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Daily Wire Tip June 9: What Are Some Better Selling Beginner Items?

By on June 8, 2010
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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
June 9, 2010

Question:

One of the hallmarks of a successful craft business is that the item looks professional and not easily reproduced. The great communication of the internet is a mixed blessing for making money. And that is ok with me on a spiritual level. But the mystique and profit of “how was this made?” with beginner-level items is gone.

What are the better selling beginner items?

Answer:
I am going to answer this question based on both my and hundreds of my personal students’ experience. As you have asked about specifically beginner projects, let’s look at just a few of the ones covered in the Beginner DVD set.

The “All Wire Unisex Bangle” is a dependable good seller in the mid-price range of $50 to $85. My “Orbit” earrings and any type of headpin charm earrings are a customer’s favorite impulse buy, both for personal as well as gift use, and they are low end items priced between $18 and $35. Framed cabochon pendants are a constant as they are usually one-of-a-kind items, made using different colored stones and embellishments, mid to high end priced from $30 to $145 (or more). The “Anything” pendant sells well at a lower end of $15 to $30. Lastly, the three-bead and “Orbit” rings sell for $10 to $25 and are another very popular impulse purchase. Wow! That’s quite a versatile collection for a beginner, and all of these sell well!

The “mystery and intrigue” you are looking for can come by simply using a variety of unique beads, stones and materials within these designs, adding a chain here or a charm there. Although the art form of wire jewelry has become extremely popular in the past few years, there are still a lot of folks who have no idea how to do it, and even more folks who would rather purchase a finished item than learn to make it themselves.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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2 Comments

  1. avatar

    Rose Bovan

    June 9, 2010 at 11:35 am

    Good Afternoon Dale,

    This question has been posing on my mind for some time now, andd I don’t know if it’s just common sense or what, but here it goes….When I make Wired Jewelry, with wire such as Silver, I can’t get it to that high gloss like I see in your book.

    Is there some type of coating placed on the wire or do I need to use something other than rouge or polishing clothes to get it there? Please help, I don’t want to have to tell my customer’s they will need to purchase a polishing clothing with every purchase.

    Could it be the Wire used or what?

    Rose Bovan
    Stay Bent

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      June 9, 2010 at 5:28 pm

      OK Rose – I am breaking the rules by answering a totally different question under a question but: I use argentium wire for silver and 14/20 gold-filled in all of my designs (that are not made in 14k or 18k gold) including those in my book. I use a polishing cloth while straightening the wires and the Speed Brite ionic cleaner when a piece is finished. That’s it. This link will take you to the Sunshine Cloth I have used for years, and often give to a customer who purchases $150 or more. http://www.wire-sculpture.com/polishing-cloths-and-compounds/Sunshine_Polishing_Cloth_Pack_of_1-3560-106.html