Jewellery making?

kiss_me_now9

Anyone do it? How did you get started etc.? And how do you find selling things?

I'm thinking about maybe doing it on the side whilst I'm looking for a job.

LilacPixie

Kiss - jewellery making is a very very crowded market. Have you ever done it before?

kiss_me_now9

I've only dabbled. I'd like to get into something crafty/something I can do with my hands (my mum makes cards a lot, but doesn't sell them) - If you've got any other suggestions that I can look into though, that'd be great!

Jo_F

Jewellery making is very saturated at the moment, that'w why I haven't yet given up work to run my little empire, unless you are making something different to what anyone else is making, then you will struggle.

Also, most of us are fighting against the 'ooh you can get that in £"!^*$'s for only £1' mindset, saying that, there are people that will appreciate the work that has gone into it.

kitty_kat84

I agree with everyone above, I have been making jewellery on and off for a bit and selling it to friends and their friends, but as a business opportunity it is quite a saturated area and I am looking at other opportunities instead, but I still wouldn't give up on it if you enjoy making jewellery.

kiss_me_now9

Just had a look at Folksy and I can see what you mean - 903 pages compared to 300 odd of cards, and 200 odd of random little bits!

cards_2

It is a very popular market but if you stand out from the crowd and you believe in your products then it is worth a try.
Like for example everyone seems to be selling those scrabble pendant necklaces. When basically a scrabble tile, some diamond glaze, funky imagine, chain. Not costing more than £1 to make each necklace. But there is so many people doing that. Not unique anymore.

I made some cool rings a while back. Funky kitch lego rings. So cheap to make but very differnt. My friend sold about 60 of them on her website. They cost less than 50p to make and she was selling for £4 each.
but now a lot of places are selling lego rings, earrings, pendants etc.

You just have to think outside the box and provide something that no one else is selling.

tattoed_bum

I sell jewellery as well and like everyone say's it is a saturated market now .
I used to make and sell wall canvases you know the fabric type they used to sell well i might go back to that lol ,
i used to make the frame then stretch fabric remenants across and staple them on easy to do and if you find somewhere that sells fabric remenants then they are also very cheap to make

Hermia

Jo_F wrote: »

Also, most of us are fighting against the 'ooh you can get that in £"!^*$'s for only £1' mindset

I know what you mean. If someone does appreciate the materials and quality of the workmanship that is great, but a lot of people don't! That is why I gave up cardmaking. People would ask for cards that would take HOURS of work and expensive materials, but would refuse to pay more than you'd pay in a shop for a normal card.

The market is very saturated. I work in a library and we have craft stalls in the foyer. I often chat to the people selling jewellery and they admit that it is very hard to get sales now, despite the amount of people walking past the stall every day. If you can find some design that is truly unique you might be on to a winner, but if that style then becomes trendy you will find other people producing similar for less money.

Have you thought about taking commissions? I now do this rather than do the craft shows. I just have a photo album of my past work and people ask me to make jewellery to match a certain outfit etc.

Jo_F

I do take commsissions, I only use the craft fairs as a way of getting my name out there and giving out business cards for the website, as I sell from there and like I said also commissions. Had one commission from MSE as well

Katie-Kat-Kins

Most craft is competing on a flooded market trying to sell to a general public that do not appreciate the time, and skill involved.......

very sad

It is difficult to make a living from any art or craft, especially if you are doing it "on the side" it takes a lot of time and commitment and will probably not be profitable for ages.