How to Run Handmade Jewelry Home-Based Business

Western Style Eagle Belt Buckles

All too often lately I am hearing of relationships fail because of the stress of having a home-based business. When you are running a business together from home you are together 24/7 and there are bound to be times when you just get on each other's nerves. Add the stress of the business and wait for the explosion, it’s a time bomb waiting to happen. I start to envy people who go out to work in the morning and come home in the evening to relax and enjoy the few hours they have together. Can you remember the last time you just relaxed?

Colorful Copper Feather 

The problem is there isn’t any break from the business, work or each other. Every conversation seems to revolve around the business and usually all the things you didn’t get done instead of all the ones that did. Many people feel overwhelmed by the stress that a home-based business puts on a relationship.

Native American Earrings

 Many just give up and slam the door behind them. But if you’re not the type to give up quite so easily there are many little ways to improve your relationship while still running a successful business. Give some (or all) of these ideas a try:

Art Jewelry Earrings

1. Take time for yourself. An hour a day to be alone and think things through (without being told what to think!); take a walk, read a book, exercise (always the last on my list), whatever makes you feel relaxed. It will refresh your mind and soul giving you the energy to climb the next mountain.

Dangle Copper Feather Earrings

2. Take time for both of you. Dinner, a movie, dancing; preferably somewhere loud so you can’t talk about business! Get to know each other again, make a weekly date!

Horse Earrings

3. Make time for friends and family. There is nothing like seeing other people being mean to each other to make you realize how good you have it. Maybe this one is just me, but I have a big family who fights a lot! I always come away from a visit thinking I am the luckiest person in the whole world!

Native Art Earrings

4. Having a positive outlook makes the day go better.

5. Give credit when credit is due, not blame.

6. Never leave in the middle of a fight. Agree to disagree if all else fails.

7. Don’t dwell on the past and things you can’t change.

8. When you have a problem find a solution not fault.

9. Procrastination is our enemy, whatever the task just get it done.

10. Amazing how a hug and a kiss can make the day go better.

After 35 years of running a wholesale handmade jewelry business together, our relationship is stronger than ever. We still argue and disagree often but we know we wouldn’t have it any other way. It took a while to realize that we couldn’t have done it without the other. Together we have had great success and the future looks even better. We wish you all great success in your home-based business — together.

WHOLESALE HANDMADE JEWELRY BUSINESS

Flower Wire Bracelets

SW Native Earrings

Cat Brooches

The Handmade Wholesale Jewelry business is a very competitive market. To stay ahead of the competition you have to focus on fresh new products and ideas. You have to create your own niche, something special that no one else has thought of. This can be harder than you thought; your competition is also working hard toward that "million-dollar idea". You have to stay focused and experiment with different techniques and ideas. Continuing with what works and revising what didn't.

Wholesale handmade jewelry, Copper Feather Bracelets

SW Native Earrings

Cut Out Colorful Copper Feather Bracelets

One way to stay ahead in the race is to provide great customer service. Make sure orders go out to complete and on time. Deal with questions and comments with a smile trying to make sure that every customer is a repeat customer. The best referral is from a happy customer.

We have been making handmade unique chokers and unique gifts since 1985. We have seen first hand the up and downs of the handcrafted marketplace, from heatwaves to tornadoes, and everything in between. Watch for our next blog, coming soon!

Wholesale Handmade Jewelry - Business Success Story!

Copper Humming Brooches

The wholesale handmade jewelry business is a very competitive market. To stay ahead of the competition you have to focus on fresh new products and ideas. You have to create your own niche, something special that no one else has thought of. This can be harder than you thought; your competition is also working hard toward that "million-dollar idea". You have to stay focused and experiment with different techniques and ideas. Continuing with what works and revising what didn't.

Hummingbird Art Jewelry Earrings

When first starting out arts and craft shows are a great way to learn what people want to buy. After every show, you will always have a long list of ideas from customers about what other designs they would like to see. You will be able to focus on the best selling items to create a line that is more appealing to more people.

Horse Art Jewelry Earrings

It takes time and patience to make a brand that will stand the test of time. Fashion fads come and go, so you need to create handmade earrings, bracelets, rings, and necklaces that appeal to a wide audience.

SW Native Art Jewelry Earrings

One way to stay ahead in the race is to provide great customer service. Make sure orders go out to complete and on time. Deal with questions and comments with a smile trying to make sure that every customer is a repeat customer. The best referral is from a happy customer.

Art Jewelry Hummingbird Earrings by Lynn Bean

One of the most important factors to create a successful wholesale handmade jewelry business is to find your own niche market. You have to meet the consumer demands and know who you are selling to in order to create designs that sell well. 

Handmade Jewelry Business - Road to Success! Part 2

When I began to think of what to write I thought I should give some pointers that we learned the hard way. Some of the advice might seem simple but most mistakes are simple as well!

Art jewelry Cardinal Earrings by Jo Lynch

Outdoor craft shows and festivals are wonderful and fun to do when the weather is nice that is. Unfortunately, the weather doesn't always co-operate with the show schedule. Always remember the boy scout motto: BE PREPARED! These are just a few suggestions to keep everything going well:

Handmade Art Jewelry

1. Always have materials available to weigh down your canopy. We always had weights like paint cans filled with concrete, cinder blocks, empty jugs to fill with water for extra protection from the wind lifting your tent to OZ. 

Nautical Jewelry Sea Star Earrings

Sometimes you will have to hang on as well! This is especially important if you are in Pittsburg's Three Rivers Art Festival; the canopy was being lifted right into the air! I still have the scars on my foot from the cinder blocks being lifted up. What goes up must come down!

Nautical Jewelry Bracelets, Light House Bracelets by Jo Lynch

2. Always carry hammer, nails, wire, small pieces of wood, string, rope and the like. We like to make sure all our display boards were securely hammered to the tables so they wouldn't tip over on a customers' head when the wind blew.

Nautical Earrings, Light House Earrings

3. Make sure to have all extra stock in watertight containers. Especially for jewelry that is on cards. If the cards get wet or dirty it can really be a mess. You will appreciate this more when you are up to your knees in water, mud, and sawdust!

Flower Art Jewelry Earrings

4. Try if possible to put earrings on display boards or frames. This makes it much easier and quicker to pack up just in case of a storm or tornado. If a storm is forcast do not leave your display overnight. Broken canopies are not easy to fix and it's hard to get merchandise out of the trees!

Art Jewelry Bracelets Designed by Jo Lynch

If there are just too many storms maybe a shop would be safer and easier. Copper Reflections provides wholesale handmade jewelry and unique gift ideas to add that special sparkle to your store. 

Dog Jewelry Bracelets

If you are lucky enough to have wonderful weather make sure to enjoy it!

Handmade Jewelry Business - Road to Success!

Handcrafted Artisan Bracelets

Sometimes the road to success leads to wonderful places! Sometimes the road is bumpy and sometimes filled with potholes! We have taken the road less traveled...there are times we know why it's less traveled. We hope you enjoy our stories!

Flower Art Jewelry Necklaces

Sales are coming in and you can hardly keep up with your orders. You have to find ways to save time…you never have enough time before the next show. Eureka, you’ve found the answer and now it’s easier to keep up with orders, sales and traveling to all the best shows. But you’re starting to get tired of running here and there, setting up, tearing down… and the sun… and rain…and the wind…

SW Native Fetish Bear Necklace

Next step on the road to success- Wholesale Handmade Jewelry! Not as many shows and bigger sales. You focus on your craft and can actually enjoy a long weekend!

Dangle Flower Earrings

You’ve got great ideas, unique products and a lot of energy…So off you go to the local craft shows! Everyone loves your handmade jewelry so you come up with more great ideas, fun and fashionable works of art! You move on to juried craft shows in your area and then bigger shows, bigger sales. Life is great! You are doing something you love and everyone loves your work!

Handmade Flower Jewelry Earrings

Red Background Flower Earrings

Unique jewelry is handcrafted by the skilled artisans using copper. Copper is silver plated and designs are printed on the copper sheets. They are cut out to the shapes of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Each piece is individually diamond cut but hand to bring out the luster of copper. We go through 32 steps to complete a piece. We have been established in our handmade jewelry business since 1985. We have seen first hand the up and downs of the handcrafted marketplace, from heatwaves to tornadoes, and everything in between. Watch for our next blog, coming soon!