Marketing, publishing, and selling - the business side

Creating an image

goldagent — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:32:12 GMT

I am currently in the process of starting a jewelry company and I need to create an image. So far I can only think of :

Name, Font, Logo, Hallmark, can anyone here add to the list? I feel like im forgetting something very important

To wear or not to wear?... - ethical question

BeBelle — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:11:54 GMT

Need to ask your advice. Here is the situation:

I can't (yet!) make living from making my jewelry, so my daytime job is in a big corporation. Girls at work are my main customers: I do custom orders and holiday jewelry shows in a conference room.

Now, here is the question: I see the best way of marketing my jewelry is for me to wear it. But if I wore it myself, I feel awkward selling it after to someone. If I don't wear it, people don't see it and don't know about it! All my items are one of a kind, so it's not like I can wear a sample and have more of the same for sale.

What would you do? Appreciate your thoughts.

Tatiana at

www.bebelledesign.com

Anyone have a good Ebay alternative besides CraigsList?

HarmonyD — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:57:29 GMT

With the way Ebay has changed their business model to slowly phase out the smaller seller, many people have been looking for a good alternative. Most sell thru Craigslist but when you don't live near a major metro area, that doesnt work.

Have been to check out several sites that are NOT geared to "Handmade" (like Etsy and Artfire) which is what am more interested in finding. Most forums say that people that have left Ebay immediately turn to Craigslist while they wait to see who will gain the most small sellers/buyers out there.

However, since there are Hundreds of new auction sites begun over the last 3 yrs, no one has gotten the majority of the buyers.

Wondering if any of you out there have tried other sites and if so what was your experience?

Sales Not Picking Up

filigilani — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:19:21 GMT

It has been 6 months since I open my website. Yet I still not getting any positive sales. Any ideas on how to gain more exposure and sales lead? Is anyone that wish to be my partner?

Please refer http://www.filigilani.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=14&cat=Perles for my collection.

Setting up a booth

dressagewoman — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:49:39 GMT

I have my first real "gig" coming up in a month. I thought I was going to be just donating a few pieces for a fundraiser art show, but it turns out I will have my own display area. I am full of questions! I'm also a bit nervous!

What should I look for when I tour the space?

How can I inexpensively expand my jewelry display options? I have a necklace display I use for my own stuff at home, one bracelet display, one tray, two small freestanding necklace display cards and a bunch of earring cards. I will have inexpensive boxes or pouches for sold items. That's it.

What else can I do without spending a lot to "dress up" my space and make it someplace people want to stop and browse?

On-line places to sell jewelry

Eugena777 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:14:54 GMT

I have a huge list of places to sell hand-made goods (jewelry in particular) in today's post in my blog. I hope you will find it helpful.

Shipping options, which way is the best?

christinap — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:22:05 GMT

Hello, I've been pulling my hair out all day, because I have lost one too many packages using priority mail usps. Sometimes my packages make it to the customer, and sometimes they don't, and sometimes empty packages make it !!! I just want to find a reliable, efficient, low cost way of shipping my jewelry (always under 1lb). I've been using priority mail flat rate shipping, which is great because i always know how much to charge my customers, and I can track my package, but when your package tracking status says it has been delivered and the customer hasn't received it yet...what do you do? Even when it is insured, you still have to make the jewelry all over again!

I just want a shipping option, where i can print out labels from my printer and I feel comfortable knowing that the package will not get lost. Or my customers can choose their own shipping and it automatically adds on to their order before they check out? Does anyone have any suggestions of some user friendly, affordable shipping options?

i would really appreciate it!

thanks

Is anyone else noticing stores postponing holiday orders?

beads4me — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:16:10 GMT

I've noticed a trend this month, and I wonder if it's also happening to others. Companies and stores that placed orders a month ago are now asking for a delay in shipment because their sales so far this fall have been "very flat" and they need to wait for revenue in order to cover their bill. A few stores that were eager in September to place an order in October are asking to be called back in early December for the same reason. Is there a general sense, do you think, that the original guarded optimism for retail sales this holiday season is gone?

Contacting wardrobe supervisors and costume designers

beads4me — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:04:59 GMT

I was wondering if there is a source for the names and contact addresses of wardrobe supervisors and/or costume designers for television shows. I'm trying to developing additional avenues for marketing my work, and this possibility has been raised by others but I'm having difficulty finding out who to target. I have tried the individual websites for the shows, which turned out not to be so helpful, and I went to www.imdb.com but it's not easy to get the information. Perhaps I'm approaching this the wrong way? Any tips and experiences would be welcome! Thanks -

Wholesale Gemstone Bead Sources

alycnwonderland — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:27:14 GMT

Hello all,

I am looking for a reliable wholesale gemstone bead source. I feel like I need to be buying in bulk from a foriegn country but am weary of trying anything without some feedback about it.

Does anyone have any experience in buying for a bead store? I would love to hear any advice on the topic.

Thanks

Heather

Reaching more people by being featured in blogs

ZesTee Fashion — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:58:04 GMT

As part of the marketing activities to get more exposure to people outside New Zealand, my artwork was featured on 2 blogs - on 30 July at http://www.thethingswemake.blogspot.com/ and on 31 July at http://www.funkyfinds.blogspot.com/ - Hope to get more exposure to other places around the world. The NZ market is too small !

Need Merchant Account

The_Wonderer — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:54:32 GMT

I need to have a merchant account to be able to accept CC for my September show. There are many out there but I wanted to find one that someone else has had success using. Any suggestions?

Bead Shows in NY, New England

fuser — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:21:17 GMT

Hi,

I have toyed with the idea of selling beads and components...first online, and eventually brick and mortar. I'm starting to get a clue that going to the large bead shows is the best way to start building an inventory by buying wholesale.

Can anyone recommend a really good show in the NY State, New England region? I live in the upstate NY (Johnstown, to be exact) area around Albany, Saratoga Springs, and Schenectady. I'd like to keep it down to 150 mile radius if possible, but that's flexible.

I understand that I'm asking for advice from people with whom I might be in competition when I start this venture. But, depending on your location, that might not be the case...and we can send customers each other's way. And, if you're big enough to sell wholesale, I'm a willing customer if you have what I need. In addition, I'm seeing enough interest in the handmade jewelry market, as a hobby or otherwise, to have enough business to go around.

Thanks for listening!

Betsy

Show me Your blog!

dora-dora — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:29:53 GMT

Hi, this is mine blog.

If you want, you can add comment about my jewelry in English :o)

http://www.doroart.fotolog.pl/

How to get a signature from the buyer?

Marshmellow_Gardener — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:53:05 GMT

I just started my online jewelry business and was wondering, how can I get a signature from the buyer once they get the package?

Spinner SS Components

Tim F — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:06:00 GMT

Does anyone know a good source for purchasing silver spinner ring components? I want to buy the the two pieces and put them together myself.

Portfolio options

dressagewoman — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:59:11 GMT

I'm contemplating consolidating my images of my pieces so far into something I can use to show people the range of work -- I'm getting some custom requests. Is it best to make a binder, put a gallery up on a web page or ??? I'm actually holding on to very few pieces (I need to make sure I have some full quality samples as I tend to wind up wearing my prototypes and rejects) so I can't show a lot of tangible pieces... WWYD?

To name, or not to name, that is the question!

dressagewoman — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:29:22 GMT

Since I seem to be one of those hobbyists who woke up one morning and realized they were in business, I will no doubt have a zillion questions. This is the latest installment:

Does your jewelry business have a name other than your personal name? What are the pros and cons of having a descriptive business name rather than using your name when you are sole proprieter?

Freelance Jewelry Designer

filigilani — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:44:29 GMT

Anyone can recommend a freelance jewelry designer for me? I am looking for someone that can assist me in creating brand identity for my Summer and Ocean Bleu collection.

Please refer my website at http://www.filigilani.com

Sold after an article in this leading online magazine

ZesTee Fashion — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:13:39 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I'm so thrilled !!! I had an excellent article about my work in a leading fashion online magazine, and I sold 4 items immediately afterward!!! I think the editor did a good job!!!
Please read it and let me know what you think: click here

Thanks for reading and I will appreciate your comments,
Holly - ZesTee Fashion
www.zesteefashion.com

Green Jewelry Eco Friendly Jewelry Eco Jewelry

johnsmith — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:12:22 GMT

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Since 1976 the people of Green ORO are in Jewelry Manufacturing Business. In 2002 they went Green; Green ORO, a prime manufacturer of green jewelry has started manufacturing eco friendly jewelry for the main retailer on the internet. As a prime manufacturer of green jewelry, you don’t have to wait long time for your custom orders; you can save a lot of money by buying direct from the green jewelry wholesaler / source Green ORO. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Green ORO offers huge selection of conflict free jewelry of any shape and size. Our conflict free diamonds are GIA, EGL & AGS certified. You will find our prices quite reasonable.

What do you think about my website?

filigilani — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:34:28 GMT

Dear community. I loves to get feedback from the people here about my website. It has been up for 1 month plus. Please comment.

My personal collection is under Perles collection. I made it myself. Check out at:

http://www.filigilani.com/default.asp

Short Bio Feedback-All criticism is welcome ;)

K~SouL — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:46:35 GMT

Hi,

I need an honest feedback for my short bio. Pls see read the below and let me know the first thingd that come to your mind.

-Thanks so much for your help and time.

Marie A., designer of Kinetik Soul, was once an envious child. As everyone around was wearing the latest and greatest fashionable jewelry, sadly she could not. Marie has a really bad nickel allergy; which really limited her in buying the lollypop colored charms and baubles she wanted.

Being that she is the daughter and granddaughter of two very creative women, she decided to make her own jewelry instead. Her jewelry first started with beads woven on a loom, and later moved to beads on wire. Once introduced to wire, she soon left the beads behind.

Marie, now a woman in love with metal, creates urban art jewelry with texture and dimension.

Not to mention movement; hence the name Kinetik Soul.

Sample contracts?

dressagewoman — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:57:58 GMT

Is there a good source for sample contracts between a jeweler and a retailer? This is a situation where I would wholesale certain types of pieces to an online store which would retail the pieces. I'd like both some boilerplate and also to pick up on specific issues I might not think to address.

internet advertising

shwheeler85 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:41:06 GMT

Hello everyone! If your in need of some internet advertising I found this site http://www.ADWIDO.com its a new company that will let you upload a video or still ad. I really liked it check it out!