Charity Jewelry Good Karma for Your Business

© 2004 by Laura Christensen Wells; all rights reserved.

Selling handcrafted charity jewelry is a wonderful way to make a positive difference in the world. And did you know that it attracts good karma to your business too?

Karma: /Kar”ma/,(Hinduism and Buddhism) – the effects of a person’s actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation. (Well, in this case let’s say it determines the destiny of your jewelry business!)

October was National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in the spirit of this, I just finished doing a benefit for this cause last Sunday. A percentage of my sales went to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer foundation.

While I rarely use pink in my creations and don’t wear it much myself, I made a few pink bracelets to represent the colored ribbon related to Breast Cancer Awareness. 100% of the money made from these little lovelies was to go to the cause.

I thought this charity jewelry would raise a nice little extra donation – and they sold like hotcakes!

After the last one sold there were customers returning to the table and asking for more. I also received requests via email. While I was happy to give 100% to the foundation during the event, I soon realized I couldn’t do this forever (we still have to make a living). So I decided to continue the 100% donation for the month of October but decrease it to 50% thereafter and make it a permanent part of my jewelry line.

Why would I do such a crazy thing? Because it is good karma. In other words, what you give is what you get. I believe I have been very fortunate in starting my jewelry business this year and have created some good relationships due to this school of thought.

Devoting a piece of jewelry to an important cause can be an opportunity to fulfill some of the following:

• Personal connection to the cause:
  While cancer and disease have touched most of our lives in so many ways, there are hundreds of other charities that may touch your heart too. Chose one that rings true with yourself. Instead of turning your friends into customers, you may turn your customers into friends.
• Associate your business name with a good cause:
  What better way for you and your business to be known. Your charity jewelry shows your customers that you are community conscious.
• Advertising:
  The best kind of advertising is word of mouth. Your charity jewelry is sure to be seen by many. Suddenly your work becomes a conversation piece with a cause, and attracts attention. Always give extra business cards to these customers to pass on to their friends.
• Plain old good feeling:
  Aren’t we all looking for a meaningful purpose in life? Pat yourself on the back and know that you’re doing a good thing!

Whether you are paying a few bills with your profits, or making a living, there is always time to listen to your conscience. We are so fortunate that we can use our talents for the greater good. Go out there and help others the way you know how to – make beautiful jewelry.

Author Laura Christensen Wells of Christensen Studio enjoys working with the ancient media of handcrafting glass beads and enameling objects in her Berkeley, California studio. Her jewelry is influenced by life experience, her Native Alaskan background, and travels to Italy and Australia. She also has a degree in environmental design and many years’ experience as an architectural designer.