How to Sell Handcrafted Jewelry

Make your creative endeavor your livelihood.

Three terms describe a successful jewelry artisan: creative, talented and business-savvy. Handmade jewelry is a competitive field, and entrepreneurs must find a niche that fits their product's style and promises regular sales. Once you've made your pieces and you've done your financial footwork, knowing the revenue you need to generate to cover materials and operating expenses, the work of sales begins. Take time to consider where you want to present your product and how you fit in with the competition.

Instructions

1. Do the necessary paperwork. Register your company's name and open a bank account for your business. Consult the small business guide available from the federal government's Small Business Administration to educate yourself on the steps you need to follow to start a new enterprise selling handmade jewelry.

2. Decide on a location to sell your jewelry. Pamela Doyle, co-founder of Manhattan boutique Doyle & Doyle, recommends in "Inc." magazine that new jewelry entrepreneurs keep fixed expenses low. Starting a business with an online, craft fair and show presence is a lower financial risk than spending money for a high-rent storefront.

3. Create an effective Web presence. This will include creating a website and also selling on commercial sites that specialize in handmade items. Etsy and Handmade Catalog are two such websites. Both charge various fees, which may include a flat fee to set up and maintain a store and a listing fee per item. Customers should also be able to purchase your handmade jewelry through your own website that features the entirety of your product for sale.

4. Consider selling your jewelry wholesale. Find established retailers that specialize in high-quality or handmade jewelry, and offer to supply them with stock. Paola Delgado of New York's Mujus told "Inc." she planned to target wholesale buyers -- because although the profit margins might be less than if she sold the product herself, sales would be more consistent.

5. Apply early to have a booth at craft fairs and shows. Many fairs have a limit on the number of jewelry vendors they accept, and your crafts may have to be adjudicated before you're allowed to sell. Keep up-to-date with fairs in your town and region and try to attend as many as possible to maximize exposure and profit-making potential.

6. Keep your eye on the market. Become knowledgeable about trends in jewelry styles, and tweak your product if necessary. Regularly visit jewelry stores and browse booths at fairs to see how much other sellers charge, and price your own product competitively. Build a mailing list of customers by taking names and email addresses at fairs and through your website. Keep track of what styles are popular and what your customers tell you they'd like to see you make.

7. Determine from customer interaction and feedback where they first noticed your product and how they eventually bought an item. Switch strategies depending on how large your sales are and where they come from. As customers check out of your online store, add a simple question as they complete their purchase: "How did you hear about us?" If the answer is "craft fair," you'll know your booth has brought promotional value, even if fair sales were slow. If your website customer came directly from eBay, you'll know that's a presence you'd like to maintain.

References

• "USA Today"; Make Money With Your Craft Online; Kim Komando; Aug. 14, 2008
• "Entrepreneur"; Starting an Arts and Crafts Business; Laura Tiffany; April 2002
• "Entrepreneur"; How to Sell at Craft Fairs and Shows; Rosalind Resnick
• "Inc."; How to Start a Jewelry Making Business; Lauren Cannon; December 29, 2010

Resources

• U.S. Small Business Administration: Starting a Business