JANET STERLING SILVER DESIGN

Janet's "Learning Annex" Speaking Engagement!
Seminar on "How to Start Your Own Jewelry Line"

Recommended Reading!--I'm not done with this yet, so please check back later!
Click HERE for some of the VENDORS I use!

***If you 're interested in participating in a LIVE CHAT ROOM FORUM on this topic, please email me! We're building a janetjewelry Chatroom at the moment, and we hope to have it up in a few weeks!

"Ideas for the Artist on a Budget: Think Big....It's Free!" by janet

I spoke at the New York Hilton on Feb 13, 2003, as part of the "Learning Annex" Series' forum on "How to Start Your Own Jewelry Line." The above was the title for my segment, but I think the key to anyone thinking about starting their own line, is to sit down, and make a list of what is important to YOU regarding the following:

1. What is your STYLE, and WHO is your ideal customer (i.e. who is most likely to enjoy and buy your designs)?

2. What are the most important things to you about making the jewelry? Examples:
• Just designing and making the jewelry?
• Dealing directly with the people buying your jewelry?
• Being a "High End Designer," or mass production designer?

3. Taking the above into account, WHERE or HOW will people find out about your or where will they buy your jewelry?

4. Do you want to deal with #3 (i.e. sell direct--examples: are you interested in doing your own marketing, advertising, PR, etc?), or do you want someone else to do it for you, i.e. sell on consignment to a store, hire a PR firm, or have a Rep take it trade shows?

For me, MY STYLE was definitely about "everyday wear jewelry," and because I personally was on a budget myself, I wanted to make jewelry that was accessible and affordable to most people. I enjoyed the whole jewelry making process, from designing to handcrafting the jewelry (i.e. I don't want to "just design," and pass it over to another company to mass produce my designs).

At first, I sold my jewelry on consignment. It was a good first experience, in that the store was very professional (i.e. kept good records, paid me on time, etc), it already had a good clientele and location (right near the Beverly Center in LA), but since my jewelry making is so personal to me, I kept wondering, "Who bought my jewelry? What are they like? What made them buy my design? Did they buy it for someone else, or did they keep it themselves?"

After much thought, I realized that not only was I interested in the jewelry making process, but I wanted to have more direct contact with my customers because they also inspired me--what are they like? what are they wearing? what interests them? why do they like my jewelry?

I made the decision to sell my jewelry myself, which, I have to admit, is a LOT of work, but to me, it's definitely worth it! I enjoy the direct contact that I have with my customers, I appreciate their feedback, and their positive responses to my jewelry encourages me to keep doing what I love doing, which is the biggest inspiration for me. I definitely have a very "niche" audience, but that was and is still my intention--I don't think my jewelry is "for everyone," but people who like my designs seem to really like and appreciate my sense of style, humor, and no-nonsense. I've always felt like I was "on the outside" of most things (favorite movie quote, "Almost Famous": "Of course I'm home....I'm uncool"), and I think there are a lot of people out there who feel the same way. My reasoning is, "If they want something trendy, they can go to a department store, and if they want something unique, they can shop at janetjewelry!"

Of course, I came to this conclusion after a lot of trial and error--I tried selling on consignment, I sold my jewelry at an outdoor market, I sold online. AFTER all that, I sat down, figured out all the pros & cons of each, and focused on what is important to me, my jewelry, my customers--and where do I want to go from here? It's an ongoing learning process! One of the most important things I learned back in college, was in my class on World Mythology, and the idea of the "Spiralling Self": the natural progression for a person is usually a spiral pattern--you have your ups and downs, but you continually grow--you evolve and enrich your life; it's when you're stuck in a circular pattern, not learning or changing yourself for the better--to remain stagnant--it's really unnatural if you think about it!

But again, the above are just a few examples of key experiences, and

...And I have to run to open up the store for the day, so I'll write more later!

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Copyright © Janet Sterling Silver Design, 2003. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

				Janet's "Learning Annex" Speaking Engagement! Seminar on "How to Start Your Own Jewelry Line" Recommended Reading!--I'm not done with this yet, so please check back later! Click HERE for some of the VENDORS I use! *If you 're interested in participating in a LIVE CHAT ROOM FORUM on this topic, please email me! We're building a janetjewelry Chatroom at the moment, and we hope to have it up in a few weeks! "Ideas for the Artist on a Budget: Think Big....It's Free!" by janet I spoke at the New York Hilton on Feb 13, 2003, as part of the "Learning Annex" Series' forum on "How to Start Your Own Jewelry Line." The above was the title for my segment, but I think the key to anyone thinking about starting their own line, is to sit down, and make a list of what is important to YOU regarding the following: 1. What is your STYLE, and WHO is your ideal customer (i.e. who is most likely to enjoy and buy your designs)? 2. What are the most important things to you about making the jewelry? Examples: • Just designing and making the jewelry? • Dealing directly with the people buying your jewelry? • Being a "High End Designer," or mass production designer? 3. Taking the above into account, WHERE or HOW will people find out about your or where will they buy your jewelry? 4. Do you want to deal with #3 (i.e. sell direct--examples: are you interested in doing your own marketing, advertising, PR, etc?), or do you want someone else to do it for you, i.e. sell on consignment to a store, hire a PR firm, or have a Rep take it trade shows? For me, MY STYLE was definitely about "everyday wear jewelry," and because I personally was on a budget myself, I wanted to make jewelry that was accessible and affordable to most people. I enjoyed the whole jewelry making process, from designing to handcrafting the jewelry (i.e. I don't want to "just design," and pass it over to another company to mass produce my designs). At first, I sold my jewelry on consignment. It was a good first experience, in that the store was very professional (i.e. kept good records, paid me on time, etc), it already had a good clientele and location (right near the Beverly Center in LA), but since my jewelry making is so personal to me, I kept wondering, "Who bought my jewelry? What are they like? What made them buy my design? Did they buy it for someone else, or did they keep it themselves?" After much thought, I realized that not only was I interested in the jewelry making process, but I wanted to have more direct contact with my customers because they also inspired me--what are they like? what are they wearing? what interests them? why do they like my jewelry? I made the decision to sell my jewelry myself, which, I have to admit, is a LOT of work, but to me, it's definitely worth it! I enjoy the direct contact that I have with my customers, I appreciate their feedback, and their positive responses to my jewelry encourages me to keep doing what I love doing, which is the biggest inspiration for me. I definitely have a very "niche" audience, but that was and is still my intention--I don't think my jewelry is "for everyone," but people who like my designs seem to really like and appreciate my sense of style, humor, and no-nonsense. I've always felt like I was "on the outside" of most things (favorite movie quote, "Almost Famous": "Of course I'm home....I'm uncool"), and I think there are a lot of people out there who feel the same way. My reasoning is, "If they want something trendy, they can go to a department store, and if they want something unique, they can shop at janetjewelry!" Of course, I came to this conclusion after a lot of trial and error--I tried selling on consignment, I sold my jewelry at an outdoor market, I sold online. AFTER all that, I sat down, figured out all the pros & cons of each, and focused on what is important to me, my jewelry, my customers--and where do I want to go from here? It's an ongoing learning process!** One of the most important things I learned back in college, was in my class on World Mythology, and the idea of the "Spiralling Self": the natural progression for a person is usually a spiral pattern--you have your ups and downs, but you continually grow--you evolve and enrich your life; it's when you're stuck in a circular pattern, not learning or changing yourself for the better--to remain stagnant--it's really unnatural if you think about it! But again, the above are just a few examples of key experiences, and ...And I have to run to open up the store for the day, so I'll write more later!
Home \| About Us \| Testimonials \| Ads & Press \| FAQs \| Return & Exchange Policy \| Contact \| Privacy Policy Copyright © Janet Sterling Silver Design, 2003. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.