Jewelry Repairs

Expand Your Craft Business by Doing Jewelry Repairs

Extend Your Craft Business' Market Reach

This wasn't my idea; it came from a clever customer who figured that if I could make jewelry, I could probably repair it.

Think about it, whatever your craft, if you have the tools and the expertise, you might be able to increase your total income by letting people know you can do repairs.

That first customer brought me several items that were missing beads, had broken clasps or had come partially unstrung. She didn't know how to fix them. She didn't have the necessary "spare parts" or the tools.

I view repair work as a type of commission work. I know before I put in my time and effort that I will get paid.

I love commission work. I don't have to worry how long the item will sit on a shelf gathering dust until I sell it or, worse yet, have to take it apart and recycle what I can.

I've gotten quite a reputation for my repair work. Believe me, the word gets around. I just finished repairing a very intricate beaded fringe on a designer embossed velvet evening shawl.

It took me a little more than an hour to do and used very few supplies: several bugle beads and thread. I charged $25 and the customer didn't blink an eye.

Just thought I'd pass the idea along. Doing repairs to grow your craft business may sound pretty boring or mundane to the artist in you; but believe me, it's not.

I'm working with a customer right now who has been collecting stones and vintage jewelry around the world for thirty years. Many of the older pieces need repair or new clasps (for arthritic hands to manage). That's not real artistic work.

However Loretta has many pieces that, though they have great elements, she has never felt comfortable wearing. We are having a grand time examining them and deciding how to achieve her vision of what they could be. Loretta has an artist's eye but doesn't have jeweler's skills or tools.

Here are some other fun "repair jobs" I've had: taking apart damaged vintage rhinestone jewelry to make wire sculpture pendants and earrings; changing clip earrings to pierced or vice versa - this can be fun because you usually have to make design changes to accommodate the different ear piece; and the beautiful beaded shawl I mentioned above.

Frequently people will let me keep the leftover odds and ends after a repair or will simply give me old broken jewelry that I can use for parts. That's how this milagro bracelet came to be.

Visit the Jewelry Index Page for more articles on jewelry making and the For Profit section for craft business advice.