newbie with questions

MissyK · 04-18-2010, 03:58 PM

I recently started making my own jewerly. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings. I have had people inquire on my jewelry. My questions are these:
Do you all have a name for your buisness? If so, how did yo come up with it? I"m stumped at coming up with a name.
2nd, do you accept credit cards and if so, how does that work?
3rd, where do you get most of your sells? Internet, craft fairs, home parties.

I just found this site and think it's great. I've been googling all day trying to come up with a site like this.
I found the thread on pricing jewelry. That was really helpful.

Heidi52974 · 04-19-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissyK

I recently started making my own jewerly. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings. I have had people inquire on my jewelry. My questions are these:
Do you all have a name for your buisness? If so, how did yo come up with it? I"m stumped at coming up with a name.
2nd, do you accept credit cards and if so, how does that work?
3rd, where do you get most of your sells? Internet, craft fairs, home parties.

I just found this site and think it's great. I've been googling all day trying to come up with a site like this.
I found the thread on pricing jewelry. That was really helpful.

Welcome!

First, I went through a few names before I decided on mine. I guess you need to decide what type of jewlery you like making the most and try to think of a name that goes along with it.

Second, I sell through Etsy, so people can use paypal to pay or I also allow money orders. Of course, I don't ship until I receive payment.

Third, most of my sales are through friends and family right now. I've just started selling on Etsy, and I'm going to do a few craft shows this summer. I've only recently turned my hobby into a start of a business.

Hope this helps!

Heidi

envyjewels · 04-21-2010, 09:20 AM

I do have a name for my business...it went through a long process

things to consider are: online availability, simple spelling and easy to remember for people searching online and also just to remember you. And the biggest, make sure your name does not limit you. Meaning, if you get too specific, and then change your medium, your name won't work for you anymore. My name (envyjewels) lets people know what I'm selling without being specific on materials used. You may start out stringing and then fall in love with wire wrapping!

I don't accept credit cards yet....it's too expensive, although I'd love to have it for local shows! I have an etsy store where I can accept paypal. Because I don't take credit cards, I accept checks. But I'm from a relatively small city and have never been burned.

As for selling venues...I do festivals and craft shows locally and our farmers market that runs for 6mos of the year. I have small children, so traveling for shows isn't really realistic right now. I do home jewelry parties when I can get them (can be very profitable) and I have 2 wholesale accounts for local boutiques. I do have an etsy site and am working on my website. When I first started out I decided to focus on local sales because I was intimidated by the competition online. Now that I have a great local client base and venues I love, I'm trying to branch out online.

HTH...Good luck

MissyK · 04-21-2010, 06:41 PM

Thanks for all the advice. I guess for now I'll just concentrate on working on my pieces and hopefully a name will "pop". Well, I can hope. Taking checks seems a little scary for me. I too,live in a small town, but I do childcare and have had to deal with several "bad" checks. I was thinking of doing home parties too. That way, I can plan things and find a grandparent to watch my little ones

IT's not always easy trying to get things accomplished with at 5 and 3 yr old.

MissyK · 04-21-2010, 06:46 PM

Oh, do you work on jewelry everyday? If so, for hours or whenever you can squeeze it in? I try to do about 2hours/day when the kids take their afternoon naps. I have a little work station right near where the kids sleep so I can hear them waking up,plus I can keep my work out. I was working on the kitchen table which was a pain. Sometimes, I no sooner get the things out and ready to go, I'd have to pack it all away again. My favorite is doing earrings. They go pretty quick. I do more bracelets then necklaces.

envyjewels · 04-22-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissyK

Oh, do you work on jewelry everyday? If so, for hours or whenever you can squeeze it in? I try to do about 2hours/day when the kids take their afternoon naps. I have a little work station right near where the kids sleep so I can hear them waking up,plus I can keep my work out. I was working on the kitchen table which was a pain. Sometimes, I no sooner get the things out and ready to go, I'd have to pack it all away again. My favorite is doing earrings. They go pretty quick. I do more bracelets then necklaces.

I'm a SAHM of two boys ages 4 and 2yrs. My oldest is in school every second day but the younger one isn't napping any more so I don't get down time during the day. I have a studio set up in our basement where I do most of my work, but I do bring up a project once in a while so I can spend time with my dh in the evening. I don't make jewelry everyday, mostly because I only have the evenings to do both jewelry and handle the business stuff. Once my market season starts I'll get 6hrs of kid free time every saturday to create

Heidi52974 · 04-23-2010, 07:31 AM

I have three in school and two at home (13, 9, 7, 4, and 2). I do most of my work at night when the kids are in bed, but I have a little tote with compartments that I'll keep whatever project I'm working on at the time in, so I can sit outside while the kids play and work, or watch TV with my hubby and work. I have to work on my stuff everyday or I'll go through withdrawal, lol.

DangerMouse · 04-29-2010, 02:53 PM

Heck, why not just use "Missy K's"? Or "Missy Kay's" as a business name?
They're easy to say AND easy to remember....
However, if you google it, you would find "Missy K's Boutique & Consignment Inc., but also Missy K-North America's Best Adult Sex Toy Store! So... maybe not..... LOL

DM

HempJewelryWorld · 05-26-2010, 12:24 AM

When you come up with a website name you typically want a name that lets people know what your website is about before they even go there. Just think of a name that describes your website

You can use paypal to accept credit cards / e-checks etc. Google checkout is another option but paypal is free while google checkout costs $100+ per year i believe

**Rasha** · 07-29-2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HempJewelryWorld

You can use paypal to accept credit cards / e-checks etc. Google checkout is another option but paypal is free while google checkout costs $100+ per year i believe

Paypal is free to sign up but takes out about 3% of each sale in Paypal fees. But it's still much cheaper than having your own merchant account (account to accept credit cards). Paypal really is the easiest way to go with selling online.