Having your own jewelry design business can be fun and lucrative if you are equipped with the tools you need to succeed. Here are 7 tips for building your business and turning your hobby into a career.
1. Register with the Appropriate Authorities
If you're just selling a few bracelets here or there, you probably don't want to go through the hassle of registering your business with state and local authorities. However, if you are interested in pushing a lot of product, it will make it easier if you fill out all the necessary paperwork. Check your local chamber of commerce for requirements and appropriate forms. Having a Tax Identification Number for your jewelry business will help you buy from wholesale jewelry supply places and can end up saving you a lot of money.
2. Get the Appropriate Materials
Chances are if you are interested in starting a jewelry design business, you already have some of the materials and tools you need. However, you want to make sure you have all the equipment you need to produce your quota. Set goals for the amount of pieces you want to create per day and per week. Stock up your craft cabinet so you don't have to stall your work.
3. Study Trends
You want your product to be unique and to appeal to as many as people as possible. Buy a bunch of fashion magazines and study the latest jewelry trends. See what the celebrities are wearing when they walk the red carpet. Take your cue from some hip retail locations. Knowing what's hot and what sells will help you focus your business plan and target your demographic.
4. Know Your Audience
Making jewelry is an art form. Therefore, you shouldn't place limits on your creativity by making pieces that appeal to one particular group or another. However, if you want your business to be a success, you need to think about who will be most likely to wear your jewelry. Think about your personal aesthetic. Think about grouping pieces together and forming collections.
5. Make a Website
You don't have to be a computer science guru to build and maintain your own website. Sign up for an inexpensive website package. Build a simple, but professional looking website that has pictures of your pieces and all the relevant contact information.
6. Hire a Professional Photographer
You've heard the saying "a picture's worth a thousand words?" You want your pieces to look as beautiful and as exquisitely crafted on your website as they do in real life. Hire a professional photographer to help you capture the beauty and elegance of your jewelry collection. Having a more professional appearance will help you compete with the billions of other jewelry websites.
7. Spread the Word
If you want to market your jewelry business, start with friends and family. Give some of your best pieces to your mom or girlfriends and let the pieces sell themselves. Give your friends a couple of your business cards so they can pass them along when people ask questions about your pieces. You don't need a big marketing campaign to be successful in this business. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool and can help your home-based business explode.
