It is sad to hear that people who seem to be fine in many ways
have no compunction about this. That is compairing their
trade/art to a hookers activities. After all we know what
hookers do …they screw people outa their money.
I am not offended. I was taken aback by the charges that can
get for your work. I as an RN went to college and have worked
for 20 years and I don’t make half of what you all do. But then
I am only trusted with peoples lives not their jewells.
No sour grapes for me tho. Just another reason to get on with
it and go to jewelers school. What an eye opener for me to
learn that you all do so well.
It is sad to hear that people who seem to be fine in many ways
have no compunction about this. That is compairing their
trade/art to a hookers activities. After all we know what
hookers do ...they screw people outa their money.
Maybe I missed something but I really don’t understand what
you’re saying. Did someone really compare their art to what a
Hooker does??? I gotta tell ya, I never screw people outta thier
money, it’s usually the other way around. Not too many people
want to pay me for what my stuff is worth.
I am not offended. I was taken aback by the charges that can
get for your work. I as an RN went to college and have worked
for 20 years and I don't make half of what you all do.
Really? How can you make half of nothing?? =-) Most people I
have talked to, both on & off the Net tell me we’ll never get
rich doing this. I do it because I love it , not for the riches.
Now, if you are referring to the Jewelry stores that sell mass
produced stuff, that’s a whole nother thing.
But then I am only trusted with peoples lives not their
jewells.
Hmmm…that’s an interesting statement When I decided to do
this I struggled with my decision. After all, I should get a real
job, do something to better the world, do something that means
something, something important!!! I then realized creating
ArtISmeaningful. Look at the Art around us, what a bleak
world it would be without it. It’s important to people to
decorate their surroundings and themselves. Some of us were meant
to be creative, some of us were meant to change the world. I just
stopped fighting against who I really am.
No sour grapes for me tho. Just another reason to get on
with it and go to jewelers school. What an eye opener for me
to learn that you all do so well.
Welcome to the Wacky World of Metal!! (I’d still like to know
who it is that does so well, maybe they will share their secret
Don’t think that ‘all this money’ goes to us. I don’t even draw
a salary on my business and the last month I’ve been putting in
up to 16 hours a day (and night) trying to catch up on bookeeping
and administrative duties so that we can apply for a loan. I
figure that in three or four years I may be able to start drawing
a modest salary. In the 6 years I worked out of my house, I
averaged a $2000 loss every year. Seems that you have to buy
tools and supplies to have all of this fun. Believe me, I
wouldn’t be devoting this many hours to work, not to mention the
impact on my husband and 7 year old, if I didn’t care more about
people and jewelry than money. Most people don’t go into the
jewelry making business for the money. As a matter of fact, if
you have to support yourself on what you make, it’s almost
impossible to get started. That’s why so many of the members
here on Orchid work a full time job to support their passion.
And I’m sure I haven’t heard anyone complaining about making too
much money. Most of us admit that we almost never charge what a
job is really worth. I am blessed with a husband who has
financially supported starting up this business, but we have
gone through all of our resources in a year, ergo the bank loan.
Don’t judge us too harshly, after all, you get money in return
for saving peoples lives, too.
hi barbara i read your note on 1 of a kind pricing don’t be
fooled by all of this for everyguy making big bucks there are 150
starving they dont count all the time spent travling,calling,bad
shows,weather, stolen mdse car expense,etc etc all kinds of
hoidden costs and not everybody does well in their own shops the
real artists do this because of a love for their work and if
their good they makeit but i didnt see too many names of jewelers
on forbes richest in america list ive been in this business for
25 years as a wholesale rep and i have done real well but i paid
my dues i still import jewelry and stones anyway good luck
seperating the wheat from the bs
Don’t get too enthused about the money. Although $20-60 per
hour sounds like excellent money for a rewarding career, it
doesn’t often work out this way. This per hour charge is meant
for time spent on a piece, which if you did this 40 hours a week
would be an awesome salary. Unfortunately there are many little
things that eat into this time and money so that you are not
making pieces 40 hours per week. Things like:
-meeting with customers, galleries, stores, to deliver, show,
set up, discuss your work -running errands: buying tools/supplies,
going to the caster, going to the bank, going to the post office
-advertising: having business cards made, photos/slides made,
fliers/brochures made, mailing said items out to
galleries/stores, making/taking phone calls -pieces that you spent
time on that do not/take a long time to sell -jewelry for
yourself or gifts, favors for friends -something we’re all guilty
of: writing to and reading jewelry news groups!
I am sure there are a million other things I have not named.
There are rich and famous jewelers who do start out this way, but
most of us ( I believe) are just regular guys with the love of
our art pushing us through.
When I decided to do