When you begin your business as a jewelry designer, you want to get your name and work in front of as many people as possible.  One aspect of that marketing can be to build a name for yourself as a professional in your field. How do you become a professional? By teaching and speaking about what you know best.

To establish myself in my field I have shared my love of bead making by teaching hands-on classes and giving demonstrations to larger groups.  How do you translate teaching into selling?  You have a captive audience for your work in a non-sales type situation.  You can share what you do, have a display of your work and let your students admire what you’ve created.  Every time I’ve done this, it has translated into sales.  It helps build appreciation for what you create. Once your new students see how much work goes into your handcrafted jewelry they are more likely to see the value of your pieces.

Partnering with a shop or group is a great way to add teaching credentials that get you noticed.  What kinds of places are good for business?  Arts & crafts guilds, fiber artist guilds, bead societies, arts & craft schools, craft stores, and bead shops are all a natural fit to teach your jewelry making skills and open up new marketing opportunities for your jewelry. 

You can teach general techniques that range from simple bead stringing for beginners, to advanced projects that you create step by step instructions for and have your students follow along.  A word of caution, don’t teach what you sell directly, it would not be in your best interest to teach everyone all your trade secrets.  Teach designs that you are no longer making or are ready to let go into the world of copying.  Teaching also helps make you a better designer as you know you need to stay a few steps ahead of your students. 

Create more business for yourself by using your time wisely.  Have students sign up for your mailing lists at classes.  Ask the coordinators of the class who they know who would also appreciate your presentations.  If you sell your work at jewelry parties, during your presentation is a great place to mention that and have brochures available to those who are interested.

To make the most of marketing during your classes, set up an appealing display of your work, with the prices clearly marked.  Make sure you have business cards, brochures and a sign-up sheet for your mailing list.  Offer your home-jewelry party plan to those who seem interested.  Book smaller classes from your larger events, have flyers that list your other classes to pass out.  Keeping these simple suggestions in mind can translate your teaching time into great selling opportunities. 

Heather Powers is a mixed media bead artist who lives and works in San Antonio, TX.  Her work has appeared in BeadStyle magazine and will be feautred in HGTV’s Crafters Coast to Coast and PBS’ Beads, Baubles and Jewels this fall.  Currently she is collaborating on Bead Cruise 2006, where she will teach classes while sailing on a luxury cruise ship.  Visit her website at http://www.humblebeads.com.

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