Linda, thank you so much for sharing your system!

Also, have to say, I do not spend tons of time figuring out the cost of making a piece. I know the values of sterling vs copper or seed beads vs Swarovski and to me, trying to calculate the costs of individual beads is an exercise in futility if you can only sell it for a nickel. I say this loudly THE MARKET BEARS WHAT A PERSON THINKS IT IS WORTH TO THEM PERSONALLY. IT IS A LOVE AFFAIR OR A CONNECTION TO THE PIECE. Pricing becomes an experience.

Me & another jewelry artist are in an art gallery, most of which is singular artistic pieces (not too much replication)—people seem to like individual art design. Pricing is difficult for tags to fit various odd shaped pieces of jewelry requiring artist #, inventory #, price + a short description….because of a gallery setting plus show settings.

We have run the gamut of tagging, (tags get torn-lost-barbell not enough space due to gallery needs etc) but the most successful for us is using a Brother P-touch, smallest print, using the two line framework (I make a gold frame on the black tape with pretty gold flowers on each end with my specified two line writing In the middle) and ability to affix even odd shapes of jewelry with the label. Their plastic tape surpasses any paper, business cards etc with a nice sticky back to affix as much or as little as you want. We have to be able to remove them.

We make very elegant tags using the black Unistar tape from Amazon with the gold print about an inch and a half long so we can affix label to the backs of black velvet/plastic earring cards or remove the label and wrap around the back of a chain or a bracelet. We can lengthen if needed to reach around an item. So many options.

At our art co-op the on duty artist removes the inventory tag/label (cutting or peeling) and it is affixed to the daily gallery sales sheet for tallying.

This is a beautiful & elegant way rather than me trying to put so much info onto a hand written label that looks decent. A framed artist has a lot more space to put their info on back of the art.

Those same tags work well on the pop up types of marketing shows only I put the cut off tag on my yellow copy of the sales receipts. The person purchasing sees a quality tag which indicates pride in my product.

I found I have to put: #45 * EnpeCh w/Ea which is (45) on my FIRST LINE – is my artist number and my gallery description. En (enameled) Pe (pendant) Ch (chain) w/ (with) EA (earrings).

Hanging artists use descriptives “Pelican fishing” but jewelry is more difficult. SECOND LINE: (20-0094S) $145 =‘s ”my designated inventory number tying into my inventory sheet”, S for “set”, Ea-earrings, Br-bracelet; etc and of course $145 is price for the item(s).

So every time I make/take a new piece the next number might
(20-0095 Br) telling me it is the 95th piece I made and is a bracelet in 2020.

I can do this all In about 1-1/2” on two lines in clearly readable small print. It means: I am Artist 45, enameled pendant, chain, with matching earring, (20 is the year, 0094 is item and S means a matching set) and the price of $145.

I have long kept a 3 columnar sheet with date, (20 is like 2020) 0094 (is like the 94th piece of 2020) and I write what set consists of: pendant/chain bracelet/earrings in first column, description number in second column, price in 3rd column. Or any other notes, such as Ge for gemstone or WW for wirewrap or Et for etched, etc. JUST CODING, which I keep a coding descriptor table at top of inventory page in header.

I always skip a couple of lines between each new piece so I can go in later and record my sales as I receive them and make adjustments (writing in donations if I give, discounts – if I gave one. My net sales price after gallery takes the 25% consignment fees). Or if I take it out of Gallery to do an art fair.

Or if I am doing a pop up show, I so give it an abbreviated designation code. Shipwreck Beads Artisan Fair might be SWAF.

Every year I re inventory to allow for donations, gifts, things I want to pull out and put onto a sales table etc., change of pricing.

I do want to check out the inventory program though – first I heard of it. Might save me lots of time, but after frustrations of keeping a congruent system that works in all kinds of weather, places, etc. Hate losing labels. I find this works best for me and looks like the elegance in a jewelry store. The P Touch also can make larger signs such as TODAY ONLY – DISCOUNTED PRICE etc.

I could do this on the computer, but it is almost easier to do by hand because I carry a bag to the Gallery/shows as do my artist friends with my inventory sheets, p touch, earring cards, necklace/bracelet displays to make on the spot changes.

AS A SIDE NOTE: my beautiful Christmas gift from my sweet thoughtful daughter was a digital photo frame that I can have running pictures of my past work and for items people may want me to see or re-create expressly for them.

Just love it.