If you have a knack for creating jewelry, try selling your designs in a variety of venues to make extra money. Whether you focus on one sales site or market your products in several places, you can make a pretty profit with your creations.
Etsy, etc.
Sell your jewelry creations online with relatively little startup money and effort. Etsy.com is one such marketplace for buying and selling handmade goods. You can set up an account for free and pay only 20 cents to list each item in your "shop." When you sell something, you pay Etsy a 3.5 percent commission. The drawback is several jewelry makers are already on Etsy, so you will have to market your shop to make it stand out and draw in customers. Promote your shop to friends and family members, advertise your shop in online forums and regularly list items in your shop to keep it on top of Etsy searches.
Artfire.com is a similar site. Artfire doesn't charge fees for a basic account, and you can sell up to 12 items in your shop at one time without paying a fee or a commission. You also can pay $12 a month to upgrade to a verified account, which offers unlimited listings and other benefits such as adding custom widgets to your online studio. Again, you will need to promote your work to draw in customers.
Craft Fairs
Sign up to sell your jewelry at local art and craft shows. Watch your local newspaper for listings about upcoming shows, booth rental fees and contact information. You may need to register as a vendor in your state or city; ask the show's coordinator for information before committing to a booth.
If you sell at a craft fair, you likely won't be the only jewelry artist there. Make your booth appealing by decorating it with a large sign and some colorful backgrounds for your jewelry. Offer a wide variety of jewelry in various price points and consider offering custom orders to be completed after the show.
Local Stores
Locally owned gift shops often sell crafty creations from local artists. When you approach shops, take a selection of your jewelry to demonstrate your craft, and ask store owners or managers if they would be interested in selling your products. They may offer to buy your jewelry wholesale, where they pay you up front and then sell it to their customers for a profit. Or they could prefer consignment, where they pay you a percentage of every jewelry sale they make, but only after the jewelry sells. Ask for a written agreement before you leave any of your jewelry without up-front payment.
