I've been lurking around the group for a few months. I guess it's about time I introduce myself. My name is Mary and I've been "stringing" about 6 months. Ya'll are way out of my league, but I'm hoping to pick up a few tips and insight. Plus I love looking at your lovely creations.
-Mary.
Welcome to this state of insanity we call beading - in all its forms. *lol*
Wow! Much of your collection is very very nice. For only doing this for 6 months, I think you got the hang of it. *grin* Have you sold anything yet? Do you use sterling silver components or base metals? Great collection.
Sterling
Thanks, I'm actually surprised at the progress I've made too. :-) I've sold a few things. I sold 10 necklaces and 4 sets of earrings last month (not online sales). That probably doesn't sound like a lot, but considering March was a non gift-giving-holiday month and I've only been selling 3 months, I feel pretty good about it.
I've used some sterling silver. I've been hesitant to invest in it before knowing if anyone outside of my family would buy it. But I'm getting antsy. I really want to make some fine jewelry. I know I've still got a huge learning curve, but that's my goal.
-m.
Welcome! You do some nice work...
If I can make a suggestion or two? Your prices seem really low...I'd raise them 25% pretty much across the board, if not more. If you are buying your materials wholesale, take that amount times three or four. Remember you need to pay for your inventory, replace your inventory and put some in the bank!
I'd also recommend adding another couple of lights to your photo setup (diffused) - you need some brightness to really make your work 'pop' and your closeups will be more clear.
Barbara
Bead & Polymer Clay Habitué
There is a very fine line between a hobby and mental illness. (Dave Barry)
I welcome any suggestions you have. I actually raised the prices a month ago after I realized someone could buy my necklaces to reuse the beads. I know you are right about increasing them more. But that's a scary thing to do (albeit essential). Some of the lowest priced items were my "early" works. I've been considering breaking them apart and restringing or just making something different with the beads.
About the pictures.. you've brought up a good point. My current photo setup includes only one light (sunlight) and my cell camera. It's probably time for me to invest in a nice digital camera and put a little more effort into my pictures. Do you have any camera recommendations?
-m.
Hey Barbara and Mary,
I was gonna say the same thing about the prices. Very Very LOW!
Girl, you've got some fine stuff, and your prices are way low. The reason I asked about the sterling is that if you started to use more sterling in your work in place of the base metal, you would be justified in increasing your prices. You'd also be able to say that your components are STERLING SILVER, and not plated or base metal. Yes, people do understand the price of sterling is higher than base, and many people would rather buy jewelry with sterling cause they know its quality and worth. You can start small and work your way to a larger collection with more precious metals. I see you are already using gem stones, so you are well on your way to "fine" jewelry.
I think one of the hardest things to do in this business is to take great pictures. It is for me anyway. My set up leaves a lot to be desired... I really need a tripod and I'd like to have one of those white boxes (photo cubes) for taking pictures but I have to contend myself with half of a white shoe box, the window (for a good white light source), and some major photo manipulation in PSP. hahahahahahaha I spend more time in PSP than I do actually taking the pictures.
Sterling
Hi Mary......I am in the same situation as you in that I have only been doing this for a year. You have produced a lot more than I have. But it is so hard for me with no one to ask questions of. I am in Canada and beading isn't quite as widespread as it is in the US, which is a good and bad thing, grin. I live on the outskirts of Toronto and we have a Michaels and one good bead store, so I do order a lot online.
So anything that these *fine folks* have to say is a help to me too. I am primarily working with copper at the moment. I love the combination of it with black and/or green. I also started out with the Michael's Store base metals and am almost totally switched over to sterling and copper. However, there are still buyers for the base metal things, I should imagine. Sort of two types of buyers.
I have a Canon Powershot digital camera and am having problems getting bright enough pictures as well. Must try some different techniques this week. I don't have a website, but do have Flickr Pro thru my ISP and I see that they will give me a free Geocities website. Might try that out. But I need to get busy and make up more than I have.
My daughter is flying here in June for our birthdays and we work extremely well together. I got her hooked on it (grin) but both of us are not doing nearly as many things as when we are together. But she has a day job and I am retired, so that makes a big difference.
Glad to meet you and I enjoyed looking at your creations. Brighter camera shots and higher prices would work much better for you.
Cheers.....Heather in the Toronto area.
About the pictures.. you've brought up a good point. My current photo setup includes only one light (sunlight) and my cell camera. It's probably time for me to invest in a nice digital camera and put a little more effort into my pictures. Do you have any camera recommendations?
-m.
Welcome, Mary!! I thought you sounded familiar. Nice to see you here!
Welcome, Mary!! I thought you sounded familiar. Nice to see you here!
Your work is lovely.
Here's a link
I've had two Olympus digital cameras and have been pleased with them but I know plenty of others will have different opinions.
Here are some resources for photography that may be of help to you:
Bead & Polymer Clay Habitué
There is a very fine line between a hobby and mental illness. (Dave Barry)
Hi Mary, I think the biggest reason I use sterling and gold-filled is that I would want nothing less for myself, but the biggest practical reason is that after all the trouble of making something and selling it, I want that customer to be happy and buy more. Metal that discolor the skin, or that rub down to something tacky looking might initially sell, but that customer won't come back, and might even want you to give their money back or replace the item.
Replacement is something you need to keep in mind about pricing. I always price my work based on replacement cost rather than what my beads cost, in case I do ever have to replace something. This is both realistic and also a fair pricing policy. After all, if I'm lazy and go to my LBS (local bead store) and get something for $5, why should I get a better mark up on the material than someone who goes to a lot of time, education, trouble to get it for $2. I also do this because I have poor dexterity so it takes longer for me to do something than it would for (eg) Jerri (Beadbimbo). This allows me to charge for the completed item in a way that minimized that time element. Again, why should someone pay me twice as much to do the same job Jerri does if the result is the same quality.
Using better materials allows you to pay yourself better, because most people just will not pay for your time for crafts. If you make an item with cheap materials worth $10, you can only charge $20 or so for your item that takes an hours to shop for, make, package, etc. But if you use better materials and spend $20 and you sell for $40, your hourly wage doubles.
I would like to point out that I can't see your items well enough to really see the colours or how cleanly your work is finished. You will need to correct that to sell on line. Since I don't take good pictures, I sell at a gallery or in person.
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