Im having a hard time with this. The shop that has 40 of my pieces has them in glass cases.  Im not crazy about that at all.  I feel it immediately sends out a message that this stuff is expensive.  I want people to touch my necklaces and play with them and see the price tags, not have to ask to see them.  Any thoughts?

you have given the store permission to sell the items for you - it's their right to do so as they see fit. their store might have a certain feel and the way they present things is very much part of that. give it time and see how it goes. if they sell enough of your product then do you care how they market it? I wouldn't. if they don't sell enough and you are not comfortable with their set up then you can try another store. do you have a better option? don't worry so much : )

They might be worried about theft, especially if they are responsible for paying you if your pieces are stolen or destroyed in something like a fire etc. 

Maybe you could suggest they display the pieces at the checkout counter where they could be out in the open but still under the watchful eye of the person at the counter.

Alice

Maybe they coul put one piece out where people could see, touch and feel?

Or once you get more inventory, perhaps suggest doing a trunk show.  Then you would be there and could let people touch all they wanted - perhaps then the shop owner would see how important that is.

And actually, it's kind of neat that they value your pieces enough to dedicate "prime real estate" to them in the glass case.  Maybe they could at least flip the price tags so people could see them.     

Lori, Thanx for telling me not to worry so much, you can send me that memo everyday if youd like!  Its just that Ive had people tell me that they feel uncomfortable asking to see the pieces and asking me when Im going to do a show so Im getting the feeling that the middle man is not the way to go. I do like the exposure, but  they havent sold anything (granted, its only been 2 weeks and theyre only open wed-sun until 5 p.m.another thing Im not crazy about) and I could really use what they have for this saturdays show.  Do I have a better option? I dont know about better, but there are 3 other stores I could sell at but went with them because its in town.

Alice, I do have it in my contract that if anything gets stolen, lost or damaged they are responsible but were talking about a town of a population less than 2,000, the odds are pretty low on that and Id rather take the chance.  The checkout counter is full of books/cds of bird calls, frog calls, owl calls, etc. no room for me.

 Jilla, I guess I should feel happy about the prime real estate, but the store is very outdoorsy northwoods cabin type of stuff, birch wallpaper, duck decoys, a few antiques, plants, cutsey signs things of that nature.  Its a cozy atmosphere and  to have a glass case with just my jewelry in it seems kind of out of place.  After writing this I realized something,  I need to let go dont I?????  Yep, that clay gets more than under the finger nails doesnt it?  thanx ladies.

if customers are complaining that is a different story. proably something the shop owners would

very much appreciate hearing. who better to tell you how to merchandise than your customers.