It is truly sad when someone like Dave has to give up the dream. It
does have its advantages, though, to find a ‘real job’ and be able
to create what you want on your own terms without as much concern
about selling it. Unfortunately, this has been my only real job
since I got out of school. I don’t have one of those real world
jobs to fall back on. When sales stink, I just have to dig deeper,
tighten the belt tighter and figure out a way out. Believe me, I
have considered a number of times putting my jewelry on a back
burner so that I could do what I want, when I want and not worry
about paying the bills with it. But, anything else would mean entry
level and even poorer income. More importantly, perhaps, is the
simple fact that this is my life. Not a rich one, perhaps, but it
is what I do. Create things. Mostly jewelry, but occasionally I
dabble in other creative endeavors, too. Jim
All, I would like to amend my last letter. A lot of orchidians have
stated as I did that we support ourselves with jewelry work. The
percentage is really meaningless unless we have a dollar figure to
compare it to. I am not going to share with you what my income is
nor will I ask you to divulge that What I would be
interested in knowing is how much of your total work comes from the
pieces you are really proud of. The pieces that you would do even if
you never had to work again.
Personally I would say that I am about a twenty/seventy/ten split.
Meaning I absolutely love about 20% of what I do. About 70% is run
of the mill stuff that I take pride in and enjoy and about 10% I
really do out of obligation or because the money is really good but
I have to admit I would rather not have my name attached to. Is this
common? It would be interesting to see what others think.
John Sholl
Littleton, Colorado
Hello All, One month after high school graduation i entered the
professional jewelry world. Twenty years later I can proudly say
that every dime of income i have brought home has been from this
industry. During my apprenticeship I was fortunate to still be
living with my parents. At that point I bet my income made up no
more than 5% or 10% percent of the household total. Throughout most
of my career as my skills increased as well as my pay I was
splitting the income about fifty/fifty with my girlfriend then wife.
Some years I did better and some years her accounting work did
better.
I started my career in a trade shop then did a stint at a
manufacturing facility but settled into the retail world
specializing in high end custom jewelry most specifically bridal and
platinum pieces. Eight years ago I used $5000.00 dollars of
inheritance to buy my first bench and set it up at home. I bought
only the tools needed to do the simplest of platinum fabrications.
This work was what I could command the highest dollar for. But with
a well rounded background I took in almost any work offered to me
all the while still maintaining a forty hour plus job in the jewelry
business.
The real fun started about three years ago when I realized that my
weekend and evening job was making me work every weekend and evening
or I was feeling guilty about relaxing on weekends or evenings. So I
decided I had to choose between following my own dreams or those of
my boss. I quit my day job and have never looked back. I pay myself
the same amount as I was paid “on the job” At the time it was 100%
of the family income because we felt it was better for my wife to
stay home with our children. I have put every other penny back into
my business.
Three years later I have a small boutique style retail store that
supports me and two other assistants. I am continuing to grow and
now have the ability to turn away work that will not make money or I
can charge what in necessary to make money. My wife is back on the
job and My pay makes up 62.5%. This does not take into consideration
Jenn’s health and retirement benefits or My investment in inventory
or equipment. I bet we are still pretty much fifty/fifty. However, I
am seriously considering hiring her to help at the store full time.
At that point my jewelry business would once again be supporting us
100%.
I’m doing ok. I would recommend being your own boss to anybody who
has the desire. But remember knowing how to make the jewelry is only
the first step. You will also need to know about gem stones and how
to sell and market and do the books and manage and so on.
Oh and Noel, no matter if George W. Bush is in office or Hillary and
Slick Willie, the rich are rich. And the young will be getting
married. It is no mistake that I have specialized in high end
platinum bridal work. I came of age during the Reagan years.
Remember trickle down economics?
Thanks for the great thread.
John Sholl
J.F.Sholl Fine Jewelry
Littlton, Colorado
In a panick I decided to hire a marketer and have met with her for the last month. She is making my head spin - telling me to see myself as part of the Fashion Industry and to pay more attention to the trends - leather, medallions with words on the back, heavy chains, to look at the fashion magazines, Vogue, 17. <snip>
Grace, drop this lady. She clearly doesn’t understand our industry.
You are resistant for a good reason. You didn’t quit your job to
make trendy fashion stuff copied out of 17 magazine. You can’t beat
them on price anyway.
Relevant help would come from experts in wholesale selling of
contemporary crafts. I’ve read if you do a Rosen show they set you
up with a mentor.
There’s also a great conference, used to be the Crafts Business
Institute, they changed the name, not sure what it is now.
Also, John Iverson is a veteran of the crafts industry who now
consults (www.iverson.com or www.jiverson.com – advertises in
Crafts Report).
If you’re going to pay someone for advice, try him. (usual
disclaimer)
Elaine Luther
Chicago area, Illinois, USA
Certified PMC Instructor
@E_Luther
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful sharing of emotions &
passions so will also “jump in”. As a nursing supervisor I was so
stressed 'n unfulfilled tht it began to show outwardly. Thus, a
creative employee met me at a bead shop 'n got me involved doing
simple pieces of jewelry. I then purchased a beautiful pair of
earrings at our local Sangre De Cristo Arts Center 'n wondered how
various elements could be incorporated onto a glass base. Having a
wonderful friend who has a stained glass shop here, I eventually
ordered a small kiln & begain my fusing journey. A simple task,
fusing. The kiln does the work. Having worked my way through
nursing by doing medical art work, the creative aspect was
submerged due to the reality of needing a job in nursing to survive
financially. I now “push the envelope” in any way I can, using a
variety of elements & techniques that create awesome results. It
honestly feeds my soul & I love teaching this same joy to others. I
believe that glass is a mirror fed by images & rays which uplifts
the spirit.
I’m so blessed by not having to rely on my business to survive,
thanks to nursing. I can be true to myself & actually get paid for
my joy. What a concept.
I’m so honored to be a part of this site & love the sharing &
encouragement that all of you put forth. One always gets back
twofold what they put out there in the universe.
DeDe,
I liked your reply to the survey. I’m one who has yet to force
herself to get out there and sell. I’m still developing a line, so I
guess I’m not there quite yet, but almost. I sell my jewelry through
a small giftshop. Desperation hasn’t yet reached the level were it
can conquer procrastination, but the stress is there! I have goals
for the coming year and one is to create my press package. Would you
mind sharing yours? If so, I’d be happy to send you a pin in return.
I make mostly pins from tinned steel, steel washers, steel wire, and
aluminum. I’m branching out into other metals but I’m not there yet.
I have a niece who lives on East 7th between 1st-2nd. I recently
visited her and started to think that I should sell in the city. I
expect to visit regularly, the third weekend of every month. Are you
ever at the gallery? I’m planning to stop in next time I’m there,
which would be the weekend just after Valentine’s day. Also, do you
sell at The Marketplace NYC? I’m planning to check this out that
wekeend, too.
Orchid rules.
Christine
No website yet!
nor will I ask you to divulge that What I would be interested in knowing is how much of your total work comes from the pieces you are really proud of. The pieces that you would do even if you never had to work again.
Good point. I’d say about 20% is stuff I am really proud of. This
includes my own creations as well as high end restorations and custom
order pieces. Most of the rest is OK stuff. I am proud of my designs
and the products. I know I do good repair work and a good job on
custom pieces, even if I don’t always appreciate the results. I
don’t yet have the freedom either financially or in terms of position
to turn away pieces that I think are just plain ugly, or junk.At the
far end of the scale is the 10% or so of stuff I really wish I didn’t
have to touch. Mostly these are repairs that just shouldn’t be done.
Bandaid jobs on junk pieces, patching together (with the emphasis
on low price) pieces that are just plain worn out, and don’t have
much redeeming value to begin with. Some are special order pieces
that I think are just plain ugly, like the classic customers who
bring in the contents of their jewelry box and want it all combined
into 1 ring. Of course, it has to look like Tiffany and cost
nothing. After all, they are providing the stones, and sometimes the
metal, too. Labor should be free, I guess. The good news is, most of
the junky stuff is identified more with the store I work from (not
for, but from). My name, as much as I can help it, only gets
connected with the good stuff. Still have a long way to go in
establishing a seperate identity, though. Jim
This is in response to John Sholl’s email asking how much of what we
do we actually love (John’s answer is 20%). I love about 85% of what
I do- What I hate doing is custom wedding bands- I have seen one too
many freakouts between couples about to get married in my shop(and it
had nothing to do with rings I was making)
dd
www.dedemetal.com
PR 101 for Jewelry Designers
Sounds like about where I am. With a retail stores worth of repair
work coming in (not my store, but I work from there), I am able to
barely make ends meet without my line. My line is still being
developed, as are my web site and sales strategy. The important
thing, though, is to get out there and sell, whether it be to shops
or at shows. Not being much of a ‘people person’, I find that aspect
especially difficult. Anonymous ways of promoting myself are
preferred, but obviously not as effective. Jim
Pricing the competition is a tough one. I don’t try to copy
magazine trends, but rather try to find niches that are not
overcrowded and inspire me somehow. The trick, especially with my
silver pieces, seems to be to find markets where I am not competing
with mass produced (offshore) stuff that is lower quality and sold by
the gram. No way I can compete with my short run pieces that are all
hand finished. I need to find buyer who are aware of the uniqueness
of my work and value the hand crafted qualities rather than strictly
price points. Conversely, I can’t get too crazy with pricing,
either. A lot of my low end pieces are not really profitable unless
I am selling wholesale in large quantity, but they do pay the rent,
so to speak. Jim
Truth or Dare survey: OK, I’ll jump in. I have always made things and
always will. In college in the early 70’s I found a place to buy
silver wire and bent it into shapes and then learned to solder it at
a community rec. center class. After college I taught grade school
but made jewelry in the evening and sold it to fellow teachers.
In the 80’s my three kids came along and I stopped teaching.I had no
time to make jewelry for a few years until 1989 when I made a
musical theme piece for a music school my kids attended. I learned
to cast and designed more musical theme items and an opportunity to
sell these pieces at summer music camps came up. Since then I’ve
sold on consignment at about 4 of these camps each summer. My son
started participating in this music school at age three. He’s now
almost 22 and made my little website featuring my music designs. Go
to www.stringfields.com to see it.
Now if you went to my website you should know that the one-of-a-kind
pieces I do for the two galleries I’m in and the Art festivals I do
is quite different. I like to carve wax, cast the piece in silver
and add detail soldering gold onto it and set small stones.
I’ve done Art Festivals for three summers doing three the first
summer and 6 last summer. There are great shows, dud shows and those
in between. I don’t have to be the bread winner in my family which
I’m very grateful for and my husband has figured out that I’m a
happy energetic spouse who makes his life easier as long as I have
my little jewelry business going. Over the years I’ve put all my
profits back into my shop buying tools and materials and now it is
complete. I did spend a couple of years early on (early 90’s)
working a night shift at a bank processing center just to have extra
money that I could use to buy equipment to get my in-home basement
shop up and running.
So, I am making money doing this but probably not enough to justify
the time I spend. Just a little extra for the family to help with
fun stuff, meals out, Christmas, a little spending money on
vacations. I do find that since my mindset is on making something
for sale I don’t tend to go out shopping much for fun, because for
me fun is making and selling, not buying. Annette from Iowa