[Jewelry making - Article 00013] - Re: [Orchid] Handmade vs mass-produced

[Karen Goeller]

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    I've been thinking quite a bit about this question, because it is a
    line that I need to handle with my clients. 

    At shows, the vast majority of my pieces are hand-crafted.  Some are
    hand-made (per the distinction discussed here in the past). 
    However, I do carry some mass-produced complementary pieces designed
    and selected specifically as "add-ons" to hand-crafted pieces.  For
    example, I have a line of silver mesh jewelry, where I hand-make
    little bowties out of silver mesh and sheet, then use them as the
    basis for designs.  A lovely complement to a set of hand-crafted
    silver mesh pieces are silver mesh bangle bracelet and ring, which
    are mass produced.   I am careful to tell customers who are looking
    at them that they are mass-produced and that I carry them
    specifically to complement the work I've made myself. 

    At some shows (like our Guild show), I leave the mass-produced
    bangle and ring at home, because all of the work shown needs to be my
    own hand-crafted work.  I don't mind telling people who are
    interested in the silver mesh pieces that they are available and even
    have nice photos to show them -- but the pieces aren't at the show. 

    So this is the type of case where I don't feel it's inappropriate
    for me to mix hand-crafted/hand-made and mass-produced work on the
    same display.  The hand work is the prominent piece and the display
    is focused on that. 

    Now on my website, I include both hand-made/-crafted and
    mass-produced pieces from a variety of reputable wholesalers.  This
    is addressing a different target market (bridal and some specialty)
    and I have struggled to make it clear on the site which pieces are
    hand work and which aren't.  Hopefully, I've succeeded at that,
    because I haven't had any customers express surprise in either
    direction during subsequent conversations.  But, again, I think the
    customers coming to my website have different expectations than those
    going to a artisan show. 

    HOWEVER, I have been at shows where people were representing pieces
    as hand-made and hand-crafted that I know for a fact weren't.  They
    were pieces sold as finished good from reputable vendors like Rio and
    Stuller that were simply being "re-sold" as the "artist's" work.  I
    occasionally (just for fun) drop by those vendors' booths and
    casually mention how odd it is that someone with their obvious
    talents for fabrication (hehe) would choose to copy so exactly the
    pieces available in the supplier catalogs to the trade, even down to
    the choice of stones.  There is usually some reddening and stammering
    involved in their reply, if they choose to reply at all. 


Karen Goeller
kgoeller AT nolimitations.com
Hand-Crafted Artisan Jewelry
Fine Designer Jewelry
http://www.nolimitations.com


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