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Jewelry for Special Customers

Increase Sales by Making Your Jewelry Fit Your Customers' Needs

Making Custom Jewelry for Special Customers

Can jewelry crafters ever compete with the inexpensive imported jewelry found in every mall? I say yes.

Many people would think the only possibility is to avoid that market and go upscale by using precious stones and precious metals. However that means a big investment in materials.

Jewelry for Special Physical Needs

Do you know any people who are not well-served by the inexpensive accessory stores? I bet you do.

These are people that like the styles but simply cannot buy “off the rack”.

It could be that their wrists are so thin, the bracelets slide right off.

Or they might have very thick wrists that “one size fits all” doesn’t.

Very petite women may need shorter necklaces and tall women may need longer.

There are people with arthritis or other disabilities that make those tiny spring ring clasps impossible. Shouldn’t these women have access to the latest fashions as well?

Consider your customers’ individual needs in your designs. Measure their wrists or how long they want a particular necklace. Take into account impaired vision or finger dexterity.

There are extra-large hook and eye clasps or lobster clasps, quite fashionable large bar and ring toggle clasps, as well as magnetic clasps that look like those very tricky barrel clasps that screw together. You can even buy non-metal clasps for those with metal allergies.

Look for a Unique Need and Meet It.

People come in different shapes and sizes. They have different abilities and disabilities.

Jewelry for Special Situations

There are also special situations that can lead to jewelry design changes.

I’ve made and re-made a lot of jewelry for local community theaters. When a role requires quick changes, it is fascinating to be backstage and watch the magic happen.

Sometimes an actor will have two dressers. One outfit is whipped off and in seconds another is fully in place – including jewelry. Jewelry has to be sturdy and easy to put on and remove.

Twisted cable is better than plastic monofilament or string for bracelets and necklaces. I must have restrung two dozen vintage necklaces for theater use.

Memory wire works well for chokers and bracelets.

Crimps have to be doubly secure.

You can use double crimps for the added security; or a two-channel Crimp Tool.

The first station or channel flattens the crimp bead into a notched “u” shape. The second closes the “u” into a tight circle.

And of course, clasps (which I addressed at length above) have to be fumble-free. Unless a necklace is long enough to simply drop over the actor’s head, I prefer magnetic clasps for theater necklaces.

Magnetic clasps require a bit of patience to work with because your jewelry tools and findings will keep glomming onto the magnets.

Try to hold the magnet out of the way by covering it with your fingers. On the plus side, these magnets are amazingly strong; but open easily when you bend the clasp at the juncture of the two magnetic plates.

In one of the first articles I wrote about marketing I said, “If you want to profit from your craft, learn to think first of your customers’ tastes and needs … Become totally customer-focused.” I stand by my words!

More on the Double-Channel Crimp Tool

I love my Double-Channel Crimp Tool. It really gives a professional finish to your jewelry.

I gave general instructions above: use the notched channel to flatten the crimp into a notched “u”; then use the second channel to round off the crimp bead.

When you do step one, hold the two wires or threads apart so that one is at each side of the “u”. This provides maximum hold. The second step leaves a smooth, round bead and eliminates sharp edges that can result from simply flattening the crimp bead.

If desired, the finished crimp can be hidden in a large-holed bead or a crimp cover. The double-channel crimp bead pliers come with complete instructions but if you have any difficulty envisioning how they work, view this great video tutorial.

Artbeads sells the Double-Channel Crimp Tool and also carries a Mighty Crimper and a Micro Crimper for extra large or extra small crimp tubes or bead covers.

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