Oh, my gosh!! You are not going to believe this but I was just looking at the beautiful bracelet you just posted in the Gallery and I was thinking the VERY SAME THING - how does she sell this and get fairly compensated? Actually I have often thought this when looking at a lot of the beautiful pieces posted in the Gallery - how do they make their money on these pieces? If you look at my personal Gallery, I make much more simple pieces and I readily sell them because I don't have hours into the fabrication and so a lot of what I make falls in the $40-$60 range. I used to make intricate pieces of jewelry but my best revenue was wholesale and I felt like I was not compensated for my time if I sold intricate work wholesale so I changed my designs and taught myself to make nice jewelry but with much less time involved.

Sorry, I am not really answering your question but adding to it. It is just so ironic because I was going to post a question as to how the intricate pieces are sold!

I occasionally make 1 of a kind pieces but I won't sell them wholesale - problem is, I end up sometimes having them for a couple of years because I think that most people can spend $40-$60 but not $150-$200, especially with the economy the way it is.

Jodi, I'm actually having the same problem. It's why I'm having a 50% off sale in my etsy shop right now. I just want this stuff to move out of there! lol. I love doing the more intricate pieces, but things just are not selling right now. I'm going to start doing the less involved pieces for a while until the economy strengthens again.

I imagine a lot of it has to do with marketing more than anything else though. There are still people out there who can afford the high end pieces. It's just that getting their attention is so difficult.

hmmmm. I wonder if I can somehow get Oprah to wear one of my pieces somewhere. That would certainly get someone's attention! (j/k)

Donna - too funny - Oprah! Ha! It is definitely all about marketing and targeting the right income level. I am having some really good success with home parties and if I can find the time over the next day or two, I am going to write an article about them because there is money to be made with Christmas right around the corner. I have had two home parties and made over $400 at each party! So marketing, yes, is the key. By the way, one of my friends keeps telling me I should send some of my pieces to Gwen Stefani - hahahaha!

I make intricate pieces on request except for the Royal Batik as i want to showcase my techniques. I do sell simpler items at $20-100 price range but still i want people to but my luxury item coz i love making it or should i keep that pieces to myself..lol..Right now i've been thinking on making a lot of simpler item but add some uniqueness at the same time and try to focus to produce more tutorials in making bold and chunky kind of jewelry..As for promotion i can promote at my local newspaper but the thing is they need at least five sets of jewelry to be photoshoot and it's going to cost me a lot as im doing it with silver..I try once photoshoot my jewelry with the newspaper but i didnt get lucky as it appeared when all people busy celebrating Hari Raya Eve in Malaysia and i was so piss off but then i got paid by doing the make up..hehe

Have you tried having your own website? This is a great way to showcase your jewellery (which is stunning BTW) for minimal investment.

Also, it may be worth approaching some art galleries, as people visiting galleries are usually looking for unique stuff - and are prepared to pay for it. I have some of my 'high end' jewellery in a gallery and have sold a few bits recently - despite the difficult times.

Good Luck

Abby
http://www.abbyhook.co.uk

WOW! Thanks for asking this question! I REALLY feel so much better now...I don't feel so alone in this potentially "Greedy Guilt Syndrome". My Mini-Oprah marketing scheme to introduce my introduce my intricate wire jewelry sculptures is:
To create, then give to my most famous relatives/friends a REALLY NICE PIECE that they would like to wear. I'll ask them to pass out one of my cards whenever a positive comment is made. Is this too pushy? Of course NOT! They're you family & your friends. Everyone needs a little help. I'll post my findings & let you know how it goes as a pushy friend & relative. LOL! Smiles! Juli ;)

People usually start out buying my simpler pieces, liking them then coming back to visit the more expensive pieces at the cooperative gallery I'm in. They are welcome to try them on and get attached to them, then come back to buy them another day. To me it's about establishing and maintaining a relationship with a current client.

I love the Oprah one! I have often thought that myself. I do shows almost every weekend and am selling on a mall right now. I try and concentrate on a price range where I know customers will purchase which is between $40 and &70 dollars, but I still have those higher priced ones for those that still don't mind paying a little bit more. I have also come up with a smaller and less expensive line for these economic times, but don't be afraid to put those higher priced items out there. One, it shows your range of talent and its boosts sales when you sell one. I have items on Esty too, but there are just too many jewelers competing for the same dollar and my website is pretty quiet too. For me, shows seem to still be the answer.

You need to make sure that everything about your presentation is high end. Your booth at shows, your website. Maybe Etsy isn't the place for your work, maybe you should try shopify or Ruby Lane.