Experience with Jewelry designer showcase

Hi all,

anyone have any new experiences with this company that they’d like
to share?

She’s approached me again and was wondering if anyone has any
experiences in the last year that are worth sharing.

She did send me some sample postcards, and they seemed a little
flimsy.

Thanks,
Amery
Amery Carriere Designs
Romantic Jewelry with an Edge
www.amerycarriere.com

A friend of mine tried it and got no calls from it…said they were
the most expensive postcards he ever got. Another friend of mine is
doing it now and says she understands that it takes about 2 years for
you to get any business from it.

Donna in VA

I took an ad out 2 years in a row and had no business whatsoever.
The galleries I contacted either didn’t have the courtesy to reply
or had already made their purchases from a wholesale show.

The amount of money for the ad for the limited exposure you get is a
lot.

Beth approached me for several years before I succumbed and bought
ad space. She has contacted me again the last 2 years. In my
opinion, it is not worth the money.

The only great thing I got out of it was a graphics guy who designed
my ad. I have used him for several other things and he is a real
find.

I did it for two years when it was first getting started… Got no
calls from any galleries…

I have taken two ads out over the years in Ornament and American
Craft for about the same money… Sold the necklace in the first ad,
sight unseen- which I couldn’t believe as it was 18K gold.

Have gotten lots of response from my latest in AC… and sold that
necklace too…

My 2 cents - advertise, advertise

Joan

anyone have any new experiences with this company that they'd like
to share? 

Amery… I hate to be negative, but I’ve been underwhelmed with the
response from my involvement with JDS. After investing $2K, spending
hours designing my cards, uploading every image that I had the
opportunity for, and even having a “monthly special” piece, I haven’t
gotten a single sale from these folks. They keep telling me to “give
it time”, but it’s been since February. The only contact I’ve gotten
is someone who wanted to sell ME something. Ack. My dad used to call
the money spent on such an endeavor “tuition”. Quite an education…

Barb

Barbara Louise Bowling
Louise’s Leap Studios
www.LouisesLeap.com

I Googled for this magazine and could not find it. Ornament and
American Craft? Right? Any further info ?

Thanks -Justine

run the search on the archives there was quite a discussion on this
very topic a few months ago.

Frank Goss

They are both on the newstand at Border’s and Barnes and Noble in
the Arts sections. I took 1/8 page ad in both at different times in
my career, and got lots of attention. Much more that I ever got with
the Designer Jeweler’s Showcase.

http://www.ornamentmagazine.com
http://www.craftcouncil.org - American Craft Magazine

Hope this helps.
Joan Dulla

run the search on the archives there was quite a discussion on this
very topic a few months ago. 

Yes, I saw that. Actually, every year this topic resurfaces and it’s
always negative experiences. I was looking for anything more
current… Truth be told, I was actually looking to see a positive.
What surprises me is that I haven’t heard of one good, profitable
experience, yet this publication seems to keep on going! Someone
must do okay with it or it wouldn’t still be in operation, no?

And thanks everyone for your input- on forum and off. I’m not doing
it this year, I really like to use my budgeted advertising dollars
(which the rep said she “didn’t understand budgets”-- what I should
have said was “well, that’s why you don’t have your own business!”
She was really pushy and slightly offensive- like she could bully me
into placing an ad). Sorry, I digress. I like to spend my ad $$ on
ads that correspond with my trade shows- to drive more people to my
booth. She didn’t get that either. She thought I could take out the
ad with the money saved from dropping a show. Very argumentative.

Amery Carriere Designs
Romantic Jewelry with an Edge
www.amerycarriere.com

The Jewelry Designer Showcase has improved in photography quality
and graphics over the years. Eight years ago, it was pretty bad, but
the audience has generally wised up and have realized that thier
jewelry images are everything. I see less photos of tiny jewelry
photographed on some large leaves which of course don’t translate
well, but more larger visible work that goes POW. A gallery owner
wants to buy the POW, they don’t want to hunt for your image amongst
a garden salad.

Chris Ploof called me a few years back and asked the same question.
In his case it generated numerous orders and was quite successful.
However, his work was not women’s one of a kind or limited
production, it was meteorite and damascus steel wedding rings, which
at that time was a hot market for galleries.

Any kind of advertising is hit or miss. What works for one, doesn’t
always work for another. What does work is consistency. It may take
years for your work to get noticed, but if you keep chipping away at
the process, if you keep active and involved, you will get there.

Lastly, the work has to be good. I know Joan Dulla’s work and it is
unique and beautiful, so the sell isn’t as difficult as somebody who
makes sea glass jewelry. There is a lot of sea glass jewelry.

My advice, for what it is worth, is to take a look at the Designer
Showcase book, pretend you are a gallery owner and pick out your top
ten. If you get a copy and have a friend that works in a gallery, do
the same with them. Now you have two points of than just
you rubbing your head think, should I or shouldn’t I.

Karen Christians
http:www.cleverwerx.com

Your experience with the rep is revealing:

(which the rep said she "didn't understand budgets"-- what I
should have said was "well, that's why you don't have your own
business!" She was really pushy and slightly offensive- like she
could bully me into placing an ad). Sorry, I digress. I like to
spend my ad $$ on ads that correspond with my trade shows- to drive
more people to my booth. She didn't get that either. She thought I
could take out the ad with the money saved from dropping a show.
Very argumentative. 

All she wanted was your $$ and not to improve your business. You
have every reason to question the investment when the rep tries to
pressure you into the purchase. I think your advertising budget reaps
more rewards from bringing people to your booth.

Judy in Kansas, where things are sprouting like crazy and I think
it’s time to put up the rabbit deterrent!

I don’t know another thing about this outfit, but from what you just
said, I would have NOTHING to do with them. Thrust your instincts
and run.

Lindsay Legler,
Dreaming Dragon Designs