Comments on: Our Beaded Cluster Rings Won’t Sell: Any Suggestions?

By: Caroline

Caroline — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 12:24:02 +0000

It looks like the beads you are using are from craft stores like Michael’s. You can get higher-quality beads for less money than traditional craft stores if you look online or at bead shows where you can buy from wholesalers. When you do the math you’d be surprised at how expensive craft stores actually are! You could keep your prices the same and use higher-quality materials and make a better profit!

I also couldn’t agree more about product display having a major impact! Good luck!

By: Dodi

Dodi — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 05:07:53 +0000

Hi
I thought your rings would make beautiful scarf additions! Use a soft scarf maybe the crinkle kind and run both ends through the ring, adjust and wear around your neck. It could also be used with a long scarf and more than one ring and multiple colors for a belt. Use the same beads for earrings and sell them as a set. This would up the perceived customer value and the cost would still be the same for you. Since they are adjustable the rings could be used for purse zipper pulls with extra dangling beads. Another great idea for the adjustable ring is on a bracelet or hair fob.
Hope this helps.
Dodi

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 09:24:43 +0000

The picture frame idea is good. But the clusters became a blurr, after looking at them in a very short time. Maybe you could sell your display frames to customers. Different sizes to fit an array of places.

I was thinking you might display your items where women are going to wear them. Their wrists, ears, fingers, neckline, toes, ankles, etc. Maybe something special hanging from your clutch purse, wrap, coat or maybe in your hair. Displaying those parts could make a person wear something in a different place. Come out of her shell alittle or maybe a lot.

Small individual display areas you could use, like a hand and forearm with solid color cloth around it. Making sure, the first and only thing that catches the customers eye, is the items.

Changing your display design, showing your things in a different way, will also get you motivated without even knowing your doing it after awhile, that your checking out what the competition is doing. If I truly want one of her items, I would of had no problem paying what she was asking. Let the young girls buy on whimms.

Anyway, I just rambled on and off what I wanted to suggest. Plan for upcoming holidays, prepare for the season. Design your displays for those special events that we women should take longer to get ready for.

Put ideas in peoples heads that could use a little knudge. Power of suggestion is a good thing for both sides. But don’t be eager or pushy. Nancy

By: Brenda

Brenda — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:34:38 +0000

Thank you everyone for your plentiful and generous suggestions and insight. I will take all of them into consideration and see what I can do about getting some sold! Denise, thank you for the compliments on my display of rings. However, that isn’t the way I would normally display my rings. Normally I would display them on pretty glass cake plates so people can try them on. The photos are actually a layout I was trying to put together for a make shift catalog to be sent via email to friends and family for viewing and ordering.

By: Dianne

Dianne — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:19:51 +0000

In my opinion and experience, Vicki is spot on along with Jeannie. Go for sterling and even copper which is huge right now. Lynda has a good idea too as more and more people want to learn how to “do” rather that just buy. It also gives them more of an appeciation of what it takes. I have had several women come to a class and now they are customers (spending $$$) because they realize that it is not as easy as it would first appear, nor do they have the time to commit. At any rate classes are a lot of fun!

By: baglasslady

baglasslady — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:22:58 +0000

I think you are looking for a venue in which to sell, when maybe the question you should be considering: “Is this a viable product that will sell?” It’s the same question each of us who sell our designs have had to ask at some time or the other and face the response if we wanted to have a viable product to sell. Otherwise, you have a lot of “gifts” to give away to friends.
You didn’t mention whether you’ve sold any of your rings? To whom? At what price? Where was the sale made? Friends and familywhile they love and want to encourage us, are not necessarily good indicators of a products viability. It’s when others who don’t love us put their $$ on the table that tells us we are on the right path.
Good luck!

By: S. Gerchman

S. Gerchman — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:14:38 +0000

Here is one more thought. Can customers pick them up and try them on? Are they available to do that? Maybe you can have one of each type set out separately for trying on. I know when I take my grandaughter shopping she definitely has to try it all on. Me too…..with all the new ideas I hope you have better success in future sales!

By: S. Gerchman

S. Gerchman — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:09:26 +0000

Clusters are so pretty and so popular. Checkout the rings on etsy, see what others are doing and saying about their cluster rings.
There is truth in what Denise and Jeanine say.
So much competition in the mall stores where young and old alike can purchase very nice costume jewelry very cheaply, and today, I am not sure whether the word ‘handmade’ means much to the teen and 20’s crowd.
For instance, in our large mall, one very popular store displays lots of jewelry for 1.50, 2.50, for earrings, rings, necklaces, that the young crows and tweens love to wear.
Maybe a little tag on each ring to indicate the type of bead might impress….
Keep trying different ways to display, wear them yourselves, hand displays, etc. Put each on a little card, so many things you can do……

By: Margaret

Margaret — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:07:22 +0000

I like Julie’s idea, however — instead of adding the ring on to another sale, try adding another item to the ring. Make a matching or coordinating pair of earrings, which can be done at about any price level. Advertise “One Pair Coordinating Earrings at Half Price per Ring Purchase” or “One Pair Free Coordinating Earrings with Each Ring.”

By: Denise Smith

Denise Smith — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:38:50 +0000

Although your display is very creative, it’s hard to tell that those are rings and not just an assembly of beads. After developing and directing a large art center, I’ve found that display is everything. Price has less to do with sales than attracting attention with a display that causes the customer to fall in love with the piece(s). Try a display that makes it obvious that those are rings and add some targeted lighting to make them sparkle brightly and you’ll sell well. Don’t attempt to compete with the cheap from overseas. Your work is above that. Talk that way… act that way. Don’t apologize for quality!
Also, make it possible and inviting for the customer to try them on. Once they have it on their finger…

By: Jeanine C

Jeanine C — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:20:41 +0000

You may need to up the quality of materials and price to attract the right buyer. Try sterling silver instead of silver-toned. Also, spend some time defining your target audience.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 02:01:30 +0000

As previously stated – homemade jewelry tends to be more expensive than the less-costly alternatives provided by slaves in third-world countries. Although I haven’t got much experience with marketing and sales, I do have a few suggestions that MAY work.

1. Try creating cluster rings that match other items you have made, and when you sell one of the other items, suggest the ring to match. (Add-on, I believe the term is.)

2. Maybe try pushing a deal for one of your shows (buy 1 get 1 1/2 off, or whatever you feel is appropriate.) That, or even use this with the above suggestion (buy such and such necklace and get the ring for 1/2 off, or whatever.)

3. Try and show why your’s are more unique and a better buy. Explain to the customers what they’re made of, and why they’re better than the others (without being too negative about the other alternatives available – this can have a negative affect on the customers opinion I believe.) Maybe photograph someone wearing them and blow them up? Try and discover the needs of the customers, and use their needs as a base to explain why they should buy one of the rings.

4. If you realllly can’t sell them, I read a good comment on this website somewhere about grab bags, you could always do that and have the rings inside them!

By: Lynda

Lynda — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:08:46 +0000

I agree that independent jewelry designers have to constantly aware of what, when, where, how, and who to sell to, especially in these hard economic times.

One of my consignment shops is right next door to a resale shop that puts out tables of cheap jewelry and accessories that sell for $1.00 each. Tough to compete with that, for sure. I concentrate my designs for that shop on high quality, handcrafted designs, including ear wires, with the best stones, pearls, and beads I can afford. I want the contrast to be remarkable and people to know they are getting what they pay for. Both stores have their appeal to different groups of shoppers and my jewelry is doing quite well there.

As to your fun flirty rings…would they be a possible jewelry party idea? Would ladies be able to learn how to make them? With a little assistance from you? They might pay $15-20 dollars for an evening of socializing and fun jewelry making.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:27:19 +0000

I fear that the difficulty with many of our wares is that there is always a cheaper version made of plastic by slaves somewhere in China. In the current financial climate we have to change our clientelle rather than our prices.