Innovate Your Fashion!

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March 17, 2010

Handcrafted Jewelry Business Savvy: The All-Important Mailing List

Selling handcrafted jewelry is a competitive business in a relatively saturated market, so how do you make yourself stand out from the sea of other jewelry makers? One great marketing strategy is to have a mailing list and to actively send out mailings.
Here are 9 great reasons any jewelry artist should build and nurture a mailing list.
1. To remind people that you exist.
People are very busy these days, have a lot on their plate. They are very easily distracted and sidetracked. I know I am, despite my best efforts! I receive a number of newsletters by email, and I am much more likely to return to these companies websites than the ones I bookmark and mean to go back to. Enough said.
2. To make it easy for people to find you and contact you
Sometimes people need help. Even if they mean to call you or order online from you, they may forget, become distracted, or may forget your business name. They may make a mental note to contact you but never get around to it. Make it easy for them by sending them regular mailings.
3. To build trust
This is a very timely concept. People have been scammed, let down, and underserviced so many times that they are naturally wary and suspicious of anyone trying to sell them anything. Getting your name in front of people on a regular basis and sending them quality information with their needs in mind goes a long way towards building trust.
4. To build relationships
In our fast-paced world where everyone is bombarded constantly with advertising from huge impersonal businesses, people seek a connection. If you can make that connection and allow people into your world, they begin to feel they know you. This is of course positive for you and your business.
5. To keep in touch with your existing customers.
You have peoples’ addresses because they have given them to you either through an online subscription, personal inquiry, by asking to be added to your mailing list, or by in some way asking you to contact them further. If your customers and prospects have shown interest in getting updates from you, you are doing them a disservice if you don’t follow up.
Have you ever inquired about a product by email and never gotten a response? How did that make you feel? I know that I feel like the company is poorly managed and that they clearly don’t care about their customers. People get very excited by even basic customer service nowadays so give them a little by sending them newsletters, notifications and updates.
6. To follow up leads.
Leads are people who have shown interest in your work or your business but need more incentive to buy. This goes back to the 7-10 rule which states that people statistically need to become familiar with you by seeing you 7-10 times before trusting you enough to purchase something they want from you.
7. To make more sales from your existing customer base.
It is Easier to Sell to a Customer than a Prospect i.e. It is much easier to convince previous customers to buy more from you than it is to convince someone to buy from you the first time.
This is assuming of course that they had a good experience with you in the past. Regular customers are most businesses bread and butter. Offer them the good stuff first and they’ll keep coming back. A mailing list is the perfect way to notify them of your promotions and new products first.
8. To target your marketing and make the best use of your time.
Your time is limited and you want to get as much bang for your buck as possible. A mailing list is made up of people who are already interested in you and your products or services so following up with them by email is a great use of your time.
9. To give great customer service and extra value.

Sending out regular mailings is just part of great customer service. If you do it respectfully, regular mailing can make make your customers feel cared for and special.

February 17, 2010

How to Begin Selling Handcrafted Jewelry Handmade Earrings Unique Bracelets

Do you want to start your own handmade jewelry business? Making handcrafted jewelry, handmade earrings and unique bracelets can be easier than learning how to sell, where to sell and at what price to sell your unique jewelry. Marketing, advertising and promoting your new company is an obstacle many cannot overcome. Many people give up when just starting out because of the frustration. Here are some easily accomplished steps to build your handmade jewelry business and put you on the road to success.

First of all, and most important, is to create truly unique jewelry. Finding you own niche, expressing your individual style and creativity is key to making your handcrafted jewelry business a success. Experiment with techniques and materials until you find the right combination that suits you. The most successful jewelry artisans have their own style that draws customers to them.

Secondly, choose your target market. What age group does your handmade jewelry attract? This is a good pricing indicator. A younger age group will require lower prices while a middle age group is looking for more sophisticated looks and can afford a higher price range.

Trial and error is sometimes the best method for pricing. Estimate how much a pair of handmade earrings or handmade bracelets costs you to actually make. Double the cost for your wholesale jewelry price and double that again for your retail price is the general rule. Look around at other handmade jewelry artists offering similar products to see if your price falls into the same range?

Online marketing for handmade jewelry artisans is growing quickly and it is easy to set up a free or relatively inexpensive website at many handcrafted sites. Building an online presence can take a lot of time and effort which will be worthwhile eventually. Do not depend on immediate sales as it takes time to become established online.

Local craft shows are a great way to start in the handmade jewelry business. Check your Chamber of Commerce for an event schedule in your area. Talk with other crafters to find other craft shows and art festivals that they recommend. Slowly build a schedule of shows. Pay attention to what your customers are looking for and try to focus on their needs.

Start slow with baby steps gradually building your customer base. Not every show will be a huge success but bit by bit you will learn all the things you need to know to make your handmade jewelry business a success.

Not everyone can be an artist and a salesperson. Luckily there are many wholesale jewelry suppliers who specialize in handmade jewelry and handcrafted artisan jewelry. Check out their websites and see if their wholesale products fall into the niche you have decided upon. Whether it is horse jewelry, cat jewelry, wildlife jewelry or Native American jewelry designs, you are sure to find wholesale jewelry suppliers who have the perfect handmade jewelry for your target market.

February 10, 2010

Understanding Pearl

Wearing a pearl jewelry is giving a significant change to women’s appearance and confidence. The pearl is able to give an elegant touch to the wearer. Before buying pearl jewelry, make sure that we understand the pearl characteristics. The first characteristic of pearl can be found from its shape. Pearl can be in oval, round, rice, teardrop, baroque, and button shape. Mostly we are served with round of round pearl. Such shape of pearl has been though a reshaping process, but we can find perfectly round pearls for fresh water pearls.

The nest characteristic of pearl is the luster. A good pearl is the shiny one that can reflect the image just like a mirror reflection. Pearls can be in any color, mostly when we check the freshwater pearls. It can be in a pink, peach, off white, light yellow. The black colored pearls can be found in Tahitian pearls. 7 mm is the most common size for pearls. When we are talking about surface, mostly we will find smooth surface, but imperfection on the pearls surface will even make the pearls price higher.

For us who have no experience on buying pearl jewelry, then it will be better if we shop on the reliable store, so we are not fooled by irresponsible people. For the high quality pearl necklaces, pearl bracelet, pearl earrings, and many others, we can go to Purepearls.com

January 29, 2010

Success in Handcrafted Jewelry Wholesale Jewelry Home-Based Business Can be Yours

Home based businesses are the easiest and often the most profitable. Handmade jewelry can be ones of the most creative crafts. With a little yimagination and some hard but enjoyable work you will be able to succeed in the handcrafted jewelry and wholesale jewelry business. The handmade jewelry business is very competitive but also very rewarding. To succeed you must be more creative to make the most unique handcrafted jewelr than your competition. You must offer better customer service than the others. Having a good relationship with customers will help your business succeed. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful advertisements for your business.

Working from home has many benefits especially if you have small children. You can be with them and build your business gradually. You will not have the extra expenses that are involved in a renting a separate work location. The space required can be anywhere, any size and there are few tools required so start up is relatively painless financially. Best of all you will be working in the comfort of your own home when it is more convenient for you.

We know how to achieve success in the handmade jewelry and wholesale jewelry business and believe that you can achieve your goals as well. Success in a home based business is a dream that many people share, but it’s not all fun and games. Do you want to do what you want, when you want? Then, you need a big inheritance from a rich relative!

Making a business a success takes a lot of hard work and determination above all else. You will be doing all that you can, as much as you can. Success is everything you ever wanted, but it can be frustrating. You must be determined and push yourself above and beyond all your competitors.

January 17, 2010

Handcrafted Jewelry â?? Fashion Redefined

Jewelry of any kind makes a fashion statement. But the fashion statement can be made more interesting by the choice of jewelry. Through ages, jewelry has been a symbol fashion and romance. Wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry is always an addition that seems to complete the dressing for any special occasion. The choice of jewelry varies from person to person. Some like wearing diamonds, while others might like simple and elegant chain and pendant. Different people have different tastes and to meet the demands of the wide market, there are varieties of products today â?? some with semi-precious stones while others, equally ravishing.

Everybody wants to own some piece of jewelry. But nobody likes wearing a common ornament. Imagine buying a new exquisite jewelry for some special occasion and finding out that the same thing is being worn by five others on the day. So along with exquisite styles, the demand for uniqueness is also growing. Unique and personalized jewelry are often more in demand than its counterparts. Uniqueness has its own value and hence the demand for trendy, stylish yet one of a kind jewelry is huge.

To meet this demand, handcrafted jewelry is probably the perfect choice. These jewelries are often personalized and unique. They have a wide variety of styles and are best to meet the demands of different individuals with varied tastes and preferences. Be it rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants or bracelets, handcrafted jewelry adds a different touch. The special ones are those which have personalized messages and romantic poems engraved on them. These personalizations make the handcrafted jewelries unique and reflect individual styles. Irrespective of an individualâ??s choice for elegance and specific color combinations or something bright and sassy that will really draw a lot of attention, these original and unique pieces of jewelry are probably the best choice for anyone who loves to be different.

Once considered funky and targeted to a limited market, the handcrafted jewelry has come a long way to become the latest buzz in the fashion mainstream. It has been re-invented as artisan jewelry and it appeals to a broader market of affluent buyers attracted to its uniqueness and limited availability. As an article of ostentation or for sending across a message of love and passion, personalized handcrafted jewelry has no substitutes. It can even be easily available through online stores, customized with oneâ??s own message or poems and still highlight oneâ??s style statement in a way that would not go unnoticed. The arrival of handcrafted jewelry trends with all these exclusive benefits has really redefined fashion in the present day.

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