Comments on: Home Based Jewelry Business Owners – 6 Tips To Beat The Bad Economy

By: Cindy Lietz@Pricing and Selling Handmade Beads

Cindy Lietz@Pricing and Selling Handmade Beads — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:55:30 +0000

@Miguel: Sorry to take so long getting back to you. I saw that Phaedrakat has been very helpful for you.

The production of polymer clay beads doesn’t have to be that high tech to be successful. It is more a matter of figuring out a system for yourself that works.

She Beads is a perfect example of a company that makes polymer clay beads on a commercial scale, pretty much entirely by hand. The link by my name will take you to an article and short video that will explain more of what I mean.

By: Miguel

Miguel — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:13:49 +0000

Thank you Phaedrakat. This names of tools will be enough to star searching for tools I can use to make higher volume of production; I am not talking hundreds of beads ,I am just talking about making enough so I can dream on going to more business or even on line to try sale more and maybe make a living out of this in the future…We are just making basic printings like flowers.

Thank you for your support and hope the best for every one using this miracle product that can create beautiful things and thank you Cindy for your blog…….

By: Phaedrakat

Phaedrakat — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:51:04 +0000

@Miguel: Hi again Miguel, I’m sorry. I meant to tell you that I feel bad about your job. These are really hard times. I’m having difficulties myself (and most everyone I know has some big financial problem or job loss going on.) I wish you luck in you & your wife’s venture. Best of luck to you!

By: Phaedrakat

Phaedrakat — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:48:18 +0000

@Miguel: Hi Miguel, I've never heard of any mass production equipment, per se. But you can buy certain machines that help some of the processes. Like the pasta machine -- you can buy a larger one, like the DREAM machine at Polymer Clay Express. There's a video showing it at that link. Being able to make larger sheets will allow you to make larger canes. Bead rollers might help you roll beads faster. Rock tumblers can speed up the sanding. Cindy has a video on how to use them. Then there are power tools to do the final buffing. You can also use a Dremel tool, like in this tutorial, but I have a feeling you are looking for the bigger power tools, like bench grinders or Foredom (jewelers) buffers. For most of us though, it's the hand-made aspect of creating an art bead that makes polymer clay beads so special. Tiny irregularities and little differences in each bead are what show the buyer that the beads were made by hand, with love and creativity from the artist. I guess it depends on what kind of beads you're actually making. Leave a comment about what kind of beads you make. Someone else can probably come up with some better ideas.

By: Miguel

Miguel — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:05:04 +0000

Hi Cindy, thank you for all the good information you provide for all of us. I had a question for you; my wife started a clay beads jewelry business and we are trying to make a living out of it but we can not produce beads fast enough to try to contact more gift stores so we can sale more. Do you know any techniques or any equipment being sold to mass produce polymer clay beads? Thank you and hope you can help us. I lost my job and we are trying hard to cover our expenses with this beautiful product.

By: Cindy Lietz@Buffing Polymer Clay Beads

Cindy Lietz@Buffing Polymer Clay Beads — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:55:54 +0000

@Tina: Thanks for your kind comments! I do feel there are always things you can do to make your life/business better, no matter the situation. Sometimes you just have to think about things differently. I’ve read your article and it is good. Although not as uplifting, it does shed some light on things about our business I hadn’t thought of. As always, it’s great to have you here!

@Anna: You’ve got some excellent tips there! It is a fantastic way to find beads, clasps and other findings for a great price! Thank you for sharing your ideas!

@Adrienne: You’re welcome! It is always good to look at things from a few different perspectives! Thanks for your comment!

By: Adrienne lindsey

Adrienne lindsey — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:19:05 +0000

Love all the ideas you come up with. Some I have thought of and some I have not. It is great to have another perspective from which to gather ideas from.
Thanks, Adrienne

By: Anna Sabina

Anna Sabina — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:33:25 +0000

I always check the clearance jewelry section at the store. Some of the jewelry on clearance is ugly but maybe I can get a nice chain and cover the ugly focal bead with PC; ends up being cheaper than buying a nice chain separately. I also have bought several necklaces and stripped the beads off of them; never pay more than $3. Last year I went to a mall costume jewelry shop ( Claire’s) and they had a table of ghastly looking necklaces with beads 10 for $1.00. I bought some that some that had a bunch of gothic looking lockets and took it apart. 15 lockets together looked ugly but I have used them individually to embellish picture frames or covered boxes. I also check garage sales and have bought some brooches for 10 cents because they are missing rhinestones; I pick the rest of the stones out and use them for embellishments. Or buy a funky old Brooch and use it to make textures in PC.

By: tina

tina — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:51:15 +0000

Great advice Cindy! As always, your experience and tips are not only helpful, but positive and uplifting.

I just wrote an article in a beaders group about the negative side to beading, how much competition there is today, compared to just 10 or 15 years ago. My focus was mainly on the Corporate magazine industry, how they create more subscribers, how much they know about their subscribers, and how many more new beaders they create on a regular basis. It’s very hard to stay ahead, not just with the down-turn of the economy, but keeping up with the competition. Galleries, shops, markets and fairs include more jewellers than ever….Beads are a drug! lol

By: Cindy Lietz@Jewelry Photography Tips

Cindy Lietz@Jewelry Photography Tips — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:14:12 +0000

Thank you very muck Stephanie!