Comments on: Your Profitable Jewelry Business: Specializing in Just Earrings

By: Nicole Green

Nicole Green — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 22:51:36 +0000

In reply to Bob Keil. I have found pre-made ear wires made with surgical steel. I'm pretty sure they were from Fire Mountain Gems.

By: Mary Anne Enriquez

Mary Anne Enriquez — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 12:51:15 +0000

In reply to Tamara. Tamara, Many people have metal allergies. My step sister can only wear 14 k gold or gold filled. Some folks can only wear stainless. So it’s better to offer a variety or be able to swap out the ear wires if possible at the point of sale.

By: Mary Anne Enriquez

Mary Anne Enriquez — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 12:48:57 +0000

Rena,
I must say that I hav never seen artisans offer “clip on” earrings. The finding for making clips ins are usually poor quality also, as I have thought of making them. My pierced ear holds closed up a long time ago, and I just am not interested in repiercing my lobes.

The only clips ones are old vintage pairs found in thrift stores. It would be nice if there were more available options.

By: Mandy Tussah

Mandy Tussah — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 22:51:30 +0000

I opened a website selling only earrings earlier this year, and it’s been a lot of fun! The struggle is getting seen amongst the internet crowd, but with time and effort I believe it will pay off. I have always had an earring obsession, and am happy to have a website that specialized in earrings, because I am passionate about them, and it helps me to focus on one thing vs. having other accessories.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 11:55:38 +0000

In reply to Eileen Newmark. Welcome, Eileen! Here are some posts that should answer your questions - and be sure to read all the comments below each of these posts: Jewelry Pricing Formula How Many Pieces of Jewelry for a Show? Taking Custom Jewelry Orders Wishing you all the best, Eileen! :)

By: Eileen Newmark

Eileen Newmark — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 04:56:25 +0000

This discussion is really helpful. I am a beginning jewelry maker and have loved earrings all my life. I like working in silver and with stones so people would have a variety of colors to chose from within different styles. However the pricing when using gemstones drives up the cost materials and time to fabricate . Any thoughts on how to pursue this in order to eventually begin to sell my jewelry is appreciated. Also if I wanted to get a booth in a local craft fair how many pieces do you need to have? If someone wants a different color in a different style is it worth taking special orders? Is there different pricing for that type of customization? Thanks.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 03:51:04 +0000

In reply to Boysie E. Brown.

Thank you for your kind words, Boysie! That’s lovely to hear. 🙂 I so agree about always being open for new ideas – that’s one of the things I most love about making jewelry!

By: Boysie E. Brown

Boysie E. Brown — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 03:30:17 +0000

Wow you make some cool earrings. You have a great gift when it comes to making Jewelry. I enjoy reading every email that I get from your site. I’m a male, a person who enjoy making Jewelry, I’m always open for new ideas.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 13:58:07 +0000

I’ve been ignoring my earring making and I don’t wear ” sets” but many people do. Earrings are one of the most fast and creative things to make. You can find deals online for bulk packs of sterling silver wires, but surgical steel is the standard for hypoallergenic. Don’t forget, UNMATCHED pairs of earrings are trendy and creative too.

By: Rups

Rups — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:30:44 +0000

You are right Rena. I am doing so good with my MOST earrings selling.
I am supplying in local galleries and they always sold out of it.
I know now what is my unique style which attracts most customers 🙂
Thanks for sharing the tips.

By: Pascha

Pascha — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 16:07:46 +0000

As an “earring junkie” myself, this is very helpful. I’m still debating whether to sell my earrings or not and can definitely refer to these tips. The obstacle I’ll most likely encounter is learning to make matching pieces. I’m not really a necklace person because I turn necklaces into earrings.. Who knows… Maybe I’ll venture out one day. Thanks for sharing, Rena.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 15:19:33 +0000

Hi Margo, you don’t necessarily need to have sterling silver earwires on every pair of earrings. Many people are fine with other metals, and never ask about allergy-free options.

But it’s definitely a good idea to have allergy-free earwires available, and be ready to switch out other earwires for the non-allergy ones. Also let people know you offer this option.

By: Margo

Margo — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 14:54:40 +0000

In reading everyone’s comments I see the allergy-free is the way to go. Does that mean that one needs to work with silver or silver-filled only?

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:11:37 +0000

Earrings are not usually my best seller, either. And my customers very often want a matching set, either a bracelet, necklace, or both. Likewise, if they like a necklace, they want earrings to match. I’ve done a lot of thinking and observing customers and found that most of the time the driving force is color. People are often looking for earrings to match an outfit or a necklace they purchased either from me or someone else. Beyond color, my customers seem to be looking for something different that they don’t see anywhere else. I do provide alternative findings and earnuts, including hypoallergenic (surgical steel, titanium, or nobium–see hypoallergenicfindings.com). I’m thinking of moving to using only hypoallergenic, but that complicates my current practice of making my own earwires.

By: Bob Keil

Bob Keil — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:32:08 +0000

We considered that as well, thus we provide ear nuts with all our earrings. We never did find a hypoallergenic earring. The only items that are hypoallergenic are aluminum and argentium sterling silver. The sterling earrings did not fit our pricing structure.

By: Phyllis Schreiber

Phyllis Schreiber — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:48:23 +0000

I switched to lever back wires exclusively for my pierced earrings, and since doing that, people seek my earrings out. They love the fact that they no longer have to worry about losing an earring from a pair. Allergy free hasn’t been an issue, but I do think I’ll try to find some hypoallergenic lever backs to keep on hand, just in case.

By: Elizabeth Simpson

Elizabeth Simpson — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 17:52:36 +0000

Sounds like a good idea, maybe i will start off with one of my special peaces be for i venture out on different things.

By: Pat Gray

Pat Gray — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 01:37:17 +0000

Good point, Jude, especially as we are moving into the gift giving season – Thanks!

By: Jude

Jude — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:30:18 +0000

Pat, go allergy-free. That covers people buying earrings as a gift for friend or family. Most people will know if they have a nickle allergy but few will know if a friend does.

By: Pat Gray

Pat Gray — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:25:42 +0000

Earrings are my favorite piece of jewelry too, but it took months for me to figure out how to make earrings that I liked, let alone was willing to sell! As I make stone jewelry and big earrings, I think I’ll take Jude’s advice and start weighing them… One thing I haven’t decided on is the ear wires – should I go all allergy free, or should I offer a free “upgrade”?

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:33:52 +0000

Jude, thanks for those additional suggestions. You’re right – I started making just earrings and hadn’t planned to make anything else to sell. But so many people asked for matching pieces that I wound up expanding into all sorts of jewelry items in addition to earrings!

Bob, I like the approach you and your wife use for creating earrings!

Tamara, maybe your necklaces and bracelets are so compelling that people gravitate to them instead of earrings? Or maybe it’s something to do with how everything is displayed – the necklaces and bracelets might really stand out so people don’t notice the earrings as much?

By: Tamara

Tamara — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:51:02 +0000

That’s interesting, because for me earrings aren’t my best-sellers. I sell more necklaces and bracelets than I do earrings. I’m not sure why that is. I use sterling silver wires. I suppose there could be several reasons why, and I guess I’d have to work at trying to figure out how to increase earring sales. The appealing thing about earrings is the high profit-margin for sure, and how quick they are to make in comparison to other things.

By: Bob Keil

Bob Keil — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:14:12 +0000

we are doing exactly that. The modification is my wife works from the bead side in her designs and I work from the wire side in my designs. We fit in my wire sculpted pendants and show about 500 earrings all allergy free.

By: Jude

Jude — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:24:29 +0000

Rena, I’ve two additional suggestions too. Offer earrings made using gemstones for those who love the ‘real’ thing & not just pretty beads. But they need to be aware that stones are heavier so earrings could weigh more & make them accordingly. Also be willing to make matching bracelets &/or necklaces for customers who ask if they have matching sets. I have a couple of friends who only buy matching sets as it gives them a choice of only wearing one piece or the set.