This time of year people are looking to do christmas shopping and buy gifts for their friends, relatives and other loved ones. Jewellery is a great gift idea but with the world economy struggling, it may not always fit into your budget. A way around this is to make your own pieces. Handmade jewellery is becoming a lot more popular these days and can save you money and gives the recipient something heartfelt and special.
As well as giving it away as a christmas or birthday present there are a number of other avenues to take from making your own contemporary jewellery at home. You can look to sell it via shows, organise home parties and invite friends round, or even sell your products on ebay. For those of you who are really passionate, you might look at setting up your own website and getting a shopping cart to sell them.
Before you look at where to sell it, you need to work out pricing for your jewellery. This can make or break you as too expensive and no-one will buy it, but too cheap and you are putting all this hard work in for little return. A lot of people sell their jewellery too cheap because they feel 'lucky' that someone is willing to buy it. This means you barely cover the cost of the materials, let alone the time spent working on the item. You need to value your talent!
When pricing your jewellery, you need to factor in 3 main expenses. Your materials, your overheads and your time. If you don't include all these 3 factors you are going to sell yourself short. Once you've come up with a figure, you also need to consider if a potential customer would be willing to buy your handmade jewellery at that price. If it seems too expensive, then you might need to work out if there's a way you can design the item faster and more cost-effective, or make it look better so you can charge more.
Can you buy the materials cheaper? Can you reduce other overheads? If you are looking to make a profitable business then you will need to answer these questions to ensure your jewellery making is cost effective. If you are simply doing it for the love of it, then these factors become less important. Many people are happy to simply create the jewellery and are proud to see people wearing them, regardless of if they make money or not.
Once you have worked out fair pricing for your items, decide where to sell them. As mentioned, home jewellery parties are a great idea as your friends will always be willing to help you out. Plus you will then get to see the finished products being worn, which will give you a constant reminder of your creative achievements. Stalls at markets can be good too, but make sure the theme of the market is appropriate, such as arts and crafts. Ebay is also a great way to reach customers all around the world.
Whatever the case, the main thing is the jewellery. Design it from the heart, put in all your efforts and the passion and creativity will show up on the end products.
As well as giving it away as a christmas or birthday present there are a number of other avenues to take from making your own contemporary jewellery at home. You can look to sell it via shows, organise home parties and invite friends round, or even sell your products on ebay. For those of you who are really passionate, you might look at setting up your own website and getting a shopping cart to sell them.
Before you look at where to sell it, you need to work out pricing for your jewellery. This can make or break you as too expensive and no-one will buy it, but too cheap and you are putting all this hard work in for little return. A lot of people sell their jewellery too cheap because they feel 'lucky' that someone is willing to buy it. This means you barely cover the cost of the materials, let alone the time spent working on the item. You need to value your talent!
When pricing your jewellery, you need to factor in 3 main expenses. Your materials, your overheads and your time. If you don't include all these 3 factors you are going to sell yourself short. Once you've come up with a figure, you also need to consider if a potential customer would be willing to buy your handmade jewellery at that price. If it seems too expensive, then you might need to work out if there's a way you can design the item faster and more cost-effective, or make it look better so you can charge more.
Can you buy the materials cheaper? Can you reduce other overheads? If you are looking to make a profitable business then you will need to answer these questions to ensure your jewellery making is cost effective. If you are simply doing it for the love of it, then these factors become less important. Many people are happy to simply create the jewellery and are proud to see people wearing them, regardless of if they make money or not.
Once you have worked out fair pricing for your items, decide where to sell them. As mentioned, home jewellery parties are a great idea as your friends will always be willing to help you out. Plus you will then get to see the finished products being worn, which will give you a constant reminder of your creative achievements. Stalls at markets can be good too, but make sure the theme of the market is appropriate, such as arts and crafts. Ebay is also a great way to reach customers all around the world.
Whatever the case, the main thing is the jewellery. Design it from the heart, put in all your efforts and the passion and creativity will show up on the end products.