Do You Sell Your Jewelry Art? Things You Should Have In Your Purse

Ever sling on a new creation you've just made, run out to the mall, the store, errands....and have people stop you to talk about what you are wearing?  Or even, offer to buy it right off your body?

If you've been making jewelry for a bit, I'm guessing many of you can tell ME stories of experiences just like this.   It's happened to me more times than I could ever count.

BE PREPARED:  there are things you should be carrying in your purse, just FOR occasions like this:

1.  BUSINESS CARDS.    I'm the first to say I am big-time remiss in this regard because I don't do shows or home parties any more, and like so many, I don't have a brick and mortar store.  Most of us are selling on the internet these days!   But if you have a cute business card, people can go home and visit you any time, 24/7. 

Be sure they don't forget you....hand them a business card.  AND BY ALL MEANS:   send them with EVERY order.  Don't worry that they got one from you before.   Biz cards are inexpensive, they get lost, and they can be shared with friends.   And people WILL share them.  You'd just be surprised!

I use both http://www.123print.com/  and http://www.vistaprint.com

2.  NOTEPAD/JOURNAL, PENS.   Ever been out for a walk, a drive, sitting in Starbucks and VOILA!!  this BOLT comes out of the blue for the BEST idea for your site, blog, or jewelry making EVER.....and you're scrambling for a writing implement, jotting it on a napkin....that invariably gets lost?  How frustrating is THAT?   Never again, be prepared and keep a little inexpensive hardbound journal in your purse....and some pens floating around in the bottom of it.  ;-)

3.  Your BLACKBERRY, or whatever kind of phone that you have that has internet/email/social media on it.   My life became easier when I got my Torch.  There are other phones just out that are even better, or formats you like better.  Whatever!   Just pick the one that seems right for you and get one.    That way you can check your website, respond to customers, solve problems, take pix of something interesting and post it on FB or Twitter right where you are.  

My Blackberry means I can escape the office sometimes and go hang out in a bookstore  or to the park and read for a bit, away from the fray.  I'm still connected, and if there is something urgent, I can call back to the office and have someone take care of it.  Sheesh, I can even blog, using it.

4.  STAMPS/STATIONERY/ADDRESS BOOK.   What?   Send a note by mail?   Why not?   It's becoming a lost art....and can make a lovely impression.   Notwithstanding, having those tools provides you with the ability to  multi-task:  you might be in Barnes and Noble, pick up some notecards.   You could go over, sit down and have a latte, write out those little friendly notes and hello's you've been meaning to get to and never do....and on the way out the door, just stash 'em in the mailbox, so long as you have the stamps with you.

SPEAKING OF MULTI-TASKING.....I'd add:

Business reading, brochures, catalogues, or some of those lovely-lovely books we pick up on techniques, mixed media and jewelry-making.  My dentist always laughs at me, as I never go there without a book.   I'm getting my last Guy Kawasaki (Enchantment) read this way.   When I leave on errands, I stop and have a coffee or lunch, and read a few chapters.

Since I'm talking about purses, you might want to check this one out:

SWEET, isn't it?   Made by Hilary Frye of FryeStyle, go read about Cosmo Cricket "Glubers" and this charm clutch purse pattern by Amy Butler featuring Anna Maria Horner fabric from Free Spirit. Hilary has it all down in her blog post here: http://fryestyle.blogspot.com/2011/03/amy-butler-anna-maria-horner-glubers.html

I wish I had time to make purses.   Sigh......

Comments

[fryestyle]

Thanks B'sue!

And I agree you should ALWAYS leave the house prepared. Carry your purse with the aforementioned goodies and wear your jewelry. You are a walking advertisement!

p.s. I like my iPhone because I can show friends, family, potential customers digital pictures of my work. So handy!!

[Beader Bubbe]

What great ideas....and I do some of them...the business cards, notepad, stamps etc. I have an Iphone but never thought of using that to show friends pictures of my work....going to download the photos to my phone in case I need them...thanks for all the great ideas...

[Brenda Sue Lansdowne]

Yes, use your IPhone, Blackberry, whatever apparatus you carry to store pix. It's amazing what good pix these little phones make! Let's say you walk into a boutique, wearing your work. The shopkeep may be interested; right there you have a piece showing the quality of what you do. Then whip out the phone and show them a virtual catalog of what else you can do. A really valuable asset, methinks! ;-)