Currently i deal with a consignment account that pays well but they
have managed to strip my jewelry of all branding (tags and
packaging) so no buyer or potential customer knows who the designer
is of the jewelry.
Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to convince this shop owner
that I’m not going to steal her customers and it would be in her
best interest to promote my jewelry as a brand. She doesn’t seem to
understand that my brand, press, and a celebrity client list helps
to sell the jewelry as well.
One option is to stamp my company name onto the jewelry but
unfortunately the name is too long. Any other suggestions?
Come up with a logo you like and use it on all your stationary,
advertising, and promotional work so it becomes synonymous with your
name. Stamp the logo in all your jewelry.
what a bummer- having this relationship issue with a place that is
selling your work- it’s that sort of behavior that will drive an
artist/salesplace relationship into the seas of mistrust.
Well, I would certainly advise you to design a stamp that brands you
It doesn’t have to be your whole name (thank goodness, because
“Brusa Zappellini designs” is a Bit much) But you could take elements
of your name and create your own abbreviation (Mine is BZap) OR, you
could design a symbol or “brand” that you could stamp on your work
(like a cowboy brand).
Because, if you think of it most of the appraisals on Antiques
Roadshow starts with the expert looking for the stamp… and not the
celebrity endorsement.
Actually, in my experience most jewelry is stamped if it’s not
purely costume work - this is especially important if you are working
with precious metals, so that the customer can rest assured that 18k
MEANS 18k…but that’s another kettle of worms
Good luck- I hope you and your representative (shop owner) can come
to an agreement. Don’t back down - allowing your work to be
stripped! If you can’t come to an agreement I would say time to move
on they’re s always another fish…
on all my pieces. I have two stamps with the above; one small and one
larger.
I have also been allowed to be in the shop for a "Meet the Designer"
event. The shop and I have also agreed to place an ad in the
neighborhood newspapers sharing the cost of the ad 50/50.
Just remove your jewelry and find another gallery that knows the
value of your brand. It’s also considered poor form to remove a
jeweler’s stamp from a ring that is being sized.
When you say she is removing it, what info is on what you send her?
I have two sets of tags; one with all my contact info for when I’m
selling work, and one with my brand name but no contact info for
galleries/stores to use - that way they get the branding with no
worries about me stealing customers. And yes, unfortunately many
artists DO steal customers! Makes it hard for those of us who are
ethical.
I would make it a requirement of consignment sales that my tagging
and packaging must remain. If they’re willing to purchase the pieces
outright at a wholesale price, they may display it as they wish. It
does, after all, then belong to them. If that means they want to risk
losing the benefit of my own advertising, promotions and clients who
come to them to look for my work specifically, that’s their problem.
But consigned pieces are on LOAN to the store/gallery! They don’t own
it, or should they have any say in how it’s displayed other than
where they want to place it. It doesn’t belong to them and they
shouldn’t be removing your branding unless it’s part of the contract.
design a 3 initial version for a maker’s mark stamp… i’ve been
using the last 3 letters[stylised] of my surname for several decades,
now. (a former GF had a maker’s mark stamp made for me as a
present…thanks, jennifer!)
You can fit a lot of letters on a piece of jewelry using a
"Microstamp". That’s a brand name, you can google it if you haven’t
heard of them. Meanwhile, as far as you stealing customers from you
retailers, it’s a reasonable fear, and it’s a difficult choice to
make. Many customers will see a product in the store, then try to get
it directly from the designer, hoping they’ll pay less for it. Do you
agree not to sell except through retailers, as many designers agree
to? Do you try to convince the retailer that your “branding” is part
of the product and essential to it’s saleability? You could simply
agree with the retailer that you won’t sell for less than their
retail price, but you’ll have to dictate how they price it (which is
probably a good idea anyway). I’ve consigned stuff only to find the
retailer had marked it up too much and kept it around to fill their
cases while selling the stuff they had money tied up in. Let’s see
what others have to say on this.
Buy another domain name that’s shorter and set it up so when people
go to it, it forwards to yours, then have a stamp made (Rio makes
’em) and stamp all your jewelry.
You might also download “Cory Doctorow - 2008 - Content” and share
his commentary on copyright and DRM.
Kerri, you should have a logo tag of some sort on each piece- or if
your pieces are fabricated or wax carved it can be stamped, carved
into the back. I don’t have this on all of my pieces and I regret not
being more diligent in the beginning.
Unfortunately, some stores are so afraid you’re going to steal their
customers that there’s nothing you can do about it.
Amery Carriere Designs
Romantic Jewelry with an Edge.
I’ve experienced the same thing and I figure it’s to avoid customers
contacting the jewelry maker directly which would result in loss of
business for the shop. My pieces have tags which are attractive, made
even shown on the tag. I do leave a small album of photos of my work
and my business cards with them for customers to peruse which has
resulted in a few orders. But these too pass through the shop so they
get their percentage.
Thanks for the ideas. Ok… answering most of the thoughts and
questions posted:
I do stamp my logo in all of the jewelry I can but my logo consists
of my initials which is a great identifier only to the customers that
know my products. I’m looking for a way to get my name across to
customers that don’t know my brand or makers mark.
The shop owner removed all of my paper tags, price tags, and gave my
packaging back to me because she refuses to use them and does want
my name on display. I will have to ask about selling the jewelry with
the branding but without contact info written on it.
I have assured the store that it would only be in my best interest
to not steal her customers. Referrals usually turn into repeat
business and it would only make sense to share the profits.
I am definitely considering a Microstamp with my full name squeezed
in a stamp. They make great products with impeccable precision!
No maker’s marks have been removed or sanded off from the jewelry.
If that happened, I would take huge issues with the jewelry repair
person / shop owner.
I will see if I can come to an agreement with the shop owner about
putting my name out there. For the time being I have a press release
that pops up when the shop name is typed into google. That will help
for the customers who are web savvy. Unfortunately the fine print in
our contract does not say anything about removing the branding.
(stupid me) And when the contract was signed it was a verbal
agreement that she use my packaging and branding. If an agreement
about branding cannot be made then the worst that will happen will be
me taking my jewelry elsewhere. So far the store sells well but the
payoff is not worth the lost recognition. Thanks again
The shop owner removed all of my paper tags, price tags, and gave
my packaging back to me because she refuses to use them and does
want my name on display. I will have to ask about selling the
jewelry with the branding but without contact info written on it.
Sounds like you are dealing with a very paranoid shop owner.
Whenever I have my stuff on consignment I have business cards and
signs with it and I don’t mean to sound egotistical but the shop
owners are proud to carry my stones and/or jewelry and openly refer
customers to me for custom work or take custom work orders. I don’t
undercut my shop owners on price if I sell directly to customer they
have referred and I do offer to sell the custom work to the shop
owner at wholesale so they can handle the transaction with the
customers. Since I work out of my home and am rather introverted by
nature and would much rather deal with it that way.
The shop owner and I have come to an agreement. We are branding
ourselves together on the packaging & she assures me that when people
ask who the designer is, she tells them. It’s a good enough
compromise for me.
I’ve followed this thread a little and granted a large % of orchid
consists of individual artists but no one seems to look at this from
the store owner’s view.
Forget paranoia, consider the real estate issue and how sloppy a
showcase would look with several tags and brochures for each
manufacturer’s merchandise I decide to sell. Personally I want MY tags
on my merchandise only. Safer security wise, cleaner displays in my
showcases, inventory and style number on my tags, and
consistent packaging for all my customers. I want my store to be the
brand they remember…Not the artist working out of his house.
You could request that when they sell a piece that they hand out a
card or flier “About the artist” or you could have a small counter
top card/display made and ask them to display that. But that would be
completely at their discretion.
Mark, I for one would not do my business through you.
Imagine a gallery that asked me not to sign my paintings and put
their name at the bottom right hand corner of everything they sold.
I’d agree that for a regular retail store your policy is totally
appropriate but many of us are producing one-off works of art and to
deny us recognition is just not on!
I want my store to be the brand they remember...Not the artist
working out of his house.
Then you should buy the artist’s work out right instead of expecting
the artist to help finance your business with an interest free loan
of their work on consignment.
Then you should buy the artist's work out right instead of
expecting the artist to help finance your business with an interest
free loan of their work on consignment.
I do buy my merchandise. I have virtually no memo in the store other
than short term diamonds& color stones. Regardless though, if you had
invested in a store front, fixtures, advertising, rent, insurance,
employees, computers, and merchandise then would also understand.