Dos and don’ts of starting a jewelry business

…Or things I wish I knew when I first started!

1. Chose a niche

Let’s start from the beginning. For some reason you have discovered that your passion is making jewelry.
First of all you have to choose a niche!

“Wait, what?” – you’ll ask, “isn’t making handmade jewelry a niche itself?”

Obviously it is, but it embraces a world of possibilities and I guarantee you that exploring them all at once, is not the way to go, especially for beginners.
So choose your specific field: resin jewelry?, wire wrapping?, silversmithing?, beaded jewelry?

Nothing forbids you to explore all of these techniques one day, but for now trust me and choose one, maximum two fields of competence. You will thank me.

2. Research, like seriously, you have to study!

Well, the first step has gone.
You have officially chosen your niche and you will ask yourself, “when do I start making?”.
Don’t rush. We’re getting there.
As for any fine art, you must first acquire some knowledge.
Or how you do it!

If you have a chance to take a professional course, do it! It will save you months of attempts, errors, more attempts and lots of mistakes. Sometimes making a mistake is the best teacher, but no need to reinvent the wheel. Taking a class (or two or three) is a great way to learn from others mistakes and also learn the norms and traditions of your chosen niche.

So, before you pick up your hammer and torch, roll up your sleeves, get a pen and a notebook. Hit up your local library, YouTube, jewelry blogs, Instagram and anywhere else you can find tutorials, tips, and general information! Whatever you find, absorb it like a sponge! You will need it for when you get your hands dirty and create. You are already being successful because you can avoid spending money on materials you don’t want and tools you won’t use!

3. Get yourself tools and materials

Assuming your research has been fruitful, you will know exactly what materials and tools you need.
Depending on the niche you have chosen, this step could cost you anywhere from a few bucks to several thousand dollars.
Money can be saved (sometimes a lot of money) by purchasing used tools and equipment. Few successful artists have started their businesses with shiny, brand new tools.

Make sure you have everything you need. If you are not a 100% sure about what to get, reach out to someone who is already in the industry and ask for advice. 9 times out of 10 he/she will be a helpful person and will answer your questions.

There is one more thing you should know before you start. You should not expect that your investment of time and money will immediately be recouped.
It is unlikely that your first pieces will sell quickly. The jewelry market is extremely saturated, although the good news is that lots of people buy jewelry.
You are not yet an expert and will be starting out as an unknown artist to all but your friends and family.
My goal is to not to discourage you. Not at all. But I do want you to have realistic expectations. Again, the good news (I love good news) is that if you are doing what you love, the “work” of your journey will be a fun and rewarding experience!

4. Set your goals

Now that you’ve made your research and have all the tools you need, it is time to move on to practice. If you have begun with the right perspective, you already know that you are acting with intention and not just “hoping for the best.” I know. You’re probably hating me. But you know what? I’m on your side. All these suggestions I’m listing on this post come from my mistakes. Honestly, I did everything wrong at the beginning. I did not have a niche! I wanted to do everything without even knowing where to start. It took me 3 months to collect all the tools. I didn’t set my first real goal until I had been floundering for 6 months. I spent 6 months making a series of mistakes that could have been avoided if I had received some friendly advice. I have also found that of all the lessons I have learned goal setting has been the most powerful!

So, what do I mean by goals? Goals are the path your business will follow to get to the place you want to be, part time, full time or something in between. If I am in New York and want to drive to Los Angeles I need to know what path to take. Goals have the unique ability to provide your business a path to success. Goals will also be the topic of the next blog entry so stay tuned my lovies!

5. Give birth to your brand

Finally you fully dive into practice and start creating jewelry that you would wear too! This is the time to decide the fate of your brand! Your art is, in effect, your creation: a daughter born from your hands. And just like a daughter, it needs a name. Choose the name of your brand very carefully. Do not rush. The name has to reflect you, but above all it doesn’t limit you. Avoid names like “Copper creations” or “Beaded jewelry”. One day, maybe not too far away, you could decide to expand your niche or even modify it, and then the name of your brand would no longer reflect what you do.
In the same way, do not call your business with your own name! You would not call your daughter like yourself, right?
See it this way: the name of your brand must describe your art in the first place, not your person.

6. Collab with other artists

You are finally there! You spent hours and hours of your time discovering and understanding all the new hats you need to wear to create your business. As a student, a maker, a seller and also a social media influencer. But now I confess you a secret: you have not seen the best yet. The best part is to know others like you. Collaborate with like-minded artists and artisans. Without realizing it, you will be part of a community where the rule is not to be first or compete, but to support each other, because eventually, we all raise by lifting others.

Bonus tip:

Photography is such a huge part in a jewelry business, especially if you sell online.
Your photos are the first impression that you give to your audience/potential customers and from my experience I know that a good photo speaks louder than a thousand words!

Learn all you can about photography, take inspiration from others and, if you have the chance, invest in a good reflex camera. You will not regret the expense!

There would be so much to say about this topic, so comment below if you want me to write a post specifically on jewelry photography!

A special thank you goes to Eric Holt, who helped writing and editing this post and added his own touch to it! Best co-author ever ?