Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
Welcome to the Humblebeads Studio today!
I have been busy designing and debuting a new collection of autumn inspired jewelry. I work in series with pieces that can mix and match together. This line of jewelry is one that I created to wholesale so they are pieces that can be created over and over again.
Some designers do like the process of production work, I don’t mind it. It’s much easier to design once and recreate the same pieces over and over again. I like to do a mix of both one-of-a-kind pieces with the production work. Mainly because I have an awesome stash of art beads that can only be one-of-a-kind designs.
I have been taking a class with the Flourish & Thrive Academy on Ramping up Your Holiday Sales. This is pushing me to reach out of my comfort zone and stretch myself to be completely prepared for the holiday season. (Stop giggling at me, I’m almost there!)
Ideally I should have had the fall pieces ready to go by the beginning of August but working that far ahead is something I’m learning to do, it doesn’t come naturally to me! I love creating designs inspired by the current season, but as a professional designer that doesn’t work. Unless one day I’m so far ahead of the game that I’m working a year head.
Ha, that will NEVER happen!
The Flourish & Thrive Academy have two free resources I would like to recommend to you. The first I have shared here before – but it’s worth sharing again.
151 Ways to Boost Your Holiday Sales – Just the like title says, this list is jam packed with great ideas to get a jump on your holiday sales. Use the list to make and work a plan for your best sales season yet!
20 Sales in 20 Days Challenge – Totally free, no strings attached 20 days of challenges to help you sell your jewelry! The challenge starts at the end of the month, but I would sign up today so you don’t forget!
So now the fun part – FREE BEADS!!! One lucky winner will be chosen by random to receive a set of my Bittersweet Disk Beads – one of my favorites for fall!
My question for your this week – Are you selling your jewelry this holiday season?
If yes, do you do craft shows, trunk shows, home shows or sell to stores? Do you have an usual event or place you sell your jewelry? Share your story this week!
freshbakeddesigns
September 7, 2013 at 4:26 pmYes, the holidays are my biggest income time of the year, starting with a huge Oktoberfest event. I only do one Holiday Market, but also try to keep the four stores who sell my jewelry stocked with goodies.
Regarding production line items…there's only one style of necklace that's done very well, that I 'recreate' numerous times. Probably should put more time in to considering other possibilities for this.
Heather, I love your work! And the pale blues and browns of these beads really appeal to me.
Lynda
Erin S
September 7, 2013 at 4:33 pmI would love to sell more jewelry this holiday season, but I never do craft shows. I'm thinking maybe this year I will try a home show, though. LOVE those bittersweet disk beads!
sandi m
September 7, 2013 at 5:02 pmYes, I will be selling at several local holiday art fairs and at a holiday boutique. My pieces aren't necessarily tied to the seasons, but deciding on what "lines" I want to create is challenging … fine silver?, copper?, steel? I like too many elements!
Thanks for the giveaway and the F+T tips.
Leilani Olsen
September 7, 2013 at 5:06 pmI usually do a few craft shows at church and friends homes. Then if I have inventory left, I have one at my home, close to Christmas, to give those last minute people a chance to load up. 😉
Bead-Mused
September 7, 2013 at 5:33 pmYes! Even though I am working for my husband's company right now, that will end soon & I will throw myself back into my own venture with a vengeance. I have a home jewelry party scheduled in early November (at the home of a friend) that should be a blast. I love that type of venue – very personal, very intimate, and folks wrapping up their holiday shopping. And I'm plumping up the online venues – FINALLY!
Love the tips & the beads, as always!
~.~
T
Meadowland Designs
September 7, 2013 at 7:46 pmYes, a home show for sure with the possibility of a holiday market. I'm also working on getting more designs up in my Etsy shop. I tend to make one-of-a-kind designs for the most part but there are some that are built around a common design element or style.
Love to see what you've been working on!
~ Catherine
Jennifer
September 7, 2013 at 7:47 pmI'm inspired by your organized approach to the holidays. I don't sell my pieces. I make things for myself and as gifts. Selling is a goal but I am not there yet.
Jennifer
September 7, 2013 at 7:49 pmI make pieces for myself and as gifts. I plan to sell at some point but I am not there yet.
Pine Ridge Treasures
September 7, 2013 at 8:35 pmI don't do craft shows. I like to have trunk shows for local businesses, and that has worked out well for me. I really don't make "holiday" jewelry (other than a few pair of angel earrings).
Kathy Lindemer
September 7, 2013 at 11:14 pmI am doing 3 holiday shows in 3 different towns. I have them all lined up. I have some holiday items that I sell in addition to other items. This year I have a strong inventory so I am really trying to work on how the items are packaged for sale. I am hoping that focusing on the presentation will increase sales. My etsy store is also well stocked and ready for holiday sales.
Heather I love your beads and I would love to win these.
Sarajo Wentling
September 7, 2013 at 11:21 pmi'm still pretty new at trying to grow my little business and boost sales. Last year I did a party at my house just inviting friends, family, & coworkers and it went really well. If I had managed to make more stock I think it would have been even more successful.
I've got a really big (I hope) show coming up the end of this month that I'm stressing to get enough jewelry made for (what is "enough" anyway??) so I'm having a hard time thinking past that. I hope to either repeat my holiday event or maybe do a home party with someone else. I'd love to hear tips on doing that sort of thing.
Heather, it was really nice to know that other folks are doing a mix of one of a kind pieces and more production work. I have a few things that sell really well, are fairly easy for me to make, and have a decent profit margin for me. I don't want to feel like it's a cop out to repeat designs… I love doing totally original and unique things too, but it's nice to mix it up!
Lucy
September 8, 2013 at 12:29 pmMy holiday season starts in late August with a quilters' garage sale, and I do very well there. From there, I do indoor church craft shows, and have struggled in years past. But as one poster stated, I have beefed up my all-OOAK inventory, and I'm now working on staging. I believe this has benefitted me immensely. I am considering a benefit trunk show this fall, and would love to learn how other jewelry makers have figured out how to approach shops with their wholesale product. I have admired your beads and pendants for some time now (You'll find tons on my Pinterest board "Crafty Lefty"), and would be honored to work this prize sampling into my creations!
HeatherFig
September 8, 2013 at 6:13 pmI rarely sell, but usually gift my things to friends and neighbours. I just enjoy designing jewellery and now that I am getting buried under inventory and 4 boxes of finished articles, maybe I should consider it.
Your bittersweet beads are beautiful, but then so is the rest of your work. It would be impossible to pick one I like best!!
Ann
September 8, 2013 at 6:35 pmI do not sell jewelry for a living. Most of my jewelry sales happen almost by accident, when someone buys it off me when I am wearing it!
Hopefully, next year I will get off the ground and have a few pieces in a shop.
KayzKreationz
September 8, 2013 at 9:28 pmI'm trying to sell my jewelry. But it seems the jewelry market is so saturated, I'm not being very successful. yet. So far I only sell on Etsy and a few things on my blog. Am trying to get a page on facebook to sell on and perhaps a craft show or two if I can find them in my area and they aren't already saturated with jewelry vendors.
Love your beads.
Ovation Handmade Soap
September 8, 2013 at 10:37 pmalso not at a selling stage yet.. but would love to be able to one day.
Ovation Handmade Soap
September 8, 2013 at 10:38 pmwould love to be at a level one day to be able to sell…
Despina
September 9, 2013 at 12:14 amBeing a relative "baby" at jewelry making, this will be my first year to actually attempt to sell pieces in an organized manner for Christmas.
Your advice is invaluable to me, thanks 🙂
DESPINA
[email protected]
Klassy Joolz
September 9, 2013 at 5:29 pmYes…I have a friend that opens her home up for a Holiday Craft Show each year for one weekend. She removes all her furniture and adds tables for the venders. It is always a big hit. I work the show for her as well and love interacting with all the customers.
It will be coming up soon…
Cheers!
Steph L.
September 9, 2013 at 9:53 pmI just applied to a craft show this past weekend, crossing my fingers I get in. I usually can only do one or two shows a year, my kids are still pretty young, but when they get a little older hopefully I can do more. Love those beads!
Kristi Jaro
September 10, 2013 at 4:30 pmI am hoping to attend a my first craft show this year.
Shaiha
September 10, 2013 at 11:59 pmI had originally planned on doing my first show this October but the event was cancelled. So now my plan is to get my Artfire store up and going. Right now, I only have about 10 pieces there and I know the magic number is 100.
Mary Anne
September 11, 2013 at 1:56 amI regularly show at a Holiday bazaar at a downtown studio, on the same day as a prominent photography studio has their Holiday Photo Day – it helps draw customers to both areas. I also attend several other holiday shows around town.
Liona (Blue Merlin Creations)
September 11, 2013 at 9:09 pmI'll be doing two fall markets and one Christmas market this year, as well as a show at my own home (which has become a yearly tradition, and a lot of fun.) This is the most I've ever done around Christmas, so I'm excited and a bit nervous! It'll be a good challenge.
Jess Green
September 13, 2013 at 10:22 amI'll be selling my work for the first time this season 🙂 One small craft fair lined up, but I will mostly be selling to friends via facebook, and a work colleague and I will be doing a little sale in the office too 🙂
Cynthia
September 13, 2013 at 10:37 pmI sell my jewelry in an art gallery year round, but I do sell more around the holidays. In the past I've hosted "jewelry parties" at my house and the gallery. Maybe I'll do one this year.
Thanks for the chance to win those charming bittersweet baeds!