Daily Wire Tip: Ideas for Inexpensive Jewelry
Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
Question:
I live in an area that doesn’t seem to want to pay more than $20.00 for anything so I’ve been using silver-plate and gold-plate to make my items…What kind of items could I sell in that price range using sterling silver?
Answer:
When planning a project in sterling silver, that can be sold for about $20, my advice is to choose materials that do not total more than $10 per project, such as any of the many free patterns found on our website here: Free Wire Jewelry Patterns Other ideas would be headpin earrings made with your own handcrafted ear wires and simple single or 3-bead rings. Once your customers get addicted to your style, they will become interested in the items you have for $25 to $40 as well.
Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
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affordable jewelry, cheap, free patterns, gold plate, silver plate, sterling silve
Filed under:Daily Wire Jewelry Tips‚ Sales, Marketing, Shows, & Display
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I just started using little crystal drops (briolettes) with two 24 gauge wires sculpted around them. They’re inexpensive to make and are beautiful! I’m also sculpting found items such as interesting old clip or pierced earrings. Cost is low, each item is unique and they get lots of oooohs and ahs!
10-4 on the cheapskates, but don’t scrimp by using plated metals – when the finish wears off, you’ll lose those few customers that actually bought from you.
I completely agree with both comments. I have found that with my disability income, it’s irrelevant that some customers here would pay much more for some of my items — I cannot afford to purchase the sterling silver or gold filled much of the time, and have learned that if I substitute cz or Swarovski for genuine gemstone focals or beads, I can then afford to use the more expensive wire, hence allaying any fears of the finish wearing off (as is often a deterrence to purchasing something which is deemed inexpensive). It’s easier to convince a potential client that the stone won’t turn, than it is to convince the same of the wire. This makes both people happy; the artist by being able to still create beautiful pieces, not ruin their reputation and still be able to make a profit; and your customer is happy because they will trust you (while enjoying and showing off your creations to others) and they’ll come back, hopefully bringing friends along!
Happy Wrapping!
I agree with Fitz. Using plated materials will only hurt you later on. You can cut your cost by purchasing wholesale or purchasing in slightly larger quantities to get a price break. There are places that only require a business license and no minimum purchase.
I have the same problem with the church group at Quarter Auctions. They don’t seem to understand the quality, love, care, and time that we as jewelry designers put into every piece we make. I overheard comments, as did my 14 year old grand daughter, which upset her, that they don’t understand why I would think my jewelry would be worth so much even if it is pretty. In this type of auction it is the price range which tells each bidder how many qtrs they pay, EX: $1-$25 is 1 qtrs; $26-$50 is 2 qtrs, etc. Naturally I try to go for the price range of $76-$100 so the bid is 3 or 4 qtrs. I use semi-precious, Swarovski and other crystals, stainless steel, and SS to make my pieces so they will last and not tarnish, easy to care for. I practically gave away some of my best pieces in the last 2 auctions. Maybe I will just quit entering them. These folks don’t understand the value I’m giving them, even when I explain it to them. If I use plated and glass or inexpensive stones, I agree with you all that it would cheapen my products and eventually I’d lose more customers than I gained, but this seems to be what they want. How can I possibly win with odds like this? I don’t want to sell inferior jewelry I wouldn’t want to wear. Advice anyone????
Krister, I am not really sure that I understand this ‘quarter’ auction. Are you saying that if you put a price of $75 on a piece that someone could purchase it for as little as the lowest bid of 75 cents?!
No matter for my opinion though, I would either A. enter lower priced items (to see if that is really what these particular customers desire); B. offer to hold a ‘fund raiser’ home style party for the church (so you would have a captive audience to explain and maybe even do a short demo of, your work) to see if there is any real interest; or C. Find another venue! (like your own home show/open house).