[Jewelry making - Article 00408] - Re: [Orchid] Cold enameling with colored resin

[Kay Vontz]

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>     Because when I am selling a piece for a  particular price and a >
>     potential customers say that they can get a piece with the same
>     colouring for a quarter of the price, I have potential lost a sale
>     as well as credibility. I now need to take valuable time to explain
>     the difference and let the buyer come to her or his own
>     conclusions. If the customer is confused the we as jewelers (part
>     time, full time, bench, art) are collectively diminished because we
>     as a group have lost the trust of our audience. It all comes to
>     credibility. 

    David:  Yes, it does take time to explain the difference between
    processes, but this situation does not exist only for enamelists -
    those of us who do not do enameling (or do it only now and again as
    I do) face the same situation - you could spend just as much time
    explaining the difference between coin silver and sterling, PMC
    construction versus fabricated, etc. etc.    So I think this practice
    just goes with the territory and I don't see it as diminishing any of
    us. I think each material used has its own value. I personally own
    things made of coin silver which I love and if the artist's labor had
    been fairly valued, it wouldn't have been so inexpensive. I work in
    PMC as well as fabricated sterling. One does not negate the other.
    We'd all love to have knowledgeable persons buying our items, but I
    see it more as an opportunity to educate those who don't know. And
    how would you lose their trust by explaining?  I think you would earn
    their respect. Before I learned to make jewelry, I was one of the
    "uninformed" and as I learned the art, I was amazed not only at all
    the things I didn't know but truly amazed that ANY hand made jewelry
    could be purchased at a reasonable price. I can only speak for
    myself, but it is very seldom that I need to explain the processes
    but when I do,  most people are fascinated to learn how something is
    done or why it is different from something that looks similar.  In
    any case, as you say, the decision rests with the individual
    purchasing.  I do not know their financial values which may be very
    different from mine.  After all there are people who prefer
    hamburgers to steak although they could afford anything they wanted. 
    And all the explanation in the world is not going to change their
    taste buds. Isn't it wonderful that we all have so many choices.  And
    given that, isn't it amazing that we are succeeding at all.  And
    wouldn't you welcome someone asking about the differences? An
    opportunity just waiting. This is not meant to disregard how you
    feel, but to give you another slant on it from one who is not a
    "full time" enamelist. 

Kay


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