In her defense. she must be filling some niche or she wouldn’t
continue making the product. Apparently someone likes her work enough
to buy it whether some of us like it or not.
Praise the powers that be for all of us that there are an infinite
variety of tastes in this world to provide a market for all of us.
Mike DeBurgh, GJG
Alliance, OH
In her defense. she must be filling some niche or she wouldn't continue making the product. Apparently someone likes her work enough to buy it whether some of us like it or not.
Good point. I don’t have a thing against high karat golds and raw
diamonds per se, as I really love Todd Reed’s work. But I find
Todd’s work has a real quality feel to it, that the lady in
question’s work seemed to lack. But of course it’s all subjective and
it’s only my point of view (and the person who pointed out her
website).
I’m not afraid to take criticism of my own work, and I’m sure there
are plenty of folks who don’t like what I make, and that’s
absolutely fine too. We’re all different, like you say Mike.
Helen
UK
In her defense. she must be filling some niche or she wouldn't continue making the product.
How do we know it is in fact selling?
Jerry in Kodiak
Was there an actual image of the ring that was being talked about
17th July? I searched all the thread and post archives, and couldn’t
find it. I think it was for sale for 1K, and someone commented on the
shear chutzpah of the artist, use of rough diamonds, and not the
best finishing techniques. If there was an image I’d like to see it.
Regards,
Dinah
In her defense. she must be filling some niche or she wouldn't continue making the product. How do we know it is in fact selling?
The price for the ring previously mentioned was $1200, the May 2010
issue of Instore Magazine had one on the cover, It is priced at
$7,940. Check out www.melissajoymanning.com. She also has a section
of one of a kind pieces, agate slices in the $2,000-3,000 range.
Some people have courage, guts, persistence, and determination that
others do not. By guts I do not mean the ability to take advantage,
I mean the ability to charge to get compensation for work done at the
level of value that you have decided is fair for the work you have
done. Can you learn to be more successful? If the answer is yes,
could the amount of time you pursue the knowledge to be successful
increase the possibility of more success?
I do not think it is about filling a niche, it is about being as
creative about marketing and selling yourself as it is about creating
jewelry. It means that the potential is there for everyone the same
way. If you chose to not work as hard as someone else, your lack of
effort does not limit anyone other than yourself. I am lazy in some
ways, and I am well aware of how this has affected my potential. Some
jewelers are good at “dog and pony show”. They dress professional, I
do not. They have nice haircuts, I have long hair. They belong to
organizations and meet other professionals and network. Not I.
Perhaps there is something about an educational perspective to this.
If you cannot see the value, does that mean they are overvaluing
their work, or are you undervaluing yours (yourself)? I once heard
that graduates of the Harvard Business School have the potential to
make $200 million. A year. I heard Dr. Phil talk about dating and he
said in order to be successful,you need to put yourself in a target
rich environment. So determine who your market is for what you make,
or determine what you want your market to be. If you want to make 200
$50 items a month, and that is comfortable and works for you, good on
you. If you need to make $20,000 a month, and you cannot make 400 $50
items, you need to make 200 $100 items, and you might need to figure
out where the customers are that will spend the $100 per item. I have
heard that advice that if you have something that you sell well,
raise the price and keep raising it until the volume drops and you
sell less items but you make more money. What if instead, you have a
higher price point item with more profit margin? Then you need to
figure out how to build traffic for the customer who appreciates what
you have to offer. Then you sell less number of items, but you make
more money. I am a fly by the seat of my pants business person. I do
not recommend it. What would have worked better for me would have
been to have and follow a business plan. Sometimes it seems that
jewelry is reduced to the value of the materials and a fair mark up.
What if the ability to design, the ability to make or delegate to
have it made, the value of marketing, the ability to source
materials, ect. was included in the final price? What should your
price be to compensate yourself realistically. In this economy I have
had to raise my prices considerably for mater= ials and labor. Less
customers buying inventory, repair and custom prices went up. I s=
till get about the same repair and custom jobs. I lose a few more,
but still getting = by. By raising my prices, the customer does not
get less value for their= money.
Richard Hart G.G
Denver, Co.