The Easy Guide to Starting an Online Jewelry Business
The online jewelry industry has an annual growth rate of 5% to 6%. By 2025, the value of the global jewelry market is projected to reach $480.5 billion. These numbers demonstrate that selling jewelry online or opening a jewelry business out of your home is an excellent way to generate extra income. Getting a piece of the enormous pie requires minimal effort. So make jewelry at home and sell it online to customers worldwide.
First Things First: You Need a Website
Your soon-to-open jewelry shop is no exception; a website is essential. Why? Having a website that advertises your company to a global audience increases the likelihood of sales. Even if someone is located thousands of miles away, they can still discover your jewelry online and place an order. So it’s not just people in the immediate area who become interested in what you’re selling.
You don’t have to spend a lot of time right now setting up an online shop. Decide on an online shop platform and get your jewelry business up and running. Use an eCommerce website template as a starting point for your store’s design. These are ready-made websites that experts have already created and optimized for conversions.
Nothing to worry about — the templates can be altered to suit your needs. The site’s layout, colors, features, pages, and even user-uploaded pictures are all up for grabs.
Locate Good Suppliers
Jewelry-making supplies are the next thing to consider when launching an online jewelry store. Start thinking of a list of materials you’ll need to make things happen you’re your new jewelry business. Some examples of popular supplies that you might need include:
· Sterling silver charms
· Sterling silver beads and findings
· Genuine copper beads
· Gold-filled beads
· Rose gold-filled beads
· Other beading supplies
You’ll need a strategy for determining where to obtain the materials. Small businesses can start by selling wares at craft stores or online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. You can discover additional possibilities by conducting an internet search. You can usually find high-quality materials that won’t break the bank.
As we are on the topic of money, it is essential to calculate how much it will cost to produce your jewelry. First, calculate the total production cost by adding the prices of each component and looking for the best deal. Your ability to turn a profit on each sale is directly proportional to your manufacturing costs, so cutting those down is a top priority.
What’s Your Business Model Like?
An online business model is a blueprint for running a business, in this case, an online jewelry store. In the jewelry industry, you have a wide variety of options, including:
Special Jewelry
Find supplies and make your one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry to sell on Etsy.
Creating Fine Jewelry
When sourcing fine jewelry, it’s best to compile a collection of pieces from various designers and jewelers. First, create a name for yourself in the jewelry industry by capitalizing on a particular look or feel, then reselling their wares to your clientele. Then, jewelry lovers can come to your store specifically for that reason (or designer).
Dropshipping
Collaborate with a wholesaler or jeweler to fulfill orders when customers place them on your website.
Develop a strategy document detailing the business model you intend to employ. Detailed plans for acquiring materials, creating your jewelry, and reaching your target market are laid out here, as are specifics about your prospective customer.
What’s Your Business Name?
Any successful enterprise must first have a memorable and descriptive name. It will be featured prominently on your company’s assets, such as your website, invoices, legal documents, and customers’ bank statements. It will be the primary means customers recognize and interact with your business.
You can go one of two ways when trying to come up with a name for your company. First, you could choose a name that has nothing to do with jewelry and build a successful, independent brand, much like Tiffany’s and Swarovski did.
Names of successful brands tend to be concise and straightforward. Try to stay away from any awkwardly spelled words. Having a brand name that is simple and memorable will help customers find your business more quickly and easily online.
Similarly, you should ensure that your desired domain name and social media handles are not already used. Using the same brand name across all of a company’s marketing channels has increased revenue by as much as 33 percent. Your domain name should be consistent with your company name. A domain name that is simple and easy to remember will increase traffic to your jewelry store.
Take Care of Legalities
You can now sell your jewelry under your brand name. Check with the trademark office first to ensure you aren’t infringing on anyone else’s rights before selling your products online.
After getting approval, you should think about registering your jewelry business. If you want to protect yourself from personal responsibility as your jewelry business expands, you should consider registering as an LLC rather than continuing as a sole proprietor. Having a formal business structure also has financial benefits. If you want to turn to sell jewelry into more than a part-time gig, this may help.
An alternative bank account is also essential. This way, your business finances won’t get mixed up with your finances, and you’ll have an easier time keeping track of everything. Finally, pick an accounting program for your new business checking account. Tax time will be much less stressful if you have a clear picture of your income and expenses.
It’s also essential to consider any regulations that may apply when selling jewelry. The jewelry industry has rules and regulations that must be followed to avoid legal trouble. In some countries, for instance, you need a certificate of authenticity to prove the legitimacy of the jewelry you intend to purchase. If you want to get the most money out of your jewelry, potential buyers may insist on a hallmark.
Who Is Your Audience?
You must research your target market if you plan on selling anything online. Then, assuming you have a firm grasp of these buyer personas, you can design products, set prices that will appeal to them, and develop a strategy to get those products in front of potential customers.
Before launching your jewelry business, it’s a good idea to conduct market research to determine who would be interested in purchasing your products. For example, do you have affordable teen-friendly jewelry on offer? Or, perhaps, more expensive, custom-made jewelry aimed at women in their 30s and beyond? Where do you expect to find most of your customers?
Doing some research into the competition is the most straightforward approach. Look for jewelry stores that sell items that are comparable to yours, and study the customers they target. Customers are likely to share commonalities.
You can gauge the reactions of those around you by displaying your jewelry for them to see. Who else besides themselves might they buy it for? Who will your jewelry be gifted to, and what characteristics do they possess?
At this point, you want to learn as much as possible about your ideal customers to better cater to their needs. Talk to your loved ones and host focus groups to hear their thoughts and opinions. Focus groups can be held online without physically convening using a video conferencing tool like Zoom or Google Meet.
When you start making sales, you’ll have access to a wealth of additional data that will significantly improve your ability to reach and connect with your target demographic. However, at this point, you must have a clear picture of your perfect clientele. Then, you can reverse-engineer your entire business plan to cater to their needs by producing content in their native tongue, marketing your jewelry to them with images that reflect their demographic, and so on.
How Much Are You Going to Charge?
To sell jewelry to your demographic, you need to know how much you can charge. Therefore, during your investigation, simply asking how much they would be willing to pay for such jewelry is a good starting point.
You could also check online auction sites to see what other jewelry items are selling for. Too high and you’ll turn off potential customers; too low and you won’t make enough money to keep your new jewelry business afloat. Include labor and raw materials costs in your calculations for the optimal price to improve customer experience.