I had a jewelry show on Friday, really part of the Medical Alliance money raising effort. The day includes a style show, luncheon and bazaar (where I had my booth set up). The booth itself looked great, the jewelry was all new this year, a combination of glass, natural stones and gemstones. I wanted to cover all areas that would appeal to the most people. I am usually the only one that has glass lampwork jewelry which made my booth different from the other eleven jewelry displays this year.
The distinction didn't help this year. There is a new group going to the shows now, younger with young children and they look like they aren't buying unique jewelry. There were several booths with cheap knockoffs ala John Hardy, etc. They sold a lot of things, everytime I looked there was a large crowd aound that booth. There was another large booth filled with Chinese made items, more the natural stone type, turquoise and other stones. One woman had exquiste craft jewelry with gemstones only and she also made all the silver items. Another booth had fine jewelry as in jewelry store items. And there was me, with unique items. I don't think the fine jewelry was in the running for purchase at all, and I meant to ask the other woman with the gemstones if she sold much but I just wanted out of there. I think we packed up everything in about 30 minutes.
I sold three pieces, one leaf type pearl necklace with blue topaz and 14kt gold findings, another necklace that looked very oriental with beads by Pati Walton and a moss agate pendant that looked like a Chinese or Japanese watercolor. The other necklace had a glass focal bead by Jen Geldard with a pendant of green amethyst and strung on blue pearls with lapis in between with gold findings. I had hoped to sell more but it looks like the customers only want to spend money on the knockoffs.
This show had always been my best show of the year but I think that the people who arranged for the vendors had too many jewelry makers there. Next year if I am invited I will ask how many jewelry vendors there will be and make a decision then. My expenses this year were more than my profit.
It's always disappointing when I work for weeks getting just the right combination of colors and textures and then putting it all together and then not be able to sell them. I am thinking about having a trunk show here at the house before Christmas. Possibly I can sell some things that way.
The people who are my regular customers say they always get compliments on their jewelry whenever they wear something that I made so there must be other people out there who would like it if they would try it!
