[Jewelry making - Article 00944] - Re: [Orchid] How has it been for everybody else?

[Tim Dwornick]

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>     I'm a little concerned for those who say things are slow. So
>     perhapsit might be good for those who are busy to reflect a little
>     and tellus to what they attribute their busy-ness." 

    I have got to agree, sales are sooooo slow lately, it's the custom
    work and the repairs that are paying the bills....sure hope Xmas
    heats up soon!!! I actually moved my apartment a couple of months
    ago to within a couple hundred feet of the store, and am working 14
    to 17 hours a day just to stay afloat!!! As the only store offering
    repairs and custom work on-site in a small town, we are staying busy
    all day every day, and I give 100% kudos to Mr. Geller for his blue
    book (which we follow as faithfully as possible)... repairs ARE trust
    based, and if the customer doesn't wanna pay your prices, let 'em
    walk!!! They'll be back!! 

    Repairs by themselves have truly slowed also in the last few months
    (as the dollar falls I think), but we took up the slack by
    partnering with a local businessperson and licensing charms /
    pendants / cufflink / keychains for a coup le of universities' alumni
    associations. I have a meeting with a local sorority next week to
    see about creation of jewelry for them!! My advice is to seek out
    these potential markets, especially if you have the facilities for
    production/custom work. True, I had to kick in a few thousand $$ for
    the initial investment in some production finishers, and the time
    spent working out the details was/is enormous, but I think the return
    (and the potential for a great spread of word of mouth) will be
    wonderful. 

    (I might add here...talk to the people at Stuller, their tech
    support has greatly helped me keep this place going, and getting the
    right tools and supplies!!) (I'm NOT a Stuller employee, lol, just
    someone who greatly appreciates the help they have given and hopes
    struggling others benefit also). 

    In summary, yes, sales suck lately, but you can take up the slack if
    you search out new markets! Especially the local ones, who just LOVE
    the idea of jewelry being make locally, even if you mass produce a
    few hundred pieces, they aren't gonna love a catalogue piece nearly
    as much. Who knows, those pieces could be collector's items someday? 

    Thanks for reading, and I appreciate all of you out there who take
    the time to pass on your knowledge and experience!!! 

Tim Dwornick
Jewelry Design Studio Inc
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