Selling Your Art | Bead Happily Ever After

Over the Rainbow

Posted on February 19, 2009 by crystal

Do not adjust your set – this picture is not upside down. 😉

I had to take it at this angle to get the colors to photograph realistically!

Here’s a necklace and earrings that I made for a special order. Can you see that the button-shaped beads have a swirled texture and an iridescent finish? I used a mixture of Czech and Swarovski beads, and the color scheme is a rainbow of teal, violet purple, and royal blue, along with touches of black.

Taking pictures of jewelry can be quite a challenge, especially if the piece is very reflective, or glittery, or in this case – has an aurora borealis flash on it.

From time to time, a customer will write to me, after she has received a piece of my jewelry, and say that it’s even “prettier in person”. I hesitate to write those words in a description, because I fear that it sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s often true! Most jewelry really is more beautiful when you have it in your hands. A photo just can’t capture the sparkle and 3-dimensional shape.

I do keep trying to get better photos, though! It’s comforting to read that even professional photographers struggle when it comes to pictures of jewelry. In fact, many of the very high-end jewelry stores allocate a hefty portion of their budgets to hire only the most talented photographers for their catalogues and advertisements.

Besides lots of practice, good lighting is key. Carol gave me a tip about using a plastic wastebasket for a light box, and Luciana sent this link, which describes how to make a light tent from a cardboard box! There’s also a wealth of good information on photographing your artwork in the etsy forums.

If you have any tips to share, I know we’d all love to hear them!

In the meantime, you can find me putting the camera on the tripod and practicing . . . some more!

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The Demise of Customer Service?

Posted on September 29, 2008 by crystal

In today’s world, many of us are looking to develop our own online businesses. One of the master keys to success in any business is the repeat customer. If clients feel comfortable and appreciated, they’ll probably return to buy again and again. Providing excellent customer service can be a great way to set yourself apart from the competition – especially now, when so many companies give the impression that the customer is seldom right. 😉

As a consumer, I’ve been horrified by the rudeness that seems to be omnipresent in customer service these days. It’s not just at the chain stores, where often a large proportion of the sales help are high school kids. In fact, I could understand it a little better if it were just the kids. A bit of a pass might be granted to teenagers, who lack the experience and possibly the training to assist customers graciously. But lately, I’m noticing more and more adults, with the title “customer service representative”, that are way beyond impolite. It’s a disturbing trend that appears to be increasing in all types of businesses. When customers call their phone company with simple questions, or patients show up for scheduled appointments with the doctor, don’t they have the right to be treated courteously by the staff? Are business owners unaware that they may be losing customers because of poor, or non-existent, customer service?

We recently had a situation at our house, where we ordered a gift from a large and very popular candy company. There were many gift selections, at varying prices, offered on the company’s website. We chose to have the candy presented with an adorable glass candy dish. The gift arrived well packed, but there was a chunk of glass missing from the lid of the dish. We were disappointed, of course, because a gift definitely loses something in the presentation when right off the bat, there’s a broken part! However, we were mostly concerned that the dish was a potential hazard for the unsuspecting candy lover, who could be cut while trying to satisfy his sweet tooth.

So, we contacted the company and received a reply by email which stated that they were very sorry we received a broken dish but . . . (Are you ready??) . . . we must understand that their responsibility was to provide us with good quality candy, only.

Huh??? They sold us the dish! Their website described it in glowing terms as a beautiful accompaniment to the candy, and we paid extra for the candy with dish combo!

We wrote again and insisted that they ship another dish ASAP, and they did so eventually. The point is, though, how could that first answer ever be written and sent? Who is training these people?

You may have similar tales to tell! It’s important to remember that all of the experiences we’ve had as consumers can become valuable tools to use when formulating our own business policies.

How will you care for your customers? 🙂

For info on great customer service, click here, and also here!

Is Consignment For You?

Posted on September 22, 2008 by crystal

So, your friends and family have been raving about the jewelry you make, and urging you to try your hand at selling it? Receiving such enthusiastic encouragement can be truly exciting, but you may be a little nervous about entering the retail market.

One way to stick a toe in the water is with consignment. Although there are a few precautions to take, consignment can be an excellent way for you to start small and “test the market”.

Shop owners are always searching for unique, high quality, items to stock their stores, but because of cash flow, they are not always willing to take a chance on buying merchandise with no track record. This is where consignment comes into play, and it can be mutually beneficial for you and the shop owner.

For you, it’s a relatively inexpensive way to place a few of your designs out in the marketplace to see which ones have selling power. You can then focus on creating those particular items, and thus be better able to plan your budget when purchasing supplies. You’ll also gain experience in judging how much of your time you want to devote to your craft. If time-consuming pieces begin to sell quickly, you may decide to concentrate on smaller items that also sell well, but are quicker to create.

Before you enter into any agreement to leave your items on consignment, be sure to consider the following:

Choose an attractive, well-maintained, store where the inventory is of high quality. This will help ensure that your items will be cared for while they are on display.

Be absolutely certain to have a contract where all terms of your agreement with the shop are in writing!

This written agreement should cover:

Percentage that the shop will keep when your items sell.

Length of time your items will be displayed and given the chance to sell.

Who is liable if items are stolen or damaged while on display. (Most shops will stipulate that you are leaving items at your own risk, so as mentioned above – choose the shop carefully!)

How you will be paid when your items sell and how often payments will be made. (Many shops send one check per month for any sales in the previous month.

You may also want a clause that states that you have the right to remove your items earlier than the agreed upon time frame, if you feel that they are not being cared for properly.

Consignment is serious business. It requires that you ask lots of questions, get things in writing, and make good choices about where you place your treasures. But, with a little luck, your items will be selling soon, and the shop owner will be asking for more

You’ll be in business . . . your friends will be delighted 🙂