Would you buy this handmade jewelry if you were a college student?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve been making beaded jewelry for years, but haven’t really tried to sell it before. A few times friends have commissioned me to make pieces for them to give as gifts, but that’s the only money I’ve ever made from this hobby.

This summer I’ll be doing a study seminar abroad, and while my scholarship covers most of the fees I’m looking to raise a little extra spending money. I’m thinking about trying to sell some jewelry to other students at my school, but am feeling a little self-conscious about it. I scanned in a couple of my pieces to put on a flyer, you can see the picture by visiting my webpage here and then clicking where it says “beaded jewelry”. I think the amulet bag, bracelet, and earrings shown there are a fair representation of my work.

The question is, will anyone want to buy this stuff? I’m not even sure what to charge, but I was thinking $5 per pair of earrings, $8 for bracelets, $10 for chokers, and $40 for amulet bags (they take a lot of work). Would you be willing to shell out that kind of dough if you were a college student? All my friends say they like my jewelry, but most of them are almost as broke as I am. There are plenty of girls here with rich daddies, but I don’t know if they’ll be interested. What do you think, SDMB? Would you want to buy this stuff at all? Do my prices seem reasonable? I know that you’re all (mostly) sensible people, so I value your opinions here.

2

Ha! I am a collge student!

Would I? Depends, the prices are great, but like you mentioned none of us have money. If I happened to have the cash and felt whimsical on a given day I probably would (I like beaded stuff).

It can’t hurt, really, to try.

3

I’m not a college student, but I am an insufferable tightwad.

$5 for the earrings is something I’d pay for. I say go for it!

4

My guess is yes… it’s cute stuff! You might try giving a few pieces to your broke friends, in exchange for PR:

[Broke Friend 1 and Broke Friend 2 spot Ms. My-Daddy’s-Rich buying 4th laptop in campus bookstore–she didn’t have one to match her new Prada purse–and, once they know they’re within earshot, begin Script]

SCRIPT

BF 1: That necklace is amazing–where’d you get it?

BF 2: Thanks, but I’m not really supposed to say…

BF 1: Hel-LO! Am I NOT the one who wiped the puke out of your hair three nights ago? You OWE me, remember?

BF 2: Well… OK. I bought it from Lamia. But she, like, can’t sell them to her friends anymore, because she just got commissioned to make a whole bunch of jewelry for [insert name of shi-shi-poo-poo, overpriced local boutique here] and she signed a contract with them saying she wouldn’t sell it on the side.

BF 1: No WAY! So, like, if I WANT one of those necklaces, I’m going to have to go to [Boutique] and pay, like, fifty dollars?

BF 2: Try $125. And Lamia’s only getting 40% of the selling price before tax, so she’s trying to get them to charge MORE, especially since she can’t even make any money by selling her shit on the side. Plus, supposedly [Boutique] says they’ve already sold one to Jennifer Annistion.

BF 1: OMG! You HAVE to get me one! Please… [maybe some crying here]

BF 2: Well… since I’m Lamia’s BEST friend, I could MAYBE get you one, for, like, 30 or 40 bucks, if you want, but you CANNOT TELL A SOUL.

[Ms. My-Daddy’s-Rich has inched so close by now that she’s standing on BF 1’s foot, but doesn’t even notice, because she’s too busy wiping the drool from her chin.]

See where I’m going with this ??? :wink:

5

The Amulet bag is very pretty, and beads are big now. I think your prices are right too, think about selling at arts and craft fairs or small music festivals. Lots of talented crafts people to hobnobwith. Sometimes a vendor will give a small space within their area if you dont have the bucks to secure your own booth - Do you sew? or do tie dye, I know lots of people that get their summer wardrobes strictly from festival vendors. halter tops sundresses etc,

6

I was going to suggest going the craft fair route as well. A book you might want to look into is “Creative Cash” by Barbara Brabec (your library should have a copy, or something similar by her.) All about selling your wares on as small or large a level as you’re interested in.

7

Where do you live? Is there a craft gallery in your area? Or some sort of funky shop?

I have sold my pottery at galleries and shops. I never had to sign any “contract” (I know auntie em was kidding) and it was a painless way to sell my stuff.

Also, does your college have an annual craft or arts sale? Some fellow potters at my local college made big bucks at the annual Christmas sale. (I think they made $1000? I can’t recall. All I know is that I usually made several hundred. I just couldn’t crank out the inventory that some of these other potters could, I guess.)

The point I’m trying to make is, your jewelery is GREAT, find multiple ways to sell it. Your prices are insanely cheap. (You might consider upping the prices if you go through a shop or gallery. But I don’t know what beaded jewelery goes for these days, or what your “competition” might be like.)

Good luck to you!

8

I really like that amulet bag.

9

Lamia,

I love your jewelry, it’s very nice stuff, and at a good price, too.
I have been making/selling jewelry in roughly the same price range for about 16 years now, so I know your prices are right on target.

I have found that craft shows are the best venue for my products. Ask other crafters in your area about the best shows. Some shows can be real stinkers, and not worth your time.

If you go the craft show route, don’t be discouraged if you don’t do that well at your first few shows. There is a learning curve, and you will quickly find out what the customers in your area want, and what they are willing to pay for it. Also, customers in one town will go gaga over something that languishes on your display table in another. Hang in there, observe and learn.

I haven’t been there in a while, but About.com has a couple of nice message boards that relate to jewelry making and selling. You can also pick up some ideas there.

I have found that college students would like to buy jewelry, but generally can’t.:frowning: I keep interesting, inexpensive products on hand for them. Your five dollar earrings are excellent for this purpose.

May I suggest that you put your earrings on a card? Buy a sheet of posterboard, and cut out display cards. Write your name, or whatever you want to call your jewelry business, on the card in pretty ink, poke holes for the earrings, and PRESTO! Your earrings are packaged for marketing. In all the years I’ve been doing the shows, I’ve found that folks have a strong preference for buying earrings that are displayed on a card. White seems to be the best color for this; I’ve tried other colors with less favorable results.

I am looking into having home jewelry parties…kinda like a tupperware thing. I haven’t tried it yet, but maybe such an approach will work for you. Craft shows cost money to get into, home shows do not. Or not nearly as much. Just help whoever hosts the party with refreshments and cleanup, and/or give them a "free"piece of jewelry. Maybe other crafters on this board have tried this approach and will wiegh in.

Well, I’m rambling on and on without any coffee in my system…apologies in advance for any typos I that don’t catch in preview. :wink:

—Kris