From the Jewelry Making Mail Bag
I want to start making and selling jewelry. Do you know of any wholesale suppliers where I can purchase jewelry making supplies?
To answer this question directly, yes, I have a long list of Wholesale Jewelry Suppliers.
However, it amazes me how many people jump from the idea of making jewelry to the idea of selling jewelry, which is one reason I was originally prompted to write the article "I Want to Be a Jewelry Designer." In a nutshell, my stance is that you should learn the craft before you hang out your jewelry designer shingle. I think it is also important to know the business of jewelry and not expect to be an overnight success. With any business, jewelry or otherwise, it takes years of hard work.
So, my next piece of advice is learn how to make jewelry, take my e-courses for example, and once you know your craft, then it may be time to consider selling it.
Comments
Tammy, I couldn’t agree with you more. I love going to art fairs, but I am now seeing more and more people trying to sell their beadwork that is often not very good. I have a friend who sells her work and she is a perfectionist that won’t sell an item unless it meets a certain standard. Her work is beautiful.
I have been beading for many years, and I only offer my work as gifts or items for silent auctions (and they are a hit!) I would love to make a living selling my beadwork, metal work and glass but I know it would take a lot of time to become much more skilled.
I own a consulting business for nonprofits, and it took 30 years of growth to finally be able to consult with confidence in my knowledge. I would think that time is important to building the same skills in beading.
Thanks for your comments! I wish others would listen to you!
Thanks, Carolyn. I’m actually surprised I didn’t get more of a reaction to this post. I really feel like it is super important to have a real handle on your technique before you start running a jewelry business.
Tammy -
I agree and disagree. Some people do not put the effort into learning to do things right, but that said you are not helping them either. I went from I’m going to make jewelry to selling profitably in less than 6 months. My goal is good quality bridge jewelry and I have upped my price range from the $15/$25 range to $75/$150 range per piece and plan to go higher.
The jewelry design is easy - I have more problems finding good wholesalers so I can afford to make more pieces to sell to build up the cash reserves to buy more equipment. That is the vicious cycle until you have bought the tools and built up a good stock of components. My jewelry biz is self funded, so I only buy when I sell.
I am disappointed in the limited information I found on about.com. My interests being beaded, wire and metal clay (beads/focals). The patterns and project ideas are limited, the craftsmanship in many pictures is sloppy, and the ideas church basement fair quality. If you want to raise the bar for inspiring people to “do it right” before they sell - then project that in the quality of projects you showcase to teach and educate. Expand the directions with more step by step detail, and have more pictures of individual steps/techniques.
Just my opinion
Donna
Well, obviously, Donna, you are entitled to your opinion.
You know, putting a little smiley face after a majorly nasty post is just ludicrous. If “jewelry design is easy” for Donna, then she should really not need Tammy to post a different type of project for her to be inspired by or to copy. Maybe I just see About.com differently from Donna, but I thought the idea was to showcase basic techniques, not to do our design work for us. I don’t know what projects she feels don’t have sufficient steps outlined or photographed, but personally I’ve never had any problems following the directions when I’ve looked at Tammy’s (or Paula’s) projects. As for the quality of the projects, well, I could make a nasty comment about how superior some people’s ability is, and then add a smiley face, but I’ll refrain.
Tammy, I feel that you do an excellent job of moderating the board, posting interesting information articles, and sharing new projects, especially those aimed at grateful beginners. I was one of those once too. Thank you.
Thanks, Cyndi. I have to admit that the majority of my readers are beginners, so I keep that in mind.
Hi, Tammy. I truely feel you are quite knowledgable & kind to offer your self to the public as in this venue. I am gratefull & pleased to receive your Emails. Most Sincerely Elaine
Thanks for the kind words, Elaine!
Donna,
I feel compelled to respond to your post. I will address the issues in the order that they have been raised:
1. “I am disappointed in the limited information I found on about.com.” Tammy has hundreds of patterns and projects listed on her .com site. In addition, there are links to other sites that offer hundreds of patterns and projects. Those sites have links to other sites that offer hundreds of patterns and projects etc.etc. In reality, because of Tammy’s about.com site, you have access to not only the hundreds of patterns and projects designed by her, you have access to thousands upon thousands of patterns and projects that you might not have known existed except for Tammy’s diligent research. To state that there is “limited information” on the about.com site is ridiculous and patently untrue.
2. “the craftsmanship in many pictures is sloppy” I do not understand this sentence. The sentence appears to be referring to the pictures themselves, but judging from the sentences that follow, I think that you are referring to the projects and I will respond with that assumption. I have seen just about every project on Tammy’s about.com site and I have never seen sloppy craftsmanship in any of Tammy’s work.
3. “the ideas church basement fair quality” Wow. We all have different tastes in jewelry, but for you to call another persons ideas “church basement fair quality” is beyond belief. In addition, thousands of people disagree with your assessment and have made her projects. Thousands of people have purchased the books that she has written that have her step-by-step instructions for creating jewelry projects and these people also disagree with your assessment. Based on statistics, you stand alone in your belief.
4. “If you want to raise the bar for inspiring people to “do it right” before they sell - then project that in the quality of projects you showcase to teach and educate.” One again, I cannot understand your sentence. Punctuation is missing and “then project that in the quality of projects you showcase to teach and educate” does not make sense. Regardless, I think I get your “drift” and you are wrong. I am not the only one who believes that you are wrong; thousands upon thousands of people who have made Tammy’s projects obviously believe that you are wrong too.
5. “Expand the directions with more step by step detail, and have more pictures of individual steps/techniques.” I have made many of Tammy’s projects and I have never had any problems following the step-by step directions. Each step is clearly outlined and has pictures to guide each individual in the construction of the item. If you are having problems following those instructions, perhaps the fault does not lie with Tammy, but lies within yourself.
Tammy actually makes a good living at doing what she is doing (writing hundreds of articles, running a successful jewelry making site, designing hundreds of projects for world renown jewelry magazines, and has written entire books on the subject of jewelry) and until you can say the same for yourself, I suggest that you settle back, shut your mouth and learn from those that are more successful than you are. That and that alone is the path to success.
Anita
Tammy, I couldn’t agree with your original comments about one learning the craft before jumping into the business more. It’s discouraging to be in or attend craft fairs where nearly every vendor has jewelry - regardless of what their main craft is. There’s a glut of “jewelers” out there, and the hobbyists who jump into business without having quality work simply cheapen and discourage those who have mastered the craft.
A quick comment on Donna’s post. There’s a huge need on the internet for beginners and hobbyists to find basic information and projects. Advanced techniques are usually better learned in a classroom or though full-publication books and magazines. And any professional artist or designer worth his/her salt doesn’t use someone else’s patterns or projects to create their work anyway - that’s just unethical. Comments like these are better dealt with offline in an email, not in a public forum.
Just my .02
Thanks for understanding my post, Lynn. In fact, I’m working on an article now that address what the more advanced jewelry maker can do when it comes to learning more/better skills.
Also, thanks to Anita. You both get “me,” and are correct that the majority of my readers are beginners, as were we all at one point.
Tammy,
As a beginner but picking up on skills fast I must agree that it is rather hasty to think one can turn this into a business from a hobby level. But I am sure it’s possible to go from beginner to designer and selling in a short period of time. It all has to do with how much time and effort one puts into it. I personally want to make a home business of this. But I also want to do it right rather than jump in head first. So all of your advice is much appreciated. I often refer others here on another beading forum I participate in! Keep it all coming!
mariahswind