[Jewelry making - Article 01234] - Re: [Orchid] Why is it so hard?

[Noel]

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>     The end result, as far as I can see, is that to be an "artist" in a
>     "lowest price rules" economy means that you are generally thought
>     of as an eccentric fool at best or a parasite at worst. In an
>     economy not driven by that lowest common denominator a greater
>     diversity of goods and services can survive and so too the people
>     that offer them. 

Hi, Trevor,

    I agree, on the whole, with your conclusions. However, I think you
    may have a mistaken, or at least oversimplified, view of the US. I
    feel appreciated for my creativity and craftsmanship, even if prople
    can't necessarily afford my work. 

    Sure, we have millions of people who may not really consider any
    piece of jewelry worth more than $100, and/or who don't care about
    the subtleties to which we devote our lives. There are many crass,
    undesireable, and even shameful aspects of our country and our
    culture. But that is far from the whole story. It is a large,
    non-homogenious country, full of all kinds of people and ideas.
    There is a market for virtually anything-- you just have to find it.
    Connoisseurs who appreciate every nuance shop side-by-side with
    bargain hunters. And this division is not necessarily along economic
    lines. 

    The good news is choice. It is wonderful to have prevalence of high
    quality. But it's darned hard on those who can't afford it. Here,
    there is something to fit every consumer's need and budget. They
    just have to find it. 

    About 6 months ago, after reading a thread on Orchid, I raised my
    prices an average of 50%. My sales went up on my better pieces, and
    down on the lower-end stuff. Overall income increased about 25%, I
    think. As I see it, I left some of my more financially restricted
    admirers behind, but the higher-end shoppers are actually more
    comfortable paying more! 

    I don't mean to ramble and rant. This is a tough time to be an
    American. I think I am not alone in fearing that there is enough
    truth in Bin Laden's (and others') accusations to shame us all, and
    we are not used to being in such doubt about our county's motives.
    So I may be overreacting a bit. But I still believe that there is
    nowhere else on earth that offers so many opportunities for the
    individual and so much choice. 

    As a postscript, I'd like to add that I grew up very poor, though my
    mother had started out well off. My husband was the first child of
    penniless immigrants. We still don't have much money, but are
    solidly middle-class, well-educated, and managing to send four kids
    for world-class educations. I wouldn't live anywhere else! 

--Noel

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