20 Ideas to get your Jewelry Biz Busy

by Judy Ellis

This weekend was one of "those" weekends. I sat at my workbench, spinning my wheels. I knew I wanted to make something, or do something - anything! - to improve my jewelry business. But I wasn't sure where to start.

So I made a list of 20 things I could do, right then, to make my jewelry business better.

Not 20 new social media sites to use, or 20 new jewelry mediums to try: 20 things that I already knew how to do, that I could do at any time, but that I just wasn't doing.

Here's my list. How would you change it to fit your jewelry business? Leave a comment and let me know!

Organization

1. Re-write my "care card" template and print new copies. I put this care card in each of my jewelry boxes.

2. Put my wire back in its baggies

3. Make ear wires, jump rings, boxes, and anything else I can do to prepare for orders

4. Take inventory of my beads and wire

5. Make a list of the supplies I'm running low on. Time to reorder!

6. Clean up my workspace, including getting wire bits out of the carpet and finding all my pliers (they tend to wander around the house when my back is turned)

7. Browse clearance for great deals!

Customer Care

1. Make sure I've responded to all customer emails

2. Check-in with recent customers to make sure they love their jewelry

3. Check-in with how I envision my ideal customer. Is my jewelry meeting her needs? Do I have any ideas for new products she wants to buy? How is she going to feel when she wears my jewelry?

4. Make sure I have a Return Policy posted everywhere I sell, including spelling out how I'll handle custom orders and broken jewelry.

5. Make a list of blog ideas to write about. Remember, if your customer reads your blog, you should be writing for your customer, not your jewelry-making friends. So write about what she wants to read about! (Same for Pinterest and Facebook, if you use those instead)

Business Growth

Follow these 5 steps to boost jewelry sales.

1. Check role models' shops for fresh ideas.

Pick 3 similar sellers; study photography, descriptions, customer engagement, test their habits.

2. Update pricing formulas for metal cost changes.

Adjust silver pieces if materials rose; base on replacement costs.

3. Rephotograph products in good lighting.

Build a lightbox for pro results.

4. Plan sales and promotions for next 6-12 months.

5. Analyze sales sources: in-person, online, website.

Focus energy on winners, drop weak venues.

Personal Development

1. Practice that technique I've been avoiding but I know I could get good at, if just I spent a little time on it!

2. Make a new design for me to test-wear

3. Make a list of people I want to get to know better on Facebook, online, or in my community, and plan lunch dates or chats!

A word of caution (and reassurance): It can be easy to feel overwhelmed.

Maybe your to-do list is already long enough. I understand.

Set aside time every week, such as Saturday mornings or Wednesday evenings.

This creates a dedicated mental space for jewelry-making and running your business.

Just hide the TV remote and limit social media time.

Soon, your to-do list will feel less daunting and become a helpful tool.

20 Ideas to get your Jewelry Biz Busy

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