So, what is everybody up to?

[Maren at google]

Just because I was saying I'm tired of spam doesn't mean that
all you bead enthusiasts have to stop posting as well ...

Yes, I know, it's the holiday season, and people have lives apart
from beads, I have my own share of that. The telescope I'm
working at is going to be closed, we don't know yet when, but
it may be rather soon. Yes, they say they are just going to
shut it down. I wrote a in my blog about it last night, and one
of my coworkers wrote one in his, http://canspice.org .

The AGLF has produced a lampwork calendar for another
fundraiser which can be purchased here:
http://piercesdesigns.com/pages/AGLF.htm
(unfortunately without pictures so far but I have seen them
at Lampwork Etc.). This was the back when it had all the
pages on it:
Loading Image...

So if you need a calendar with really nice beads, there's
your suggestion.

I'm just glad I don't have a bunch of Christmas presents to
make this year, just a few.


*
/\ Mele Kalikimaka
/ o\ e Hauoli Makahiki Hou
/o \
/ \ Maren
`||'
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Sterling]

Hey Maren,

What am I doing? Well, I did my first home show last weekend and I have
sold over $400.00 from that 3 hour stint. I made a lot of great contacts,
and several of them think of me as their own personal Jewelry Designer.
I've been getting lots of business from them. Gotta love that.

I wanna do another home show... after the holidays. This really seems to be
where the money is at. I mean, an hour to set up, spend 2 to 3 hours
talking to other women who love jewelry, selling your creations, then
another hour to break it all down. You don't have to spend a dime for a
table, or food, or anything - well, may a few dollars for gas to drive to
your host's house. That's an easy way to make more money to buy more beads.
GAWD, it's a vicious cycle. You work furiously to make cool jewelry, only
to sell it so you can buy more beads to work furiously to make more cool
jewelry to sell...

I am sorry to hear that the place where you work will be closing. There
seems to be way to much of that happening lately - the closings and
layoffs - and it really pisses me off. The greatest country in the world is
slowly being reduced to a country of unemployed citizens. I sure hope you
find something to replace your job at the JAC.

Merry Christmas!!

Sterling

Post by Maren at google
Just because I was saying I'm tired of spam doesn't mean that
all you bead enthusiasts have to stop posting as well ...
Yes, I know, it's the holiday season, and people have lives apart
from beads, I have my own share of that. The telescope I'm
working at is going to be closed, we don't know yet when, but
it may be rather soon. Yes, they say they are just going to
shut it down. I wrote a in my blog about it last night, and one
of my coworkers wrote one in his, http://canspice.org .
The AGLF has produced a lampwork calendar for another
http://piercesdesigns.com/pages/AGLF.htm
(unfortunately without pictures so far but I have seen them
at Lampwork Etc.). This was the back when it had all the
http://greyhaven.bizland.com/MiscStuff/Calendar/Back.jpg
So if you need a calendar with really nice beads, there's
your suggestion.
I'm just glad I don't have a bunch of Christmas presents to
make this year, just a few.
*
/\ Mele Kalikimaka
/ o\ e Hauoli Makahiki Hou
/o \
/ \ Maren
`||'
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Maren at google]

Post by Sterling
Hey Maren,
What am I doing?  Well, I did my first home show last weekend and I have
sold over $400.00 from that 3 hour stint.  I made a lot of great contacts,
and several of them think of me as their own personal Jewelry Designer.
I've been getting lots of business from them.  Gotta love that.
I wanna do another home show... after the holidays.  This really seems to be
where the money is at.  I mean, an hour to set up, spend 2 to 3 hours
talking to other women who love jewelry, selling your creations, then
another hour to break it all down.   You don't have to spend a dime for a
table, or food, or anything - well, may a few dollars for gas to drive to
your host's house.  That's an easy way to make more money to buy more beads.
GAWD, it's a vicious cycle.  You work furiously to make cool jewelry, only
to sell it so you can buy more beads to work furiously to make more cool
jewelry to sell...

Yesss! I love to hear this. How do you get somebody to host it and how
do you/they advertise it?

I had a high school fair where I made my booth fee from things from
the yard
(potted Norfolk pines and cloves) and the beads and jewelry were gravy
(so,
OK, it took me about 8 hours to make half as much as you did in 3, but
other
people did the advertising etc.

So it's not just the economy. Your stuff sells where you are (I'm sure
it would be
out of my market's price range, but you never know). I am so glad to
hear this.

It's not a vicious cycle. As long as it sells for more than you paid
it is an
investment.

Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Sterling]

Well, my neighbor has seen my jewelry and picked out a bracelet that she
wanted - she just could not afford to buy it. This neighbor does
PartyLite Candles, and "knows" all sorts of people from selling partylite.
Since she could not afford the bracelet and I didn't have the contacts, she
agreed to host a home show for me. We set a date and she invited all these
people that I didn't know to come and see what I had to offer and to buy
xmas presents. And of course, she sent out invites that I printed off my
computer and we also used evite.com to send out invites also. She had the
contacts but I had the product so we combined our strengths and came up with
a winning mix.

If during the show, I sold $100.00 up to $199.00, I would give her 25% off
the price of that bracelet she liked. If I sold $200.00 up to $299.00, I
would give her a 50% discount off the price of that bracelet. If I sold
$300.00 up to $399.00, I'd give her 75% off the price, and if I sold $400.00
and up, I'd give her the bracelet for FREE. That's what I call incentive
to invite people who would be more likely to buy, and it worked. A couple
of woman who came to the home show now want to host one for me too. It
can only get better.

You wanted to know how to get someone to host a home show? Just ask. Ask
your friends - cause they know people that you don't. If there is someone
at work who knows you make jewelry, ask them to host a home show cause they
know even more people that you don't.

Don't let anyone tell you that the market is too bad and people are not
buying... cause people (women) will continue to buy jewelry even when the
market tanks. There is something special about jewelry - wearing it is an
emotional thing... and that's why women wear it more often than men do. I
guess its just like the RIGHT pair of shoes can do the same thing, but most
men wouldn't pay $200.00 for a pair of shoes and many women wouldn't think
twice about something like that. ( I love the Nordstrom's shoe dept.!!)

Sterling

Post by Maren at google
Yesss! I love to hear this. How do you get somebody to host it and how
do you/they advertise it?
I had a high school fair where I made my booth fee from things from
the yard
(potted Norfolk pines and cloves) and the beads and jewelry were gravy
(so,
OK, it took me about 8 hours to make half as much as you did in 3, but
other
people did the advertising etc.
So it's not just the economy. Your stuff sells where you are (I'm sure
it would be
out of my market's price range, but you never know). I am so glad to
hear this.
It's not a vicious cycle. As long as it sells for more than you paid
it is an
investment.
Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Heather]

Good thinking, Sterling. Rather like a Tupperware party. I sold jewellery
at parties about 40+ years ago. Still have some of it. It was *fashion*
pieces, but nothing ever discoloured or went weird. Ah..........Sara
Coventry was the name of it. I am going to recycle some of it. One thing I
found out is that it is the low to middlin' income people who buy. Those
who wear real pearls and diamonds don't, LOL.

As both of us re retired, I couldn't figure out where to sell it and I also
rarely wear much jewellery. But that is not a bad idea. Tell me.....do you
take orders if 3 people want the same piece?? Or do you have enough
backups. Silly things like that.

As for the market tanking, it is not nearly as bad here in Canada. Our bank
laws are very stringent so no one lost anything. That mortgage fiasco was
tried here about 30 years ago on a limited basis............it tanked and
was never allowed again. They gave people low rate second mortgages for 5
years to almost 100% of the home value. The rates went up at 2nd mtge
renewal time, the house prices were down, so people just moved out and left
the keys on the kitchen table. I was working in law at the time and saw all
of this happening.

Merry Christmas to the few who still lurk and sometimes post!! And a better
2010 for us all.
--
Cheers......Heather

Post by Sterling
Well, my neighbor has seen my jewelry and picked out a bracelet that she
wanted - she just could not afford to buy it. This neighbor does
PartyLite Candles, and "knows" all sorts of people from selling partylite.
Since she could not afford the bracelet and I didn't have the contacts,
she agreed to host a home show for me. We set a date and she invited all
these people that I didn't know to come and see what I had to offer and to
buy xmas presents. And of course, she sent out invites that I printed off
my computer and we also used evite.com to send out invites also. She had
the contacts but I had the product so we combined our strengths and came
up with a winning mix.
If during the show, I sold $100.00 up to $199.00, I would give her 25% off
the price of that bracelet she liked. If I sold $200.00 up to $299.00, I
would give her a 50% discount off the price of that bracelet. If I sold
$300.00 up to $399.00, I'd give her 75% off the price, and if I sold
$400.00 and up, I'd give her the bracelet for FREE. That's what I call
incentive to invite people who would be more likely to buy, and it worked.
A couple of woman who came to the home show now want to host one for me
too. It can only get better.
You wanted to know how to get someone to host a home show? Just ask. Ask
your friends - cause they know people that you don't. If there is
someone at work who knows you make jewelry, ask them to host a home show
cause they know even more people that you don't.
Don't let anyone tell you that the market is too bad and people are not
buying... cause people (women) will continue to buy jewelry even when the
market tanks. There is something special about jewelry - wearing it is an
emotional thing... and that's why women wear it more often than men do. I
guess its just like the RIGHT pair of shoes can do the same thing, but
most men wouldn't pay $200.00 for a pair of shoes and many women wouldn't
think twice about something like that. ( I love the Nordstrom's shoe
dept.!!)
Sterling

Post by Maren at google
Yesss! I love to hear this. How do you get somebody to host it and how
do you/they advertise it?
I had a high school fair where I made my booth fee from things from
the yard
(potted Norfolk pines and cloves) and the beads and jewelry were gravy
(so,
OK, it took me about 8 hours to make half as much as you did in 3, but
other
people did the advertising etc.
So it's not just the economy. Your stuff sells where you are (I'm sure
it would be
out of my market's price range, but you never know). I am so glad to
hear this.
It's not a vicious cycle. As long as it sells for more than you paid
it is an
investment.
Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Sterling]

Heather,

I have one order right now where an older man came to the house during the
jewelry party for the hostess's husband and saw the jewelry laid out on the
table. He looked it all over and asked me about a pair of earrings and if I
could reproduce them. He wanted two pairs. Luckily, I had all the
components to make several other pairs and told him I could but I will need
some time to do it. He said that was great - he will pick up the whole
order on the 23rd. His whole order comes out to $134.00, and that's for 3
sets of earrings.

Sometimes, I can reproduce the piece cause I have the components to do that.
Sometimes, I might still have the components but the design is time
consuming so I will usually say I cant reproduce it, or offer to change the
design. Sometimes, I throw out some artist bullshit about not being able to
reproduce anything so that each piece is a one of a kind, yada yada yada...
It really does depend on the piece and if I WANT to make it again and if I
have the stuff to make it again. Most of the time, I DON'T want to make it
again. I am so strange - I have this "been there done that" kind of
attitude with jewelry making.
Every piece I make is a one of a kind, and I have never made duplicates as a
backup before. If they like it, then they better buy it cause I probably
wont make another like it. I have, on occasion, duplicated earrings
before, but even those have been changed in some way that they are not
exact. See? I told you I am really crazy about reproduction jewelry. I
HATE cookie cutter jewelry like you buy at Kay's, or Silpada. I even asked
my hubby one year for a sapphire ring. But, I had some major stipulations
for this ring. I wanted a REAL sapphire - one that was dug up from the
ground and not one made in a lab. I wanted this sapphire to be a Ceylon
Sapphire and not one of those so dark you cant see the blue sapphires.
Ceylon Sapphires are this vivid blue - not a washed out blue and not so dark
it looks black blue either. I had to teach him about the grading of
sapphires - and I would of loved to have a Kashmir Sapphire but I know we
couldn't afford that.... aaaaaaa the stuff dreams are made of. In the
end, the jeweler he went to brought in 5 different stones and my husband got
to view them under the scope so he could pick out the best one and have it
set.

You are sooo right about the middle class. They are my best customers. I
guess I cater to them since I am one of them. hehehehe The hoity toity
people who can afford very expensive jewelry must have a name attached to it
like Cartier, or Tiffany.... they wouldn't even look at mine, even though
secretly, I think most of them would love it!!

Its funny you say that you rarely were jewelry cause I am the same way.
People always ask me about my jewelry box and I have to say that its pretty
bare. I don't wear jewelry. I used to, but got out of the habit and now I
just like making it - not wearing it.

I would love to see some of your pieces.... you got a site?

Sterling

Post by Heather
Good thinking, Sterling. Rather like a Tupperware party. I sold
jewellery at parties about 40+ years ago. Still have some of it. It was
*fashion* pieces, but nothing ever discoloured or went weird.
Ah..........Sara Coventry was the name of it. I am going to recycle some
of it. One thing I found out is that it is the low to middlin' income
people who buy. Those who wear real pearls and diamonds don't, LOL.
As both of us re retired, I couldn't figure out where to sell it and I
also rarely wear much jewellery. But that is not a bad idea. Tell
me.....do you take orders if 3 people want the same piece?? Or do you
have enough backups. Silly things like that.

[Carla]

The issues for me about doing home shows -

Can't drive, and most of the people I know who'd have the space for it
are in the suburbs or at the other end of the city. I just can't see
hauling my goody bag out on public transportation; two or three buses
and/or trains :) Or they have pets.

I hope to do some local craft fairs next summer. There are lots of
little neighborhood fairs in my area, usually with a $25-50 table fee.

Cheers,
Carla (only three more work days to go!)

Post by Sterling
Heather,
I have one order right now where an older man came to the house during the
jewelry party for the hostess's husband and saw the jewelry laid out on the
table.  He looked it all over and asked me about a pair of earrings and if I
could reproduce them.  He wanted two pairs.  Luckily, I had all the
components to make several other pairs and told him I could but I will need
some time to do it.  He said that was great - he will pick up the whole
order on the 23rd.  His whole order comes out to $134.00, and that's for 3
sets of earrings.
Sometimes, I can reproduce the piece cause I have the components to do that.
Sometimes, I might still have the components but the design is time
consuming so I will usually say I cant reproduce it, or offer to change the
design.  Sometimes, I throw out some artist bullshit about not being able to
reproduce anything so that each piece is a one of a kind, yada yada yada...
It really does depend on the piece and if I WANT to make it again and if I
have the stuff to make it again.  Most of the time, I DON'T want to make it
again.    I am so strange - I have this "been there done that" kind of
attitude with jewelry making.
Every piece I make is a one of a kind, and I have never made duplicates as a
backup before.  If they like it, then they better buy it cause I probably
wont make another like it.   I have, on occasion, duplicated earrings
before, but even those have been changed in some way that they are not
exact.  See?  I told you I am really crazy about reproduction jewelry.   I
HATE cookie cutter jewelry like you buy at Kay's, or Silpada.  I even asked
my hubby one year for a sapphire ring.  But, I had some major stipulations
for this ring.  I wanted a REAL sapphire - one that was dug up from the
ground and not one made in a lab.  I wanted this sapphire to be a Ceylon
Sapphire and not one of those so dark you cant see the blue sapphires.
Ceylon Sapphires are this vivid blue - not a washed out blue and not so dark
it looks black blue either.  I had to teach him about the grading of
sapphires - and I would of loved to have a Kashmir Sapphire but I know we
couldn't afford that....  aaaaaaa the stuff dreams are made of.   In the
end, the jeweler he went to brought in 5 different stones and my husband got
to view them under the scope so he could pick out the best one and have it
set.
You are sooo right about the middle class.  They are my best customers.  I
guess I cater to them since I am one of them.  hehehehe   The hoity toity
people who can afford very expensive jewelry must have a name attached to it
like Cartier, or Tiffany....  they wouldn't even look at mine, even though
secretly, I think most of them would love it!!
Its funny you say that you rarely were jewelry cause I am the same way.
People always ask me about my jewelry box and I have to say that its pretty
bare.  I don't wear jewelry.  I used to, but got out of the habit and now I
just like making it - not wearing it.
I would love to see some of your pieces....  you got a site?
Sterling

Good thinking, Sterling.  Rather like a Tupperware party.  I sold
jewellery at parties about 40+ years ago.  Still have some of it.  It was
*fashion* pieces, but nothing ever discoloured or went weird.
Ah..........Sara Coventry was the name of it.  I am going to recycle some
of it.  One thing I found out is that it is the low to middlin' income
people who buy.  Those who wear real pearls and diamonds don't, LOL.
As both of us re retired, I couldn't figure out where to sell it and I
also rarely wear much jewellery.  But that is not a bad idea.  Tell
me.....do you take orders if 3 people want the same piece??  Or do you
have enough backups.  Silly things like that.

[Sterling]

Carla,
You really cant do a home show by yourself. I know we'd like to trust
everyone but the fact is - WE CANT. There are all kinds of people in the
world and like it or not, theft does happen at home shows. So, that means
you would need help and your help could drive you to where you are going.
While you are chatting with a "client" about a pair of earrings, your help
could be showing another "client" a necklace or chatting with the other
ladies who attended, or writing up and packaging sales, or just watching
over your jewelry - who has what piece, did they put it back, that kinda
thing. I had my mom help me because she understands how important this is
to me. She is breaking into the jewelry making business herself and she is
acquiring valuable information and experience while providing the much
needed help to me at the same time.

I've wanted to do a home show for a while but I had not yet met the right
person to push me to do it - but I was always looking. I had to find my
neighbor first, (who has diarrhea of the mouth) to break into it cause she
has the contacts and I didn't. You have the want, but not the means....
that doesn't mean you cant. You just have to find the right person to help
you out, probably one with a car. *smiles*

Do you have any friends who love your jewelry? Do they have a car and
drive? Well, you could always strike a deal with her to drive you to the
home shows, help out and you can pay her with JEWELRY!!
Just like the deal you make with the hostess, you could always let her pick
out a piece as her goal for payment.

It CAN be done..... you just have to think outside the box to find your
answers.


Sterling

Post by Carla
The issues for me about doing home shows -
Can't drive, and most of the people I know who'd have the space for it
are in the suburbs or at the other end of the city. I just can't see
hauling my goody bag out on public transportation; two or three buses
and/or trains :) Or they have pets.
I hope to do some local craft fairs next summer. There are lots of
little neighborhood fairs in my area, usually with a $25-50 table fee.
Cheers,
Carla (only three more work days to go!)

[Maren at google]

I hope to do some local craft fairs next summer.  There are lots of
little neighborhood fairs in my area, usually with a $25-50 table fee.
Cheers,
Carla (only three more work days to go!)

I have learned the hard way to stay away from fairs
that are mostly about music or other entertainment.
Craft fairs and markets are fine as long as what you
have matches the demographics. I did one at the high
school DD graduated from and actually made what I
consider a more than half decent amount. I did some
of my own advertising, on Craigslist, free. And I was
allowed to sell anything from home grown Norfolk pines
(table-top Christmas trees) and cloves to jewelry making
supplies and of course jewelry.
Another thing to stay away from I found are farmers
markets that have the image of flea markets. People
who shop there want something for nothing.

3 more workdays? Until retirement? Or just for the year?
If it's retirement and you get decent retirement pay (I know
you've been there forever), congratulations!

Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Carla]

Hi Maren,

The fairs I want to do are small neighborhood-y kinds, generally arts
and crafts, baked goods, etc. Often, they seem more like block
parties than fairs :) There's one in the area that's huge, with three
stages, rock bands, restaurants, etc. That's the one I originally had
my eye on until I found out the table fee was about $300. It's about
half a mile long, runs for two days and gets over 100,000 attendees a
year. It used to attract crafters from all over the midwest, but it
became so "high-end", crafters can't afford it anymore :( I don't
even go as a buyer anymore; too many people, too noisy, too expensive,
too head-ache inducing. I want to do it for fun, and if I can make
enough to keep myself stocked in craft supplies, I'll consider it a
success :)

The "three more days" refers to retirement. That's it; I'm done! My
official last day of employment is Dec. 31, but campus is closed until
January 4th...and I won't be there :) Thanks for the congrats; right
now, I can't stop smiling. The pension isn't much, but it's enough to
pay the bills. I'll definitely be looking for part time work sometime
soon.

Cheers,
Carla

Post by Maren at google

I hope to do some local craft fairs next summer.  There are lots of
little neighborhood fairs in my area, usually with a $25-50 table fee.
Cheers,
Carla (only three more work days to go!)

I have learned the hard way to stay away from fairs
that are mostly about music or other entertainment.
Craft fairs and markets are fine as long as what you
have matches the demographics. I did one at the high
school DD graduated from and actually made what I
consider a more than half decent amount. I did some
of my own advertising, on Craigslist, free. And I was
allowed to sell anything from home grown Norfolk pines
(table-top Christmas trees) and cloves to jewelry making
supplies and of course jewelry.
Another thing to stay away from I found are farmers
markets that have the image of flea markets. People
who shop there want something for nothing.
3 more workdays? Until retirement? Or just for the year?
If it's retirement and you get decent retirement pay (I know
you've been there forever), congratulations!
Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website:http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy:http://hilobeads.etsy.com/<-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog:http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Maren at google]

I have a friend who does Partylite, and she always tells me people
admire the jewelry she has from me. Maybe I should ask her.
As I do sell wholesale if anybody wants it, I could easily pay her
25% commission like Partylite does. - I wonder how Partylite
does here right now, Hawaii is a state with very little discretionary
income for most people to begin with, so it's rather bad for a lot
of people right now.I'll ask her on Christmas Day. I know I missed
Christmas for that, but there's Valentine's Day coming up, Mother's
Day in May, there's more gift giving holidays than Christmas. -

As re-making things goes:
I don't only make one-of-a-kind things, my mgambo seed-Swarovski
crystal things are rather repetitive (and boring to make, but as long
as they keep selling I'm going to continue making them). I'd make
those again in any color, I think I have so far made 4 or 5 sets with
turquoise AB2X 4mm bicones and mgambo seeds, alternating.
Some things I cannot remake because they contain lampwork
made by other people (who don't remake sets). Some things take
a lot of time to make, and if I want to make something time
consuming I want to make something new. I cannot imagine making
2 of the same lariat necklaces unless I make them at the same
time.

I don't have help, it would have to be the hostess or somebody
in her family, for a free piece of jewelry or so. To respond to Carla
and the non-driving, I have seen quite a few people show up at craft
fairs with rolling suitcases and not much else. For me currently that
wouldn't work, I'm set up to pack things into my pickup truck. Tables
and such go in the truck bed, the rest goes into the cabin.

I'm glad this thread has gotten some responses, I wish we could
get this newsgroup back from the spammers.

Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

Post by Sterling
Well, my neighbor has seen my jewelry and picked out a bracelet that she
wanted - she just could not afford to buy it.    This neighbor does
PartyLite Candles, and "knows" all sorts of people from selling partylite.
Since she could not afford the bracelet and I didn't have the contacts, she
agreed to host a home show for me.  We set a date and she invited all these
people that I didn't know to come and see what I had to offer and to buy
xmas presents. And of course, she sent out invites that I printed off my
computer and we also used evite.com to send out invites also.  She had the
contacts but I had the product so we combined our strengths and came up with
a winning mix.
If during the show, I sold $100.00 up to $199.00, I would give her 25% off
the price of that bracelet she liked.  If I sold $200.00 up to $299.00, I
would give her a 50% discount off the price of that bracelet.  If I sold
$300.00 up to $399.00, I'd give her 75% off the price, and if I sold $400.00
and up, I'd give her the bracelet for FREE.   That's what I call incentive
to invite people who would be more likely to buy, and it worked.   A couple
of woman who came to the home show now want to host one for me too.    It
can only get better.
You wanted to know how to get someone to host a home show?  Just ask.  Ask
your friends  - cause they know people that you don't.  If there is someone
at work who knows you make jewelry, ask them to host a home show cause they
know even more people that you don't.
Don't let anyone tell you that the market is too bad and people are not
buying... cause people (women) will continue to buy jewelry even when the
market tanks.  There is something special about jewelry - wearing it is an
emotional thing... and that's why women wear it more often than men do.  I
guess its just like the RIGHT pair of shoes can do the same thing, but most
men wouldn't pay $200.00 for a pair of shoes and many women wouldn't think
twice about something like that.  ( I love the Nordstrom's shoe dept.!!)
 Sterling

[Heather]

Maren..........I am not getting the spam that you do because I use a proper
news server....not Google. I am always appalled if I should happen to go
into it to check something on Google Groups.......appalled at the amount of
spam they have. And you can't filter stuff in Google.

The only *spam* I have seen recently is that idiot from the Indian Music ng
who sends out posts to this group and hers with SPAM as the subject. I got
pretty tough with her this week and told her to quit bothering this group.
You didn't see that because I left beading out of my reply. (G)

Anyway, rant being over..........a Merry Christmas to all that still read
this and hopes for a better 2010!!

Cheers from Canada...........and Sterling, when I get a minute I will post.
I don't have a website for jewellery yet.

Heather
"Maren at google" <***@jach.hawaii.edu> wrote in message news:79a1cf32-7855-41fe-9f96-***@z35g2000prh.googlegroups.com...

I'm glad this thread has gotten some responses, I wish we could
get this newsgroup back from the spammers.

Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

Post by Sterling
Well, my neighbor has seen my jewelry and picked out a bracelet that she
wanted - she just could not afford to buy it. This neighbor does
PartyLite Candles, and "knows" all sorts of people from selling partylite.
Since she could not afford the bracelet and I didn't have the contacts, she
agreed to host a home show for me. We set a date and she invited all these
people that I didn't know to come and see what I had to offer and to buy
xmas presents. And of course, she sent out invites that I printed off my
computer and we also used evite.com to send out invites also. She had the
contacts but I had the product so we combined our strengths and came up with
a winning mix.
If during the show, I sold $100.00 up to $199.00, I would give her 25% off
the price of that bracelet she liked. If I sold $200.00 up to $299.00, I
would give her a 50% discount off the price of that bracelet. If I sold
$300.00 up to $399.00, I'd give her 75% off the price, and if I sold $400.00
and up, I'd give her the bracelet for FREE. That's what I call incentive
to invite people who would be more likely to buy, and it worked. A couple
of woman who came to the home show now want to host one for me too. It
can only get better.
You wanted to know how to get someone to host a home show? Just ask. Ask
your friends - cause they know people that you don't. If there is someone
at work who knows you make jewelry, ask them to host a home show cause they
know even more people that you don't.
Don't let anyone tell you that the market is too bad and people are not
buying... cause people (women) will continue to buy jewelry even when the
market tanks. There is something special about jewelry - wearing it is an
emotional thing... and that's why women wear it more often than men do. I
guess its just like the RIGHT pair of shoes can do the same thing, but most
men wouldn't pay $200.00 for a pair of shoes and many women wouldn't think
twice about something like that. ( I love the Nordstrom's shoe dept.!!)
Sterling

[Maren at google]

Post by Heather
Maren..........I am not getting the spam that you do because I use a proper
news server....not Google.  I am always appalled if I should happen to go
into it to check something on Google Groups.......appalled at the amount of
spam they have.  And you can't filter stuff in Google.

[...]
Gina emailed me to that effect as well. I think it's got to do with
inertia.
When our local news server became first unreliable and then defunct
Google was all there was - or at least all I knew of.
I used to read at Google and post from hawaii.edu for a while, but
there
doesn't appear any news server at hawaii.edu at all anymore now.

If you go to the very beginning of my newsgroup posts in my current
profile you can trace me back to my previous job :) . I remember when
our sysadmin installed the first newsreader after we got on the
internet
at work. I'm a usenet dinosaur.

Post by Heather
Anyway, rant being over..........a Merry Christmas to all that still read
this and hopes for a  better 2010!!

Same from here!

Post by Heather
Cheers from Canada...........and Sterling, when I get a minute I will post.
I don't have a website for jewellery yet.

My problem isn't so much the lack of a website but the lack of time
with good light for taking pictures. I'd list more on Etsy as well if
I had the
pictures - I might even sometimes sell some jewelry if I did - .

*
/\ Mele Kalikimaka
/ o\ e Hauoli Makahiki Hou
/o \
/ \ Maren
`||'

[Gina Bull]

Post by Maren at google
If you go to the very beginning of my newsgroup posts in my current
profile you can trace me back to my previous job :) . I remember when
our sysadmin installed the first newsreader after we got on the
internet
at work. I'm a usenet dinosaur.

Heh heh. I was an administrator of a Usenet site *before* there was an
Internet. We used the uucp protocol to transmit over phone connections.
I guess that makes me older than a dinosaur?

:-)
Gina in Virginia
http://community.webshots.com/user/ginainva

[Cheryl Isaak]

Post by Gina Bull

Post by Maren at google
If you go to the very beginning of my newsgroup posts in my current
profile you can trace me back to my previous job :) . I remember when
our sysadmin installed the first newsreader after we got on the
internet
at work. I'm a usenet dinosaur.

Heh heh. I was an administrator of a Usenet site *before* there was an
Internet. We used the uucp protocol to transmit over phone connections.
I guess that makes me older than a dinosaur?
:-)
Gina in Virginia
http://community.webshots.com/user/ginainva

Well - I remember those days! Makes me that old too!

C

[Heather]

Maren..........go to www.eternal-september.org and set yourself up with a
proper FREE news server. Ray does an amazing job with this and I have used
it for a long time. It used to be called Motzarella.

Cheers...........Heather (another dinosaur)

Post by Heather
Maren..........I am not getting the spam that you do because I use a proper
news server....not Google. I am always appalled if I should happen to go
into it to check something on Google Groups.......appalled at the amount of
spam they have. And you can't filter stuff in Google.

[...]
Gina emailed me to that effect as well. I think it's got to do with
inertia.
When our local news server became first unreliable and then defunct
Google was all there was - or at least all I knew of.
I used to read at Google and post from hawaii.edu for a while, but
there
doesn't appear any news server at hawaii.edu at all anymore now.

If you go to the very beginning of my newsgroup posts in my current
profile you can trace me back to my previous job :) . I remember when
our sysadmin installed the first newsreader after we got on the
internet
at work. I'm a usenet dinosaur.

Post by Heather
Anyway, rant being over..........a Merry Christmas to all that still read
this and hopes for a better 2010!!

Same from here!

Post by Heather
Cheers from Canada...........and Sterling, when I get a minute I will post.
I don't have a website for jewellery yet.

My problem isn't so much the lack of a website but the lack of time
with good light for taking pictures. I'd list more on Etsy as well if
I had the
pictures - I might even sometimes sell some jewelry if I did - .

*
/\ Mele Kalikimaka
/ o\ e Hauoli Makahiki Hou
/o \
/ \ Maren
`||'

[Cheryl Isaak]

What a great idea. Now - how much of a discount did she get!
;) - none of my business, right.

Cheryl

Post by Sterling
Well, my neighbor has seen my jewelry and picked out a bracelet that she
wanted - she just could not afford to buy it. This neighbor does
PartyLite Candles, and "knows" all sorts of people from selling partylite.
Since she could not afford the bracelet and I didn't have the contacts, she
agreed to host a home show for me. We set a date and she invited all these
people that I didn't know to come and see what I had to offer and to buy
xmas presents. And of course, she sent out invites that I printed off my
computer and we also used evite.com to send out invites also. She had the
contacts but I had the product so we combined our strengths and came up with
a winning mix.
If during the show, I sold $100.00 up to $199.00, I would give her 25% off
the price of that bracelet she liked. If I sold $200.00 up to $299.00, I
would give her a 50% discount off the price of that bracelet. If I sold
$300.00 up to $399.00, I'd give her 75% off the price, and if I sold $400.00
and up, I'd give her the bracelet for FREE. That's what I call incentive
to invite people who would be more likely to buy, and it worked. A couple
of woman who came to the home show now want to host one for me too. It
can only get better.
You wanted to know how to get someone to host a home show? Just ask. Ask
your friends - cause they know people that you don't. If there is someone
at work who knows you make jewelry, ask them to host a home show cause they
know even more people that you don't.
Don't let anyone tell you that the market is too bad and people are not
buying... cause people (women) will continue to buy jewelry even when the
market tanks. There is something special about jewelry - wearing it is an
emotional thing... and that's why women wear it more often than men do. I
guess its just like the RIGHT pair of shoes can do the same thing, but most
men wouldn't pay $200.00 for a pair of shoes and many women wouldn't think
twice about something like that. ( I love the Nordstrom's shoe dept.!!)
Sterling

Post by Maren at google
Yesss! I love to hear this. How do you get somebody to host it and how
do you/they advertise it?
I had a high school fair where I made my booth fee from things from
the yard
(potted Norfolk pines and cloves) and the beads and jewelry were gravy
(so,
OK, it took me about 8 hours to make half as much as you did in 3, but
other
people did the advertising etc.
So it's not just the economy. Your stuff sells where you are (I'm sure
it would be
out of my market's price range, but you never know). I am so glad to
hear this.
It's not a vicious cycle. As long as it sells for more than you paid
it is an
investment.
Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Maren at google]

Post by Cheryl Isaak
What a great idea. Now - how much of a discount did she get!
;) - none of my business, right.
Cheryl

Actually, I think that's as much your business as your business is.
We all live by different consignment terms (those of us who do
consignment), wholesale terms, etc., and home show terms should
be just as open in the discussion.

?

Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Cheryl Isaak]

On 1/3/10 2:37 AM, in article

Post by Maren at google

Post by Cheryl Isaak
What a great idea. Now - how much of a discount did she get!
;) - none of my business, right.
Cheryl

Actually, I think that's as much your business as your business is.
We all live by different consignment terms (those of us who do
consignment), wholesale terms, etc., and home show terms should
be just as open in the discussion.
?
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

I was just hoping that you got lots of sales and maybe she got her bracelet.

Cheryl

[Maren at google]

Post by Maren at google
The AGLF has produced a lampwork calendar for another
fundraiser which can be purchased here:http://piercesdesigns.com/pages/AGLF.htm
(unfortunately without pictures so far but I have seen them
at Lampwork Etc.). This was the back when it had all the
pages on it:http://greyhaven.bizland.com/MiscStuff/Calendar/Back.jpg
So if you need a calendar with really nice beads, there's
your suggestion.

Hate to follow up on myself, but I got my calendar today and it's
gorgeous. If you want to tempt a fellow jewelry maker into buying
lampwork, it has the URLs for the lampworkers (it's mostly lampwork,
but there are a few other things like handmade soaps, paintings,
etc.) who made the beads with the pictures.

It took me a while to decide on this but somebody at Lampwork Etc.
suggested that I could write it off as office supplies because it
does
have enough room to write in appointments and such. As I pay federal
and state income taxes as well as self- employment tax, that's a big
difference to me.

The case is finally going to court and the offender for the time
being stopped accusing more people since the 11th (of this month).
The AGLF needs more money for this.

Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/