Book Review: Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry

By Sandy Amazeen Oct 24, 2006, 2:28 GMT

Straight from a jewelry-business mentor, this guide to entering the bauble business compiles expert knowledge and wide experiences for those looking to take their hobby to the next level. Aspiring businesspeople will gain the advantage of experience from the numerous case studies and engaging personal stories. Starting with the basics of assessing style, time commitment, and target market, the sections progress through business licenses and tax numbers, developing a cohesive ...more

So you think you’re ready to quit your day job and start making a living off your jewelry, but do you have any idea what that actually entails? Have you developed and refined your personal style? Do you know how to price your work, what markets to target or how to sell wholesale? How about taking care of taxes and providing yourself a living salary? If you answered no to any of these questions, run out and grab a copy of Lareau’s new book.

Drawing upon her years of experience, Lareau takes jewelry designers through an evaluation process to determine if they are ready to take the big plunge into creating their own business before getting into the nitty-gritty of developing portfolios and a recognizable look. Pricing is always a problem for crafters and here, Lareau’s formula comes to the rescue, as does her sound advice regarding taxes, wholesale purchasing and tax licenses. Participating in craft shows, approaching gallery owners, proper presentation, what questions to ask a wholesale buyer, consignment concerns, E-bay sales and more are addressed in enough depth to get you started on the right foot.

Throughout the book, Lareau includes the inspirational success stories of several talented women along with samples of their work. Be sure to check out the extensive lists of helpful websites located in the appendix, they include fair and festival sites, display and packaging, small business and promotional resources along with an assortment of miscellaneous sites.