Selling jewelry designs

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello,

I have several collections of jewelry designs (detailed sketches in
portoflio format) that I would like to “sell”, and list of
potential companies I would like to approach. My goal is to have a
company “buy” my designs and manufacture or custom-make them for the
targeted consumer.

What path do I need to follow?

Thank you in advance!
Beth Thompson

2

Beth,

As to the question of who to “sell” the designs to . I have no clue,
however I am curious to know what you intend to convey through the
use of quotation marks around the words “sell” and "“buy”. Do you
somehow wish to distance yourself from the crass commercialism of
our industry? If not, what, pray tell?

Jerry in Kodiak

3

Perhaps my question is naive just forget the quotation marks around
the sell and buy. I want to sell my ideas to a jewelry co or
manufacturer to produce. Is this something that is even possible in
your experience in the jewelry industry? Or is it more realistic for
me to find a jeweler to make my designs for a client?

Howz that Jerry in Kodiak…

Beth

4

As to the question of who to “sell” the designs to . I have no clue,
however I am curious to know what you intend to convey through the
use of quotation marks around the words “sell” and "“buy”. Do you
somehow wish to distance yourself from the crass commercialism of
our industry? If not, what, pray tell?

Perhaps that is how it was told to her: “Yes you can buy or sell
designs.” She then used to quotations because they are not her
words, if she were to say that sentence herself it would sound
something like: “Yes you can purchase or market designs.” There for
the words are not the words that she would of used, hence the
quotation marks.
Elementary my dear Jerry

5 
   I want to sell my ideas to a jewelry co or manufacturer to
produce.  Is this something that is even possible in your
experience in the jewelry industry?

Your question is difficult to answer because it is so very broad.
Yes, it’s possible. Most manufacturers have their own designers,
though, so I’m not sure who you would sell to.

Elaine
Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com ™
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay

6 
I want to sell my ideas to a jewelry co or manufacturer to produce.
 Is this something that is even possible in your experience in the
jewelry industry? Or is it more realistic for me to find a jeweler
to make my designs for a client?"

Beth,

Some may disagree, (on Orchid someone usually does) =-O , but my
inclination would be to have the designs made before trying to sell
them. I think the best approach would befor you to make them up
yourself, but if that is not possible I think it would be good if
you could have them made by someone with whom you could have a close
professional relationship during the production stage so that you
could best understand the technical considerations in your designs.
Any smith who makes pieces for someone else can tell you the
problems which can arise when trying to make something from someone
else’s design when the designer does not have “hands on” experience.

Jerry in Kodiak

7

Hi - I had worked for some Indian jewelry manufacturing companies - I
would render the designs that they had given me specs on - they
manufactured them, but in some cases they wanted the wax as well or
a model - and some of the pieces are in Zales - I think the the JDPN
is a really great organization if you are interested in going this
route and that would be my main recommendation - the Jewelry Design
professional’s Network has opportunities for designers, jobs for
staff or freelance design work … And they are extremely
informative and super nice people - I really recommend joining.

Best, Jennifer Benusis