How to Make and Sell Beaded Jewelry

Handcrafted necklace, bracelet and earrings

You have ideas for beaded jewelry. You've saved money for supplies. Now you want to explore making, and selling, beaded jewelry as a possible business. Making beaded jewelry is fairly easy. Selling it can be a bit more challenging because it is a buyer's market. Here is a guide to get you started.

Things You'll Need

• Jewelry ideas
• Good jewelry supply source
• Beads and jewelry supplies
• Work space
• Funds for buying jewelry
• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• Networking with other jewelry makers
• Craft show funds
• Website or on-line auction membership

Instructions

1. 

   Research what type of beaded jewelry sells. Look at the beaded jewelry at stores, craft shows and in magazines. Notice what type of beaded pieces people are wearing locally. Make a note of what type of jewelry TV actors and news anchors wear. This will let you know what the current trends are and what customers look for in beaded jewelry.

2. Record your beaded jewelry design ideas in a notebook or sketchpad. Drawings and notes may work best to help you remember an idea. When you are at your work table, you can refer to your sketches as you design.

3. 

   Find a good jewelry supply source. If you set up a business, you can qualify for wholesale discounts on your beads and supplies. Even without wholesale shopping eligibility, you can find many great jewelry supply discounts on-line. Many on-line retailers offer a variety of beads, components and tools that you cannot find locally. Research local and on-line jewelry supply sources and find the best option for your designs and budget.

4. Get a workspace. You need a large area to work on jewelry projects and store your supplies. If you will make jewelry at home, find an area in your house that is well-lit and contains a large work table and storage containers. You can also rent a studio if there is no room in your house.

5. Create a business plan for selling your beaded jewelry. Write down your budget, funding sources, jewelry design goals, workspace information and sales goals. Include any business formation information you may need for taxes. Learn everything you can about business formation and small businesses.

6. Develop a marketing plan to publicize your beaded jewelry. Beaded jewelry is harder to sell because many people design this type of jewelry and it is a buyer's market. You have to go out of your way to find potential customers. Your marketing plan should address sales goals and how you will get your jewelry in front of customers. The plan should discuss the development of printed marketing materials, such as brochures and flyers. You need to include plans to distribute the flyers and brochures to potential buyers. You can mail flyers to a customer list, create a newsletter, post flyers on college campuses or place brochures in coffee shops and bookstores.

7. Sell jewelry at craft shows. Craft shows can be very profitable for beaded jewelry businesses. Set aside a craft show budget, time to create enough jewelry for multiple shows and plan on participating in as many shows as you can handle. Research craft shows in your state on-line and in the newspaper. Register for the ones that interest you.

8. Network with other jewelry makers. You can learn craft techniques and business advice from other beaded jewelry artists. You can also help each other get business. Collaborate with other artists on special beaded jewelry projects and advertise the collaborative jewelry to both customer bases.

9. Sell your beaded jewelry on-line. Create a website for your jewelry business. Set up a website that is easy for customers to navigate and offer a secure shopping cart or outside secure payment option, such as Paypal.You can also sell jewelry at auction websites such as Ebay. These types of sites provide a template for selling your jewelry and secure payment options for the customer.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your friends, who have businesses, if you can put your flyers on the bulletin board in their business.

• Participate in church bazaars that offer opportunities to sell your beaded jewelry.

• Offer to make custom pieces. This can increase sales for customers looking for a unique item.

• Make one of a kind beaded jewelry for on-line auctions. This type sells better.

• Keep beads and jewelry components out of the reach of small children because they are choking hazards.

• Always wear protective glasses when cutting wire during jewelry design.