QUOTE: Originally posted by Elizabethsmilez I dont believe in jewelry "parties", but I am sure there are a lot of people that do it. Unless you are mass producing your jewelry I dont see the point, because it is very hard to make enough jewelry (IMO) to make the party worthwhile. Yes, you probably get orders, but custom orders are more labor intensive and time intensive and I feel that poeple who go to these types of parties are looking for quick buys and bargains. It might work for some, but this has been my opinion on it. But i do have to say I have never tried one. I have had a group of customers come by for a mini-showing...but never incentives for a hostess. That's pressure I dont want. To have to SELL it AND MAKE it. I like how the stores sell it for me, or online sells it for me.

Elizabeth -
Mass producing? I'm just prolific. I never make anything twice and I ALWAYS have at least 100 sets on hand to sell. I do my best $$ selling at home parties. I have been known to sell 20 sets in 3 hours. My low-end parties are $750 for the night, and I have pieces all the way from $6 to $100. I always make my sales to the hostess last because I give the hostess a 10% discount +$10 based on the party total (ie if it's a $600 party she gets a $70 credit). Most of the time, even with a $70 or more credit, the hostess ends up owing me $$. I haven't had any success online or in consignment stores of any kind. I put stuff into a holiday "boutique" last year, the cost was $25 and I sold $50 worth of stuff. It's just not my market. If it's yours, more power to you. My market is the home party and the fine arts show.
I also always have a raffle at my shows, even if it's just a pair of free earrings, people love getting something for free and it encourages them to bring a friend if there's a chance they could win something.
Angela

My neighbor kept wanting to have a jewelry party with my things. We finally did it last month, and for 2 hrs worth of work, it was WELL worth it. I had all my one of a kind pieces (about 100 items) , and a section of made to order custom things, like name bracelets, initial pieces, etc. I got a lot of custom orders. It's a pain to do, but like I said, well worth it.

Advice, bring a bracelet sizer if you have one, a tape measure and folders to put orders in. Make sure people know that you can re-size items and make matching pieces (if i can) to existing items. I tried to make sure all the necklaces & bracelets had coordinating earrings.

Good luck!

Home parties are my bread and butter. Anything less than $500 in 2 hours (plus one hour set up and take down) is very low end and I usually sell $1200-$1500 plus book at least one more party. I sell almost entirely from inventory but do take some custom orders. I bring duplicates of my best sellers but most stuff is one-of-a-kind. I don't do a set spiel - party attendees make several passes around the table and put their selections into a small basket that I provide everyone (like in the bead shops). They bring their basket to wherever I've set up the checkout and I ring them up and take their checks or cash. If you only take checks or cash, make sure the hostess puts that in her invitation.

I also make Jewelry Parties.. all my stuff is one of a kind.. I dont even take orders for repeat items. I do find it hard to make enough inventory (i cant do this full time yet... I am in my last year of university) so i just do the shows twice a year, in my own house. One before mothers day, and one in November, as a christmas show (My mom sets all the christmas decoration when she takes down the halloween ones, so the house is already decorated!) I sell around $1500-2000 at each and get orders for around $500 more or less. The rest of the year, ill go to offices and sell there and have some custom orders. I sent out invitations and gave them to everyone I knew, all my clients, gave some for them to give to their friends... I print out around 600 invitations and the turnout is always around 30-40 people... but lots of people call me afterwards to come and see what's left

They are a great idea if you can do them... I could never do 6 parties a month!! I would have to work night and day!

I too hold jewlery parties and I do well at the parties but am unsure how to get addtional bookings. So far my parties have been at my sisters, and then a friend did ask me to have a showing at her house and I have another scheduled for Christmas. But what type of advertising do you do at the party that will make people WANT to hold a party? I would like to do a party a month if possible. Is the hostess gifts/perks enough?

I am a bit shy on my marketing skills as I know that I myself don't like to be pestered into having a party.....perhaps I need to change that.

I would love to hear tips from those already having multple parties, is there something special that I should do without seeming pushy?

thx!
yolie [:D]

I average 1 party a month and I don't book any parties after September because I do one 2-day craft fair a month from September through December. It is very difficult to get people to hold parties. As I am processing orders with people at parties I ask every single one of them if they would like to have a party and earn 10% towards CrystalStrands jewelry. I can usually get one person at each party but not always. It's a pain but worth it.