[Jewelry making - Article 00912] - Re: [Orchid] Wholesaling one-offs

[Kevin P. Kelly]

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    Back in the day I sold my work through stores/galleries. My work was
    (is) different than what owners normally carried; but one gallery
    owner took some pieces on consignment. After perhaps eight to ten
    weeks the work began selling and then really started selling. Even
    after it was established that there was an audience he would not buy;
    he would only take work on consignment. I must say this, he paid on
    time and did not make jewelry himself ; I consider this a plus. Store
    owners who make or design their own jewelry are more problematic. 

    Doing business with galleries is like marriage: sometimes it works
    sometimes not. It's a difficult road. I don't do wholesale shows. I
    do "art fairs". Ocassionally gallery owners approach me at these
    shows. If what they are after is something I do mutiples of and the
    price is right I will do business with them. But I will not do
    consignment. 

    A personal thought on consignment: if a gallery owner can get work
    without paying anything upfront why would he purchase? If you're
    just starting out you may feel happy just to find someone who will
    show your work. One alternative is to show your own work. I chose to
    do retail shows and it has worked. You have to establish or find your
    market; and you have to be willing to travel and figure out the
    logistics. If you're willing to do retail shows you have more
    opportunities to sell one-offs. At the art fairs I do people I
    encounter come to buy things they don't normally see at regular
    venues. They want to buy from the person who makes the work. 

    As to the very narrow question of wholesaling one-offs: jewelry
    store owners like production work because if something sells they
    want more of the same. 

Kevin Kelly
www.kevinpatrickkelly.com

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