For most people, jewelry making starts off as nothing more than a hobby however it can quickly turn into a potential money making business if you have time to spare and the inclination. Hand made jewelry is always popular and if you can make items that have a certain uniqueness to them they are bound to sell well.
Jewelry making as a hobby
Taking jewelry making up as a hobby is a great way to see if you have a talent for it before spending big money on loads of supplies. You can try your hand at different types of jewelry e.g. necklaces, earrings, bracelets, broaches etc. and various styles for very little outlay in the first instance.
By asking the opinions of friends and family members you can get a useful idea of how good you are at jewelry making…and whether it is worth you considering selling your products either locally or on the internet. You can wear the items you make and see if they attract attention, or make special items as little gifts for loved ones. You’ll quickly discover if you have a hidden talent and the makings of a small business.
Jewelry making as a business
There are various ways to turn your jewelry making hobby into a successful business. The first would be to make individual pieces of jewelry for friends, family members, work colleagues etc. for the cost of the materials and no more. You need to develop a customer base early on so that word of mouth can take over and advertise your talents.
In addition to selling your products to people close to you, you can also list them on internet auction sites and jewelry making websites or you can even rent a cart for a weekend in your local shopping mall. In order to do this you’ll need to have a good stock of already-made jewelry items so that you have pieces to hand when required.
A few helpful tips for jewelry makers
Regardless of whether you decide to make jewelry as a hobby or to sell you should get into the habit of photographing your finished pieces. These photos can then act as a reminder of everything you’ve ever made and as a portfolio to show any potential customers…even if you don’t initially think of them as customers.
Another good tip with regards to jewelry making is to try making as many different types and styles of jewelry as you can early on. You’ll probably find you have a penchant for one or two types of jewelry and it might help to focus on them if you are thinking of starting a small business.
Most novice jewelry makers use patterns and project ideas from the internet to start with and this is a great way of learning the basics. Once you have a few projects finished though it might be worth trying your own ideas – even if they are just variations of items you’ve already made.
The sooner you start using your own imagination the sooner you’ll start adding personality and individuality into your jewelry…and it is this individuality that people are most willing to pay for.
My jewelry making started out as a “therapeutic” way to deal with the very sudden death of my younger sister a year ago. It gave me something to be excited about and it gave me space to just handle her passing constructively. After a few pieces, everybody that saw them was probably more excited about my work than I was and encouraged me to venture into it as a small business. I’ve made so many items and have sold quite a bit but I’m still wondering, how to get a good steady flow of customers. I’m making more than my demand! I have a website. I have profiles on social websites. I connect with other jewelry makers but I just can’t seem to catch on to the wave! Any suggestions?
Hi Eri …
I’ve been making and selling jewelry for a long time; but there are always new things to learn! I have a lot of friends who are just starting out. They sell jewelry on Etsy.com, and they’re always looking for tips. Great blog! I love the tip about photographing everything you make; this is a fabulous idea. Creative people tend to make new things all the time, and being able to recreate a design that previously sold is one way to help you become successful.
Joye,
I am using the local fair, church bazaar, craft show route to build my client base.
That seems to be working for me. The local fairs offer pretty low cost investment. I’ve been asking customers I meet to host jewelry parties and offering the hostess a choice of select pieces based on the sales. I use a lot of natural stones in my designs and my customers love to learn about the healing properties of the stones.
Jewelry making is so very theraputic, I was so sorry to hear about the tragedy that led you to this, but glad to hear that you shifted that energy to something positive and healing for you.
Blessings