What? No one wants to contribute? If it helps a newbie beader, then I'm game for it.
: 1) How do you price your single pieces of jewelry - Do you use software or : a specific formula to derive a price for each piece of jewelry?
Software. I used to just put a price on each piece without really considering the actual total cost to make each piece. I guess you could say I priced "by the heart" to what I "thought" my jewelry was worth. To me, my jewelry was worth a whole hell of a lot more than people were willing to pay and my price was way out of line... too high so I didn't really sell much until I got my software and started pricing from the software. Now, not only do I sell 300% more jewelry, but I am doing so with a nice profit as well.
: 2) If you use a formula, how did you come up with this formula?
Its in the software. with a few clicks of the mouse, the software can tell me exactly how much of a overall profit I made during a specific period of time. It will also break down and list the amount of money it cost to make each piece (by component), list the different pricing methods (retail, direct, & wholesale) and give the price for each, tells me how much of a specific component I have left in stock and if I need to reorder that component, tells me exactly where I bought the component, how much it cost, and what the item number is so I can find it easy when I go to reorder.
: 3) Do you sell online? If so, then how would you rate your online sales : earnings since January? (good, bad, stalled)
Nope, I don't sell online. Too many people do and the net just doesn't need another jewelry seller. I've been considering starting a web site where I could post pictures with prices of my jewelry for those people who know me and my jewelry and wanted to see what I had in stock. They would of course have to come to me to buy, but at least I'd give them some idea if what I had was what they were looking for.
: 4) If you sell online, do you sell through your own web site or do you use : Ebay or Etsy?
See question 3
: 5) Do you sell in a shop? If so, then how would you rate your shop sales : earnings since January?
Not yet. I am doing better right now selling outright, but I do have a shop lined up for when I want to go that route.
: 6) Do you consign? What percentages are your consignments? Example:
60/40
The shop owner does consignments, with a 60/40 percentage.
: 7) If you consign, do you have the shop owner sign a consignment contract?
This shop owner said they don't usually sign contracts, but I do have a contract for consignments and I will have him sign it to protect my interests.
: 8) Do you sell by word of mouth? (selling to friends, family, co-workers) : How much of your sales are thru this method?
Yes, 100% of my sales are thru this method.
: 9) If you sell your jewelry by two or more of the methods listed above, : which method brings you more sales?
Only one method so far so there is no comparison.
: 10) Do you have a name for your jewelry business? Do you have a logo for : your jewelry business? Do you give out business cards?
Yes, I have a name for my business, I do have a logo, and I give out business card that I print myself.
: 11) If you sell your jewelry by two or more methods listed above, do you : price the jewelry differently per selling method? : Example: if you sell at Ebay and word of mouth, do you price the : Ebay jewelry higher, lower, or the same as the word of mouth jewelry?
Well, I'll answer this one by saying that when I do go the shop selling route, I will adjust my price a bit more to make up for the 40% consignment the shop owner will take. Ya gotta do what cha gotta do. *grins*
Anyone else brave enough to add your info to the poll??
Sterling