When your studio starts to look like a dragon’s treasure
stash, it’s time to start selling your handmade jewelry!
Why not? You’ve been making jewelry for some time
now, and all your friends and family have hinted they have
all the jewelry they need for now. You’re so addicted
to the relaxation and enjoyment of creating lovely pieces
of jewelry that there is no way you can, or want to, stop.
It’s really time to make your hobby pay for itself
and earn some cash for yourself, too!

Assigning prices to your jewelry can be fun once you know
the basics of how to do it. Use these three steps as you
guideline.

· Add the costs of the materials and tools for the
pieces you want to sell.

· Pay yourself for your time and labor. Your hourly
rate need not be extravagant. To start, $10 an hour, although
it may seem low, is a good place to start. YOu can give
yourself a raise once your business is off the ground.

· Since you work from your home, your overhead expenses
may not be much, but don’t ignore them. Overhead expenses
include a business phone line, costs of utilities rental
fees for booths at crafting fairs and shows, and web site
rental and maintenance fees if you decide to have a web
site or open an e-Bay shop. The best way to estimate these
costs is to allow one quarter of the sum of your other costs.

From hereon, keep records of all of the above expenses,
plus any extra costs, such as shipping costs on orders for
supplies, office equipment and business-related software
. Keep all invoices and receipts, and be sure to record
your time and wage for each jewelry item.

If you’re thinking of starting your jewelry business
by opening a shop outside your home, you may want to reconsider.
It takes a great deal of hard work and time—not to
mention money from your own pocket—before you will
see any monetary rewards. Why not start small, first? You
can make your community aware of your jewelry business,
and quite likely build a solid customer base before you
even open your shop doors! Here are a few inexpensive, but
profitable venues to try.

Home Jewelry Parties: This is one of the least expensive,
fun and profitable bases from which to start your home-based
jewelry business. You can host the party yourself or have
someone you know host it for you. Invite several people,
serve refreshments and show off your jewelry to your guests.
Let the guests try on the jewelry, and provide mirrors large
enough to allow them to see how well a necklace fits. Have
a receipt book and plenty of cash change on hand, because
you’re sure to sell some of your beautiful jewelry
items!

Fairs and Festivals are great places for novices in the
business of making and selling jewelry to learn the ropes.
With vast exposure to customers and other artisans, you’re
sure to pick up a few tips for making your business a success.
Customers may so impressed by your lovely work that they
ask for custom-made jewelry, or contact information to share
with family and friends. Other jewelry crafters are good
sources of business contacts, such as the best supplies
wholesalers, setting up an attractive web site, and for
learning new design ideas and the most popular current trends
in jewelry and other accessories. The overhead is low and
the profits are usually quite satisfying, if not downright
lucrative!

Online Jewelry Shops are relatively low-overhead/high exposure
venues for selling jewelry without leaving your home. You
can join an online shops network that specializes in jewelry
and accessories, or build your own web site shop. Online
auctions are immensely popular, and generate tremendous
exposure! E-Bay shops are one of the most cost-effective
ways of displaying your jewelry, especially since e-Bay
has such a vast customer base.

Home jewelry parties, virtual shops and auctions and crafts
fairs are the best ways to build your home-based jewelry
business. You can try concentrating on just one, or combine
two or all three venues for maximum profit. Once you learn
how to sell your jewelry, you may still want to open a brick
and mortar shop or boutique, but then again, you may be
so hooked on the fun, excitement and excellent profits you
can earn by using the above methods that you may never consider
having a “real” shop again!

Learn how to setup your own business selling jewelry.  Get more information and tips from http://www.beading-software.com.

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