Just because I was saying I'm tired of spam doesn't mean that all you bead enthusiasts have to stop posting as well ...
Yes, I know, it's the holiday season, and people have lives apart from beads, I have my own share of that. The telescope I'm working at is going to be closed, we don't know yet when, but it may be rather soon. Yes, they say they are just going to shut it down. I wrote a in my blog about it last night, and one of my coworkers wrote one in his,
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The AGLF has produced a lampwork calendar for another fundraiser which can be purchased here:
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(unfortunately without pictures so far but I have seen them at Lampwork Etc.). This was the back when it had all the pages on it:
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So if you need a calendar with really nice beads, there's your suggestion.
I'm just glad I don't have a bunch of Christmas presents to make this year, just a few.
Yesss! I love to hear this. How do you get somebody to host it and how do you/they advertise it?
I had a high school fair where I made my booth fee from things from the yard (potted Norfolk pines and cloves) and the beads and jewelry were gravy (so, OK, it took me about 8 hours to make half as much as you did in 3, but other people did the advertising etc.
So it's not just the economy. Your stuff sells where you are (I'm sure it would be out of my market's price range, but you never know). I am so glad to hear this.
It's not a vicious cycle. As long as it sells for more than you paid it is an investment.
Well, my neighbor has seen my jewelry and picked out a bracelet that she wanted - she just could not afford to buy it. This neighbor does PartyLite Candles, and "knows" all sorts of people from selling partylite. Since she could not afford the bracelet and I didn't have the contacts, she agreed to host a home show for me. We set a date and she invited all these people that I didn't know to come and see what I had to offer and to buy xmas presents. And of course, she sent out invites that I printed off my computer and we also used evite.com to send out invites also. She had the contacts but I had the product so we combined our strengths and came up with a winning mix.
If during the show, I sold $100.00 up to $199.00, I would give her 25% off the price of that bracelet she liked. If I sold $200.00 up to $299.00, I would give her a 50% discount off the price of that bracelet. If I sold $300.00 up to $399.00, I'd give her 75% off the price, and if I sold $400.00 and up, I'd give her the bracelet for FREE. That's what I call incentive to invite people who would be more likely to buy, and it worked. A couple of woman who came to the home show now want to host one for me too. It can only get better.
You wanted to know how to get someone to host a home show? Just ask. Ask your friends - cause they know people that you don't. If there is someone at work who knows you make jewelry, ask them to host a home show cause they know even more people that you don't.
Don't let anyone tell you that the market is too bad and people are not buying... cause people (women) will continue to buy jewelry even when the market tanks. There is something special about jewelry - wearing it is an emotional thing... and that's why women wear it more often than men do. I guess its just like the RIGHT pair of shoes can do the same thing, but most men wouldn't pay $200.00 for a pair of shoes and many women wouldn't think twice about something like that. ( I love the Nordstrom's shoe dept.!!)
Good thinking, Sterling. Rather like a Tupperware party. I sold jewellery at parties about 40+ years ago. Still have some of it. It was *fashion* pieces, but nothing ever discoloured or went weird. Ah..........Sara Coventry was the name of it. I am going to recycle some of it. One thing I found out is that it is the low to middlin' income people who buy. Those who wear real pearls and diamonds don't, LOL.
As both of us re retired, I couldn't figure out where to sell it and I also rarely wear much jewellery. But that is not a bad idea. Tell me.....do you take orders if 3 people want the same piece?? Or do you have enough backups. Silly things like that.
As for the market tanking, it is not nearly as bad here in Canada. Our bank laws are very stringent so no one lost anything. That mortgage fiasco was tried here about 30 years ago on a limited basis............it tanked and was never allowed again. They gave people low rate second mortgages for 5 years to almost 100% of the home value. The rates went up at 2nd mtge renewal time, the house prices were down, so people just moved out and left the keys on the kitchen table. I was working in law at the time and saw all of this happening.
Merry Christmas to the few who still lurk and sometimes post!! And a better
I have one order right now where an older man came to the house during the jewelry party for the hostess's husband and saw the jewelry laid out on the table. He looked it all over and asked me about a pair of earrings and if I could reproduce them. He wanted two pairs. Luckily, I had all the components to make several other pairs and told him I could but I will need some time to do it. He said that was great - he will pick up the whole order on the 23rd. His whole order comes out to $134.00, and that's for 3 sets of earrings.
Sometimes, I can reproduce the piece cause I have the components to do that. Sometimes, I might still have the components but the design is time consuming so I will usually say I cant reproduce it, or offer to change the design. Sometimes, I throw out some artist bullshit about not being able to reproduce anything so that each piece is a one of a kind, yada yada yada... It really does depend on the piece and if I WANT to make it again and if I have the stuff to make it again. Most of the time, I DON'T want to make it again. I am so strange - I have this "been there done that" kind of attitude with jewelry making. Every piece I make is a one of a kind, and I have never made duplicates as a backup before. If they like it, then they better buy it cause I probably wont make another like it. I have, on occasion, duplicated earrings before, but even those have been changed in some way that they are not exact. See? I told you I am really crazy about reproduction jewelry. I HATE cookie cutter jewelry like you buy at Kay's, or Silpada. I even asked my hubby one year for a sapphire ring. But, I had some major stipulations for this ring. I wanted a REAL sapphire - one that was dug up from the ground and not one made in a lab. I wanted this sapphire to be a Ceylon Sapphire and not one of those so dark you cant see the blue sapphires. Ceylon Sapphires are this vivid blue - not a washed out blue and not so dark it looks black blue either. I had to teach him about the grading of sapphires - and I would of loved to have a Kashmir Sapphire but I know we couldn't afford that.... aaaaaaa the stuff dreams are made of. In the end, the jeweler he went to brought in 5 different stones and my husband got to view them under the scope so he could pick out the best one and have it set.
You are sooo right about the middle class. They are my best customers. I guess I cater to them since I am one of them. hehehehe The hoity toity people who can afford very expensive jewelry must have a name attached to it like Cartier, or Tiffany.... they wouldn't even look at mine, even though secretly, I think most of them would love it!!
Its funny you say that you rarely were jewelry cause I am the same way. People always ask me about my jewelry box and I have to say that its pretty bare. I don't wear jewelry. I used to, but got out of the habit and now I just like making it - not wearing it.
I would love to see some of your pieces.... you got a site?
Sterling
"Heather" wrote in message news:hgj97m$ifp$ snipped-for-privacy@news.eternal-september.org...
Can't drive, and most of the people I know who'd have the space for it are in the suburbs or at the other end of the city. I just can't see hauling my goody bag out on public transportation; two or three buses and/or trains :) Or they have pets.
I hope to do some local craft fairs next summer. There are lots of little neighborhood fairs in my area, usually with a $25-50 table fee.
Carla, You really cant do a home show by yourself. I know we'd like to trust everyone but the fact is - WE CANT. There are all kinds of people in the world and like it or not, theft does happen at home shows. So, that means you would need help and your help could drive you to where you are going. While you are chatting with a "client" about a pair of earrings, your help could be showing another "client" a necklace or chatting with the other ladies who attended, or writing up and packaging sales, or just watching over your jewelry - who has what piece, did they put it back, that kinda thing. I had my mom help me because she understands how important this is to me. She is breaking into the jewelry making business herself and she is acquiring valuable information and experience while providing the much needed help to me at the same time.
I've wanted to do a home show for a while but I had not yet met the right person to push me to do it - but I was always looking. I had to find my neighbor first, (who has diarrhea of the mouth) to break into it cause she has the contacts and I didn't. You have the want, but not the means.... that doesn't mean you cant. You just have to find the right person to help you out, probably one with a car. *smiles*
Do you have any friends who love your jewelry? Do they have a car and drive? Well, you could always strike a deal with her to drive you to the home shows, help out and you can pay her with JEWELRY!! Just like the deal you make with the hostess, you could always let her pick out a piece as her goal for payment.
It CAN be done..... you just have to think outside the box to find your answers.
I have a friend who does Partylite, and she always tells me people admire the jewelry she has from me. Maybe I should ask her. As I do sell wholesale if anybody wants it, I could easily pay her
25% commission like Partylite does. - I wonder how Partylite does here right now, Hawaii is a state with very little discretionary income for most people to begin with, so it's rather bad for a lot of people right now.I'll ask her on Christmas Day. I know I missed Christmas for that, but there's Valentine's Day coming up, Mother's Day in May, there's more gift giving holidays than Christmas. -
As re-making things goes: I don't only make one-of-a-kind things, my mgambo seed-Swarovski crystal things are rather repetitive (and boring to make, but as long as they keep selling I'm going to continue making them). I'd make those again in any color, I think I have so far made 4 or 5 sets with turquoise AB2X 4mm bicones and mgambo seeds, alternating. Some things I cannot remake because they contain lampwork made by other people (who don't remake sets). Some things take a lot of time to make, and if I want to make something time consuming I want to make something new. I cannot imagine making
2 of the same lariat necklaces unless I make them at the same time.
I don't have help, it would have to be the hostess or somebody in her family, for a free piece of jewelry or so. To respond to Carla and the non-driving, I have seen quite a few people show up at craft fairs with rolling suitcases and not much else. For me currently that wouldn't work, I'm set up to pack things into my pickup truck. Tables and such go in the truck bed, the rest goes into the cabin.
I'm glad this thread has gotten some responses, I wish we could get this newsgroup back from the spammers.
agreed to host a home show for me. We set a date and she invited all t hese > people that I didn't know to come and see what I had to offer and to buy > xmas presents. And of course, she sent out invites that I printed off my > computer and we also used evite.com to send out invites also. She had the > contacts but I had the product so we combined our strengths and came up w ith > a winning mix.
Hate to follow up on myself, but I got my calendar today and it's gorgeous. If you want to tempt a fellow jewelry maker into buying lampwork, it has the URLs for the lampworkers (it's mostly lampwork, but there are a few other things like handmade soaps, paintings, etc.) who made the beads with the pictures.
It took me a while to decide on this but somebody at Lampwork Etc. suggested that I could write it off as office supplies because it does have enough room to write in appointments and such. As I pay federal and state income taxes as well as self- employment tax, that's a big difference to me.
The case is finally going to court and the offender for the time being stopped accusing more people since the 11th (of this month). The AGLF needs more money for this.
I have learned the hard way to stay away from fairs that are mostly about music or other entertainment. Craft fairs and markets are fine as long as what you have matches the demographics. I did one at the high school DD graduated from and actually made what I consider a more than half decent amount. I did some of my own advertising, on Craigslist, free. And I was allowed to sell anything from home grown Norfolk pines (table-top Christmas trees) and cloves to jewelry making supplies and of course jewelry. Another thing to stay away from I found are farmers markets that have the image of flea markets. People who shop there want something for nothing.
3 more workdays? Until retirement? Or just for the year? If it's retirement and you get decent retirement pay (I know you've been there forever), congratulations!
Maren..........I am not getting the spam that you do because I use a proper news server....not Google. I am always appalled if I should happen to go into it to check something on Google Groups.......appalled at the amount of spam they have. And you can't filter stuff in Google.
The only *spam* I have seen recently is that idiot from the Indian Music ng who sends out posts to this group and hers with SPAM as the subject. I got pretty tough with her this week and told her to quit bothering this group. You didn't see that because I left beading out of my reply. (G)
Anyway, rant being over..........a Merry Christmas to all that still read this and hopes for a better 2010!!
Cheers from Canada...........and Sterling, when I get a minute I will post. I don't have a website for jewellery yet.
I'm glad this thread has gotten some responses, I wish we could get this newsgroup back from the spammers.
she > agreed to host a home show for me. We set a date and she invited all these > people that I didn't know to come and see what I had to offer and to buy > xmas presents. And of course, she sent out invites that I printed off my > computer and we also used evite.com to send out invites also. She had the > contacts but I had the product so we combined our strengths and came up > with > a winning mix.
[...] Gina emailed me to that effect as well. I think it's got to do with inertia. When our local news server became first unreliable and then defunct Google was all there was - or at least all I knew of. I used to read at Google and post from hawaii.edu for a while, but there doesn't appear any news server at hawaii.edu at all anymore now.
If you go to the very beginning of my newsgroup posts in my current profile you can trace me back to my previous job :) . I remember when our sysadmin installed the first newsreader after we got on the internet at work. I'm a usenet dinosaur.
Same from here!
My problem isn't so much the lack of a website but the lack of time with good light for taking pictures. I'd list more on Etsy as well if I had the pictures - I might even sometimes sell some jewelry if I did - .
/\ Mele Kalikimaka / o\ e Hauoli Makahiki Hou /o \ / \ Maren `||'
Heh heh. I was an administrator of a Usenet site *before* there was an Internet. We used the uucp protocol to transmit over phone connections. I guess that makes me older than a dinosaur?
and set yourself up with a proper FREE news server. Ray does an amazing job with this and I have used it for a long time. It used to be called Motzarella.
Cheers...........Heather (another dinosaur)
[...] Gina emailed me to that effect as well. I think it's got to do with inertia. When our local news server became first unreliable and then defunct Google was all there was - or at least all I knew of. I used to read at Google and post from hawaii.edu for a while, but there doesn't appear any news server at hawaii.edu at all anymore now.
If you go to the very beginning of my newsgroup posts in my current profile you can trace me back to my previous job :) . I remember when our sysadmin installed the first newsreader after we got on the internet at work. I'm a usenet dinosaur.
Same from here!
My problem isn't so much the lack of a website but the lack of time with good light for taking pictures. I'd list more on Etsy as well if I had the pictures - I might even sometimes sell some jewelry if I did - .
/\ Mele Kalikimaka / o\ e Hauoli Makahiki Hou /o \ / \ Maren `||'
The fairs I want to do are small neighborhood-y kinds, generally arts and crafts, baked goods, etc. Often, they seem more like block parties than fairs :) There's one in the area that's huge, with three stages, rock bands, restaurants, etc. That's the one I originally had my eye on until I found out the table fee was about $300. It's about half a mile long, runs for two days and gets over 100,000 attendees a year. It used to attract crafters from all over the midwest, but it became so "high-end", crafters can't afford it anymore :( I don't even go as a buyer anymore; too many people, too noisy, too expensive, too head-ache inducing. I want to do it for fun, and if I can make enough to keep myself stocked in craft supplies, I'll consider it a success :)
The "three more days" refers to retirement. That's it; I'm done! My official last day of employment is Dec. 31, but campus is closed until January 4th...and I won't be there :) Thanks for the congrats; right now, I can't stop smiling. The pension isn't much, but it's enough to pay the bills. I'll definitely be looking for part time work sometime soon.
Actually, I think that's as much your business as your business is. We all live by different consignment terms (those of us who do consignment), wholesale terms, etc., and home show terms should be just as open in the discussion.
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