Approaching Shops and Galleries with Your Jewelry

Jewelry Consignment Checklist.

I hope this helps – and good luck with working with shops! I’d love to hear how it goes for you! 🙂

About a month ago, my mother’s friend had asked/invited me to have a jewelry party at her home to showcase and sell some of my work (it was my first time ever doing something like this – I’d say it was a huge success!)
To get to the point; my mom & sister were at a local flower shop when the owner of the shop was enamored with a pair of chainmaille “pinecone” earrings I had made for her birthday. The shop-owner has a display to show/sell local artists’ jewelry and she was adamant that my mom have me get in touch and bring some of my work to the shop.

Aside from the hundreds of questions I have, I’m most concerned with having all the necessities when I drop off some of my work. I could really use some help planning on what to have with me; business cards are a given.. and she had asked me to prepare an inventory list of the items I leave with her. I could use some tips on prepping an inventory list (as of yet, I’ve kept a loose record of my items because I’m not sure the best way to organize and execute the list). If anyone could offer any other tips for a first-timer in the consignment/wholesale area, I would be so grateful! Thanks!
Rich Yodis

For one gallery, I was asked to submit I think it was a maximum of 6 pictures on a CD along with a bio/CV, to which I attached my business card and any other printed material that I currently use. I also attached a page with a description and price list of the items in the pictures and a description of my working methodology. When they accepted my work, after a discussion with the gallery shop manager about displaying my work, I provided an earring rack and a black velour-covered display board to pin my necklaces and pendants to, and a stack of business cards. I believe I also provided one of those 5×7″ stand-up “menu cards” with a brief bio printed on nice paper to stand on the shelf beside my work. They kept the “working methodology” page in a binder along with my bio up at the counter along with all the other artisans’ bios in case any customer wanted more info, as well as for the salespeople’s benefit.

For two years, I was in an upscale gallery-type shop in a very small town (which unfortunately closed this past March). They said they wanted to advertise that their artists/artisans were exclusive to them, so to not put my stuff in other stores in that town, which was fine with me. They did extremely well at selling my stuff so it was a pity that they had to close. I’m currently in a store and an art gallery shop across the street from each other in another town, but each venue has completely different items at different price points, the art gallery obviously stocking the much higher-priced, more unusual items. They both know that I am also across the street, but again, with entirely different things. I also sell at a Saturday market in the same town, and if people are uncertain about choosing from what I have with me, I can always tell them that I am represented by the two stores downtown that are also open during the week.

The reason she doesn’t want walk-ins is probably because she finds it hard to say no to people in person, so you’re providing her with a very quick and easy get-out by simply handing over the envelope and making to leave. You never know, your winning smile might make her say “hold on – I’ll take a look now”. Or she might be grumpy, but you will sense that and skedaddle I am sure!

If you think visiting is not the way forward, I would definitely follow up the email or postal delivery with a phone call. Whilst she doesn’t want walk-ins, she mustn’t get away with just ignoring you!

1) Her employees liked them

2) Her customers would like them.

3) I had provided a wholesale price list and my price point fit her customers.

4) I submitted a short bio and her customers would like that I was a local artist. She ended up framing the bio and putting it with the display.