Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Emma Purnell — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:26:23 GMT

I am just popping out, but that will be my first job when I get back! Thank you Louise!

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Louise Dick — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:25:06 GMT

Sorry, forgot to mention that you should also pop over to craftsforum .co.uk - it is a really friendly craft forum and you will get loads of advive, you can find out about local fairs etc and there are lots of different rooms to chat about your craft etc. I have been a member for ages, its a great site - you should definately join!

Louise

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Emma Purnell — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:25:06 GMT

Yeah, I am originally from Derby and my Nan lives that way so I would be fairly happy to travel. There is one regularly in Kinver not far from me and I am looking into that one at the moment! Just need to sort all the bits I am most proud of and look best!

Thank you Bonny, very sweet of you

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

bonny10 — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:11:17 GMT

Your jewellery looks lovely

I have been to a few craft fairs and i think you would sell well at them, would you consider travelling to a craft fair? In Buxton (derbyshire) there is often craft fairs placed and they are always busy. Il keep a look out for craft fairs for you because they do alot in my area (staffordshire) and it would take you about 90 mins to get here from west midlands.

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Emma Purnell — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:25:27 GMT

I may consider that Dippy, I will PM you.

And THANK YOU! All this advice is amazing and I am now seriously looking at dates! I think I will do my very first one here, invite people I know are likely to carry it on, and will then offer a piece of jewellery of their choice to those who carry the party along! Your all fab girls, thank you

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Dippy — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:31:45 GMT

By the way, if you did decide to do any charity parties, please let me know as I am always on the llokout for fundraising ideas for Cyprus and as you know, I have family and friends down your way and with Xmas coming up, it might be a good time to tap into a new set of peops as I've pretty much exhausted my immediate resources up here this year

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Dippy — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:27:36 GMT

Ditto most of the above. I've been to several jewellery parties and usually it's in someone else's home and as has already been said, they do the invites and nibbles and you set up a display (ask them to leave a dining table or similar free and take your own pretty cloth and boxes etc to stack underneath it to allow for different level (I'm sure you know how to display it properly!) Usually the host person gets either a small item if there is a minimum number of sales or you could say a percentage of what you sell in the form of a voucher ie if you sell £100 worth on the night, they get a fiver or whjatever to spend on an item of their choice, or if you get lucky, they might choose something more expensive and add to it themselves. You could perhaps start with family/friends/clients but having seen your items online, I would be thinking of other places to advertise for free/cheaply such as WI's, mum and baby groups, dr's surgeries, supermarkets or even workplaces locally if there are any big companies with noticeboards internally as I'm sure you could do well coming up to Xmas. If you have any other party reps locally you could hook up with but wouldn't be treading on toes, you could also try that ie makeup parties. If you can afford to donate a small amount from each sale (or price items accordingly to allow for this) you could also try the charity fundraiser angle. Good luck.

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Louise Dick — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:51:51 GMT

Hi there.

I also make hand crafted jewellery and have done so for the last 5 years. I highly recommend craft fairs as opposed to car boot scenarios - people at a car boot sale are not the right target market for hand crafted jewellery, they are there for a wander and a bargain and your work is far too good to showcase at these kind of events. You don't want to be put in a situation wher people atrt 'haggling' your prices down.

Some people think hand crafted means cheap, but this is not the case as we both know. What it really means is a unique, hand crafted and individual piece that is not mass produced foreign poo which will fall apart after a few wears!

Try to find a local company who run craft fairs - you will have to pay for your table but hopefully you will make your money back and more, althoug having said that this year has been pretty dire in terms of people spending their money and most of the fairs I have done have been really quiet. Don't be put off if you don't sell a lot, take business cards with you and hand them to anyone who comes to your stall. Try to make your stall as eyecatching and unique as possible with lots of height and perhaps get a banner made up with your company logo etc.

The key is to look for an organisation who advertises well, this is what gets people through the door.

Jewellery parties can be good because you have a target audience who know they are going to see jewellery. What is normal is that the hostess (the house owner) gets either a percentage of the sales (decided by you) or an amount to spend on your jewellery, and perhaps a couple of bottles of wine etc.

Make a little speech at the start about who you are and how you got started, and what kinds of things you do. Also if you take commisions etc, take an order book with you. Also take plenty of change, gift boxes/bags and tissue to wrap items up, your tools for any adjustments that may be needed, and a large table cloth/king sized sheet to cover your display area and to make it look more professional. If you have busts or stands, take these too.

Don't allow yourself to get flustered, it is easy to do if there are 3 people all trying to talk to you at once, 4 people waiting to pay for an item, 2 people wanting to discuss a commission piece etc, just take your time and stay calm and you will be fine! Write all your sales down.

Maybe have a little raffle or bingo game with the prize being a piece of your jewellery to break the ice?

Also offer an incentive (% sales or jewellery) to the attendees if they will host the next jewellery party - that way you get another venue/party organised before you leave.

Hope some of that was useful, take care.

Louise

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Polly P — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:42:11 GMT

What I used to do also when I used to make things was to sell at craft fairs- or come to arrangements with people who had stalls atthem to show some of my stuff and they got a % of sales- same with shops, hobby shops, gift shops etc- see if you can get them to carry your lines or some examples, in return for a cut of the money. It costs them nothing bar a little space, and can make money for both of you.

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:44:59 GMT

You should def have friends host the parties fro you, that way, you just turn up with your jewellery, they usually provide the nibbles and you pay them in terms of a piece of jewellery for hosting. You also get others at the party to then book parties... and it usually goes from there.

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Emma Purnell — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:33:37 GMT

Hehe!

Just spent an hour and a half making a necklace I am really proud of to match one of the new bracelets, not sure how to display it to photo it though. Might just wear it out tomorrow night and try and get some pictures that way! I do love making jewellery

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Vicky RVN — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:06:19 GMT

If i was in the area i soooo would!

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Emma Purnell — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:15:38 GMT

Kim - I have tried boot sales in the past, I didn't sell a single item and realised quite quickly that people want to pay an absolute minimum in those settings! I am keen to do a craft fair and am keeping my eyes out for one

TLC - As always, my font of all knowledge! Your a star!

Nibbles it is then! If the one I run does seem to work I will probably branch out and ask family and friends to run them, I am really keen to make this business work.

Again - thank you all my fab vet nurse girls, I knew you would help! Anyone in the West Midlands fancy joining me if I do one?

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

MrsP — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:36:48 GMT

I've been to a jewellery party which was held by a friend of the jewellery maker as she had children and a small home meaning not much room! It turned into a really lovely, social evening - with nibbles, nothing fancy - and everyone bought at least one item. Good luck.

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Diane Westwood — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:09:13 GMT

why not ask friends and family to have parties at their homes and give them an item of jewellry as a 'thank you' for having the party. This way you may reach out to more people.

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Vicky RVN — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:18:36 GMT

I've been to various 'at home' parties...Body Shop, Virgin Vie....and others, can't think what! There have generally been a nibbles out. Good luck with it if you do them

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

A Little TLC — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:57:47 GMT

Well, hello again, lol! I used to be an assistant manager for an art/craft gallery. I was a main person into getting new talent/artists in. One of the ladies I used to manage went on to her own shop in Oxford. She has since gone into home parties. What would you like to know? Pm me :) x

Re: Jewellery parties... anyone been to one or anything similar?

Kim Buckley — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 21:35:39 GMT

I've not been to an actual party but a friend of mine buys a lot of jewellery from a lady who lives local to her that makes all her own stuff. She had a show on at her house and she just had all her jewellery laid out and you could walk around and have a nose.

Have you thought about having a stall at a car boot (cheap) or a craft fair (bit more expensive)?