Advice on Selling My Handmade Jewelry?
dcposter asked:
I am a jewelry designer. I have things on Etsy and I have tried Craigslist. I’ve been selling at brick and morter flea markets and craft fairs mostly. But, I honestly really don’t like social situations because I have social anxiety disorder. I would really like to sell online, but it seems like with Etsy you really have to promote your jewelry store with paid advertising, or word of mouth in the brick and morter world, and strenuous promotion through social networking, forums and such because the category is so saturated. And, on Craigslist; no one seems to be interested in handmade jewelry. Only gold and engagement rings and such. Ideally I’d just like to post my jewelry on CL and sell it. My prices have been super low like $10 for a necklace and earring set or $2 for earrings yet nothing on CL. Has anyone got suggestions for selling handmade work on CL? For now I’m just bound to these public venues to make any money off of my craft; and they’re honestly torture to me.
I’ve tried ebay, livesimon and webidz and nothing. I haven’t tried yahoo auctions, but this is the first time I’ve heard of it.
oh plus ebay is just way too expensive.
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I am a jewelry designer. I have things on Etsy and I have tried Craigslist. I’ve been selling at brick and morter flea markets and craft fairs mostly. But, I honestly really don’t like social situations because I have social anxiety disorder. I would really like to sell online, but it seems like with Etsy you really have to promote your jewelry store with paid advertising, or word of mouth in the brick and morter world, and strenuous promotion through social networking, forums and such because the category is so saturated. And, on Craigslist; no one seems to be interested in handmade jewelry. Only gold and engagement rings and such. Ideally I’d just like to post my jewelry on CL and sell it. My prices have been super low like $10 for a necklace and earring set or $2 for earrings yet nothing on CL. Has anyone got suggestions for selling handmade work on CL? For now I’m just bound to these public venues to make any money off of my craft; and they’re honestly torture to me.
I’ve tried ebay, livesimon and webidz and nothing. I haven’t tried yahoo auctions, but this is the first time I’ve heard of it.
oh plus ebay is just way too expensive.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Have you tried selling them on the auctions like yahoo auction or ebay that would give you some light on your product set you up a website or even set up a free group call it junes jewelry shop group or something like that here is a place that has a few ideas they are trying to help poor people become wealthy they will not spam you nor will they share your email address with anyone check them out.
June 26th, 2009 at 3:30 am
I think you’re looking at Craigslist in the wrong way. Why would I travel out of my way to buy a $10 necklace/earring set from someones home, when I can go to H&M or Target or some other store where there’s a bigger selection? And I love a bargain, but I definitely wouldn’t jump in my car for a $2 pair of earrings.
People do want bargains in the jewelry section on Craigslist.
They want a $10K Rolex watch for $1K, or a $300 Tiffany bracelet for $50. In other words, you have to be selling something inexpensively on Craigslist, that has a higher price elsewhere.
Craigslist buyers need that point of comparison. That label. That designer name. That carat count. If you don’t have that, you’re going to be spinning your wheels.
So I have a suggestion… skip Craigslist. Put more of your effort on Etsy where homemade is hot.
Are you really using Etsy to the best of your ability? Are you taking great pictures? Using all of your available photo slots? Are you using all of your keywords? Are your descriptions stellar?
Do you have a blog outside of Etsy? Many of the popular Etsy sellers have blogs offering potential customers info about new products, upcoming designs, discounts, etc.
Have you submitted your jewelry to be featured on handmade craft blogs like HeartHandmadeBlog.com? There are at least a dozen craft blogs like this if you search.
Do you have enough merchandise listed on Etsy? I follow dozens of top jewelry sellers, and the average number of products they have listed at any given time is about 130, give or take a dozen in either direction. And they list new stuff several times a week.
I think you’re looking for some kind of magic source that’s going to give you a bunch of sales. But it doesn’t work that way. You have to try EVERYTHING. You have to promote your stuff every day. You can’t tip-toe into this stuff.
Once you’re out there enough, the sales will come on a regular basis. But yeah, it is going to be strenuous. This is usually what separates the amateurs from the professionals who make a living selling online.
I wish you the best.