April 20, 2010

Selling Jewelry to Boutiques




Are you tired of setting up at shows or sitting outdoors when the weather is unpleasant? Perhaps you’re just interested in forming more consistency to your design business with regular customers who purchase several items at a time. If so, then marketing to boutiques might be for you.


Before making this decision; however, ask yourself a minimum of the following two questions:





Karen Meador

Making a Boutique Your Customer Part II




Prior to approaching a boutique or gift shop about your product, plan an expedition to search for a store that might be a good fit with what you make. Visit the store first as a potential customer getting information about the type of merchandise the boutique offers.
Karen Meador

Making a Sale to a Boutique: Part III



Following your initial contact with a boutique or gift store, give the owner about a week to explore your website or any other information you provided. Then make a phone call to find out if the owner has found anything in that information that you might bring by the store. Do not expect the store owner to call you. Often, the person has not thought about or looked at the information you supplied. Your phone call is a chance for you to say that you understand how busy things get, but to say that you really wanted to let the person know about the new pieces you’ve done since you were in the store. Just talk about what you’re making and the enthusiasm you’ve received in other venues. Hopefully, the store owner will realize that you should bring your product to the boutique. If so, ask if there is anything in particular that you need to bring. For example, are customers looking for more bracelets or something in a specific color?

The Blog Has Moved!

The Ask Szarka Blog has moved onto the www.MagpieGemstones.com website. The old posts will remain here and they are also on the other site at this url.

http://www.magpiegemstones.com/jewelrymakersblog.html

There have been many additional blog articles posted as well.

The name of the blog has also changed to "Jewelry Makers Blog". I began to add articles that were not questions from prominent jewelry designers in the field.

Come on over and check out the new blog posts.

Szarka