Comments on: How Can I Get Someone to Host My First Jewelry Party ?

By: Lynn

Lynn — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 02:28:47 +0000

Hi Monica, I’ve found that having a web site is no guarantee anyone will visit it or find it. You have to publicize it aggressively to attract visitors to it. So put your web site address on everything you can think of. For example, you could make up a simple insert with the address and a brief description of what you offer, and put one in all of your outgoing snail mail envelopes, including payments to your local utility company, bank-by-mail deposits, notes to your child’s teacher…you get the idea. Make sure your business cards have your web address on them. Leave one along with the tip every time you eat out in a restaurant. Ask your hair stylist if you can leave some of your cards with her to give out to her customers (if she agrees, gift her with a pair of earrings that her customers are sure to notice and comment on — the perfect opportunity for her to give them your card.) When you hand over a payment at the dentist’s office or veterinarian’s office, make sure you hand over one of your business cards at the same time. (It helps if the card features a photo of your jewelry!) Add a live link to your web address under your email signature. And if you don’t mind investing a bit of money to promote your web site, you can buy a magnetic sign for your car with your web address on it, or get a custom bumper sticker made through a site like CafePress or Etsy. If you belong to any arts or crafts groups that publish membership rosters, ask them to include your web site address in your listing. I’m sure you can probably think of many more ways to get the word out. These are just some methods that have have worked for me. Good luck!

By: Monica

Monica — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 04:17:21 +0000

I’m going through the exact same thing! There are days when I get discouraged l, and other days I pick myself up and keep it moving! Family and friends can only help so much. I do have a website but I don’t have much traffic. It’s a good website, I get compliments on my jewelry, so I’m puzzled as to why it has not taken off yet. It’s hard to get friends to support me, I’m having the same issue on Facebook. Can you guys share some insight on your opinions what you think of my situation?
Thanks,
Monica 🙂

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 20:45:33 +0000

Thank you so much everyone for you input. I do have a rewards program in a little brochure that i have handed out to a few people, but I think I will try to add some pictures of my items into and lead with the rewards part of it. I will have to also look up some of the local groups like girl scouts and such to see if anyone is interested. I live less then 5 miles away from a middle and a high school in my town, so maybe I can drop by and talk to the staff there as well.

Everyone has inspired me to not give up even when the going gets tough.
Kimberly

By: Phyllis C

Phyllis C — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 20:25:48 +0000

Make up a few flyers, with your email ( and phone number, if you want) I don’t give out my phone # to many people, but email is fine) Put a couple or 3 pictures of your jewelry on the flyer and then start handing it out – add some “catchy phrasing” “Great gifts!” “Whose birthday/anniversary is it next?” Things like that…… and then just start asking and giving a flyer whereever you shop, eat, talk to anyone!:) you would be surprised just who might be interested. Don’t let a “no” stop you; every no is just one step closer to a YES!!!!
Offer the host/hostess a gift ( or % of sales)(gift is better) or some sort of compensation……
Make parties short and sweet, remembering your host/hostess has to set it all up etc. Offer to help with mailing email invites, and/or give 1/2 sheets with the date, time, place etc. The less the host/hostess has to do, the better. Also, when you make a sale, put a flyer in the purchasers bag, and ask if they would like to host a party next. It works!! Got phone numbers and More importantly , get emails; followup with a thank you email, and ask when they might like to have a party :). If you make new jewelry, email your customers with a picture; great way to promote your jewelry. I have my EXCLUSIVE EMAIL list, and only previous customers are on it! They get first crack at anything I make, and they LOVE it!! Makes everyone special!
If you do shows, have the flyers at your shows and put one in everyone’s bag when they make a purchase. always have your name and contact information on it! Everything should have this information on it.
I started my Wine & Jewelry parties this way, and although it took awhile, it’s great fun Now, and I even have repeat host/hostesses who want to “have a little party” and I schedule about 3-4 months out! Good Luck! You can do it!

By: Diane Lithgow

Diane Lithgow — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 19:49:02 +0000

Kimberley
Have you thought about offering a group IE: Scouts, daycare, church mothers union, a showing of your pieces and offer them pieces to raffle at the evening. you could have a one off signature piece that will be your lucky draw host gift (everyone who puts an order in/buys something gets a ticket) and a event draw for all those attending. I dont sell much jewellery to sell but do sell occasional christmas balls and other items through our local art society exhibition (for about ten years-often only up to five a year) and have started selling handmade cards through a kindergarten. for every card sold they get 30% of selling price so the mums can see something coming back to them straight away. I also have now put some of my embroidered brooches for sale in the local art gallery and made my first sale.
hope that this helps.

By: Trixie Ricker

Trixie Ricker — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:49:30 +0000

Kimberly, I am in a similar situation, working full time and making jewelry in my spare time for the past 2 1/2 years. I decided to hold my own first jewelry party. I set up an artist page on Facebook, posted pics of my work, then invited close friends as well as friendly acquaintances via Facebook. One acquaintance who came offered to hold my second party. Don’t worry if you start out small because your first parties are learning experiences anyway.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 23:28:15 +0000

Hi Kimberly, here's a different way to position your jewelry parties to your non-jewelry-wearing family and friends: Everyone needs to give gifts throughout the year - and jewelry is often the perfect gift to give. The fact that these particular ladies don't wear jewelry themselves doesn't mean they wouldn't like to give your handmade jewelry as gifts to their loved ones. And if they could get a good bit of their gift shopping done (helped with the hostess bonus you'd offer them for having the party) - they could probably gather a nice group of guests who also need to purchase gifts (and may be jewelry wearers themselves). You can see details on hostess bonuses and other jewelry party particulars in this post: Jewelry Home Party Success Tips. Wishing you all the best with your jewelry parties, and let us know how it goes for you! :)

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 23:41:21 +0000

Kimberly,

I’ve been thinking through the same problem. I finally turned it around (how would I feel if someone asked me to host a home party?) and realized I was leaving out a key piece of information when asking people to host for me: what’s in it for the host? Is it a discount based on total sales or number of pieces sold, free pieces, a combination of these things? If you do kits, do you provide one free kit for a given number of orders? I haven’t had a chance to test my theory yet, but I know I’m more likely to host for someone else if I know and value “what’s in it for me?”.