Wire Jewelry Resource: First 7 Steps to Selling Online

By on March 7, 2012
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by Rose Marion, Wire-Sculpture.com

Wire Jewelry Resource for March 7, 2012

Putting your jewelry up for sale online is one avenue you can take toward your goal of selling your finished jewelry! Whether you just want to recoup the cost of materials so you can continue making jewelry, or you intend to make a good income from your side jewelry business (or full-time business!), sites like Etsy and Artfire are a great place to start.

My experience has been with Etsy so far in listing my jewelry. So those of you who have used ArtFire or Zibbet, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Checklist for Beginning Selling Jewelry Online

1. Research for available names. Make sure your desired business name, or a form of it, is available in these places (minimum):

  • Etsy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogspot, WordPress, or another blogging platform (as well as a domain name, if you choose)
  • An email account (either yourbusinessname@yahoo, @gmail, another provider, or through your domain name)
  • Your state business licenses, and possibly the Federal TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System), which will tell you if someone else is using your business name as a trademark already

A unique business name is essential to having a memorable business, and it will also keep you protected. Nike is a unique name, but it’s taken! Once you “claim” your name with your state, no one else can use that business name in your state.

Assuming you’ve got all the licenses and ID numbers filed, you’re ready to register! Note, Etsy requires a credit card on file before allowing you to sell. I recommend you start your business “officially,” get a business checking account for your business, and then get a real debit or credit card from the bank, which you can use for your Etsy fees. (Speaking of fees – I found this neat Etsy calculator here, which may help you with pricing)

2. Find a pricing structure you like (I do this in a spreadsheet), and calculate what discounts you can afford to give while still covering your cost of labor, materials, shipping, and expenses.

This is also a good time to discover what shipping rates are available through the Post Office, so you can have an accurate shipping rate to charge. You can seperate the shipping charges by country; I specify a rate for the US, Canada, and then “everywhere else.” However, you can also offer free shipping IF you make sure that your shipping cost is factored into the price of the item – don’t offer discounts that will make your business unprofitable! As artists we sometimes feel “bad” profiting from our work, but that’s exactly why we start a business – so never feel bad about that.

3. Create your work. Does your jewelry have a general theme, such as Victorian, Steampunk, Medieval chainmaille, Modern? Do you have several pieces that you’re comfortable over and over and over, such as a cabochon pendant, a couple styles of earrings, and whatever other designs you love.

4. Photograph your work and transfer it to your computer. Add a watermark to your pictures if you like, using Photoshop, GIMP, Picasa, or another photo editor.

5. List your items on your store. On Etsy, listing each item can easily take 30-40 minutes (or more!) the first several times. I find it helpful to write a general description for similar items, which explains my brand and how the object has been created. Then I can copy & paste this description as I list all the items, and simply change the first descriptive sentences, customizing them to the specific piece. (Making sure every description says something different) You have a lot of space, so try to answer any questions the customer might have, including dimensions, if it’s easy to care for, how it will be packaged, etc.

Etsy’s description also allows you to use up to 13 tags and 13 supplies used in making the piece. You should use as many tags and supplies in your description as possible. For example, for my copper earrings (before I even think about what beads they have) I type in “copper wire, copper jewelry wire, brown wire” in the supplies. Then I think about the beads, if I used liver of sulfur, and a sealer. This will help people find your jewelry when searching.

6. If you’re tech-savvy, Google Analytics is a powerful tool you can integrate with your Etsy shop. Etsy has a how-to article all about this: https://www.etsy.com/help/article/230. I recommend doing this as soon as you set your shop up, so your analytics can start recording information right away. This will help you understand how your customers got to your shop.

7. Get involved! Now that your products are online, it’s time for you to network with other jewelry-makers so you can help promote each other’s products. Remember though: ultimately, you should be showing your customers how beautiful they will look and feel wearing your jewelry – don’t get caught up worrying if your Facebook friend’s pendant is photographed better than yours. It’s all about helping your jewelry find its new home!

Those are what I think are the basic steps to setting up your online store. Now comes the fun part, of promoting your jewelry and packaging the orders! Experienced Etsy, ArtFire, and Zibbet sellers, did I miss anything? Leave a comment below.

And remember, I’m always looking to hear your wire jewelry ideas. Have a tip for selling online? How do you get inspired? Discovered a new tool or shortcut? Let me know, and I’ll feature you with a link back to your site! Click here.

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11 Comments

  1. avatar

    marie

    March 7, 2012 at 7:32 am

    I sell on ebay which I would imagine is similar, you also want very detailed eye-catching pictures from a few angles and possibly a paypal account.

  2. avatar

    Virginia Wayne

    March 7, 2012 at 7:50 am

    I would suggest to spend a little time learning about good photography techniques. It can make or break a sale. And ALWAYS use all 5 photo slots. A potential client may feel gypped or think you don’t care enough about the item if they think you aren’t showing all you could.

    The other thing would be to load up on packaging/wrapping that reflects your “look” and style. When sending your items in the mail make sure to wrap it gift-style for the buyer. Take the time to protect it with bubble wrap so it doesn’t rattle around. And include a receipt and business card with the item written on the back.

    I get positive feedback on these two things often. Hope this helps.

    • avatar

      zoraida

      March 7, 2012 at 3:26 pm

      I so agree with you about the packaging, branding and especially, the photography. Photos are, to me, the single most important aspect of selling online. I am instantly turned off by bad photos so I assume the same goes for a potential customer. Good packaging, business cards, invoice make you look professional. Good points!

      zoraida – http://zoraida.artfire.com

  3. avatar

    Virginie

    March 7, 2012 at 7:53 am

    Etsy has a lot of learning resources in their website. If you are starting, make sure you read tips about what to say in a listing before you even start, and what to do to make your store being seen by others. Go to Etsy/sell and look on the right of the page.

    Etsy has also a lot of apps available that can be useful tools for your store. Check them too.

    Also, be ready for a lot of time spent taking beautiful pictures of your jewelry, uploading them on your computer and “working them” (choosing, trimming, adjusting the brightness…), and creating a listing on Etsy. I am making one-of-a-kind items, and each of them takes so much time to be ready for listing.

  4. avatar

    Jil S

    March 7, 2012 at 10:24 am

    Oh my goodness!!!! What a resource THIS is. Thank you ladies. I’m just getting to the point where I’m “considering” the selling aspect. One of my goals for March was to find a site and get it set up with items to sell. This will save me so MUCH time!

    You are such a resource! Thank you all!

    • avatar

      Rose

      March 7, 2012 at 1:42 pm

      Happy to help, Jil :)
      Good luck with your new business! Let us know how it goes!

  5. avatar

    Donna C

    March 8, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    What a great source info on everything. I have been selling on FB. I do get compliment on everything I make. Once again, thank you for all the great info.

  6. avatar

    sheila

    March 9, 2012 at 11:26 pm

    Thanks so much. This article and its comments are timely for me. I recently opened my shop, perhaps prematurely. But you ladies have taught me a lesson and i will surely educate myself and throw my discouragement out the window! Got the inspirational juices flowing again, Thanks!

  7. avatar

    Sharon

    March 11, 2012 at 10:35 am

    Hi, I have been making jewelry for a few years, however the fear factor has been overwhelming, fear, what if no you likes my jewelry to what if I can’t keep up. I started an account on Etsy but never listed anything. My photos were bad. I saw Dale on JTV and I must say; you are awesome. I started doing more research, ordering the right education tools and I plan to get my line finished. I also plan to list them on Etsy and any other site I can. I also plan to start home parties. Thank You for so much information. I feel like I can’t fail with this kind of support system. THANK YOU

  8. avatar

    Shimrit

    March 11, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    I’m a musician who makes jewelry in her spare time, when riding in our RV for hours. I sell jewelry at our CD table, and have often been asked if I sell my jewelry online. I’ve been considering it and it’s great to have all this good information! Thanks everyone!

  9. avatar

    Sue

    March 16, 2012 at 6:30 pm

    I have a regular web site, but I also have a presence (free) on Manta which brings a little bit more traffic my way. I think you can do that with any kind of site (maybe not ebay, but etsy will work, I think).