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!
Jacqui's Jewelry Boutique-Jewelry Business Blog 