You've been making beautiful, handmade jewelry for yourself, friends, and family and lately your pieces have become popular. Why not turn your jewelry making hobby into a side business to make extra money? Here are a few ideas for turning your jewelry making hobby into a viable small business:
Buy Wholesale Beads
If you'd like to earn a tidy profit from making jewelry, it's important to control your costs. Buying wholesale beads, such as from Mayer Import Co Inc Imitation Stones, means you get a serious discount on glass, ceramic, and other beautiful beads. Buying your beads wholesale also ensures you always have enough beads on hand, which is important in case you get an unexpected surge in jewelry orders, for example during the holidays.
In addition to buying beads in bulk, you can buy other supplies wholesale as well. Always make sure you have plenty of beading wire, chains, and clasps on hand to complete multiple orders at a time.
Decide How You Will Conduct Sales
Before you get started, it's smart to have a sales plan in place. At first, you may want to conduct sales in person to friends, family, and coworkers and only accept cash. As demand grows, however, you will most likely want to set up an online storefront through a site like Etsy that allows you to easily sell your handmade goods. If you do decide to sell online, be sure to factor in the cost of packing supplies and shipping. Custom packaging with a handwritten note and business card is a nice way to make your business stand out to your customers.
Another popular option is to sell your jewelry at local festivals. You will need to pay fees to have a booth or table at a festival, so be sure to factor in these costs when deciding if this is a good move.
Take Professional Grade Photos
If selling online, the quality of your photos will help determine your success. Read online guides to photographing jewelry and make sure you use a lightbox or take photos in bright, natural light. As your business grows, you may find paying a professional jewelry photographer is worth the investment. The more appealing and professional your jewelry looks in photos, the more you will be able to charge.
By beginning to think about your handmade jewelry as your own personal business instead of just a hobby, you will soon be able to earn income while doing what you love.
