[Jewelry making - Article 00404] - Re: [Orchid] The cost of holding out

[Karen Seidel]

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    Hello Ron, et al I know I have mentioned it before, but it does bear
    repeating. When I first started selling my jewellery (and bear in
    mind I sell as an artist at a Farmers Market) I had many compliments
    on the style and quality of my pieces but no one bought. After many
    weeks of this I finally got the courage to ask some of the regulars
    that I was finally recognizing, why they did not buy. They informed
    me that thought I did beautiful work; it could not be real silver as
    my prices were to low. It took me 2 years of playing with my prices
    until my jewellery started to sell, and in the end I had about
    tripled my original prices. 

    3 Years ago I started all over again with a new partner and name. I
    also have again raised my prices after having checked out many of the
    jewellery made by various other Orchid members (what great fun, and
    great artists out there) and having been teaching and interacting
    with the artists at the Alberta College of Art here in Calgary. Now
    when I question various customers about what they like about my
    jewellery (I now do this periodically when I feel the timing and
    customer are right) the answer I get the most is that most of the
    people I sell to figure that quality costs a little more. 

    What they like about my products includes: uniqueness; the fact that
    most of my better pieces have a story; that I am familiar with the
    stones I use; that I actually collect and cut some of my own stones;
    that I am selling the product I make, that is they get to meet and
    interact with me personally; that I actually teach jewellery making
    and work with kids; that I even answer children's' questions about
    the stones as if they were real people; that I don't discount or put
    my jewellery on sale for the odd cheapster; my prices are clearly
    marked; I stand behind my product. 

    I also sell rocks and crystals. I have had many comments about the
    fact that I do not charge different prices to different people due to
    belief (the new age people) or race. I was shocked to find that some
    people apparently charged many of the native people here more for
    rocks and crystals. I also have taken the time to learn a little at
    least, about the many kinds of customers I have, for example: I keep
    a list of Sanskrit names of some of my stones; I always have a book
    or two on the healing properties of stones; I have learned a little
    of the culture of my Chinese, Hindu, Native, and New Age customers. 

    It actually was my husband that clued me into the fact that all
    these extra things I learn that help me sell as well as all courses
    to upgrade my skill/knowledge, are reasons to charge more. It doesn't
    matter whether or not I actually have a certificate or degree or not.
    In fact a certificate or degree would probably allow me to charge
    more. 

    The funniest thing is, some of my customers tell me my prices are
    still too good to be true:-). (shrug) 

    Karen Bahr   "the Rocklady"  (rocklady AT nucleus.com) K.I.S. Creations 
    May your gems always sparkle.



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