[Jewelry making - Article 01067] - Re: [Orchid] Why is it so hard?

[Kenneth Ferrell]

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    Elaine, What a great question, I wish I had and answer! We do
    commercial casting, specializing in small lots, and fast return, and
    still have trouble making ends meet, we ceased doing shows because
    of the fierce competition from imported jewelry. 

    I think that most people that buy low to mid price jewelry really
    don=92t care if it=92s made by a single craftsman or made by a mass
    production slave labor or sweat shop. 

    I think it=92s all about price, if you add in the cost of travel,
    lodging and meals it costs about 30 percent more this year than
    last,  who pays the increase? 

    When I had my shop in New Mexico, I always blamed it on the fact
    that the Indians could sell there work for less, because they were
    partially subsidized by the Government and didn=92t have the same
    expenses  as for housing and such,  but still the bottom line was
    the answer. Now it seems we are fighting against Maquilliadora(sp.)
    style companies from  Central America. 

    As far as the recognized artist aspect, If you ask someone who their
    favorite metalsmith/ artisan is chances are unless they are family
    members you will get a very strange look or get told it=92s the guy
    that straightened out the front fender on their car. 

    Most people have no idea what a metalsmith is, a very small
    percentage can equate metalsmith to  Jeweler, some to a blacksmith,
    but most just give you a blank stare when you tell them you are a
    silversmith or metalsmith. 

    At least in the old days in New Mexico most people knew what a
    silversmith was, but it was still hard to make ends meet, Perhaps we
    need to promote the craft more, possibly a formal guild that
    advertised and educated the general populace! I know we already have
    several fine organizations for metal/silver/goldsmiths, but when was
    the last time you saw an advertisement in a mainstream publication,
    something like the New Yorker,or 17, or a campaign launched in News
    Papers. No they advertise in trade specific magazines which the
    general population has never heard of, I think they advertise to
    increase their membership, and also to give the people who attend
    the large wholesale shows the impression they are educating the
    public, Problem is the ones they are educating about metalsmiths,
    ARE METALSMITHS. 

    Some how, some way we need to get through to the rest of the world
    that we are artists and artisans, We know it now lets let them know
    it. Ok I will now step down from my soap box 

Kenneth Ferrell
www.shadras.com

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