Jewellers often get stuck with pricing in their business, especially when they first start out. This is a really crucial topic for us to talk about because pricing is so important. We're going to talk about some tips on how to increase your prices, and we hope you join for this great conversation!

EPISODE RECAP

• The first tip is to do a price increase in stages (5:13)
• The next tip is that you never need to defend your pricing. To anyone. (8:20)
• When you're increasing your prices, you'll want to decide how you want to do it (12:44)
• Low prices may be putting your customers off (14:37)
• People do not buy your work based on price! (17:19)
• Consider the value you're giving (18:09)
• Finally, know that you're worth it! (20:37)

RESOURCES

The Jewellery Design and Drawing Course

Pricing Your Jewellery For Profit

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We've invited two lovely guests from the Goldsmiths Company Assay Office in London - Charlotte Turner is the marketing manager and Adam Phillips is the customer service manager. We're going to be talking today about hallmarking as jewellers and answering some questions about this topic. We're going to learn a lot today and we're excited for you to join us!

EPISODE RECAP

• Let's start with the basics - what is hallmarking? (2:00)
• How does a new jeweller get started with hallmarking? (5:08)
• Can anyone get a hallmark in the UK? (6:49)
• There are a few different options for marks - can you tell us about the differences? (7:29)
• Are there special marks people can get? How do you get one? (15:09)
• There's some confusion around hallmarking mixed metals. How do you go about those? (19:32)
• What if you have a silver ring that is under the weight mark and it has a bit of gold that is over the weight - discuss this (25:01)
• What is the dealers notice and what do we need to do as jewellers? (29:55)
• Brexit has happened, how have the hallmarking rules changed due to this? (35:07)
• Is the convention mark the same as the common control mark? (38:50)
• If I'm a UK supplier and selling to another country, do I need to follow their local hallmarking guidelines? (41:22)
• Does the UK have one of the most strict hallmarking guidelines? (42:47)
• Are there any other things you'd like to share with those listening? (48:20)

RESOURCES

The Goldsmiths Company Assay Office London

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Jess Van Den is a self employed silversmith. She has been making jewellery since 2008 when she started selling jewellery as a hobby and then turned it into a full time business in 2010. She specialises in eco sterling silver wedding rings. She works out of her solar powered home in Australia and she has a lot to teach us about selling on Etsy.

EPISODE RECAP

• Will you tell everyone a little about yourself and how you got started in jewellery? (2:29)
• Was Etsy a no-brainer? (3:50)
• Was your business immediately successful? Were you getting sales right away? (6:22)
• Let's talk about Etsy - tell us about your recommendations for having a financially viable product (10:01)
• Your specialty is wedding rings, right? (14:16)
• Tell us about SEO and your advice (16:01)
• How did you do your shop - did you do it all yourself or did you outsource? (20:23)
• We know photographs are so important. What are your tips for photos on Etsy? (22:08)
• What else can we do to make our shop look as professional as possible? (26:41)
• How do reviews work on Etsy? (29:44)
• Why we shouldn't neglect the boring parts of the site? (34:51)
• Tell us about where people can get more information on your guides and support (36:43)

RESOURCES

Epheriell

Create & Thrive

Jess Van Den Instagram

Epheriell Instagram

Create & Thrive Resources

Set Up Shop Course

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I'm joined by the wonderful John Williams. He is the founder of The Ideas Lab - a company that has helped thousands of people find something they love, get started and make a living with it. He is a best selling author of the book Screw Work, Lets Play. His newest book is called F**k Work Lets Play and we're excited to have him join us today!

EPISODE RECAP

• Tell us a little about you (1:39)
• When you said you never wanted a job again, did you want to do something entrepreneurial? (2:38)
• How did you start writing books? (3:45)
• Tell us a little about 'super niching' (8:50)
• Can you share about documenting over creating? (13:49)
• When people have followed you on the journey they feel like they know you! (20:05)
• There is a part in your book about removing internal blocks. Tell us about that (25:37)
• Let's talk about your book - what do people get from this book in a nutshell? (29:03)
• Where can people connect with you? (34:40)

RESOURCES

Screw Work, Let's Play

F**k Work, Let's Play

The Ideas Lab

FWorkLetsPlay.com

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Tracey is a qualified senior art clay and precious metal clay instructor. She runs Craftworx Jewellery School which specialises in metal clay. She is also a guest designer on Jewellery Maker TV, has more than 20 years of experience and we're lucky to have had her teach classes at Jewellers Academy as well. A big welcome to Tracey!

EPISODE RECAP

• Tell us a little about how you got started in jewellery making and metal clay (2:10)
• Take us on the journey - you did classes? What experiences were helpful to you? (6:25)
• Tell us about your design process (9:44)
• You're now a teacher but do you still do classes? (13:38)
• Tell us about Craftworx - how did you come to set up a jewellery school? (16:48)
• The other exciting thing you do is appear on Jewellery Maker TV. How did you get involved in that? (24:14)
• What would your advice be to anyone who is starting out with jewellery making or metal clay? (30:29)
• What is next for you? (32:52)
• Can you tell us some of your favorite metal clay artists? (35:20)

RESOURCES

Craftworx Website

Craftworx Facebook

Craftworx Instagram

Jewellery Maker TV

Terry Kovalcik Website

Holly Gage Website

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We have a special guest this week, the Chief Executive of Anti-Copying in Design (ACID) - a membership organization that exists to support designers in their design and intellectual property. If you've ever been copied, worried about copying someone else or had any questions, they can help!

EPISODE RECAP

• Can you start by sharing about yourself and how you got involved in this area? (1:40)
• What was your background when you started this organization? (3:20)
• How do I as a jeweller protect my designs? (5:16)
• In what case would you register a design? (6:42)
• What counts as copying? (11:03)
• What is copyright? (12:45)
• The whole process is a lot easier with a contract (16:22)
• What is a trademark and do I need one? (17:12)
• Does this work the same in other countries? Does it protect your designs in other countries? (20:45)
• If you're selling at a craft fair, is there any guidance on protecting yourself? (24:15)
• What do we do if we think our designs have been copied? (28:24)
• With a commission piece, who owns the design? (34:07)
• Tell us a bit more about ACID (36:51)

RESOURCES

ACID Website

ACID Facebook

ACID Instagram

Dids Macdonald Twitter

Jewellery Business Bootcamp

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I am joined by Carol Harding of Silver Coast Jewellery. Carol is a long time Jewellers Academy member and boot camper. Carol is super inspiring - she has a positive attitude and has turned struggles into something positive. I am excited to share her story today.

EPISODE RECAP

• Let's start with your story - how did you get involved in jewellery making? (2:10)
• How has your business evolved over the years? What kind of jewellery do you make and how do you sell it? (4:09)
• Tell us about your experience in the bootcamp and what it did for your business (9:55)
• What things will you be working on this year at bootcamp? (12:09)
• What are some challenges you've had to overcome with your business? (15:36)
• Why did you choose to become a jeweller? (18:53)
• What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing the bootcamp this year but is not sure? (19:57)
• Do you have any tips for jewellers who are looking to grow? (21:29)

RESOURCES

Jewellery Business Bootcamp

Silver Coast Jewellery

Silver Coast Jewellery Instagram

Silver Coast Jewellery Pinterest

Silver Coast Jewellery Facebook

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This week we'll be talking about the Jewellery Business Bootcamp. This is something we run every year to set you up for success in the year ahead. It is designed to support you in your jewellery business growth. If you want jewellery to be your career, this bootcamp is for you. Join me as we talk more about it!

EPISODE RECAP

• This is a course we've been running for four or five years and it's aimed at you if you're wanting to grow a thriving, full time jewellery business (2:22)
• There is growth out there waiting for you. In order to get it, we need four things (3:44)
• The knowledge aspect is all of the practical things you need to grow a business (4:24)
• Next is the strategy - taking the knowledge and turning it into a plan (7:01)
• Then you need the ongoing support (8:18)
• The final of the four things is the self belief element (9:17)
• So how does the bootcamp work? (11:18)
• The course is taught by me with a few guest speakers (16:32)
• Let's look at what's covered in the training week-by-week (19:49)
• How much time will the bootcamp take? (33:52)

RESOURCES

Webinar: Grow Your Jewellery Business in 2021

Jewellery Business Bootcamp

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This week we're going to be talking about how to create a one-page business plan for your jewellery business to bring about success and growth in 2021. I do this at the start of every year in my business and it's one of my favorite tools. It's a very simple tool to use as a vision setting exercise.

EPISODE RECAP

• Today we're talking about creating a one-page business plan for your business (0:54)
• Let me explain how the one-page business plan works (4:20)
• First, write down your word of the year (6:05)
• Underneath that write your dream income for this year (7:56)
• Whatever that dream income goal was, I want you to double it (9:22)
• Take the first box and label it Q1 - then choose one key activity you'll do in this quarter. Then do that for each quarter (10:46)
• Then put two to three bullet points for what you will do for each headline (12:46)
• Write down your revenue generating activity for each quarter (13:37)
• Finally, put the income goal that quarter (16:46)
• What I like about this is the discipline it creates for each quarter (19:46)

RESOURCES

Jewellery Business Bootcamp

Welcome to Jo Medwey of Wire & Wood Jewellery. She is one of our Diploma students and is doing the course online. We're going to talk about her jewellery business, her background and her experience as a Diploma student.

EPISODE RECAP

• Tell us about yourself - how did you get involved in jewellery making? (2:08)
• How did you feel once you were committed to the course? (7:21)
• What has your experience been like on the Diploma? What has been your favorite week so far? (8:26)
• Each Diploma student has a mentor, can you tell us a little about that? (10:16)
• The community is so important, isn't it? (13:17)
• What are you looking forward to next term? (13:59)
• What's your vision for your business going forward and how does the Diploma help that? (14:27)
• The money could be a barrier for some people. How did you manage this? (16:57)
• It's helpful to think about how you manage your time around the Diploma. How do you do it? (19:30)
• If someone hasn't learned online before, how have you found that process? (21:02)
• What would you say to someone who is thinking about joining but still not sure? (22:44)

RESOURCES

Wire & Wood Jewellery Instagram

Diploma in Silver Jewellery

Diploma in Fine Jewellery

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