After twenty-five of experience, we still think that the best way of selling handmade jewelry and handcrafted unique gifts is to participate in art and craft shows. You can sell much better if you meet people and talk with them. So they will know you the artist better and they will have a better feel of your handmade jewelry creations. Touching your jewelry, learning how it is made and putting a friendly face behind it is going to make the world of difference in selling. The jewelry will have more value to them in an emotional way.
We have done craft shows for many years and we also wholesale our work. The best selling strategy is you. Your personality is your advantage over all the other handmade jewelry out there. Online no one knows the real you but at craft shows your individuality shines. People are drawn to not only the unique handmade jewelry on display but to your friendly smiling face. The conversation that develops will leave your customer with a great feeling of knowing the artist personally who created their favorite pair of handmade earrings.
For handmade jewelry artisans just starting out there is no better learning experience than craft fairs. Meeting your customers face to face, knowing what they are looking for and what they want is the foundation of a successful handmade jewelry business.
Lately I have noticed a lot of handmade jewelry artisans on the internet. While it is relatively easy and inexpensive to make your own handcrafted jewelry website, it takes a great deal of time and effort to rank well in the search engines. A lot of jewelry artisans are not making any money and getting frustrated online. My advice is craft shows. There is nothing better than having someone and over your handmade jewelry, not just leaving a comment to get a back link. At the end of the day you have some money in your pocket and a great sense of achievement that will energize you to create the most unique handcrafted jewelry ever.
There are many, if not thousands, of craft shows throughout the United States. Starting out local shows are great because they are usually cheaper and more convenient to do. You will discover the best way to display your handmade earrings, handcrafted necklaces and handmade bracelets as well as meeting other local craftspeople.
Once you are ready you can venture into juried shows and national shows. These are very competitive so make sure your handmade jewelry is of the highest quality possible. Juried shows are more expensive to exhibit at but these shows attract thousands of people who are interested in all types of handmade gifts. After doing these crafts shows for a few years you will begin to have your own following of regular customers.
Larger craft shows are also a great place to meet local store owners who would like to buy your handcrafted jewelry and handmade gifts to offer to their customers. You will have to decide if you would like to wholesale jewelry as well. It depends on the type of handmade jewelry you are making and if you can produce enough handmade earrings and handmade bracelets at a reasonable price for store owners to sell well in their shops. Although you do not make as much profit per piece, you sell many more pieces at a time. If you make really unique jewelry that has high quality and good prices, you will be able to make much more money overall if you decide to offer your handmade jewelry to the wholesale jewelry market.
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