I struggled with jewelry display when I first started selling my jewelry at a local farmer’s market. I began by trying to answer the same types of questions Emily suggested we ask ourselves in last week’s blog on jewelry display.
My jewelry identity? 30-something hippy-ish, down-to-earth women who shop at farmer’s markets. My categories? I went real basic here: earrings vs. necklaces, then long earrings vs. short, etc. What makes my jewelry unique? Really, not much. It’s simple, delicate, and hand crafted with sterling silver and gemstones. It looks much like what you would see in local boutiques in the area. That’s why I felt a need to set it apart by emphasizing that it’s hand crafted by me, right here in the neighborhood.
Handmade Earring Card
I accomplished this by creating a “crafty” feeling in my booth. I started by making my own earring cards from card stock I tore, stamped, and pasted together. They looked great. I loved my stamp and was able to write the prices on the back of each earring card. I was really pleased with them, until the wind blew them away on my first day! I needed to come up with a solution that didn’t waste all the time and resources I already put into my earring cards.
I considered picture frames. New ones are too expensive, and older, shabbier, cooler ones would take too long to gather. Later that week, my husband was walking home from work and found an old wooden drafting table someone put on the curb with a “free” sign on it! He carried it all the way home, shored it up with a few screws, and mounted foam core board to it. Then I covered it with a rich chocolate brown fabric and green ribbons to hang my cards on. It’s just what I needed.
For me, figuring out how to display my jewelry at home or at local markets has always been a naturally evolving process where form follows function. While you definitely want your display to express your jewelry inspiration, you also want to keep practical aspects of display in mind, like weather at an outdoor market, or lights at an indoor one. My jewelry display becomes prettier, smarter, and a truer expression of my jewelry inspiration every time I sell at local farmer’s markets and craft fairs. And yours will too. So really, my best advice is to jump right in. You won’t have all the answers up front, and you’ve got to start sometime!
Drafting Table Earring Display
Earring Card Display
Other Jewelry Display questions to consider for outdoor displays — can you make your displays wind-proof? I use c-clamps to hold down my drape and necklace boards. Another thing to think about is — do you display pricing or not display pricing? I go half-and-half — some items are grouped by price or tagged with price to help give browsers a feel for the price range, other items are not marked. Unmarked items are because I’m lazy(!) but it also gives you a chance to interact with people at your table. You can engage customers by saying, “Let me give you some price ranges…” or ask if they need help. If you have a discount, definitely show it with signage!
good luck,
peggy
Comment by Handmade Jewelry by Peggy Li — August 26, 2009 @ 11:47 am
I struggle with display all the time! I am a jeweler, not a display artist, sales woman, photographer or computer wizard. I own another business as well so my time is very limited. I can’t even keep up with the dusting and polishing once I have it displayed! Any help there would be greatly appreciated. I find myself leaning toward plated metals because they don’t require the polishing like sterling. However, I love using the sterling and hope that it sells quickly so it doesn’t have the time to tarnish. Ug!
Two display techniques that have worked great for me is the upside down MESH garbage can. It works great fr earring and to hang necklaces I use a good strength magnet at the top and hang from that too. I then use a lazy susan underneath so it spins..wallah! Picture frames work well also. I use a large one and place it on an easel. They hang well too. I also use the shadow box picture frames that have front door openings. These are great because you can pin your jewelry and price tags in them and stack for travel (you could also add your ribbon and hang your tags!). When you arrive you just pull them out and add any types of decor, i.e. shells, etc. But, the best are like the one you made! Something great out of a finding!
Comment by Kim — August 31, 2009 @ 3:37 am