Today, I took a few necklaces to a Fine Jeweler in town. My intention wasn't to sell, but wanted a professional opinion.
I was extremely tickled when they absolutely loved my stuff. They went on and on about how well made it was, they loved the clasps, etc. etc. Yes, I could sit here and boast about all the really great things they said, but even I know some of it could have just been out of sheer politeness.
Anyway, one of the women.. the "Diamond Manager", asked me if I was "working with anyone". Of course, I wasn't sure what she was asking.. so I stumbled a bit and told her I work at the local university. Needless to say, she was referring to a marketing agent. She knows someone that does marketing and wanted to talk to him about me (and my stuff).
I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of this? I know actors have agents, and there are real estate agents. But are there agents to help sell our jewelry?
There are marketing people who will write you press releases, design ads, etc., and if you want an answer from that side there are better newsgroups to ask, e.g. misc.business.marketing moderated (but do go to the moderated version). I usually take the advice from people in that line of work with a grain of salt in spite of that there are very smart people in those moderated business newsgroups.
You can buy and sell real estate without real estate agents too, where selling is probably harder than buying. If you know what you want, go to the listing agent and have them draw up the paperwork. But in that case you have to be able to call them up and tell them "I'm interested in listing # and would like to offer , would you write up a DROA?".
You only need agents if you need somebody to do the selling for you. Other than that they only want a (large) part of your cut.
Sure, there's the people who set up your graphics and ads and banners and cards and such Advertisng and Marketing Graphics), and there's also people who sell the actual merchandise itself to other resellers or to the end user, sometimes they call them "Sales Reps" and they can be very useful . But they do indeed take a cut. Everybody wants a piece---the maker, the seller, the reseller, the credit card/payment people....those expenses are factored in when setting your prices. Sales Reps are best used when you are getting to the size that you want to have your jewelry in multiple states, many stores, etc. And also when you yourself just arent going to do the sales aspect; many artists are just not good at that part!
You know, my problem is always that I have trouble working to a schedule. I have Depression, so I never know when I'm going to run into the problem of having something happen that uses up my mental energy (I am not melancholy about having Depression; it's not a mood thing). It's hard enough for me to perform on demand for my customers and keep a few things in an art gallery. Adding an agent telling me what to do, would put more demands on me and would not necessarily find homes for the stuff I already have made up.
Looking at your work on-line I have two suggestions to make. You need better photos. Maybe you could work a trade, jewelry for photography work. And you need better descriptions, even if you have superb photos. How long is the necklace? What materials, especially what metal? What kind of clasp is behind it?
As far as metal goes, plated metal doesn't hold up. Use Sterling or Gold Filled only, and raise your prices. Having paid less won't mollify a customer when they see the problems with inferior metals. Better not to sell something at all, than have an unhappy customer.
It's art, not production (well, in some things for me it's sometimes production, not that I really need that right now, but right now I don't have to), and a marketing agent wouldn't understand that (is my understanding, but I may be wrong there).
Depends. I do some plated stuff, I do some base metal stuff. Silver plated memory wire (think hoop earrings. Memory wire works great for making earring hoops) is better than unplated memory wire. I'd be happy to put sterling coils and a sterling clasp on the royal poinciana seed and seed bead necklace if somebody wants that. It was a "let's see if this works" piece for me, and as it does work I'm happy to do the ends over. The seed beads are Ornela, the stringing material is softflex, the crimps are sterling. The ends I can redo. The clasp I got as a markdown, the coils were the first ones I ever made. Now that I know I can do that I can make sterling coils. Of course I can put a sterling clasp on it, but that one I had when I made the necklace (on vacation on the other side of the island).
Same thing: in my first and so far only wire wrap necklace the wire is hardware store copper (so, OK, it doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't). And another one: in lampworking (I bought a Hothead kit that came with some glass rods) I have so far used the colors I like the least. - And made a pair of hoop earrings on plated memory wire with craft wire cages (my first wire cages):
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- and Swarovski crystals. Tina, you have been at this "forever" for all I know. You're one of the people who are still here an a more or less regular basis from when I first found this newsgroup 3 years ago (that's when I started). You give good advice, but Mary is a rookie even compared to me, and I think she makes really good stuff. I started out buying nothing but memory wire, then cheap seed beads, then base metal findings, then cheap other beads, lampwork, gemstones, then deciding to sell supplies and buying wholesale. There's development in this, at least for me. The latest for me is doing lampwork. And, my photos are still ugly and I still work with a hand- me-down (now 2 MP) camera.
Mary is selling more than I do. I can understand why people like her necklaces, I like them too. Your advice is good (as usual), but people who are starting out have a learning curve, and more often than not have to decide what to buy next (in my case it's between an annealing kiln and a camera).
And, Tina, I'd really love to see some of your jewelry.
Actually, there is a photography professor where I work, who's dad is a retired Jeweler (and still does silver work at home). I might solicit him for help. Wouldn't it be cool if he'd work my jewelry into a class assignment! Yeah, I know I'm dreaming, but it's possible he has a setup I can use.
I've started weening out my silver plated stuff. I probably won't sell the beads, but I am using them more for creative explorations. I play around with them until I find something I like, then I purchase the SS beads to make it for sale. I've pulled almost all my plated items from my store display. And I've added some great SS necklaces and earrings. I want badly to make more, but I need to wait and see if I can sell these first.
Selling is without a doubt my biggest obstacle. The each time I have taken a box of my necklaces to a few offices on my campus, I sold 6 to
13 necklaces. I rarely encounter a group of 2 or more people without selling something. That's probably related to one of the other items you mentioned.. my prices. I have tried to raise my prices, but have the fear that I won't sell anything if I increase them.
You are also right about my having neglected my web site (I know those aren't your words). I've been in such a rush sometimes to get new items posted that I often don't add descriptions at all. This is one thing I can work on.
You are SOO right about the what-2-purchase decision. I'm currently working on SS vs. Light Tent Setup. I bought a nice digital camera last month, now I'm trying to figure out how to use the darn thing! :-)
oops.. I forgot to explain _why_ selling is an obstacle.
It's not because my stuff won't sell, it's because I'm so painfully shy that it is difficult for me to meet with and talk to people. Which, of course, is a requirement to sell. So, even though I sell several items when I show them, I've only done it a couple of times... and it was a difficult thing for me to do.
This is why I keep exploring other ways, like home shows and agents.
What a great opportunity! Could you work out a trade? Actually it might be more a thing of he does professional work for you in exchange for a show of appreciation. Lots of retired people like to do a little mentoring.
The only problem I have with (me) using silver-plate for practice work is that I'm not organized enough to keep it separate from my sterling, and you can't see from outside how deep the silver goes.
Shy is a funny thing. My father was a shy man, but was quite extroverted: that is, being with people increased his energy. He was a sales man and was excellent at it. He did a lot of preparation, and was very clear at what his wants and limits were, so he was great at negotiation and very successful. And a big part of his success was because he made sure both sides were happy; that is, he was fair. Actually, he was probably so prepared and so successful BECAUSE he was shy (but extroverted).
My husband claims to be shy and is introverted. When he's in a group of people, he kind of gets worn out after about 15 minutes. Then he'll go out of the room, or examine plants or trees (he's an arborist), or play with the children, etc, for at least an equal time. I end up being the place keeper while he appears or disappears as need dictates. But although he's introverted and blushes, be also does things that draw attention to himself that I could never do. He honks his horn for fun, and has some very glad handing extroverted behaviour that would be way to nervy for me. That could be because he grew up in a tavern, and learned some loud behaviour as protective coloring.
Actually, because selling is an obstacle for me too, I'd rather sell fewer but more valuable pieces.
This hasn't been that big of a problem because I don't have a lot of sterling. But I've recently started to purchase more and I'm quickly discovering this challenge!
Wow! Do you know how many people don't understand that an extroverted person can be shy? I "appear" to be extroverted to most people. Heck, even my husband acts surprised when I mention being shy. For me, the extroverted exterior is more of a shell.. a way to "do what has to be done". I still don't think I could ever be a salesman... or a teacher.. or a public speaker. My stomach hurts just thinking about it. :-/
You know, our choices of material are always bases on our own usage/needs. I've very hard on stuff. And I have been heartbroken to find a piece I love to have gotten worn down to ugly metal. So plated is the worst possible choice for me, and I simple don't want it in my home (see comments about my lack of organization).
I would much rather use surgical steel, and wish I knew a better source for it for jump rings and headpins, as well as ear wires preferably of a wider more comfortable gage. Or a good quality pewter beads. I use brass wire for practice, partly because it has the same feel as sterling though the color is different. (So much of learning to work with wire is teaching the hands what to feel). And having my practice material a different color prevents me from mistaking it for something else too. I've never used memory wire and really ought to check it out. Copper I don't use because it is soft and I tweak it if I wear it.
My choices really are not out of snobbery, but practicality. Wire I can't re-use, but if I make a practice piece with sterling I can always take it apart and re-use the bead. Also, if you use better materials, you charge more per piece and thus for your time. Aren't we all tired of earning $2 an hour for our time and expertise?
And I don't blame anyone for having trouble with photography, including myself! I think maybe I'm photophobic, maybe stemming from back when I was a kid and could never keep the camera from jumping when I clicked the shutter and never go good pictures after all the work to get it in focus (Remember back in those days when you had to focus?). That awful lack of manual and digital dexterity again. I'm not going to try to get the photography and web site this summer, what with the wedding coming up, but hopefully afterward, this fall and winter.
I agree that her designs are nice. That's part of why I care about the materials and descriptions. And yeah, she probably sells more than I do, too. Back when this newsgroup was more active, there were several people who used the advise of this group to go from doing crafts to being professional jewelry makers, at least part time.
By the way, I like those earrings. Did you say you made those beads? The addition of the crystals inside and outside the cages, gives nice continuity. Are those made with the silver plated memory wire? It looks nice. I don't make hoops, though my daughter would probably like it if I did. I'll keep it in mind.
Tina
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> - and Swarovski crystals. > > Tina, you have been at this "forever" for all I know. You're one of > the people > who are still here an a more or less regular basis from when I first > found > this newsgroup 3 years ago (that's when I started). You give good > advice, > but Mary is a rookie even compared to me, and I think she makes really > good stuff. I started out buying nothing but memory wire, then cheap > seed > beads, then base metal findings, then cheap other beads, lampwork, > gemstones, then deciding to sell supplies and buying wholesale. > There's development in this, at least for me. The latest for me is > doing > lampwork. And, my photos are still ugly and I still work with a hand- > me-down (now 2 MP) camera. >
Thank you! This is only my third pair of hoops, somebody at work asked could I make hoops, and I thought about it, made a pair for myself, and she liked the size (this is 1 3/4" plated bracelet memory wire. I haven't had this for very long so I don't know how well it will hold up, and it's the first time I got plated memory wire), and I made her a pair, and this is the third one. - I may have invented memory wire hoop earrings ...
The beads are Moretti glass, and not annealed. I'll leave those this way but the lady I took the lampwork class from does batch annealing. At the price for the annealing I'll have to make more beads first though ...
The cages, being my first pair, are craft wire (silver plated copper, I think). Now that I know that they come out more or less right I can make sterling silver ones too, but the memory wire in the hoops will always be steel, plated or not. If I could get surgical steel memory wire I'd try that, I have used surgical steel earring hooks a lot and have worn some for years, and while the gold color fades some (but doesn't flake), the silver color stays.
And I'd still like to see some of your jewelry :-)
As I don't buy a whole lot of earring hooks these days (I make sterling and copper ones myself now), I usually just get them at Ben Franklin.
I thought B.Toucan would have them but they don't. That's where I get my memory wire, but they don't have the 1 3/4" memory wire in bulk anymore (good thing I got it when I got it - and if you have a resale license of some sort I think it's worth jumping through the hoops.).
South Pacific has them at a reasonably good price, and they're good at shipping USPS flat rate priority mail - I tend to order a lot of stuff at the same time, on the order of a flat rate box full and if I send a comment "and if there's room left in the box please fill with " they'll do that too. I found them on Sooz's links list.
- On the same page as the surgical steel earrings (they only have them in silver color) they have silver color and gold color headpins. I prefer "silver color" to anything plated by a long ways (but never bought them there - yet). I only bought plated headpins once, the plating flaked when I bent the first one (brand was "Blue Moon"). I never used it or the rest of them.
Question from my end: do you have a good source for sterling silver lobster claw or similar clasps (better prices than South Pacific?)
Even though I have a resale license, I can't usually beat the prices at Fire Mountain if I get their lowest price, unless I buy a huge amount of a single thing at Halsteads or something. I think I have to get 200 items at Fire Mountain, but they are assortable, so it can be in stones, silver, glass, etc. It runs to $300 and up, but it's in a variety of merchandise. Actually, I never use lobster claws.
I had the same problem with flaking metal and soft metal for silver or gold "colored" head pins. For eye pins, I just make them from wire. Maybe I should make "paddles" by hammering the ends. If I liked fire, I could just heat the end until it formed a ball, but...
I don't make ear wires, but the ones I prefer to buy would probably be easy to make. The are just a simple hook. And I use, or sell, them with rubber stoppers. The reason I like them so much is that they are a heavy gage that's more comfortable. The skinny steel kidney wires feel like they're cutting my ears.
I understand your aversion to fire, but if you could stand a creme brulee torch, it actually only takes seconds to make headpins. You do have to use fine silver wire instead of sterling, but even the 22 g is soft enough to wrap with your fingers *and* it doesn't darken in the flame.
The ball on the end...*literally* seconds to form.
One thing I like about the torch is it has a setting for "stay on" and one for "instant off", so it's kind of like a cigarette lighter.
Just a thought.
I've also made paddles but could never get the flat part to come out the same length :)
We have a torch that's not very adjustable that we use to light the firewood. But a couple days ago Pete came home from the dump with an acetylene or Mapp (?) gas torch.
If I had something that would just hold it still, I should be able to dip the wire into the flame, but I have to admit that when I tried that in a class I just melted the silver into oblivion. Funny about that word "should".
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