Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

I think that the more crazy and cluttered our lives become, the more we have a desire to simplify. There seems to be something deep down inside that draws us to it, that even hungers for it.

In my last post, I talked about recycling beads — pulling out old jewelry items you no longer wear and creating something new and fresh out of those same beads. This is a great way to de-clutter some of the excessive jewelry items that are so easy to accumulate as a jewelry maker. It’s also a great way to simplify and save money at the same time. And in our struggling economy, that sounds pretty good.

Lori Greenburg, over at Bead Nerd, gives some pointers on how jewelry artists can simplify. Stop over and check it out, as it’s definitely worth a read.

The following are some of my own ideas on simplifying:

1. Pull out what won’t sell. If you’ve tried desperately to sell an item that just won’t sell, take it (and others like it) and disassemble it. Create something new with the beads. This is the same premise of last week’s post. Creating something new out of older, unsold items, gives them a fighting chance to find a new permanent home with some appreciating owner.

2. Create giveaways. Too many beads? Why not try creating some quick gifts (i.e. bracelets and earrings) for women in your family. They’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness and when they wear the jewelry, they’re advertising your talent. Ask them to pass along details about your business/work and help send traffic to your website.

3. Clear out unusables. If you’ve cleared out some excess beads by creating gifts and you still have too many beads that are cluttering up your collection, bag up lower cost beads, acrylic beads, odd beads you’re unlikely to use, etc. and take them to thrift stores that might use them. Or give them to the daughters of friends and family. Many girls are just learning to bead and love it; they’ll be more than happy to have a group of beads to work with!

4. Decide what’s important. What are you most drawn to, and what type of jewelry do you love to make the most? What are you especially good at? In a struggling economy when money is tighter, it’s cost effective to think of focusing on a couple of things you do well and centering your creative energy on them. It’s certainly simpler to do a couple of things really well than to do a lot of things that are more costly and keep you busy, busy, busy all the time.

5. Lower your prices. If you are selling jewelry, think about lowering your prices. In a tough economy, it might be the best way to move some of your best pieces. But you’ve got to decide whether or not it’s worth the tradeoff to you. The decision is yours alone.

6. Get in on rummage sales. Keep your eyes peeled for rummage sales still in the organization process. A church in my area recently had a rummage sale and charged $20 for a table. If you purchased a table at a rummage sale that is well advertised and well attended, you could do very well selling your jewelry. This is an especially attractive option in the summer. Be sure to feature warm weather items customers can wear now, and have some business cards or flyers handy. You might gain a wealth of potential customers.

7. Streamline. Reorganize your beads and supplies periodically. It’s a great way to clear out clutter, but it also gives you a chance to organize in ways that are simple and open. When beads and beading materials keep coming in and keep getting stacked atop the older beads and materials, it won’t be long till you have a mountainous mess! Tidy up, reorganize and clear out. As much as is possible, make sure your work area is open, streamlined and efficient.

Hope these tips help, dear beaders! Happy beading!

Related posts:

• The Effects of Color in Jewelry
  As you begin to think of creating jewelry pieces for spring, consider the effects that color might have on those...
• Creating Nickel-Free Jewelry
  The tip for this week is to give thoughtful consideration to creating nickel-free jewelry. That’s especially important to consider if...
• Recycling Beads: Creating Something New From Something Old
  I happened upon a fun idea after I went through my jewelry box recently. I keep saying how much I...