This month we tell you how to make thousands with jewelry parties, plus ruby & carnelian beads, and frame beads. Scroll down, or click one of the links below.
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How to make $1,000s with Jewelry Parties
Ruby - July's Birthstone
Carnelian - alternate gemstone for July
Frame Beads
15% off Offer
Jewelry Home Parties
A jewelry home party can be one of the most profitable ways to sell your
bead projects. You won't be competing against other sellers, but will have
targeted buyers who love to encourage each other to shop. They require the
shortest time investment selling jewelry, with the largest financial
return. In just three hours, you can make hundreds of dollars in sales.
And you don't have to pay any fees or commission - just give your hostess
some free jewelry and discounts that are based on the financial success of
the party.
Party guests will feel comfortable buying from you because your presence in the hostess' home implies that you do wonderful work and that they can TRUST you. Trust is the most important factor in making sales and developing repeat customers. Customers enjoy shopping in a relaxed, personalized environment, away from busy malls.
Organizing the Party
It's easy to organize a jewelry home party every week while holding down
your day job. You only need a couple of hours of preparation and a few
hours at the party. You choose the dates and times, and it's easier than
you think to attract bookings. Parties in an open house format for around
3-hours work best. Set up your display before the party starts, and work
the party just like a craft show - greeting customers browsing and trying
on jewelry. Answer questions, encourage people to try on jewelry, make
suggestions, advice on custom orders. Create a fun atmosphere of a girls'
night out shopping together. You have the advantage over companies like
Tupperware because you are the designer personally selling your jewelry -
buyers love that!
Invitations
Usually only about half of the people invited actually attend, therefore
encourage your hostess to invite 20+ people. Guests should receive their
invitations two weeks in advance. Have the hostess give you the guest
list with names, addresses, and phone numbers, and then you prepare and
mail the invitations. Give her several invitations filled out with all the
party information so she can give them out in person at work, school,
church, any clubs etc.
The best invitations are postcards with an enticing photo of your jewelry on the front. It's vital to include photos to excite and encourage them to attend the party. Also, to prevent guests from assuming all the jewelry will be too expensive for them, your invitations should say, "Prices start at $3" (or whatever your least expensive item is). Print YOUR name and contact on the invitation postcard, in addition to the hostess's name, phone number, and address. So people can contact you after the party, to make a purchase or book a party of their own. Invitations should also state, "Receive free jewelry for each guest you bring!" Give them something that has a high perceived value, but costs you little. Like a free pair of bead earrings, a toe ring, or $5 off their total.
Setting Up
Set up your display before the party starts. Know how long it takes you,
and add an extra 15-minutes to that figure to tell the hostess when you'll
arrive at her house. Streamline your display setup by loading jewelry
cases, earring displays, necklace displays, etc. at home. Decide whether
to bring your own table(s) for display, or use the hostess's dining table.
Her home might not have room for your tables, so be sure to make
arrangements beforehand.
Have lots of mirrors everywhere for customers to see how they look when they try on your jewelry. Trying things on and getting friends' opinions is what makes the party fun for your customers. Bright lighting is crucial for good jewelry sales. Tell your hostess you need a well-lit room - and for backup, bring your own small lamps with good natural-light bulbs, plus an extension cord.
How To Sell
Most guests came intending to buy jewelry, so keep them focused on that,
you don't need a fancy presentation. Keep it simple without any pressure,
and let guests come and go as they please. The hostess doesn't need to
serve a lot of food, because the guests go to shop and socialize, not to
eat. They can't examine and try on jewelry with food in their hands.
Simple refreshments, like coffee and dessert or wine and cheese are all
you need.
Try selling as much jewelry as possible at the party, instead of displaying samples and taking orders. Guests like to bring jewelry home immediately, while they're still excited - especially on impulse purchases. It also reinforces in the customers' minds that each piece is unique and not possible to duplicate - which is one of your benefits. And it gives them a sense of urgency that if they don't buy that piece RIGHT NOW, they'll lose the chance to own it when someone else buys it. "Fear of loss" is one of the most successful marketing motivators.
Have a small, attractive photo album of your work on a table at every party. This can trigger custom orders and make it easier for you to give suggestions. Expect questions about how you became a jewelry artist, for how long, places you sell, materials used, how it's made, and how you got to know the hostess. Interesting things said about your art, makes it more appealing. When you talk about one of your pieces, emphasize the benefits of owning the jewelry. Say something like "If you can take only one pair of earrings on a week's vacation, these pearls would be my choice! They go with everything and can be dressed up or down. And they'll never go out of style!".
Orders
For custom orders, be sure both you and the customer have a written and
signed copy of what you've agreed to. Specify delivery date with their
phone number and e-mail address. Always request payment in full at the
party, otherwise some will cancel later. Make payments easy; accept
Paypal, credit cards, or a few post-dated checks for larger amounts.
People spend more with credit cards. Give a delivery date beyond when you
expect to finish the order. That way you're covered if the order's late,
and if it's early, they'll be impressed.
Special Party Tips
1. Have the hostess choose pieces of your jewelry to wear (model)
during a party.
2. Have an area of under-$20 gift selections next to a sign that
reminds customers of people they need to shop for-daughters, mothers,
grandmothers, babysitters, teachers, coworkers, bosses, employees,
godmothers, goddaughters, clients, nieces, etc.
3. Give bonuses for individual sales at certain dollar levels.
For example, a guest who purchases $150 or more, receives a coupon for $10
of free jewelry purchased within 1 month (or free earrings or additional
$10 of jewelry, etc.). That way, customers who have chosen $149 or less of
jewelry will be motivated to buy one more item. And award a special prize
for customer with largest dollar-amount order! You might have bonuses at
price points of $50, $100, $150, and $200 for individual guest sales.
4. Each piece of jewelry should be part of a possible set. If you
don't have ready-made matching pieces, offer to make custom items to match
(they buy amber earrings, you offer to make a custom amber pendant or
bracelet).
5. Have a good supply of impulse add-on items, such as chains and
neck wires, inexpensive earrings, jewelry polishing cloths, etc. Adding one
such item onto each customer's total can really add up.
6. Everything should come with free elegant gift wrapping; it
doesn't need to be expensive. But elegant wrapping adds great value to
jewelry in your customer's mind. It also makes it easy for them to but the
jewelry to give as a gift.
7. Sell gift certificates for your jewelry.
8. Have the hostess call each guest the day before the party to
remind them to come, and to bring a friend with them. Making guests who
hadn't decided whether to attend, commit to the hostess that they're
coming. This is a great way to boost attendance from the party. Nearly
everyone attending will make a purchase.
9. As soon an incentive to attract more bookings, enter each
person who books their own home party that night in a draw for an
additional free jewelry gift certificate to use at her own party.
10. Give out brochures detailing the benefits of hosting a jewelry
home party. Make sure all party guests get one when they arrive, and give
them out when you do any kind of shows or other events. Keep some handy in
your car to give out on the spur of the moment.
Jewelry Party Hostess Incentives
The main reason people host a jewelry party is because they want free or
discounted jewelry. However, they are often hesitant because they think
it will be a lot of work, especially the catering. Therefore, tell your
potential hostesses it's not necessary to do much housecleaning or food.
You, the jewelry artist, will do nearly all the work - the party should be
fun for the hostess, who should socialize and enjoy shopping with her
friends for her free jewelry. If someone feels she couldn't host a party,
she can double up with another hostess or have a group party where each
person invites her own guest and gets credit for their purchases. As well
as the discount or gift, you can entice potential hostesses with a special
item only they can purchase - like a one-off design that everyone wants,
but only a hostess can buy. When someone books a party, send a nice
thank-you note as quickly as possible. This shows your appreciation and
commits them to going through with the party.
You'll need to determine your own scale for the free and discounted jewelry your hostesses earn, but these are some suggestions. To protect yourself, at least two people besides the hostess must purchase jewelry for it to be considered a party, and the combined guest total must be at least $100 for her to earn free/discounted jewelry. If these conditions are met, then the hostess receives a $25 gift certificate to spend at her party or use toward a custom order. Plus she gets discounted/free jewelry equaling 10% of her guests' pre-tax total of $100 to $799, or 15% of her guests' total of $800+. These totals do not include the hostess's purchases. Also give her another $10 for each party booked from her jewelry party, and an additional $10 if she has 20 or more guests. A printed discount voucher is the professional way to go.
Incentives for Repeat Jewelry Home Party Hostesses
Hostesses will often host again, especially if you make their first party
a good one, and if you give them an even better deal for future parties.
Send a handwritten thank you to your hostess, and mail it the day after
her party. Include an extra jewelry coupon that's good for only one
month.
Anytime you let people know you will donate part of their purchase price to a worthy cause, you will sell more-while you help others. Consider letting your jewelry home party hostess know that you will donate a percentage (10% is usually a win-win situation) of the party total to her favorite charity. That's incentive for her to get as many shoppers to her party as possible, and those shoppers will be more generous in their purchasing. And your donation is tax-deductible.
NOTE: Many MrBead customers fail to claim their wholesale discount on orders over $150. To see how to get up to 40% for wholesale beads in our store click here
The word Ruby comes from the Latin "ruber," meaning red. Ruby is the hardest mineral after diamond, a variety of the mineral Corundum, and is found as crystals within metamorphic rock. It comes in a variety of colors, and is called a sapphire in any color except red. Rubies range in hue from an orangey red to a purplish red, but the most prized gems are a true red. Large rubies are very rare and valuable. The most beautiful crystals are thought to be from Burma, but they are also found in many other countries.
Rubies were thought to represent heat and power. Ancient tribes used the gem as bullets for blowguns, and it was said that a ruby would boil water instantly. Ground to powder, this crystal was used as a cure for indigestion - and it has been said that the ruby's red glow comes from an internal flame that cannot be extinguished, making a gift of this stone symbolic of everlasting love. And if worn on the left hand, ancient lore has it that the ruby will bring good fortune to its wearer.
Carnelian is for confidence. Said to help blood disorders and eliminate toxins from the body. Carnelian is in tune with the energies of the Earth, making you feel comfortable with your environment. Allowing you to pause and reflect, while feeling settled and more secure. Carnelian stimulates the reproductive organs too; hence it's long use as a fertility symbol. It is also said to help creativity and have a clearing effect, replacing negative energy with positive. Making it easier to find direction and feel in control of your life.
A good stone for people starting new projects or who feel they are going nowhere. It motivates, allowing you to find the energy to make the most out of life. Carnelian is best for people with the zodiac sign of Leo, and for those born on a Friday. to top
To see all our carnelian click here
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