STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT: 
How Do You Start and Run A Business
Selling Hand Made Products?

Between Commerce and Art

Many people learn beadwork and jewelry-making in order to sell the pieces they make. In today’s world, people who sell their pieces must become savvy in both regular retail, as well as internet retail. This does not have to be too complex. Nor too overwhelming. Too impossible. Too boring. There are a lot of tensions here between commerce and art. Production and creativity. They parallel the tensions between the creative act and having to introduce your jewelry publicly. But all are manageable.

Conquering The Creative Marketplace is a comprehensive guide for you — someone who wants to start and run a business selling handmade products you love to make. The chapters in this book focus on developing and implementing your road map. This map helps show you how to better understand and relate to the creative marketplace, eventually earning money from your jewelry designs (or other art or craft projects). I go into detail about the things you have to do to start and run a business selling handmade products. I talk about the things you will want to do to manage, evolve and expand your business. These have to do with general accounting and setting up a general ledger. They include things like inventory management, pricing formulas, marketing and branding strategies. Also important is the protection of your designs — your intellectual property. I also discuss in detail key concepts like risk, return on investment, legitimacy, effectiveness, efficiency, consumption, influence, persuasion, coherence and contagion.

Based both on the creation and development of my own jewelry design business, as well as teaching countless students over the past 38+ years about business and craft, I want to address what should be some of your key concerns and uncertainties. I want to share with you the kinds of things (specifically, a business mindset and confidence) it takes to start your own jewelry business, run it, and lead it to a level of success you feel is right for you. Right for you will mean different things to different designers, from a hobbyist selling some pieces to a full-fledged operation. Whatever, your goals and ambitions, you will need to follow a basic road map. I want to help you plan your road map.

I explore answers to such questions as: How does someone get started selling their pieces? What business fundamentals need to be brought to the fore? How do you measure risk and return on investment? How does the creative person develop and maintain a passion for business? To what extent should business decisions affect artistic choices? What similar traits do successful jewelry designers share with those in business? How do you protect your intellectual property? What is your competitive advantage?

The next few chapters are descriptions of the kinds of things it takes for successfully integrating commerce with art. There are literally many full books written on each topic and subtopic, which you can easily access in bookstores or online. This book should be considered a comprehensive introduction to these topics. While all the information in this book is pertinent and necessary for you, it is not a substitute for talking with an accountant and business lawyer familiar with you and the locality, state/province and country you are doing business in.

The advice in these sections is useful for any jewelry designer who wants to sell their pieces. It is useful for the jewelry designer who occasionally wants to sell a few pieces. It is useful for the jewelry designer who wants to supplement their income. It is useful, as well, for the jewelry designer who wants to develop a fully, financially secure jewelry design business.

These major topics covered in this book include,

1. Integrating Business With Design (begin with chapter 2)

2. Disciplinary Literacy In the Creative Marketplace (begin with chapter 6)

3. Getting Started (begin with chapter 7)

4. Financial Management (begin with chapter 18)

5. Product Development, Creating Your Line, and Pricing (begin with chapter 31)

6. Marketing, Promotion, Branding (begin with chapter 42)

7. Selling (begin with chapter 54)

8. Resiliency (begin with chapter 81)

9. Professional Responsibilities, including Developing Your Portfolio (begin with chapter 82)

For more articles about Conquering The Creative Marketplace, click over to our Jewelry Designers’ Hub

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Thanks for being here. I look forward to sharing more resources, tips,
sources of inspiration and insights with you.

WarrenFeldJewelry.com
Shop.warrenfeldjewelry.com
School.warrenfeldjewelry.com
Coaching by Warren Feld

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Conquering The Creative Marketplace

Many people learn beadwork and jewelry-making in order to sell the pieces they make. Based both on the creation and development of my own jewelry design business, as well as teaching countless students over the past 35+ years about business and craft, I want to address what should be some of your key concerns and uncertainties. I want to share with you the kinds of things (specifically, a business mindset and confidence) it takes to start your own jewelry business, run it, anticipate risks and rewards, and lead it to a level of success you feel is right for you. I want to help you plan your road map.

I will explore answers to such questions as: How does someone get started marketing and selling their pieces? What business fundamentals need to be brought to the fore? How do you measure risk and return on investment? How does the creative person develop and maintain a passion for business? To what extent should business decisions affect artistic choices? What similar traits to successful jewelry designers do those in business share? How do you protect your intellectual property?

The major topics covered include,

1. Integrating Business With Design

2. Getting Started

3. Financial Management

4. Product Development, Creating Your Line, and Pricing

5. Marketing, Promotion, Branding

6. Selling

7. Professional Responsibilities and Strategic Planning

8. Professional Responsibilities and Gallery / Boutique Representation

9. Professional Responsibilities and Creating Your Necessary Written Documents

548pp, many images and diagrams
Kindle or Ebook or Print