Newsletter July 29, 2009

The Jewelry Crafter

A newsletter for the home jeweler

This newsletter will be published every 2 weeks, and will include hints and tips for your jewelry business. Any feedback or comments about the topics presented here are always appreciated. Click here to e-mail us.

If you have an idea for an upcoming article, or would like to submit an article for the newsletter, please contact us. Anyone who submits an article will receive a permenant link to their website in a special section of our link pages.

This Weeks Sponsor:

Trunk Shows

by

Mary Harvey

Many of you do art and craft shows to sell your creations. But what do you do when there aren’t any shows in your area, or it’s the off season? You put on your own show.

While at the gym the other day, I saw a notice on the bulletin board about a jewelry showing to be held on the following Saturday.  The gym donated the space, and the artist would set up a display of her jewelry.  A portion of the proceeds were to be donated to the gym’s child care room.

These jewelry showings, or trunk shows, can be very profitable. Think about it - no competition, great exposure, and a steady stream of customers. It’s a great way to get your name out there, and help out a charity or organization. 

Look around - there are all sorts of places where you could put on a trunk show: the local gym, library, beauty salon, coffee shop, hospital gift shops, etc. The possibilities are endless. All you have to do is ask.

Some places will charge you a flat fee to set up a display, others will take a commission. Sometimes, they won’t charge a fee at all if you donate a portion of your sales to their organization or favorite charity. 

The key to success for a trunk show is advertising. Put up fliers, do a mailing to your customers, contact local newspapers or television stations to list your show in the community events section, etc. If you are donating a portion of your sales to charity, sometimes newspapers will do a story on you. The more publicity, the better your chances of a profitable show.

So, if you mainly do art and craft shows and fairs, try something different - try a trunk show. It’s a great way to increase your sales and get your name out there.