Jet of the Day - Art Made By Tammy

Why Aren't My Creations Selling?

Does it surprise you at all when that piece of jewelry you're most proud of sits in your shop and doesn't sell for weeks, or months on end?

Artisans, like musicians, generally create pieces that are stylistically similar, or share a common theme. The challenge for both is to get a new creation into the hands (or ears) of those who share the same appreciation of a particular style. It's a bit unrealistic to think that you could peddle an Andy Gibb album at a Megadeth concert, but I believe it's possible to cross stylistic boundaries in your online shop if you create different items that share a common color theme or design style. This is important because you're bound to have people who appreciate many different types of styles who find their way into your shop. If you only make green leafy earrings, for example, and a customer stumbles into your shop looking for blue leafy earrings, you've just lost a potential customer. Similarly, if they are looking for a green leafy necklace, you've lost another potential customer if you don't have any necklaces for sale. Yes, people can ask for a special order, but I believe most people will just click into the next shop to see if they can find what they're looking for there.










My point is that you can stay true to your genre, but you can also push the boundaries, and create things that might appeal to others, even if they aren't necessarily the things you enjoy yourself. I read recently that a bottled tea company that was losing money turned itself around when the owner decided to sell what his customers wanted to buy, rather than what he wanted to sell. Think about that for a minute. We all like our own creations, but what are the buyers looking for?

Create from the heart with passion & integrity.

Anything created passionately, and from the heart, will outshine any mass produced item available.












Create similar items that will appeal to as broad a range of people as possible.

Not all items will appeal to all potential customers, so it's important to offer as many different (similar) items as possible. Keeping to a common theme or style helps prevent an inconsistent, or non-cohesive look in your shop. Create similar earrings in different colors, or create earrings of the same color theme using different materials.

 

Offer items that span as great a price range as possible.

I'm not suggesting that you compromise, but the fact is that most shoppers looking for a $10 pair of earrings won't even enter your shop if your items are all $50 and up. I'm proposing that you use creative ways to get your creations the views they deserve. The $10 pair of earrings happen to be for a co-worker, but the shopper looking for them might very well be willing to spend $100 on herself -- the key is getting customers into your shop.










I haven't yet found a magic crystal ball, but hopefully these ideas will help get you thinking about different ways you can get (and keep) customers in your shop.

Have a Happy & Creative Day!

- Tammy

Jet of the Day - Adroit Jewelers

What do the holidays mean to you?

It is easy to get caught up in the commercial part of the holidays and to forget about what is most important – each other!  The best gift you can give is to spend time with your loved ones.  Tell them how you feel.  Have them over for a meal.  Decorate the Christmas tree together.  Go Christmas caroling.  (Sure, people still do that…or at least they should.)  There’s nothing like a gathering of tone-deaf cheerful souls spreading Christmas joy. ☺  And if you can’t be with your loved ones, find a way to be in touch. 

Traditions can be a nice way to celebrate.  We have a family Christmas party each year.  It’s a great time for everyone to get together and take a break from the busy-ness of life to actually spend time with each other.  I always encourage (i.e. make) everyone get together for a group picture.  We do a serious one and a fun one.  Here’s one from a few years back.  A bunch of us were missing that year, but we still had fun and this was our reindeer antler pose. ☺ 

It’s natural to want to give something special to someone you care about.  Creating handmade gifts is a great way to show your love in my opinion.  If you can’t (I would argue with that) or don’t have time to make something yourself, buying handmade is another great option. 

Genuine Sea Glass Love Pendant

Perhaps a gift that gives the feel of the past.

Silver Metal Fibula Shawl Pin

You can buy handmade for the men in your life, too.

Beautiful Agate Tie Tac

A one-of-a-kind gift for someone you’re not sure what to get.

Set of Four Napkin Rings - Genuine Sea Glass with Dragonfly

Whatever you decide to do, follow your heart and take the time to do those things you tell yourself you would do if you had time.  We need to take the time for the things and most importantly for the people that are the most important to us. 

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and the Merriest of Christmases with a special shout out to my wonderful JETS!  May you all make wonderful memories that will stay with you the whole year through. 

Thank you for reading!

Ida ☺

How the JETs Do the Holidays!

 

Come and see how the JETs do the holidays!

If you order from Pam at cooljewelrydesign, this is how your lovely gift will arrive! 

Your holiday goodies from Jems by JBandCompany  will come packaged in their signature earthy design with rattan ribbon and stickers stating their company tagline "Where Nature and Creativity Meet".

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells... That's what you will get with your packaging from Donna's Artisan Designs, Along with many other creative ideas that she comes up with to delight you when you receive you gift. (Even if it is from you it is still a gift!)

The lovely shop, A cup of Sparkle uses handmade packaging! And if this is not enough, Melike has a tutorial on her blog to teach you how to make this yourself.

I love the understated elegance that will envelop your lovely jewels when you order from Willow Creek Jewelry

Your Daily Jewels mixes earthy and holiday with her packaging of your gifts

From SilverSmack, your incredible goodies will come in this earthy, elegant packaging, with either a red or green ribbon

And from Art Made By Tammy, you would expect nothing less than a little piece of art when you open your mail, and this is what you will receive:

I cannot help myself, Yee Haw, I love this packaging from Lynn at TexasBeadz

Sending Love Gallery sends her holiday love to you just like this:

Sending Love's sister store, Love's Vintage Delights  is, obviously,  all vintage and  you can find beauties like this:

Which will come lovingly packaged like this:

Well, Rough Magic Holidays is a holiday store, so you would expect nothing less than gorgeous, festive holiday packaging from Mollie and you will not be disappointed! 

What's a holiday without decorations? I love this holiday copper tree topper from Rough Magic Holidays. 

The everyday packaging at SianKitty is so beautiful you will want to shop there year round just for this:

And Siany is including a handmade card for the holiday season!

Erin of The Eclectic Slide, one of our newer JETS, gets very creative with her packages, and she changes them every week!

Gift wrap is available at SophieLuck

Thank you for sharing a little of the holiday season, JET-style!

Have a great weekend.

Never Stop Trying

For all those sellers feeling discouraged and/or disappointed over lack of sales this Holiday Season



Have a wonderful and creative day,
Tammy

Gifts for the Anti-Metro-Sexual Man on Etsy

 

I don’t know about you, but I like my men a certain way.  I  don’t want to see my man  carrying a man-purse, (gasp), and a cowl neck scarf will not be under my man's Christmas tree.

Under no circumstance  would I ever ask my man to hold my purse, not even for one second. During a sad movie, if his eyes well up with tears, that's OK, more than this would worry me. One appointment at the spa, and I would seriously have to reconsider things.

I know I am a little over the top with my “rules” for the manly man, but this is just one woman’s opinion, and here I bring you one woman’s perfect Etsy.com gift list for him. My “him”; the manly man.

The manly man should get a new wallet every twenty five years, or so. I love this wallet. It is about as  kitschy as I would ever go for my manly man, but it makes the list for its strong sense of irony. It already looks 25 years old.  Not right for your man?  There are plenty of other appropriately manly leather goods to chose from on Etsy.

In Blue - on Etsy

Copper is on the manly man list of perfect material to make anything out of. I love this money clip that can double as a book mark. And it is made by a JET!  There are also lots of lovely things in Adroit Jewelers that a manly man could buy his girlfriend/wife for the holidays, (Frank). Fact: Most manly men know the current market price of copper piping on any given day.

Adroit Jewelers - on Etsy

This is on the list because it looks like it smells good and leathery and we all need a phone case.

Robbie Moto - on Etsy

This manly man briefcase is hand-stitched by LusciousLeatherNYC

Rugged leather; carried like a briefcase, the way men used to carry a briefcase,  no shoulder strap, hence, no mistaking it for a man purse.

The Curly Bottle Opener - This Hand Forged Church-key looks like it will last forever, thus, like a good wallet, meets the strict criterion for the manly man gift.

hammeronsteel on Etsy

About the only jewelry my manly man would wear is a wedding ring. And I cannot imagine one more perfect than this one by our own Smacky. It is has a masculine aesthetic, it is made to last forever, and it is affordable;  which, in my case, is important  because my manly man would most likely lose his now and then, and need a replacement or three. I need not worry, however, because my man will not be wearing this any time soon. We have only been together eight years. Apparently we still have to get to know each other.

SilverSmack - on Etsy

Cufflinks. Oh I do love cufflinks on a man. They have been a manly staple since before "metro-sexual" men's  grandparents were born.  Somehow, cufflinks get away with not being jewelry. Something about a man in French cuffs…

JET Team Mascot

This perfectly manly pair is made by the shop "Metalicious" on Etsy, where the manly man can find many other suitable items. And lots for his lady too.

Metalicious - on Etsy

If you go with a traditional gift of socks, look no further.  These handmade beauties look so comfy and warm (even though manly men are not supposed to feel the cold), and they are made in  Russia, an epicenter of manly men.

SockClub - on Etsy

The manly man is the picture of efficiency. Left to his own devices, my man would  use a bar of Dial soap to shower; and as deodorant, as shampoo, (well, he is bald, but for where his hair used to be), and to wash the dishes. Maybe even laundry in a pinch. Its funny, he always smells great!
So this, is perfect for the efficient manly man:
A belt/bottle opener:

Metalogical - on Etsy

Man-décor, please don’t get carried away giving his cave “the feminine touch”! No tchotchkes. No cafe curtains. However, if you are compelled to spruce his place up, try some vintage details or industrial design pieces. Etsy is filled with these items. At a shop called Hoof and Antler, you cannot go wrong.

HoofandAntler  (see what I mean?)

Contemporary Earth Art - on Etsy

I love these high ball glasses. The manly man does entertain. And when he is wearing his cufflinks he can serve drinks in these:

justbecauseshecan - on Etsy

A chunky cedar phone dock will fit into any manly man decor and cedar smells great with Dial soap.

woodtec - on Etsy

This is just a smattering of the endless gifts for men that can be found on Etsy.

My man needs nothing, uses nothing, wants nothing so he is not easy to shop for but Etsy is packed with suitable gift ideas for him. Just don't look for him wearing fingerless gloves anytime soon.


With love and smiles,
Norah