So several years after you started taking on a handcrafted jewelry hobby, you are probably now an expert in the craft. Perhaps your drawers and cabinets are overfilled with necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other trinkets. Maybe you have already run out of friends and relatives to give these things away. Now is the time for you to make money from your handcrafted jewelry by selling them.
For many hobbyists, taking the next step of making a pastime into a means of earning is an exciting phase. However, there are also many of those who could still be quite hesitant take their handcrafted jewelry hobby making to the next level because of many uncertainties that may come along the way. If such is the case for you, read on and discover how you could make your hobby not only pleasurable but lucrative as well.
Where to Sell Your Handcrafted Jewelry
For many people, selling would mean putting up a store or a boutique, but this should not always be the case for beginners. Building a shop can be intimidating, and not to mention risky, especially during the early stages. The best thing to do is to test the waters (i.e. the market) first before taking the plunge into a full-pledged handcrafted jewelry business. Here are some great venues where you can start up.
1. Handcrafted Jewelry Parties at Home - this is where many successful handcrafted jewelers start out. They invite their friends for some snack or dinner one afternoon or evening. As desert is serve, and small talk begins, you can show your guests your latest creations. Let them take a look and feel of your products. Have mirrors handy and allow guests to try your jewels out for size. This relaxed and friendly environment could be a great venue not only to take pride of your handiwork but also to sell them to people who are close to you.
2. Handicraft Fairs - after hosting some parties, you may now try to venture into the outside world, and a great place to do this is in handicraft fairs, where people of the same interest gather to look and shop for interesting finds. Fairs provide great settings novice jewelers as they provide good learning experiences such as the latest trends in the business. This is also where you could meet with potential contacts for your future handcrafted jewelry ventures.
3. Online Jewelry Shops - you may also take advantage of the convenience afforded by technology by selling your products online. The great thing about online shops is you could reach a wide market without having to leave your house. You may join an online shops that specialize on accessories or you may also sell you goods in online auction sites. For a minimal cost you could enter a vast ocean of potential customers. eBay is now a phenomenally popular site that sells everything from pets to computers, and you could greatly take advantage of his wonderful channel.
You may also put up your own website so that people would associate your products directly to you. Publishing and maintaining websites these days are no longer costly and considering how much you would earn with your handcrafted jewelry business, this could be a venture worth taking.
For How Much You Can Sell Your Handcrafted Jewelry
This is another area of handcrafted jewelry business that perplexes a lot of people, however it is actually very simple. You just have to take not of the costs of your materials, how much work you have placed on the crafts, and the overhead. To do this you need three steps:
1. List the cost all the materials and tools you used for making the jewelry.
2. Carefully think how much time and effort you gave to make your goods and decide how much you are willing to pay yourself. Perhaps in the beginning it is reasonable to pay yourself $10 or so for every hour you worked. You can increase this as your business grows.
3. Finally, take not of all the other expenses that is related to your jewelry making. This could include the rent of the stall in the trade fair you joined, or the website maintenance expenses, or the telephone charges you got from calling contacts. Usually, these miscellaneous expenses can be estimated by taking 25% of the your material and labor costs.
With these in mind you would know how much your goods are worth, so that you would neither overprice nor under-price.
Making money out of your handcrafted jewelry is not as difficult as it seems. With determination and hard work you could be earning from your hobby in no time.
Lee Dobbins, an avid jewelry collector, designer and dealer, hosts http://www.jewelerati.com where you can learn about all kinds of jewelry from vintage, to modern to unique handcrafted jewelry.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins
Monday, 1 February 2010
Sunday, 3 January 2010
The Indian Handicraft Industry
India is a land where exporting is much a necessity than a preferred choice. It is a highly populated land where commerce and business are the need of the hour. And then, India is also a leader in various fields, and the abundance of few specialized items can afford it to export such items. However, when we talk about the Indian Export Business, do we easily think of Handicraft industry? Not really, because Agriculture as a major export area is a famous and popular concept, overshadowing many other fields.
India is indeed one of the major exporters of handicrafts and gift items. Owing to a heritage of rich art and craft culture in ancient times, Indian Handicraft sector is recognizable for their most popular craft items like earthenware, pottery, woodwork, sculpting, scarves, shawls, textiles, embroidered and knitted goods, zari items, jewelry, etc. Indian Handicraft goods have a great demand overseas, as they are a perfect mix of traditional designs with modern techniques. The export of Handicraft items in India is growing exponentially, and so-much-so that it is emerging as the second largest employment generating sector after Agriculture. Hence, a large number of artisans are engaged in designing pottery and other craft work.
The Agriculture Export Business is increasing at a consistent growth rate and is spreading its wings to various nations. India has been exporting its products to USA, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, UAE, Canada, Belgium and others countries. From various exported handcraft items, few that are high on the demand list are Wood wares, Hand printed textiles, Shawls, Zari Goods, Imitation Jewelry, Crocheted Goods and more.
Another reason for the popularity of Indian Handicraft goods is the exceptional and varied design items. Consisting of 28 states, India offers an enormous range of handicraft products, where many states have their own handicraft USP. Following is listed the various Handicraft items and the Indian states they are associated with it.
• Wooden ware- Saharanpur, Hoshiarpur, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mysore, Madras, Kerala, Behrampur
• Marble and Stone Craft- Jodhpur, madras, Agra
• Zari Goods- Madras and Rajasthan
• Art Metal- Moradabad, Aligarh, Rewari, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Delhi, Madras, Beedar, Kerala, Jaisalmer
• Jewelry- Delhi, Moradabad, Kohima
• Papier Mache items- Kashmir, Rajasthan and Bihar
The Indian Handicraft goods are used for leisure pursuits and as a style statement. The manufacture of Handicraft goods is giving employment to many people in India, and has forged an unsurpassed reputation in the international market.
Indian Manufacturers: B2B India, yellow pages India, suppliers India are some of KRAs of Sanjeev Pandey who is associated with Bizedia.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sanjeev_Pandey
India is indeed one of the major exporters of handicrafts and gift items. Owing to a heritage of rich art and craft culture in ancient times, Indian Handicraft sector is recognizable for their most popular craft items like earthenware, pottery, woodwork, sculpting, scarves, shawls, textiles, embroidered and knitted goods, zari items, jewelry, etc. Indian Handicraft goods have a great demand overseas, as they are a perfect mix of traditional designs with modern techniques. The export of Handicraft items in India is growing exponentially, and so-much-so that it is emerging as the second largest employment generating sector after Agriculture. Hence, a large number of artisans are engaged in designing pottery and other craft work.
The Agriculture Export Business is increasing at a consistent growth rate and is spreading its wings to various nations. India has been exporting its products to USA, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, UAE, Canada, Belgium and others countries. From various exported handcraft items, few that are high on the demand list are Wood wares, Hand printed textiles, Shawls, Zari Goods, Imitation Jewelry, Crocheted Goods and more.
Another reason for the popularity of Indian Handicraft goods is the exceptional and varied design items. Consisting of 28 states, India offers an enormous range of handicraft products, where many states have their own handicraft USP. Following is listed the various Handicraft items and the Indian states they are associated with it.
• Wooden ware- Saharanpur, Hoshiarpur, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mysore, Madras, Kerala, Behrampur
• Marble and Stone Craft- Jodhpur, madras, Agra
• Zari Goods- Madras and Rajasthan
• Art Metal- Moradabad, Aligarh, Rewari, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Delhi, Madras, Beedar, Kerala, Jaisalmer
• Jewelry- Delhi, Moradabad, Kohima
• Papier Mache items- Kashmir, Rajasthan and Bihar
The Indian Handicraft goods are used for leisure pursuits and as a style statement. The manufacture of Handicraft goods is giving employment to many people in India, and has forged an unsurpassed reputation in the international market.
Indian Manufacturers: B2B India, yellow pages India, suppliers India are some of KRAs of Sanjeev Pandey who is associated with Bizedia.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sanjeev_Pandey
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Tips to Find Beautiful Handicraft Items For Your Loved Ones!
Artisans from time immemorial have showed their talent in paintings, sculptures and carvings. Even the cavemen have decorated their caves with paintings and pictorial representation. There is a greater demand for beautiful hand made decorative pieces. India is renowned world wide for its hand made objects. Khadi, handloom and pottery are quite popular among them.
Business to business directories have made it simpler for investors to reach out to these artisans and their hand made products. There is a galore of updates on trade shows and exhibitions, easy access directory of suppliers and manufacturers and much more. You can find beautiful bed spreads, hand-woven shawls, woolen shawls, pashmina stoles, bed spreads, embroidered table cloth etc. Sarees are beautifully hand woven, out of which silk and kanjeevaram types are the most renowned. Jaipur is known for its coloured glass work known as minakari work. You can get them customized to your needs.
Fine wooden work and intricate carvings can be found only in artisan's work. They are well versed in fine arts and carvings, you can show them a print of something you have liked and get them carved in the same pattern with intricate designs. You can spend hours in surfing through the items that have been handcrafted with much care and talent. These hand made paintings and sculptures are displayed in the online directories and some government emporiums offline. Such business to business directories find a platform for wholesales, suppliers, distributors, consumers and artisans. Buy and sell online and compare different products and its related prices.
In the field of garments, Indian garments have made a mark in the international arena. It is known for its intricate weaves & embroideries, printed & dyed fabric. Decorative items, table accessories, paintings, garden accessories, toys and dolls, paper made products are few of the other items which are found in display. In addition to this, if you are looking out for corporate products, find a variety of corporate gifts and business promotion products which are hand made.
Find updated products and services online. With the changing demands of customers, the handloom industry is changing accordingly. They always create some thing new every time, so that customers are hooked on to their products for a longer time.
Kirthy Shetty
Get all your tips related to Indian importers exporters:
Indian importers exporters
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirthy_Shetty
Business to business directories have made it simpler for investors to reach out to these artisans and their hand made products. There is a galore of updates on trade shows and exhibitions, easy access directory of suppliers and manufacturers and much more. You can find beautiful bed spreads, hand-woven shawls, woolen shawls, pashmina stoles, bed spreads, embroidered table cloth etc. Sarees are beautifully hand woven, out of which silk and kanjeevaram types are the most renowned. Jaipur is known for its coloured glass work known as minakari work. You can get them customized to your needs.
Fine wooden work and intricate carvings can be found only in artisan's work. They are well versed in fine arts and carvings, you can show them a print of something you have liked and get them carved in the same pattern with intricate designs. You can spend hours in surfing through the items that have been handcrafted with much care and talent. These hand made paintings and sculptures are displayed in the online directories and some government emporiums offline. Such business to business directories find a platform for wholesales, suppliers, distributors, consumers and artisans. Buy and sell online and compare different products and its related prices.
In the field of garments, Indian garments have made a mark in the international arena. It is known for its intricate weaves & embroideries, printed & dyed fabric. Decorative items, table accessories, paintings, garden accessories, toys and dolls, paper made products are few of the other items which are found in display. In addition to this, if you are looking out for corporate products, find a variety of corporate gifts and business promotion products which are hand made.
Find updated products and services online. With the changing demands of customers, the handloom industry is changing accordingly. They always create some thing new every time, so that customers are hooked on to their products for a longer time.
Kirthy Shetty
Get all your tips related to Indian importers exporters:
Indian importers exporters
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirthy_Shetty
Monday, 9 November 2009
Wood Carving and African Handicraft
For many years, the art of wood carving from Africa is known to be one of the most beautiful, natural and unique in the world. It has maintained its huge economic and cultural importance to the people of Africa in general and to the artists in particular. This art of wood carving is centuries old and is passed down form generation to generation. This enables the work to become not only consistent, but also better with time.
The exact impact of wood carving on culture differs from tribe to tribe. Among the Akan of Ghana and La Cote d'Ivoire the use of wood carving in symbolism is recognized right form family (Obusua) to the state (Oman) level. As an example, wooden stools symbolise power and authority. In Kenya, among the Kalenjin tribe, wooden clubs (Chepunyo) are carried only by circumcised men and their design varies from one age group to another.This culture is obeyed,sometimes in total disregard of ones high and powerful status in modern day society.Such is the power of wood carving in African culture.
The economic aspect of wood carvings, on the other hand, is a more recent development. With better communication among nations, and the onset of the internet in the nineteen nineties, the beautiful, unique African wood carvings acquired wider exposure to the outside world. They were marketed as home and office decors, gifts to loved ones and domestic utensils. They did not disappoint.
Many different types of materials are used in African Handicraft. Wood and soapstone are commonly used to make unique, exciting sculptures while baskets are woven from natural fiber such as sisal. In keeping with tradition, sculpting is done by men while basket weaving is done by women. Most sculptures take the form of animals and humans with close link to the country of origin. Even when African handicraft items are based on the same subject matter and design, the fact that they are handmade with simple tool, makes them very unique. No two items will be alike. Wood remains the most important material to the artists mainly because it is easily accessible. It is also relatively easy to carve items out of wood enabling the artists to express their thoughts more easily and freely.
However, do not be fooled that African wood cravings would not be of high quality just because they are made from some natural material and with simple tools. The wood is either soft or hard - Both types have their own bads and goods. Whether the wood used is soft or hard, does not affect the quality of the end product. The final product will be something you will be extremely proud to show off.
The purchase of unique, original African wood carvings is on the rise because the products are truly exquisite and one of a kind piece of art. They are made from materials local to the country of origin by very talented and hardworking citizens of Africa. Just one look at these beautiful creations will assure you that you are not only in the presence of a beautiful handicraft but also something which represents African culture, history and heritage.
About the author
Dr. Aggrey Marami has special interest in wild animals and culture. He has lived in close proximity to wild animals for years. For more amazing facts about African handicraft and culture visit:- http://www.ammarami.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aggrey_Marami
The exact impact of wood carving on culture differs from tribe to tribe. Among the Akan of Ghana and La Cote d'Ivoire the use of wood carving in symbolism is recognized right form family (Obusua) to the state (Oman) level. As an example, wooden stools symbolise power and authority. In Kenya, among the Kalenjin tribe, wooden clubs (Chepunyo) are carried only by circumcised men and their design varies from one age group to another.This culture is obeyed,sometimes in total disregard of ones high and powerful status in modern day society.Such is the power of wood carving in African culture.
The economic aspect of wood carvings, on the other hand, is a more recent development. With better communication among nations, and the onset of the internet in the nineteen nineties, the beautiful, unique African wood carvings acquired wider exposure to the outside world. They were marketed as home and office decors, gifts to loved ones and domestic utensils. They did not disappoint.
Many different types of materials are used in African Handicraft. Wood and soapstone are commonly used to make unique, exciting sculptures while baskets are woven from natural fiber such as sisal. In keeping with tradition, sculpting is done by men while basket weaving is done by women. Most sculptures take the form of animals and humans with close link to the country of origin. Even when African handicraft items are based on the same subject matter and design, the fact that they are handmade with simple tool, makes them very unique. No two items will be alike. Wood remains the most important material to the artists mainly because it is easily accessible. It is also relatively easy to carve items out of wood enabling the artists to express their thoughts more easily and freely.
However, do not be fooled that African wood cravings would not be of high quality just because they are made from some natural material and with simple tools. The wood is either soft or hard - Both types have their own bads and goods. Whether the wood used is soft or hard, does not affect the quality of the end product. The final product will be something you will be extremely proud to show off.
The purchase of unique, original African wood carvings is on the rise because the products are truly exquisite and one of a kind piece of art. They are made from materials local to the country of origin by very talented and hardworking citizens of Africa. Just one look at these beautiful creations will assure you that you are not only in the presence of a beautiful handicraft but also something which represents African culture, history and heritage.
About the author
Dr. Aggrey Marami has special interest in wild animals and culture. He has lived in close proximity to wild animals for years. For more amazing facts about African handicraft and culture visit:- http://www.ammarami.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aggrey_Marami
Thursday, 17 September 2009
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