I made a custom jewelry order today!
By yashsa
@yashsa (20)
United States
October 4, 2007 8:16pm CST
I make and sell jewelry (I sell on etsy) and I got a custom order this morning, had it finished by this afternoon, and it was bought this evening. I love doing customs more than I like people just buying things ready-made, no idea why.
Anyone else out there sell handmade jewelry? What are your experiences on custom orders?
6 responses
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
7 Oct 07
I make hand-made jewelry. Making specific jewelry isn't as much fun for me, compared with creating my own items. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate getting custom work. But my experience in custom work is making jewelry to spec and it often takes the creative aspect away. I really enjoy sitting down, seeing what pops into my head and what the final result is.
Congrats on your custom order! I hope you get many more.
@yashsa (20)
• United States
8 Oct 07
Hmm... I think I like customs because they give me direction. If I'm going to make something, I have to narrow it down a lot before I even start.
I'm going to make jewelry!
Bracelet
Bangle
Using copper
And something green
With an opening, to be adjustable
Spirals are fun
That process takes a long time though, and I never like to make the same thing twice.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
8 Oct 07
I've had a few custom orders for wedding parties and the bride-to-be wasn't thrilled that each piece for her bridesmaids had been slightly different. She did like that her piece stood out among all the pieces, but she wanted her bridesmaids pieces exactly alike. UGGGHH, mass production. Of course her mother comes out with the comment less than a week before the wedding that all the pieces should look alike , but have subtle differences.
The jewlery had already been approved and delivered, but despite knowing I was away on vacation, they tried to reach me to make more changes.
Thus, one of the reasons I'm not entirely thrilled with custom work. I'll take it, but I have a boss at my full-time JOB, with crafting, I call the shots.
@ryzach (1544)
• United States
8 Oct 07
I also make and sell jewelry and have been doing it more than 6 years. I have a bead/jewelry store that will soon be closing but I still want to continue to make and sell my jewelry. I was wondering how long you have been with Etsy and how well you do with them? I like the whole concept of the website and their fees are very reasonable. It seems like it has an abundance of jewelry designers that it may be so saturated. I do not mind custom orders as long as I do not have to go to the ends of the earth to find certain components for the piece. I so much prefer that someone wants a piece just as it was created.
I peeked at your designs on Etsy, they are very nice. Good luck to you!
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
8 Oct 07
There is a lot of jewelry on Etsy, but all of my sales have been jewelry to this point. Etsy started off slowly for me and I think my 1st month I had 2 sales. I doubled that amount of sales in my 2nd month and I'm on my way to doubling that total in my 3rd month. I haven't put a lot of high end items in my store to this point. I guess my business model on Etsy is to start with lower end items, build up my credibility on the site before moving to some higher end jewelry. I plan on eventually putting some of my prints on Etsy, perhaps after the holidays. But right now, with Fall craft shows and the holidays coming, I've got my hands full (I do have a full-time JOB ugghh) keeping up.
As an experienced crafter, you'll probably do okay once you get a few sales under your belt. There is also a market for supplies on Etsy if you have any left from your store. Some sellers do a decent amount of business selling supplies.
Good Luck to you!
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
5 Oct 07
I have done a few custom orders, for people who wanted knitted items. I don't make jewelry - just have no vision or talent for that. But I think it's fun to do custom orders, too, although I always worry that the client won't like it.
@venshida (4836)
• United States
5 Oct 07
I do not make jewelry. I have custom order crochet hats for people, and although I have not had any problems I prefer customers to purchase ready made items. I feel more comfortable with that process.
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
5 Oct 07
It may not be jewelry but I have put together a couple0of dream catchers with sharks jaws and a few people that have seen then want me to put together one for them. I am talking of sharks jaws that are about a foot across. I would love to be able to show one here so that everyone on mylot could see it. Maybe in the not too distance I will be able to have the ability to show everyone.
@gypsygoth (244)
• Philippines
6 Oct 07
i like making custom jewelry! although, i end up wearing them instead of selling them lol :P but whenever i get tired of wearing them, that's when i begin to sell them XD i've made a profit of it but im not the type who "markets" my wares, i let someone else do the selling part for me and meet them half way with splitting the money. :P
i also make custom crochet stuff, but sometimes i dont have the patience, i dont finish them up right away. i used to sell some when i was in college because back then it was a fad to have crochet cellphone covers :) nothing flashy though :) just a good set of monochrome yarn or 2-3 colors altogether.
@yashsa (20)
• United States
8 Oct 07
I'd wear my own if I wore jewelry. The only thing I wear is a bracelet on my right wrist though--it feels strange not too--and I did make that. No piercings though, even in my ears, and can't stand to have anything around my neck. Have fun with your crafts! ^_^
