Newbie Intro

Hi, Angela! Welcome to the group!

Welcome to the group. This is a fun place to work and play.

But I will repeat Sooz's caution, that you look more carefully before you decide to make this a business. Most people put out a lot more money for their start up costs than they earn for the first 4 - 6 months. Do you have the extra cash?

Tina

understandable

Sometimes market research can consist of sticking a toe in to see what the water feels like, and then making adjustments as you go along based on the things that happen and the things you learn-- and deciding, at some later point, that you do or don't want to continue to pursue a particular line of work or thought. Experience is a pretty good teacher, and there's less risk of losing touch with your market if you're constantly reassessing it.

If one hasn't an immediate need to make a living at the thing, what harm is there in this approach, really?

Not that you're "wrong" or that there's even a single "wrong" or "right" here, but some people seek a "do what you love and the money will follow" sort of approach to life. That can be a lot of fun, too :)

Laura

Welcome, Angela! I started beading last year myself, and always have the idea of selling stuff on the back burner. So I can't give you any practical advice, except that as long as you dip your financial toes in at first and don't jump in with both feet (making stuff and selling it can get costly, especially initially), you should be fine. Above all, enjoy yourself!

This group is a great resource, have fun and check out the Bead Notes and the currently-being-revamped Links List.

Welcome to the group Angela!!!! Diana

Boy can I ever relate to you!! It only gets more intense. I suggest you take a picnic or family vacation now, because if you're anything like me, unless you can string it, bend it, look at the light through it or weave it into something, whatever "it" is, it will be less than interesting.

Live and be well, Christy

Thanks, Tink. I'm doing my best to soak up all the information I can about the actual process and then practice, practice, practice. This group has been a real treasure trove of tips and advice. I'm so glad I found you!

Angela.

Thanks! Yes, I checked out the Bead Notes and the TOTALLY AWESOME links list. As an aside, I saw an item on Bead Notes about how to clean silver jewelry. So last week, I got all my silver together, some of which has been tarnishing in various nooks and crannies of my bedroom for, well, let's just say years. It was SO MUCH FUN getting it clean ... for about the first hour and a half. Then it wasn't so much fun any more. LOL. I got about half of it done. The other half will have to wait for another day .... :-)

Angela.

Thanks, Christy! I'm at the point where I'm seeing all the possibilities and wanting to try them all. I'm dying to take a lampworking class. Unfortunately, my husband says I can't have a torch until I'm a little less excited about it! LOL

Angela.

Welcome Angela! Nice site - I actually like the simple, clean look of the graphics. :) Of course, there is hope for you. :) You're addicted, and you're here!

I completely agree here! Most people don't realize that when you first start, your web site should not be your only means of showing your work. It should be secondary - a kind of portfolio for people to look at after they have asked about you, or seen you at a show, etc. Believe me - putting your stuff on your own site and then just waiting around for people to come will only disappoint you. Advertising a website is almost impossible these days and it takes months to be indexed by search engines. Once you are indexed, you have to do a whole lot of research to stay at the top of those search results. It's exhausting. And if it's your only way of attracting customers, you might get discouraged by the lack of orders, unless your stuff is top notch cream of the crop.

My website is still secondary. I use my eBay store and auctions as my main selling venue. I also use word of mouth a LOT - friends, family and acquaintences who see your jewelry and want some make wonderful customers when you first start out. Then, point them to your website, once they have had their first "taste".

Yes, working towards a show or to meet a deadline SUCKS. At least, that's my opinion. :) Not so humble, hmmm? :) Sometimes it's a necessary evil though.

Welcome Angela,

There's a ton of knowledge in this group and a few of us that are just goofy.

Kathy K

Welcome... and abandon hope, all ye who enter here... ;-)

There is no escape. But who'd want to?

Deirdre

Hi, Angela! Welcome to the nuthouse! ^_^

DH and I recently started our own business (I think the official start was Feb.). We have yet to turn a profit. We have sold four pieces of jewelry. Of course, we've been selling at the wrong venue. Never try to sell handmade jewelry at a fleamarket. Not if you want to make a profit. We are currently looking for a storefront. (Asheville, NC) We plan to sell our jewelry, and hope to get some others' jewelry to sell on consignment. (We will also be selling gaming cards -- Yu-gi-oh, Pokemon, Magic, etc. and maybe board games too...) We having a meeting with a realtor at 11:30 tomorrow AM. (Prayers/good vibes needed for that, please!) Will let ya'll know more as we find out more. ^_^

P.S. I made an awesome piece of jewelry earlier today. I'll try to post a pic later ^_^

Lura J

Good luck on finding a storefront! That's exciting!!

Glad to see ya back!

Kathy K

We may have found one today... Well, we found one we like, we just gotta get stuff together and (hopefully) get back to the broker before anyone else does. (We were the 4th or 5th business she showed the place to, and it just opened up less than a week ago. (It's downtown, near Chevron actually!)

Thanks, Kathy. I'm glad to be back.

Lura J