The Worth of Your Jewelry

I've been reading a lot of creative business blogs, articles and books lately and one thing that has been sticking and breaking through as a common theme is a successful business helps solve a customer's problems.  So while I may have focused before on what I put into my jewelry: handcrafted artisan beads, my well-honed design aesthetic and beautiful color choices. I didn't think much about how it filled my customer's needs - other than it's something pretty to wear. 

When I ran across an article from Rena Klingenberg on Developing Your Niche Jewelry, it really clicked for me.  She gave a list of how jewelry solves a customer's problems and I had never given much thought to this and wanted to share it with you.


Rita advises: So think creatively about how to blend the things you love with ways your jewelry can solve people's issues related to:

• accessorizing
• giving gifts
• feeling good about themselves
• rewarding themselves
• defining themselves
• creating their public image
• belonging to a group
• collecting
• personalizing
• preserving memories
• celebrating occasions or milestones

So in the light of that list, how can your jewelry help solves those needs?  The worth of your jewelry will greatly increase when you discover how it can fit into those categories.  I wouldn't say a big changes is needed to meet any of these needs, just a little finessing in how you word your copy and market your work. 

Ask yourself, which categories does your jewelry fit into, can you add a little personalization?  A birthstone, stamped name or tiny charm can turn a design into a more gift-worthy option. 

Etsy puts out a Merchandising Desk list every month and it's filled with current trends, take a look at their list and see what you can cull to make your jewelry more on topic for collecting, celebrating and accessorizing.

I was looking through the top jewelry sellers on Etsy - don't do it, it's depressing.  Most of the top sellers offer stamped designs that can be personalized, birthstones, bridesmaids gifts and tiny trendy charms.  That's not something you need to do succeed as a jewelry designer - but it did illustrate that designs that easily fit those needs were the highest selling.  Something to think about. 

When you are writing up your descriptions for your online shop, think first about how your jewelry fills a need.  How would your customer use this piece of jewelry, what would they pair it with, who would love it as a gift?  Spend some time thinking about your ideal customer this week and what she is looking for in handmade jewelry and how you can add value to your work by showing how your pieces help her out!

Feel free to visit my Humblebeads Jewelry Etsy shop - I'm learning as I go and writing descriptions, tags and titles through this filter.