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Consign

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I would suggest to an artist working in the jewelry field that they consign their pieces. If you do not already have a name for yourself you can get truly lost on Ebay. If the piece is of high-value gemstones, or vintage with a signature, then I would opt for more specific auction houses that qualify the items, confirm the manufacturer, and document who signed it. If the item has historical significance, you do not want to undersell it, and in the jewelry market, as with antiques in general, if an item was owned by a celebrity, created for a President,etc,it is part of its price. Many auction houses offer free appraisals, you can find them on the web.

Assuming the person has made a piece of jewelry and wants to sell it as their own brand, I think the determining factor in which avenue to market one's work, Ebay or Boutique, would depend on how readily the piece can be reproduced, meaning will it take you 5 weeks to make another one, or 2 hours? If you have your own website or following, you could link your one time sale item to your own link or Ebay store.
If you have your own client list and people are holding their breath to see what marvelous creation you have in mind next, you could be better off developing your personal relationships with your vendors, the boutique owners.

There is no one way to market oneself. The higher dollar amounts require more responsibility on your part, to ensure honesty to your patrons and the vendor who may be selling on your behalf. Very few people can do it all. Usually the person who is inclined to create a piece of personal adornment has a different temperament than the sort of person who can get out there in the jungle and sell well. Both parties should be respected equally, we all need one another to function and give our projects our best.

Learn more about this author, Peggy Molloy.
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