Comments on: Sell Jewelry by Color Groupings or Not?

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 06:00:20 +0000

In reply to Pam. Here's another interesting post here on JMJ, related to the original post above: Visual Merchandising - Display by Color.

By: Pam

Pam — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 04:58:46 +0000

Thank you! I am totally done with Etsy though. I’ve had three different shops with completely different items, one was my art dolls (The artful Doll by Pam Gari on FB) Rockabilly style accessories, and my jewellry. There is too much favoritism, hipster and otherwise, and then there is that group that seems to do nothing but scour the site for what they think are copies or resellers and they will harass the poor soul to insanity. They were on WordPress, and while I had no problem with their reporting of resellers, the backbiting and just general mean spirited way that they attacked, sealed the deal for me. I did not want to become one of their victims. I’ve done very well at market, but I’m too disabled to set up and break down 5 days a week, and I really am offended when people offer me less than the price on the tag, they seem compelled to do this! Once I’m in and settled in my brick and mortar shop I’ll take pix and will follow your advice, I’m still considering Shopify, but for now I think I’ll just give Sales Cart a chance as it will allow a customer to purchase using their phone right in the shop via Paypal, and I won’t need to pay bank fees for a card reader. I’m hoping that having an actual store will lend credibility to my work,and allow me the freedom of not having resellers of cheap plastic imitations all around me to have to compete with. Again thank you for the time you took to answer me!

By: Narissa

Narissa — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 16:22:54 +0000

Hi Pam, I have arranged my ETSY shop by item – Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets… which works well.
Since almost all of my pieces have all the colours now, when I’m at a market I display matching pieces near each other but still tend to group by item.
As for online, I love ETSY as a selling platform. I don’t even use a shopping cart on my website, just images and links to my ETSY. When you list an item with ETSY, in the items description you can put a link to a matching piece. As in this listing:
etsy.com/ca/listing/171737213/chakra-necklace-with-heart-pendant-7?ref=related-0
I link this way with pretty much every item as it keeps people looking around longer.
You can also add a “Sets” tab and try it, change anytime.
Hope this helps 🙂
Narissa

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:57:34 +0000

I have a question for Narissa.. When I finally get myself settled and set up should I make color “albums” for Facebook, this way I can add or delete photos, or is there a better way. Websites just make me cry, I was going to try a Shopify store, but the set up… anyway I decided to use Shopping Cart and will finish figuring that out once I have items for sale on the page. SO albums by color, plus separate albums for sets and art pieces, or group into albums by type…. help please? 🙂

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 11:23:00 +0000

Although I’ve never been seen enough to sell anything online, I did have a very successful market stall in West Australia open 5 days a week. I simply made my displays look like a posh jewelry shop. One thing I DID notice is that sets don’t sell! I usually make an evening wear set that includes matching bracelet, earrings, and necklace, and people were constantly trying to break up the sets! Although I do use busts I also cover art canvases with black velvet to make hanging boards! Here touching does NOT mean that they will buy, and I refuse to sell rings anymore because of how many were forced on and then stuck! Market buyers can be very rude with handling and also trying to “bargain” evidently feeling that since I made it, it was free, or somehow worth less than if they went to a brick and mortar shop. I am soon to be moving to one of those, and also setting up my Facebook page to sell and those I will try to group by color since it’s been advised by an expert and SEO and I have never been friends! Thanks for all the good advice!

By: Stacy Saman

Stacy Saman — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 14:24:15 +0000

Here is yet another point of view: I make more than just jewelry! To add to the computers in, I have cards, screenprinted and sewn clothing items, pillows, key rings, pin back buttons of all sorts, handmade soap; and all of it, including jewelry, a mix of spooky kitch, goth, Victorian and “normal”. I love the idea of grouping things by color, but in my case for example, one side would be all black, banana display would be red and white (exaggerating a bit, of course). I have group things by like items. The display just for cards. I display of bracelets. Rings by themselves, perhaps next to pillows. I always make sure to put my Best selling items near the front of my booth, or at least you of everything near the front, and then inside it’s sort of like an organized attic. Some people do say they find it overwhelming, because I have so many things, and I need to find a way to simplify for sure, but if you sell more than just jewelry, definitely group similar items together. at least that’s how it’s worked for me! I like the idea of thinking in regards to search engines versus live shows. More than all of this, more than organization, color versus style versus type of jewelry, the main thing I found is customer service! Listen to the conversations. If you hear someone talking about something they’ve watched on TV, like Downton Abby, direct them nicely to something that would remind them of that. Talk, talk and more talk! Some people find it a tiny bit annoying, and I always apologize, but I find more than that, I build relationships and returning customers, and sometimes friends!

By: Margaret Wellman

Margaret Wellman — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 06:35:17 +0000

My husband had suggested color grouping but I was against it as I wanted each piece to stand on its own merit. Having read all your comments I think I will give it a try at my next show.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 04:30:18 +0000

In reply to Maryanne Murphy. Maryanne, it's so nice to see you again! Wishing you all the best as you get into doing a few shows again. Please give your Mom a hug from me.

By: Maryanne Murphy

Maryanne Murphy — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 03:26:17 +0000

The answers to all my jewelry questions are always here “at Renas.”!

After 4 years of running back and forth from Atlanta to Maine to care for my parents life is hopefully stabilizing and giving me the opportunity to once again do a couple of shows.

Shows make me crazy because there is so much to consider. The wheels in my head just keep spinning with all the details that have to be considered.

I thought it would be a good idea to divide everything by color but just wasn’t quite sure and now I know that IS the way to go!!! Yeah!!!

My life, as I care for my 89 year old Mom has changed drastically. It is an ongoing journey from having a beautiful large home studio to living in a jewelry studio which is also my bedroom. I’ve had to explore different ways to store everything in this new environment which is still a work in progress as I keep refining my storage containers for what works best in my new environment.

By: Karen Watson

Karen Watson — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 16:38:55 +0000

Personally, I prefer to have things organized as to colors. That’s the way I organize my closet, so when I am in the mood to wear a specific color, I can go right to it, then can go to my jewelry and choose something complimentary. I try to keep my jewelry supplies organized as to color, semi-precious, crystals, seed beeds, etc. Right now, they are a bit scrambled, because they are scattered in several places in the house, but I dream of the time when it can all be in it’s place. So, if I was to do a display at a show, it would be according to color, and color organized as to value, higher at the top, on down.

By: Anne Lise

Anne Lise — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 12:08:26 +0000

Thank you for your great tip Dennise Larson! I’ll try that

By: Dennise Larson

Dennise Larson — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 23:36:38 +0000

Tried this and lost! The colors get lost when grouped together. What I’ve tried that works is to group these: ethnic, evening, simple strings, chained things (like rosary style wire work,) chunkies… This works best for me and keeps customers longer.

By: Anne Lise

Anne Lise — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 18:06:21 +0000

What a great post! Thank you for sharing!
I haven’t thought about this at shows before… I did have color coordination in my Etsy-shop for a while. But I found out that the first color I showed in my shop, did have everything to say about selling or not selling. If a person did not like the color I put first in my shop – the person would most likely leaving the shop rather than look at the rest.

But in a show however… I just have to try this out! I have been attenting two shows this fall – and they did not come out just the way I hoped… So next year I will try to group like colors. 🙂

By: Elsie Anderson

Elsie Anderson — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:49:07 +0000

I like to group like colors or complimentary colors together on a display. At one show, I had a display bust with 4 green necklaces in a variety of lengths, stones and shades of turquoise, malachite, etc. A gentleman asked how much for ‘that’ and he wanted the entire group for his wife. People will also often buy more than one when grouped this way, or they chose one in the grouping as they can see the different necklaces all at once. As soon as they show interest, I explain that they are separate pieces that can be purchased separately or in a group of 2 or more.

By: Sandy Kane

Sandy Kane — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 18:26:25 +0000

Wow, great post and thoughts from everyone. I have done a half dozen shows and each was different. I tried to put ‘like’ or complimentary colors near one another to make a more harmonious display, but I agree with Evelyn about keeping bracelets, rings, earrings on their own displays. I have a cool rotating black metal earring display (under $20 on amazon), I used it for the first time last month and it was a hit. I sold more earrings than anything else. I find the black velvet necklace displays are pretty, but customers are more likely to buy if something is casually laid out on the table and they can pick it up. I’ve read that a person is more likely to commit to a purchase if they touch an item. I know from my own shopping experiences once I’ve touched or tried on a piece of jewelry my heart is already aching for it! (sorry if this is a little off topic, I know we were talking color groupings here!) Hope some of this is helpful. Best of luck!!

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 16:42:10 +0000

Loved Narissa’s analytical input! We’re kindred spirits I think. I find that when I shop online I am usually on a mission as opposed to shopping for the fun of it or looking for just the right thing for myself or for a gift. Most of my online shopping is for materials and therefore much more analytical in approach. Browsing through a craft show is different. Part of the experience are the surprises in the next display. I like having my jewelry displayed by color, especially on my earring boards, but I seldom put my bracelets with my necklaces. I have bracelet bars so people shopping for bracelets can see everything at once. I will try putting at least some of them in with the necklaces and see if I sell more bracelets. It’s always a treat to go through the comments. It’s rather like finding that unexpected item at a craft show! Happy selling everyone.

By: Narissa

Narissa — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 16:17:04 +0000

Something just occurred to me as I read these…. I began to wonder how decision making processes differ when shopping online versus in person? For example, my Etsy shop jewelry is sorted by chakra which would be sorting by color and I’ve been thinking about organizing the tabs instead by groupings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc.
Here’s why:
When the searcher arrives at my online shop whether that’s Etsy or my website, they’ve already keyed in a specific term for an item. Whether by color, description or some other feature, they’ve already pre-qualified themselves and narrowed down the parameters and choices of what they’ll be looking at.
However…..
In person, at a market let’s say, there’s a number of other factors influencing their
decision making process. How they feel, the weather, who they’re with, the crying baby next to the booth, how the goods are displayed, the interaction between them and the vendor….
Soooo….. could the online experience be a little more of an analytical, data-based process? I think of my own tendencies and how quickly I scan through products in an online shop and for me it’s a slightly less emotional process than in person which does tend to change how I consider purchases.
Anyone else have thoughts on that? Or did I analyze the seed beads right out of it? teehee

By: Heidi Bausch

Heidi Bausch — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:18:55 +0000

Thank you all for your comments! I’ve just set up my jewelry by color for a big craft show this weekend. I plan on questioning my customers about it and will let you know the outcome!

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 14:22:36 +0000

Hi, I have only done 2 craft fairs so far and did not group my items by color. I grouped by type of jewelry (bracelets, earrings etc). I have been reading lately that grouping jewelry by color does seem like a good idea. My question though, would you keep all Christmas items together instead of putting the red Christmas items with the other red jewelry etc? I would tend to keep the Christmas items together in case someone is looking specifically for Christmas or not? Also, as Narissa stated, it makes sense to do the same on your website which I have not done yet either. Good luck to everyone in this holiday selling season!

By: Keelin Brett

Keelin Brett — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:24:56 +0000

Hi Heidi!
I’ve actually tested this quite a few times. I was never sure if I should group by color or by style/design. What I found was that by grouping like colors together people lingered longer in my booth looking at everything, which would more likely result in a sale. When I group by similar design, people seemed less interested and had a harder time registering my work. In the end I found that I made more money grouping by color than by similar designs. That’s how it works for me! Hope that helps!
Keelin

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 04:45:23 +0000

Hi Heidi!

Whether I shop for jewelry for myself or to give as a gift, I usually shop for specific colors. It’s easier for me to find the colors I’m looking for when they’re together in a group, so I can see “oh, there’s the purple (or green, or aqua) pieces.”

Also, with jewelry grouped by color, shoppers might pick out nearby pink earrings or a pink bracelet that looks nice with the pink necklace they just decided to buy. If the pinks weren’t displayed together, these extra pieces might not have been seen and sold.

Narissa, I like your comparison of well laid-out web pages to well-grouped jewelry displays! 🙂

By: Narissa

Narissa — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 16:02:43 +0000

Hello Heidi 🙂 I think yes! When I approach a table display of jewelry that is coordinated in some way with regards to colour it definitely makes it easier for me to look through. I’ll be more likely to check out each mini colour display once I see that the first one is pleasing.
Actually, I do SEO work too and it’s much the same philosophy for your website. Each page should be laid out well, simply and easy for the person to find their way around. Shoot, who knew those 2 worlds would meet?!
So, if I like the way you’ve done your “red” display, I know I can trust your judgement and I’ll be likely to stick around and look at the rest, probably chat with you and begin the relationship building.
All the very best and buckets ‘o prosperity to you!
Narissa