been making jewelry for about seven years but only selling a piece here and there to family and friends. She’s ready to get serious but has no idea how to begin. Here are a few suggestions I had for her:

• First, consider sigingup for a free e-course I set up on starting a jewelry business. I have a crash course version with 14 lessons in 14 days or a slow and steady verison with 14 lessons in 14 weeks. The info is the same. I have written extensively on this topic, so these courses are a way to go through my articles in a more organized way. Plus, I’ve had a lot of good feedback about these courses, so that’s my first suggestion.
• Next, stop and really think about what you want to get out of this. If you are ready to seriously get into the jewelry business, then you need to be prepared. This means – educate yourself. Go to the library and read everything you can about small businesses. Check with your local SBA office to see if there are courses or other help available.
• Realize that in order to sell your jewelry you will need to spend at least as much (if not more) time marketing it and you as you do actually making your jewelry. If this doesn’t appeal to you, then maybe you need to rethink this whole idea in the first place.
• Finally, on a similar note to the above idea, consider other ways of earning an income with your jewelry skills. Jewelry and beading is a huge hobby industry right now, and one of the fastest growing. Lots and lots and lots of people make jewelry. Why not figure out a way to be part of this other than selling finished jewelry?

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

Consigning your jewelry can be one way to get it out there and sold in galleries and boutiques; however, it can also be a royal PIA and provide a way for shop owners to take advantage of you. So when is it okay to consign and not okay to consign?

After selling through various forms – consignment and outright wholesale to shops – these are some tips I’ve picked up over the years:

• If a place (very often a gallery) already consigns with other artists, then that is usually a sign that they are ligit and will treat you fairly. In fact, they should have procedures in place for reviewing your work, and if accepted, they should have a contract for you to sign. No contract? This is a red flag that this is not the norm for them.
• Don’t assume just because a boutique or gallery is small that they will only consign with you. Look around the shop. Is everything single thing in there on consignment? I bet not, and if this is the case, there is no reason they can’t also purchase from you.
• Make sure you have a clear idea of your retail and your wholesale prices. Normally, your retail price will be 2 to 3 times your wholesale price. Yes, that’s right. Shop owners will mark up your jewelry 2 to 3 times what they paid for it because they need to make a profit. That means you also need to make a profit at your wholesale price or it’s not worth it for you to go this route.
• If you still sell in the general area of the shop, say you do arts and crafts shows for example, make sure your retail prices are real retail, not your wholesale prices. Otherwise, shop owners will consider that you are undercutting them.
• On that same note, make sure when you go out selling to different shops to try to keep around a 10 mile distance between those who do purchase from you. You don’t want to walk into one shop, sell, and then cross the street to sell to another.

I could go on and on, but instead, I’ll point you to a few articles I’ve gone into detail on this subject:

• Selling Your Jewelry to Shops: Some Dos and Don’ts
• Locating Retail Outlets for Your Jewelry
• Pricing Your Jewelry

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

Besides the fact that Jennifer makes some awesome jewelry and other cool fashion accessories, what I’d like to point out about her blog is how she’s integrated it into her web store, also called the Naughty Secretary’s Club, where she sells her jewelry, hand bags, and etc.

I’ve written before about how I think blogging can be a great way to promote your jewelry business, and Jennifer’s blog clearly shows us how to do it.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

This is handy if you have a jewelry business because you’ll need a copy of the schedule C to figure out what you can deduct. I use this to organize my receipts, and anything I’m not sure about, I set aside and have my accountant figure it out. But, I try to do as much upfront work as I can because she pretty much charges like a lawyer, the more time she uses on you the more money it costs you, which is understandable.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

This is one of the things a lot of jewelry makers don’t think about when they want to start doing jewelry and beading as a business. This is one of things that is on the “yuck” side of the jewelry business.

Around this time of year, many of the members of my Jewelry Making Forum start posting tax related questions. For years we did our own taxes, and honestly, if it weren’t for my writing, we could probably still do them and just fill out a schedule C for the jewelry business. But, over the years my jewelry business has really evolved into a jewelr/writing business. So last year, for the first time and after much nagging on my part, my husband and I finally went to a professional accountant, and it was worth every penny!

If you can’t afford an accountant, then check locally for free tax filing in your area. Where I live, AARP offers free electronic filing services to anyone – no matter your income. You could be a millionaire and they’d help you out. Also check places like the United Way, though they usually have some sort of income level requirements.

I decided to pay for an accountant because I wanted to be able to build a relationship with someone who I could see year after year and I could call with a question now and then. It ended up costing us around $350, and we met with her about three times. But we ended up taking a lot of write offs I was either too chicken to take in the past or just didn’t know about, so we saved thousands of dollars.

You have a lot more to deal with when it comes to running a jewelry business, and one less thing on your plate has got to be a good thing. So, if you are freaking over your taxes, get help now. The sooner the better.

Okay, I’m off to start digging through all those receipts….

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

Rena Klingenberg has some great advice about envisioning your own beading success in her article The Power of Intention: Manifesting Your Ideal Jewelry Business. Here’s a little of what she has to say:

First, you need to determine a goal that’s near and dear to you, and make it specific. Take time to develop this goal clearly in your mind, and add lots of detail. It’s more effective if you keep things positive and focus on what you DO want instead of what you DON’T want. (”My jewelry pattern will be published” instead of “I don’t want my jewelry pattern to be rejected”.)

Encourage your imagination to come up with all the details of your success in this matter. What will all five of your senses experience when this goal becomes reality? How will you feel inside? Paint a detailed mental fantasy of how the event unfolds, and how awesome everything about it is, and how wonderful you feel.

Hold tightly to this detailed fantasy and replay it in your mind every day, embellishing on it when you can.

I totally agree with this and can testify that it works. Her entire article is worth a read if you are still struggling with your direction for 2007.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading