[Jewelry making - Article 01052] - Re: [Orchid] Predjudice against copper materials?

[Brian Barrett]

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>     it is the best thing for tendonitis and arthritis there is. if you
>     are suffering from any bone pains, a copper bangle worn over the
>     spot really helps. 

    I don't know about copper having medical properties, as I similarly
    don't kow about Crystals and there medical properties, but I do know
    a sales angle when I see one. At the Pharmacy by my house, a simple
    copper bracelet is $25. A selection of copper jewelry along side
    silver and gold should sell well, if you go for the right angle. I
    see people everyday with magnetic bracelets and copper bracelets to
    help with arthritis etc. My biggest fear about renting a table to
    sell my jewelry is that most of it is expensive. Gold is my favorite
    metal to work in, but I have toruble selling it. I'm thinking that a
    selection of copper jewelry, for medical benefits, alongside silver
    would do well. 

    Copper is very inexpensive and profits should be very high. What I
    concern myself with when making chains (all my jewelry is made of
    jump rings closed into chains of one type or another) is that
    regardless of material, my labour time is almost constant. an 18"
    strand of silver (40g) sells for $200, the same chain in 18kt sells
    for $2000, and in copper perhaps $50. I prefer to work in gold as it
    has impression of being able to create more value per hour.... but no
    one buys it, so it's not quite true. Without other items, I cannnot
    justify renting a space, because I fear a lack of sales. 

    In conclusion, I agree a predudice against copper as jewelry does
    exist, but there is a growing trend to try homeopathic medical
    treatments, of which, copper contact is one. I am interested in
    machine or hand made copper chains/anklets and bracelets as a way to
    offer inexpensive items, alongside my silver/gold to accomodate
    cheaper sales. An aquaintance of mine sold over $1000 in plastic
    bracelets (stell wire with plastic beads) at a table at a fair, but
    virtually didn't sell anything over $20. I don't beleive there was
    anything over $100 for sale at this table. The point is that you can
    sell anything, but it has to be marketted correctly. Labour that goes
    into the production of copper jewelry is hard to justify to a
    customer, as the piece of metal itself has virtually no value. 

    Just some thoughts, and I hope not to have offended anyone with my
    opinions on copper jewelry sales :) 

Brian Barrett


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