[Jewelry making - Article 00060] - Re: [Orchid] Truth or dare survey

[Metalwerx]

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>     This was a hard one for me to answer.  If I look at my monthly
>     salary, which at this point is pretty small, I would say no. 
>     However, I have two employees on staff, we pay our bills, we
>     continue to purchase equipment, we pay our faculty what they ask
>     for and their expenses.  Metalwerx pays for my travel to
>     conferences and to shows.  We purchased Dynamic Displays to start
>     selling my work and others in the studio. 

    I think I have struck on the formula that will allow me a decent
    salary now.  Since I am a for profit company, I don't have the
    problems that a lot of non-profits do such as committees deciding
    what my budgets will be. I have the luxury of not explaining or
    justifying a purchase.  If an instructor needed a piece of equipment
    and it seemed reasonable, then I just purchased the equipment. 

    This semester has been one of the best ever.  I think in order to
    stay in business, you have to be flexible and take risks.  In the
    end, I think my hard work is paying off.  We have gone from nothing
    to something in less than five years.   What people did for glass and
    ceramics, has just been applied to metalsmithing.  It's not unique or
    different, it just takes courage and the ability to discard something
    quickly if it doesn't work. Marketing is a HUGE part of what I do.  I
    am always at conferences, gallery openings, trade shows talking up
    Metalwerx.  I'm always looking at ways to make things better, more
    streamlined etc.  Most important, it takes friends, support and
    enthusiasm for something you love. 

So the answer is yes!

Karen Christians
M E T A L W E R X
10 Walnut St.
Woburn, MA  01801
Phone:781/937-3532
Fax: 781/937-3955
http://www.metalwerx.com/
Accredited Jewelry Instruction


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