========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm ]========
Hello All!
I have been reading your posts holding back whether or not I should
tell my story- but I figured we all learn from each other here so
here we go.
I lived my entire life in New York. I always had a good knack for
being able to find great jobs even if my education or background was
not all there in the beginning - if something interests me I do not
take no for anwser- maybe its my rebellious side but "no you can't do
this" has always been a challenge for me and I thrive on a challenge.
Shortly before 9/11 I opened a store while still working freelance
pretty much fulltime. I had interns and a business partner to help me
so it worked out. After the events of 9/11 I could no longer find
freelance work. For the first time in my life I hit a real dead end.
Couldn't even find a waitressing job. I thought about moving to
California where it may have been easier but I felt too vunerable to
leave my hometown. Just the thought would make me burst into tears.
How could I leave family and friends and venture off on my own
especially when things all seemed uncertain?
I needed to figure out a way to make money. I did several huge
wholesale shows and the results were disappointing. Money was running
out. My credit cards maxed. Now what. I know you can sell anything if
you get out there and find your audience thats what I decided to do.
I built a website and read dozens of books on how to market and sell
successfully on line- I joined every organization I could find that
would help me to network and sell my collection (no not all jewelry
organizations) I started researching how to put together some kind
of press kit where people who I sent it to blindly would actually
read it and seized every opporunity I could find to sell myself. As
a result (and this took almost a year) I started getting press- now
my sales have doubled from last year and the most surprising I
actually sell a decent amount of work on the internet.
Its not enough to be a brillant designer- I know so many
silversmiths and model makers that put me to shame but they are not
earning any money. You need to do your research, honestly figure out
your market and agressively market yourself (and i am not talking
about buying ad space- you got to get your butt out there and
motiviate people to buy your line) I know I sound like an
informercial or something- but most designers are so afraid of trying
to sell themselves they give up and hide. You can't hide if you
have bills to pay. I am not making what I was making pre 9/11- but
things are getting better each month (thank god!).. I want to tell
you all if you believe enough you can do it. You just need to build
a job plan and stick with it.
DeDe Sullivan
dedemetal jewelry
www.dedemetal.com
PR 101 for Designers
Would you like to reach Members of the Ganoksin Project to educate
them about the wonderful array of supplies, services and products
you have to offer?
Please request a copy of the Ganoksin Media Kit if you would like
more indepth information regarding Ganoksin's advertising services.
Navigate by Topic:
[
