June 11, 2008
Selling Your Handcrafted Jewelry on EBay
There are many jewelry artists selling their designs on eBay. Jewelry is one of the more competitive categories. However, one can be successful selling their handmade jewelry on eBay. The good thing about eBay is it has a lot of traffic, so your items WILL be seen by potential buyers-HOW MANY buyers is up to you.
Here are a few ideas for selling handcrafted jewelry on ebay:
1) Set up an eBay store. An eBay store will give you a professional appearance. Your eBay store could be your online web store or you could run it simultaneously with your own website. The insertion fee for an eBay store listing covers any quantitiy of items for that listing (ex: the same fee applies to 1 or 10 bracelets, as long as they are all the same). If you are unsure about opening an eBay store, try listing a few of your jewelry items in fixed price or auction format first.
2) In addition to your store listings, sell your handcrafted jewelry items in fixed price and/or auction listings. These listings appear first in eBay search results, while store listings appear last. When your fixed price/auction listing is viewed, it will lead the buyer to your eBay store. You can include a link to your eBay store in the description of your item.
3) Make sure your descriptions are informative ( not 500 words long, you don’t want buyers to get bored!) Include types of beads, crystals, metals, wire, color, length, etc. used in your jewelry items. You may have beautiful jewelry items, but if you don’t list them well, you won’t sell them. Buyers like details.
4) Great pictures are important in selling handcrafted jewelry. Use a digital camera for good, clear, close-up photos. I take pictures of my jewelry in the natural light, using the “macro” setting on my camera. Great photos will sell your jewelry.
5) Offer to customize jewelry items. You will make more sales if buyers have the option to choose length, color, etc. For example, offer to adjust bracelet lengths, have the buyer choose the color bead or crystal in a pair of earrings or give the option to choose ear wires or posts.
6) Guarantee your handcrafted jewelry in your listings. Include a money back guarantee or exchange, so buyers know you stand behind your items.
7) Combine shipping on multiple item orders. This will help to increase sales. Often, two or three jewelry items can be shipped together at the same cost of shipping one item. Buyers may purchase more than one item knowing there is only one shipping charge (eBay will automatically charge the highest item shipping charge).
Research listings on ebay that are relative to your jewelry. Check feedback to see comments left by buyers. You may get some ideas to incorporate into your listings.
With good listings, great pictures and a little trial and error, you can be successful selling handmade jewelry on eBay!
June 5, 2008
Successful and Profitable Jewelry Business Resources
In an earlier post I mentioned jewelry business expert, Rena Klingenberg. I personally have obtained valuable business tips and ideas through her books and ebooks and have implemented them into my jewelry business.
If you are thinking of starting a home jewelry business or are just interested in new and profitable ideas for your jewelry booth/ display, I recommend the Guide to Your Profitable Jewelry Booth . “Secrets of selling handcrafted jewelry like crazy at shows, fairs and festivals”.
These are great tips for jewelry booths!
If, like the rest of us!!!!!, you are looking for another successful way to sell your jewelry, I would recommend Secrets of a Handcrafted Jewelry Shopping Service. “Unlock the serets of selling your jewelry in a profitable new way. “”I couldn’t believe I’d never heard anyone talk about this before – It’s a wide-open field with tons of opportunities for selling your jewelry. It’s the main way I sell my jewelry now”- Rena Klingenberg.
Another good resource for new and prospective handcrafted jewelry business owners is Beading and Jewelry Making by Lenna Green. Tons of information on how you can make money from beading and jewelry making!
These are a few of the books and ebooks that have helped to make my jewelry business successful! May they add profit to yours!
Jewelry Display Tips for Craft Shows, Fairs, Festivals, Home Jewelry Parties…
Since starting my business I’ve displayed my handcrafted jewelry at many craft shows, fairs, festivals, home jewelry parties, etc. Sometimes two or three days a week! I have picked up many display ideas along the way. I have, also, had other vendors incorporate my ideas into their own displays.
One of the most important things to remember, is that you want your display to be appealing to the customer. Your jewelry or craft may be beautiful, however, that won’t matter if the display doesn’t look enticing enough for the potential customer to come take a look.
When it comes to jewelry, I find organization of items is very important. I have seen displays in which other jewelry designers have no particular organization in there presentation. That is their choice. I have had MANY customers comment on how much easier and quicker it is to find what they’re looking for when a display is organized.
Here are some tips and ideas for displaying jewelry items:
*Display jewelry sets together. For instance, I display my chakra jewelry together on one mirror.
*Display pieces of the same category (ex. necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc.) in the same general area.
*Organize bracelets by style, gemstone, color, etc. Whatever seems best for you. I separate my bracelet displays by gemstones. For example: I may have quartz, jade and carnelian bracelets on one display, my awareness bracelets on another, and so on.
*Earring displays are personal preference. I have seen some designers display their earrings on hanging displays without an earring card, some prefer to hang them on a board display or earring rack, others use a rotating display. I use a rotating earring rack, as it takes up less space and I am able to display over 100 pairs of earrings. I use black flock earring cards to hang my earrings on and I include rubber earring backs with my earrings. This helps to keep the earrings in place on the card and offers the customer an added bonus to the earrings .
*Be creative when displaying your jewelry pieces. I use black velvet and white leatherette jewelry displays, mirrors and wire jewelry holders. My mirror display tip is published on Rena Klingenberg’s Jewelry Displays website (Rena is a huge success in the jewelry business!). You can view my tip Here. Mirrors are a great way to diplay your jewelry-they are simple, inexpensive and elegant! I use mirrors to display my featured pieces or jewelry sets.
*It is not recommended to use flat displays. A lot of shows will not accept a vendor if they have a flat table display. It’s just not attractive! It is also recommended to have more than one tier in your display. I use the shelf from an old computer desk. I cover it with a piece of black velvet material and sit it on the back center of my table. It is perfect for displaying my business sign, a few necklace stands and smaller pieces of jewelry.
*Cover your table! What colors you choose are up to you. However, if you choose a pattern that is too “busy”, it may take away from your jewelry. I use black tablecloths when displaying my jewelry. To accent the black color, I use runners or large fabric table napkins in the colors of the season. I’ll use rust colors in the fall, red and green in the winter..you get the idea. I also, display inexpensive “props” on my table. I use small wood pumpkins, small candles, clip on ornaments, etc. Make your table appealing to the buyer!
*Include a business card display on your table. This will promote your business and lead to repeat customers.
*Make signs. I use tent cards to make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for. I design my own tent cards on the computer using tent card sheets or card stock. I then cut them to the size I want. I label each of my categories with a tent card. For example: “Awareness Bracelets”,”Men’s Jewelry”,”Children’s Jewelry”, “Anklets”, etc. I also make tent cards labeled with my services. For example: “Custom Orders Available”, “Host a Jewlery Party”, “Bracelet Lengths Can be Adjusted”.
*Make sure you have a business sign. Promote, promote, promote! Make or purchase a sign with your business name, logo and/or description. I have an 8″ x 10″ sign on my table display ( I designed and printed my own sign out on the computer and put it into a picture frame) and I also have a vinyl sign that hangs in front of my table. If you’re interested in a vinyl sign, you can make your own using a vinyl sign kit (available in craft stores) or you can purchase one from a sign company.
It’s best to make your display neat and professional, and let your personality reflect on it.
An attractive display will be far more appealing to potential customers. Be creative!
Jacqui's Jewelry Boutique-Jewelry Business Blog 