February 21st, 2007 at 10:50 pm
How to sell beads profitably in your home town
If selling your jewellery is not bringing in quite enough income, selling the beads alone or kits for customers to make up your pieces themselves can be very profitable.
Bead shops are thriving in the UK and with several cities still without a decent bead shop; now is the time to get in there. It isn’t hard to find suppliers of wholesale beads and findings on the internet.
Selling beads online is hard, selling beads in a town without a bead shop is profitable. Selling beads in a town full of retired people who don’t know how to use the internet or young families that enjoy the hobby, even better! You will be amazed at the amount of jewellery designers longing for a place to get beads locally. I’ve heard cries of delight when they’ve seen my beads. No more travelling miles to get to the nearest bead shop.
Your jewellery will sell the beads. If you have fabulous jewellery displayed next to your beads, and instructions on how to make it, you will sell the beads. Even better you will gain customers that don’t want to make the jewellery but would love something made up, commissions galore!
So how does one go about selling beads in a town? There are a few options.
Firstly can you rent a shop? If you have the financial backing and business sense this is obviously ideal however not many of us do.
The next option is bead parties. Buy some stackable bead boxes, fill them to the brim with gorgeous beads and findings. Advertise in the local paper, spread the word.
The last (and best) idea is to attend craft fairs or the local market.
Bear in mind that if they’re outdoor, this sort of thing is best for the summer months when customers (and sellers) are happy to stand about admiring the beads and carefully choosing what they want for their piece.
Remember to display that beautiful jewellery you’ve made and spread your best beading books out for people to browse through. Create a small leaflet with basic bead techniques for beginners. Once you get newbies hooked they’ll be back I promise!
As for displaying the beads - I can highly recommend acrylic boxes. They stack and have lids to stop the beads escaping. You can buy small white stickers at all stationary shops. Write out the prices for each section and stick them at the back of each compartment so customers can see how much each bead costs.
It’s a good idea to make two stickers per compartment, one for the front, one for the back so you can see how much that section is as well as the customer. Put findings in zippy bags and put them in individual baskets or on stands - use a punch hole to make holes to slide the bags onto special stands. This will also keep the findings from tarnishing.
You’ll also need a trestle table. Great for stalls, very reasonable on eBay and easily folded away. Make sure you have boxes and note pads so the customer can write down the beads they want and add the to the box. Also buy zippy bags and paper bags to put their purchases in.
Selling beads is a fantastic experience and you’ll meet some very interesting people. Introducing people to the wonders of beading or creating a perfect piece of jewellery for that commission is very rewarding indeed.
Which beads sell?
Beautiful pendants such as murano and leather thong are great for beginners and always sell well. Kits for charm bracelets with a length of chain,headpins and beads are also popular. A good selection of reasonable glass beads and seed beads in as many different colours as possible never fail.
In my personal experience I didn’t sell many gemstones when mixed up with glass. Make ‘gemstone’ trays and label them individually. Make a sign about gemstones, tell people about how special they are. I also found sterling silver findings to be very popular.
Let me know how you get on!
Good Luck!
Bead shops are thriving in the UK and with several cities still without a decent bead shop; now is the time to get in there. It isn’t hard to find suppliers of wholesale beads and findings on the internet.
Selling beads online is hard, selling beads in a town without a bead shop is profitable. Selling beads in a town full of retired people who don’t know how to use the internet or young families that enjoy the hobby, even better! You will be amazed at the amount of jewellery designers longing for a place to get beads locally. I’ve heard cries of delight when they’ve seen my beads. No more travelling miles to get to the nearest bead shop.
Your jewellery will sell the beads. If you have fabulous jewellery displayed next to your beads, and instructions on how to make it, you will sell the beads. Even better you will gain customers that don’t want to make the jewellery but would love something made up, commissions galore!
So how does one go about selling beads in a town? There are a few options.
Firstly can you rent a shop? If you have the financial backing and business sense this is obviously ideal however not many of us do.
The next option is bead parties. Buy some stackable bead boxes, fill them to the brim with gorgeous beads and findings. Advertise in the local paper, spread the word.
The last (and best) idea is to attend craft fairs or the local market.
Bear in mind that if they’re outdoor, this sort of thing is best for the summer months when customers (and sellers) are happy to stand about admiring the beads and carefully choosing what they want for their piece.
Remember to display that beautiful jewellery you’ve made and spread your best beading books out for people to browse through. Create a small leaflet with basic bead techniques for beginners. Once you get newbies hooked they’ll be back I promise!
As for displaying the beads - I can highly recommend acrylic boxes. They stack and have lids to stop the beads escaping. You can buy small white stickers at all stationary shops. Write out the prices for each section and stick them at the back of each compartment so customers can see how much each bead costs.
It’s a good idea to make two stickers per compartment, one for the front, one for the back so you can see how much that section is as well as the customer. Put findings in zippy bags and put them in individual baskets or on stands - use a punch hole to make holes to slide the bags onto special stands. This will also keep the findings from tarnishing.
You’ll also need a trestle table. Great for stalls, very reasonable on eBay and easily folded away. Make sure you have boxes and note pads so the customer can write down the beads they want and add the to the box. Also buy zippy bags and paper bags to put their purchases in.
Selling beads is a fantastic experience and you’ll meet some very interesting people. Introducing people to the wonders of beading or creating a perfect piece of jewellery for that commission is very rewarding indeed.
Which beads sell?
Beautiful pendants such as murano and leather thong are great for beginners and always sell well. Kits for charm bracelets with a length of chain,headpins and beads are also popular. A good selection of reasonable glass beads and seed beads in as many different colours as possible never fail.
In my personal experience I didn’t sell many gemstones when mixed up with glass. Make ‘gemstone’ trays and label them individually. Make a sign about gemstones, tell people about how special they are. I also found sterling silver findings to be very popular.
Let me know how you get on!
Good Luck!
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I have just found your site - well done!
December 28th, 2007 at 4:01 pmI have a studio in Milton Keynes and I teach there 3 nights a week. Although my “pupils” can buy beads from the internet (which of course I do because it’s cheaper for me) they do love to rummage in my many many bead boxes. We have no bead shop near us, but people often come to me to stock up!
i actually make good beads at home but i dont know how to sell it here in u.k.i cant afford a shop now and i really love to make creative styles.i came online to search for any bead seller who may want my kind of beads.pls if u know any,do contact me so i can be a seller to them or even individuals.
nice article.really encouraging.keep it up.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:34 pmHi Kate
January 6th, 2009 at 9:04 pmI just found your blog and I think is great. Im currently trying to start my own buisness selling beads.I have found a few suppliers but I haven’t a clue how to price my beads, can you give me some pointers on how to price beads and finding for sale.
I would be most greatfull if you could give me any help or pointers on how to go about it.
Thank you
Shayeeda
i came across your website tonight would really like if you gave me some tips on how to sell my beads i am a designer but like you say not enough income yet please help ellenurowitz@hotmail.com
August 11th, 2009 at 2:31 ami have a stones beads very old
September 18th, 2009 at 7:32 ami want to sall it
can u answer me
September 18th, 2009 at 7:33 ami dont know enghilsh good
this is my mail azahir12@yahoo.com i have a lot of stone
September 18th, 2009 at 7:35 amvery old beads
bye now
September 18th, 2009 at 7:36 amHello,we have a moroccan beads,if you are intrested please contact us at salamnour2008@yahoo.co.uk
January 17th, 2010 at 1:27 pmhi I sell jewellery and run some courses and have been asked to source some beads for someone else to do a school workshop out of my area I thought I would start out with ready made kits to start with which I have found on a well know beads site but How do I price them to sell them on
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:40 amWill it work on any type of scar or merely stretch marks?
March 5th, 2010 at 5:28 amI like the layout of your blog and I’m going to do the same thing for mine. Do you have any tips? Please PM ME on yahoo @ AmandaLovesYou702
March 5th, 2010 at 9:04 am