As for dropping by to give me your two cents, I was musing
about having an "Orchid" open house if it happens... so
everybody can look at my stuff and go, "Mm.. looks like you've
got some firescale there... --
Excellent point, Wayne. I stopped doing business out of my home
years ago whe I was selling gems, and am now considering it again
with a different inventory and modified set up of my business. I
stopped because I didn’t want my neighbors or customers coming to
my home to see not only business inventory, but personal items in
my home as well. Now that I have children, I’m even less
inclined to have customers in my home. I try and go out to
customers own homes, which presents additional worrys and
dangers, so referral is usually the only method I work by.
Ah yes! The restful afternoons spent with family, The
flexability to work when you want to vacations arranged at your
discression ect, ect. BUT the money! Sure , you make enough to
pay the bills and maybe a little savings but what about security?
Collage for the kids? A better house, Retirement? Personally,
I’ve been self-employed for 14 years and would’nt change a thing
but still… Is financial security an illusion? They seem to
raise the bar higher all the time and competition gets greater
and greater. I know a young retail jeweler who honestly believes
he will be able to retire in complete finantial security in 10 to
15 years. Maybe he will, but somehow I doubt it. Time or money?
Which will you choose?
Kieran, There will always be people who buy the cheepest they
can, and there will be people who buy for craftmanship and
originality. The people who would pass you by for something mass
produced just don’t have an appreciation for a handcrafted item.
This can be said for everything - from jewelry to furniture to
baskets to pottery. When it comes to what you value, you’ll pay
for the good stuff. Don’t begrudge the mass-producer. You and
he/she are in a different business. Regards, Kirsten in PA
Hi Kieran, Please never lose your enthusiasm for real craft and
skill. Sure, a lot of jewellery is “crap” but, hey, someone’s
gotta supply that market. When I was an apprentice, silver and
marcasite jewellery was regarded as “crap”, yet now, forty three
years later, most of what remains of this… this junk… is
collectable and highly sought after by the so called Fine Arts
experts. Ah well…
Like I said, Keep the fires burning for skill and integrity and
you’ll never go wrong. You won’t make as much money as the
panderers to the mass market, but you’ll have a lot more fun and
fulfilment.