Home Jewelry Shows
Home Jewelry Shows
Back when I first started selling my jewelry at art shows in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were not many shows in my area. Most arts and crafts shows popped up around the holidays, but other than that, you did not see them that much. As the years progressed, the number of shows increased, and the length of time in between them decreased to where it seemed like you could participate in an arts and craft show almost every weekend of the year.
This proliferation of shows could account for what I began to see in the diminishing quality of the art work and general atmosphere of the shows. Many of them soon felt like flea markets rather than shows of hand-crafted art work.
I see my opinion often echoed by other jewelry makers on the Jewelry Making Forum. While there are still plenty of success stories when it comes to arts and shows, there seems to an increased number of reports of inferior imported goods and show promoters who put the number of booths they can rent over the quality of the merchandise they allow to be sold at the shows.
So, what is the solution to this problem? Is there an alternative to the arts and craft show for those who want to sell their unique one-of-a-kind jewelry creations?
I’m going to put myself out there and say, “Yes.” There are many alternatives, and one in particular I believe is slowly overtaking the arts and crafts shows of yesterday: today’s jewelry home shows aka jewelry parties can be the perfect alternative to the over priced, over crowded, and under cutting found at many arts and crafts shows.
Read on to learn what exactly a home jewelry show is all about and how you can throw one of your own.
You have probably already attended parties in someone's home where demonstrations or speeches touting the virtues of merchandise are given. Then you are expected to purchase some of these products, and the hostess receives credit in merchandise depending on total sales. Finally, during the close of the party, more parties are scheduled with some of the attendants. The same routine can be used to sell your jewelry.
Create your own private show or combine your efforts with other crafters to create a miniature show in your own home or the home of someone else.
You can start by scheduling a couple of parties with friends and family. More than likely, they are familiar with your work and may have even bragged to their friends about you. This provides them with a chance to show you and your talent off. You can provide door prizes, a special purchase with purchase, or a gift with purchase as incentives.
Make the event as casual or as formal as you like it. I prefer casual shows because I am not one for a lot of planning or high pressure sales. So, the few shows I have done have been very low key – cookies, punch, and a few hours of conversation while my jewelry was spread out on the dining room or coffee table. I usually had the shows during the Christmas season. I did not spend a lot of prep time or stress over sales. Instead, I chatted with friends and still managed to earn a few hundred dollars for only a few hours of my time.
For the more adventurous, however, I have to say I have heard a number of encouraging reports from fellow jewelry makers on the forum who have run more organized shows and acquired a phenomenal amount of sales. If you have a knack for selling and dealing with people, you could do very well, so a more formal setting may be better depending on your personality. For example, you may want to send out invitations to the show and then follow up with phone calls or emails to encourage people to come.
The problems with home parties or home shows are probably already known to you. Sometimes the hostess may feel she is forcing her friends into something. Often people will tell you they will come and stand you up at the last minute, which can limit your sales and also insult the party giver. But again, pointing to my own experience with home shows in general, the number of customers is not as critical as the type of customers who show up.
I have had home shows where hardly anyone came, but the few customers who did show up, came with the intent to buy, and that is all you need – a few serious buyers.
The final reason to be leery of home parties is scheduling new parties at a party. The system is supposed to regenerate at least one party or show from another, but you are not always that lucky. If possible, try to schedule yours around the different holidays. This can be an incentive for party goers to agree to have a party of their own. Also make sure you have plenty of business cards available so that each person has one in his or hand before leaving. It is not unusual to be contacted about a special order or custom piece or even a piece the person saw there at the show but decided later that he or she wanted to buy. You want to make sure you can be easily contacted after the show. Again, very often I have made a few sales after the show is over, and sometimes, this has turned into repeat customers.
In the end, of course, you can not really decide about a home show without trying it out.
I suggest getting your feet wet with an informal get together and then see how it goes. If you make some nice sales, then it may be worth your time and effort to organize more formal shows in the future. Here are some other tips to think about when you plan a home jewelry show:
Make sure to bring small bags for customer to put their purchases in when they leave.
Do not over stress, especially when it comes to the first show; make it as easy on yourself and your host (if you have one) as possible.
Do not make the start and stop times too large. You do not want to be stuck there all day waiting on people. If they really want to come, then they will find a way to be there.
If someone is hosting the party for you rather than you having it at your own house, make sure to determine ahead of time how you will compensate that person. In the past, I have given them free jewelry (of their choice) that equates to a percentage of the final sales of that show. For example (to make the math really easy), if you offer 10 percent of the sales toward merchandise and sell 100 dollars, then your host will be able to pick out ten dollars worth of free jewelry from your inventory that you bring there that day.
Here are some other related topics you may find helpful as you plan your first home jewelry show:
Pricing Jewelry
Jewelry Business Tax Tips
You Are Your Jewelry Company
Jewelry Business Crash Course
Back when I first started selling my jewelry at art shows in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were not many shows in my area. Most arts and crafts shows popped up around the holidays, but other than that, you did not see them that much. As the years progressed, the number of shows increased, and the length of time in between them decreased to where it seemed like you could participate in an arts and craft show almost every weekend of the year.
This proliferation of shows could account for what I began to see in the diminishing quality of the art work and general atmosphere of the shows. Many of them soon felt like flea markets rather than shows of hand-crafted art work.
I see my opinion often echoed by other jewelry makers on the Jewelry Making Forum. While there are still plenty of success stories when it comes to arts and shows, there seems to an increased number of reports of inferior imported goods and show promoters who put the number of booths they can rent over the quality of the merchandise they allow to be sold at the shows.
So, what is the solution to this problem? Is there an alternative to the arts and craft show for those who want to sell their unique one-of-a-kind jewelry creations?
I’m going to put myself out there and say, “Yes.” There are many alternatives, and one in particular I believe is slowly overtaking the arts and crafts shows of yesterday: today’s jewelry home shows aka jewelry parties can be the perfect alternative to the over priced, over crowded, and under cutting found at many arts and crafts shows.
Read on to learn what exactly a home jewelry show is all about and how you can throw one of your own.
You have probably already attended parties in someone's home where demonstrations or speeches touting the virtues of merchandise are given. Then you are expected to purchase some of these products, and the hostess receives credit in merchandise depending on total sales. Finally, during the close of the party, more parties are scheduled with some of the attendants. The same routine can be used to sell your jewelry.
Create your own private show or combine your efforts with other crafters to create a miniature show in your own home or the home of someone else.
You can start by scheduling a couple of parties with friends and family. More than likely, they are familiar with your work and may have even bragged to their friends about you. This provides them with a chance to show you and your talent off. You can provide door prizes, a special purchase with purchase, or a gift with purchase as incentives.
Make the event as casual or as formal as you like it. I prefer casual shows because I am not one for a lot of planning or high pressure sales. So, the few shows I have done have been very low key – cookies, punch, and a few hours of conversation while my jewelry was spread out on the dining room or coffee table. I usually had the shows during the Christmas season. I did not spend a lot of prep time or stress over sales. Instead, I chatted with friends and still managed to earn a few hundred dollars for only a few hours of my time.
For the more adventurous, however, I have to say I have heard a number of encouraging reports from fellow jewelry makers on the forum who have run more organized shows and acquired a phenomenal amount of sales. If you have a knack for selling and dealing with people, you could do very well, so a more formal setting may be better depending on your personality. For example, you may want to send out invitations to the show and then follow up with phone calls or emails to encourage people to come.
The problems with home parties or home shows are probably already known to you. Sometimes the hostess may feel she is forcing her friends into something. Often people will tell you they will come and stand you up at the last minute, which can limit your sales and also insult the party giver. But again, pointing to my own experience with home shows in general, the number of customers is not as critical as the type of customers who show up.
I have had home shows where hardly anyone came, but the few customers who did show up, came with the intent to buy, and that is all you need – a few serious buyers.
The final reason to be leery of home parties is scheduling new parties at a party. The system is supposed to regenerate at least one party or show from another, but you are not always that lucky. If possible, try to schedule yours around the different holidays. This can be an incentive for party goers to agree to have a party of their own. Also make sure you have plenty of business cards available so that each person has one in his or hand before leaving. It is not unusual to be contacted about a special order or custom piece or even a piece the person saw there at the show but decided later that he or she wanted to buy. You want to make sure you can be easily contacted after the show. Again, very often I have made a few sales after the show is over, and sometimes, this has turned into repeat customers.
In the end, of course, you can not really decide about a home show without trying it out.
I suggest getting your feet wet with an informal get together and then see how it goes. If you make some nice sales, then it may be worth your time and effort to organize more formal shows in the future. Here are some other tips to think about when you plan a home jewelry show:
Make sure to bring small bags for customer to put their purchases in when they leave.
Do not over stress, especially when it comes to the first show; make it as easy on yourself and your host (if you have one) as possible.
Do not make the start and stop times too large. You do not want to be stuck there all day waiting on people. If they really want to come, then they will find a way to be there.
If someone is hosting the party for you rather than you having it at your own house, make sure to determine ahead of time how you will compensate that person. In the past, I have given them free jewelry (of their choice) that equates to a percentage of the final sales of that show. For example (to make the math really easy), if you offer 10 percent of the sales toward merchandise and sell 100 dollars, then your host will be able to pick out ten dollars worth of free jewelry from your inventory that you bring there that day.
Here are some other related topics you may find helpful as you plan your first home jewelry show:
Pricing Jewelry
Jewelry Business Tax Tips
You Are Your Jewelry Company
Jewelry Business Crash Course
