Top Tips For Selling Handmade Jewellery Online With Carole Allen

When did you turn jewellery making as a hobby into a business?

My jewellery selling career was launched one Christmas about 15 years ago when I joined the Made In Cornwall Scheme. I took a small stall at a show and much to my surprise, it was a sell-out event - I've never looked back!

Best advice for when selling handmade jewellery at galleries and craft fairs...

I would say that the display is the most important thing at a craft fair. It is not good to have clutter and I find having focal areas makes it easier for customers to find what they are looking for.

Would you recommend jewellers using e-commerce platforms?

I would definitely encourage people to use as many online platforms as they can. Although they do of course take up a great deal of time, selling through Not On The Highstreet has turned my business from a very small one man band into one where I employ a small team of jewellery graduates.

It is also a great opportunity to gain support and encouragement from other sellers.

What is your best advice when it comes to being successful on Not On The High Street?

My advice would be to have a cohesive brand with products that tell a story about you. Not On The High Street are very interested in your story. They like products to be unique, design lead, handmade yet beautifully finished.

As important as the products, is the photography. Not On The High Street like very professional lifestyle shots. This has been the aspect that many people struggle with and it is worthwhile using a good professional lifestyle photographer, even though the cost may seem prohibitive.

Do you have any marketing tips for anyone thinking of starting their own jewellery brand?

Decide on your style of jewellery and branding and everything else will flow from that.

Always present your jewellery in the best way you can. People make a judgement from the minute they see the box. Try to ensure that everything speaks quality, from the packaging, to the jewellery box, to the card that goes in the box. You don't have to spend a fortune but it should all match and be a feast for the eyes.

It goes without saying that your jewellery should be finished to a high standard, even if it is a pair of inexpensive earrings, customers have the right to send them back if they are not happy - and bad news travels fast!

Some of our recommended products for getting a high quality finish on handmade jewellery include...

Silicon Carbide Polishers Introductory Pack - these are great for polishing large flat areas of metal as well as the inside of rings. The top edges can be used for getting into hard to reach areas and they can be cut or ground into points or other useful shapes, depending on your project.

Jewellery Polishing Cloth - many jewellers would not be with out this cloth! Simply buff the metal surface with this soft cloth to bring back the sparkle! No extra polishing compound is necessary as the cloth is impregnated using micro-abrasive technology.

Barrelling Machine for Polishing Metal - this piece of equipment is certainly worth the investment. It gives the highest of shines to metal jewellery - including designs made with Metal Clay.

Last but not least Carole adds to her answer... "above all, enjoy what you make, try not to copy others and keep your jewellery unique".