The New York Institute of Art and Design offers an online jewelry making course, and because we do, we like to offer free tips for jewelry designers. Enjoy!
The New York Institute of Art and Design's Jewelry Design Course teaches students all over the world how to create their own jewelry. But many students don't want to stop there. They want to use their jewelry making skills to earn money in either a part- or full-time capacity. So we teach them the skills needed to sell as well.
One great way for jewelry makers to earn money with their skills is to build a store on Etsy.
Etsy, for those that are not familiar, is an online marketplace for handmade crafts. They've been around for 10 years and are based in Brooklyn, New York. It's a place for buyers and sellers to come together, and they make it easy for sellers, you jewelry makers in this case, to find an audience for their work.
But just setting up an Etsy store won't guarantee your business. Here are our 5 tips for improving your sales on Etsy:
- Create Something Unique. Just like large companies and well-known brands, in order to stand out from the crowd you must create jewelry that is unique and desirable. Spend some time looking at other jewelry sellers and find out what is out there. Think about what you can create that is different from what is currently available.
- Take Better Product Photos. The better the photos of your jewelry are, the more likely you are to sell. Whenever you're selling online, buyers have to judge your products based on the photos that they see. There are simple photography tips you can learn that will help make your jewelry look as good as it can possibly look.
- Build Your Brand. Maybe you are not interested in marketing, but learning the basics can help you reach more potential customers. Building your brand through social media participation, article writing, or paid advertising will do more to drive new buyers to your Etsy store than simply setting it up and waiting.
- Experiment with Pricing. Pricing is a topic all on its own that most sellers know nothing about. We know what it costs us to make something. And we know how much we think its worth. But the buyers are the ones that will tell you if it's worth what we think. If you're having trouble selling some items, try lowering the price and see what happens.
- Create More of What Sells. If you have a number of products in your store, some are likely to sell better than others. If you start to see this, your buyers are trying to tell you something. Don't ignore them. Create more of what sells and less of what doesn't.
Want to learn more?NYIAD's online jewelry making class can help. Request your free course catalog today!
