Ask and you shall RECEIVE

(ring pictured here is available in Margaret Kelly's Shop)

Awesome shopper that I am (check my previous entry about supplies), I'm still not perfect, (sigh).

So, I decided to go to the Etsy Forums for help....

My Question: Where to buy affordable ring blanks.

And, good news! A lovely lady by the name of Margaret Kelly responded. Margaret was nice enough to take the time to provide me with some excellent advice and refer me to several Etsy supply shops - some that she has purchased from and some she hasn't.

To show my appreciation I wanted to ask everyone to check out her awesome Etsy shop.

Margaret is a fellow Etsian.

She sells her own handcrafted jewelry,

vintage jewelry, and jewelry supplies.

http://margaretkelly.etsy.com/

My Marketing Manager - a.k.a. my MOM

You know, if I were to advise a newbie artisan on how to successfully market their work, the 1st thing I'd tell them is... find someone who really believes in you and appreciates your work, then promote them to "Marketing Manager"!!

My Marketing Manager is my Mom, Valerie Bauer. She has always been a huge supporter of my work. She has assisted me at craft shows, helped to fill orders, keept my kids so I could sell to the tourists.... so, it's no surprise that she's taken the helm again. But, I truly didn't understand the hidden potential here. In a few short months my Mom has accomplished the following:

(1) Booked two jewellery parties

(2) Sold at least one peice to most of her friends and associates

(3) Found two additional retail stores to sell my work

(4) Located a fellow vendor to sell my work at a weekly market in a neighbouring city

PLUS

She even sold to the waitresses AND the chef in the last restaurant she was in!!!

Now, I don't know about all Artisans but, I find it very difficult to push my own work... I'm just too selfconcious. So, for all of you other shy people, for the love of money and success, please take the time to find yourself a marketing manager!!

If, like me, you don't have a large budget for marketing, consider using a percentage of your sales as payment. Personally, I will gladly give up a couple of bucks from every peice sold if it means my work is being SEEN, APPRECIATED, PURCHASED, and WORN!!!

Good luck in your quest for your own marketing manager.

PS. Thanks Mom!! :o)

Supplies Shopping

Ok, I admit it, I love to shop. And, when it's from the convenience of my own home, in my living room while the kids are playing, it's even more enjoyable!!

The last few days where a whirlwind of web surfing trying to ferret out superior, affordable, jewellery supplies. My search took me across Canada and into the States. I looked at dozens of sites - some were easy and enjoyable to navigate. Others were a royal pain in the tush. BUT, I did score some great deals.

Here were some of my best finds, in my humble opinion :o)

http://sedonastones.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=WoodMixBag1&Category_Code=CLR&Product_Count=1


http://sedonastones.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=cats1&Category_Code=CLR&Product_Count=17


http://sedonastones.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=A916&Category_Code=CLR&Product_Count=27


I still find it pretty disapointing that I haven't found a great Canadian supplier. Can anyone out there direct to me a great Canadian site with affordable supplies?????

Leisa's Little People Earrings

One day when I was playing with wire I stumbled across Leisa's Little People. They are very fun to make and I've received alot of positive feedback from my customers. I've sold a ton of them and, even people that don't buy stop by my table and comment on them!

I am busy working on building my stock to get ready for tourist season and my favorite - the CRUISE SHIPS!!

And, I'm going to be selling my wire bookmarks uptown at Read's on Charlotte Street. They are a fabulous shop that carries used and new books AND $2 magazines!! I'll upload some pics of the bookmarks tomorrow.