reply to post by X-tal_Phusion
Very, very cool. I also make jewelry. I use jump rings, and do chain maille. I have been doing it for about 5 years, but only seriously in the last
year. I have a good full time job, and lots of side ventures, but wanted something part time for some extra $$$. I can do anything from simple base
metals like aluminum, brass, copper, etc... to titanium, .999 fine silver, and 14K gold fill, or 10K gold. I started doing it just because I love
doing it, and like a challenge. Then friends, and family started asking for pieces, and then their friends wanted pieces, and so on. Now I have
several pawn shops, and consignment stores I make pieces for.
The hard part for me was learning to just do what you find people like. The really complex, and difficult stuff isn't necessarily popular. I make
the most from the simple, classic stuff. I also offer similar pieces in multiple price ranges. For example an aluminum byzantine bracelet is about
$15, and I can make it in any color you can imagine because aluminum can be anodized. I sell loads of them, and they look very nice. I can also make
the same byzantine in grade 5 titanium for $50, but it will last forever, and just looks awesome. I can two-tone it with 14K gold fill for about $70,
and the piece looks spectacular. So I have learned to make something for everyone. I usually sell 2 or 3 aluminum pieces to someone, and then a few
months later around a holiday, anniversary, or birthday they come back for something "special" in a precious metal.
I have also found Ebay to be a big waste of time, and money. I buy my titanium from a surplus aerospace source so one of my titanium pieces is
usually worth it's purchase price in it's weight in titanium. I get all my other metals from a bulk supplier so I can sell really well made jewelry
at a fraction of what a retail store would want, and the quality is superior.
Never wait for help from others. Make your own way, and when you succeed you will owe it all to yourself, and that's a great feeling. In any
endeavor surround yourself with people who believe in you. Ignore the naysayers, and critics. Pay yourself what you are worth, don't sell to
vultures, and tire kickers who talk you into selling so cheap that you stop doing what you are doing. Find a good market to set the price, and if you
do good work/services the price will be fair to customer, and merchant. If you undersell just a few times then that becomes everyone's expectation
forever, and it's hard to break. If you over charge you won't move anything.
You probably already know all this, but I was reiterating for the benefit of the audience

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