Sandra J. Paluzzi
The Bead Peddler®

For the sake of this article, I am defining custom work as work which is done at the request of the customer.  It can run the gamut from lengthening an existing necklace to making bridesmaid's jewelry or gifts for a graduating class. 

There are a lot of opportunities to do custom work. You have to decide if you want to offer this service.  It is one thing to restring an existing necklace  to add 2 more inches.  It is quite another thing to string the same bead design onto 50 cell phone lanyards.

If you decide to do custom work, you will want to make the experience as positive as possible for both you and your customer.   You will therefore have to guide your customer through the process.

First of all the customer has to decide what to get.  This could be relatively easy.  You may have your jewelry sitting out at a craft fair and the customer may ask if you could make 2 more or if you could make that design in red.  Before agreeing to the work, you have to be absolutely positively sure that you can get the materials you need to reproduce the jewelry. 

Let's turn that around and assume we are meeting with a bride to make jewelry for her bridesmaids.   The bride is going to have very firm ideas on the colors for her wedding.  She has already picked out her bridesmaid's gowns.  It is up to you to fit your jewelry into her color scheme.    The main issue is to make sure that you can procure what the bride chooses.  You would hate to have her choose a vintage crystal that has since run out of stock at your vendor.    There are some items, such as Swarovski crystals or Czech fire polish, that are typically available from a variety of vendors.  Therefore, I would present these options to the bride.  If you are partial to certain beads in your inventory, you can ascertain their availability with your supplier before meeting with your customer.

When you meet with your customer, you will want to come up with a price point that is within her range.  Then show her some pictures of jewelry you have made within that price point.  Arrange your sample beads in a pattern approximating the pictured design so your customer can get a feel of her jewelry. 

NOTE:  Different people have different size necks and wrists.  If  you want each piece of jewelry at approximately the same point on different people, you will want their measurements.  It would be best if the bride were to bring these measurements with her to your design session.  However, you may want to have a tape measure available to send home with her in case she is missing some measurements.   

The last outstanding issue  is the delivery date.  Once you have agreed on all the details, you can write up the order.  Make it very detailed - it's great if you can attach a drawing of the jewelry to the bride's receipt.   I always recommend getting a deposit.  In my opinion, the deposit should cover the costs of the materials.  That way, if the order falls through, you have covered your financial investment.  After all, the 6 necklaces the bride wants made up in purple and yellow may not be quite so appealing to the public at large.  They could sit for awhile and it would be better to have it be someone else's money tied up there, not yours.

Is there an aspect  of marketing that you'd like to see discussed?  
Would you like to share some of your marketing knowledge with other beaders?  Click here to email your questions or article proposals