Understanding the Artisan: Part 2

This is the final part of Understanding the Artisan. Here I discuss the realities of costume jewelry and the uninformed shoppers who attend flea markets.

The Reality of Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry is going to tarnish unless you take care of them and that includes .925 sterling silver. While pure gold (24 karats) does not tarnish, it has been my experience cleaning jewelry that jewelry with a mixture of gold and some other metal does tarnish. That is, the ratio of gold to metal used in the piece lowers the purity of the gold and thus increases the tendency to tarnish. However, if you have gold costume jewelry that did not cost a lot, you can be sure that the gold content is very low, but still high enough to be legally called gold depending on where it was made. For instance, by US standards, a mix of a little over 41% gold and some other metal is legally called gold and that’s around 10 karats. This standard varies by country. In Denmark and Greece for instance, the minimum percentage of gold mixed with some metal that is still considered gold is 8 karats, which is closer to 30% gold. So when you see genuine gold jewelry at flea markets and craft fairs, ask how much gold is in there. If the vendor can’t answer that question then he or she did not make the item at which point your follow up questions should be where did it come from and who made it? I cannot stress enough, that unless it is 24K gold, it is mixed with some other metal and the oxidative properties of adulterated gold jewelry increases as the ratio of metal mixed with it increases.

The Uninformed Shopper

So I try to explain to shoppers that most metals tarnish, which is why I sell all my items in air tight containers with a piece of anti-tarnish cloth to retard the oxidation process. I have seen no other jeweler on my level offer such features. A sensible person would think that knowing what the cloth does and its ability to be used to preserve their other pieces of jewelry from tarnish as well would be a selling point…right? Well, it’s not, at least, not to the shoppers that attend the flea markets I have participated in. I think that it’s either they don’t care or they don’t believe me or it may just be that they don’t understand the concept and science behind anti-tarnish cloth. Who knows? However, I’ve got to say that the most annoying bunch are the ones that actually stop just to complain about price and then don’t even want to listen to the process that goes behind making the item and the benefits of the cloth. On the other hand, I was rather pleased at the last affair I attended where one person actually understood my pricing because she did the same thing in her country. I guess it takes an artisan to understand another and to truly appreciate the work that goes into making something beautiful.

Get in-the-know and be informed

So remember, as a shopper, when you see a vendor at a market or fair offering something that you find appealing, even if you feel it may be out of your price range; ask. Maybe once you hear about the work and materials that went into making it, you will change your mind. At the very least, you will learn something about the process that you most likely never knew before. Perhaps you could even recommend the item to someone else you know.  As a vendor, I appreciate word-of-mouth advertising.  Moreover, if you purchase something, you get the satisfaction of knowing that it was made right here in the US, which is very rare these days. It’s not hard to be an informed shopper.

Stay Fabulous!

 

Understanding the Artisan: Part 1

Today’s blog is rather long so I broke it up into 2 parts. Part one of Understanding the Artisan pertains to the value of a deal and what it means for the consumer, the process of the artisans and the vendor experience. Part two discusses the realities of costume jewelry and consumer knowledge.

How Much is a Deal Worth?

For the first time this year I have been attending craft fairs and flea markets with my artisan creations. The groups of people that attend these shows are all looking for a deal. However, what they don’t seem to understand or care about is that the kind of deals they want for quality costume jewelry is not possible on US made items and here are some of the reasons why. The vendors who attend these functions by and large are crafts people who happen to be small business owners, legal entities that have to answer to Uncle Sam in form of taxes. Some are large enough to have employees whose their salaries must be paid. Meanwhile, others like me, with limited budgets are small and perform all functions. This simply means the difference between overhead and profit is very small and that’s before salaries and /or taxes are paid. Therefore, as business owners, we have expenses that the hobbyist or fly-by-night peddlers do not have and must account for. Furthermore, due to the strength of the US dollar, foreign made items seem like a more attractive option, but that’s not always the case until you take into account the standards practiced by those foreign countries. While the foreign item costs less because of the exchange rate, depending on where it comes from, the quality may be questionable. It is important to remember that the production standards and requirements mainland US producers must adhere to does not apply to foreign made goods nor are those US standards adopted by all countries that export to the US. The latter also applies to exports from US companies that operate aboard. So, as a shopper attending one of these affairs or just browsing Amazon or roaming the malls, remember, in this day and age, you really get what you pay for. When it comes to jewelry, clothing and accessories focus on quality rather than price and care for the item(s) when you get them. This way, you will only have to buy the item once. Just because a foreign made item seems like a deal, you should wonder whether or not child or slave labor was involved, was lead or some other cancer causing element used in the manufacturing process, did or do people die regularly from the manufacturing procedures used in those foreign companies. You may save up front now but it could cost so much more later when you or someone you love gets sick from the item. So…how much is a deal worth to you now? What do you think it will cost you?

The Maker’s Process

Some vendors manage to get some raw materials on discount, which rarely happens for me. However, when it does, I try to pass on the discount to the customer. Generally speaking, depending on the craft(s) and the maker(s), it may take several hours to produce an item. I know that for some items I make, that’s definitely the case. So finally, the item gets made; the artisan has poured hours of his or her life into the piece; from idea to production. These are hours which can never be gotten back and ultimately never appreciated by a significant portion of the end users. As a vendor, I am always hopeful that they will see the item and appreciate not only its beauty and design but the life hours spent making it or at least try to contemplate it. But sadly, that’s hardly ever the case. However, in the end, I know the most I can hope for is that they think that whatever it is they are looking as is pretty enough for them to justify the expense of buying it. However, as far as I saw, for most of us vendor’s people stroll by and glance and move on. They see the prices and most just walk away without even asking a question. When it comes to jewelry over $5, some look and ask if it will tarnish. Of course it will tarnish! No one here is with Pandora or Cartier and none of those entities would be caught dead at a flea market or craft show; figuratively speaking. Still, if I did sell such quality items I would never grace a flea market with them for obvious reasons; image is everything. On the other hand, if my creations were being carried by one of those stores, no one would ever dare question my prices.

The Vendor’s

So vendors go through all that work to make an item, add benefits and features, they pay their table fee for the space at the market for which there is no guarantee they will make that fee back.  In the end, the attendees walk, stop, stare, gawk and some ask questions but my experience is that they don’t get the sacrifices that went into the creation of those products they pass by. In my case, I think they don’t believe I actually make the items I sell because of the quality or that my prices should be that of the street vendors on Union Square because I’m selling at a market. My advice to those attending flea markets and craft fairs looking for those prices is buyer beware. If you do see very low prices, you are not getting quality and perhaps it’s not even handmade by the person selling it. Many foreign countries mass produce a lot of trinkets that they sell to the US for literally pennies. Some vendors purchase these items and resell them to you for cheap. Some items, if they sell for even a dollar could be a 90% mark up. Depending on where you are as a shopper, if you walk just a few paces away, you will see another vendor with the same item for maybe ten cents more or less. Truly handmade items are rare, meaning that you will not see multiple vendors offering the same product(s) unless they copied each other or someone else. I can say that all my pieces are unique because I design and make them myself. I rarely make more than three versions of an item, which means the lucky recipient of one my creations will be 1 of 3 out 7.5 billion people to own one. I also rarely remake items once sold out unless specially requested and materials are available. In a nutshell, I offer unique, quality artisan pieces that will last a lifetime when properly cared for with the materials and instructions I sell them with.

Next week I will post the final installation of Understanding the Artisan, which covers the truth behind costume jewelry sold as fine jewelry and how to become a more informed shopper.

Stay Fabulous!

Bling on a Budget

It’s so nice when you have that special someone to buy you pretty baubles but what if you don’t. Or perhaps you’re the type of woman who prefers to buy her own jewelry. Nothing wrong with that either; it’s a sure fire way of guaranteeing that you get what you want. Still, maybe the situation is that you’re looking for something special for a special someone. But if you’re like me and dream of affording anything diamond encrusted, requires insurance and possibly body guards, but can’t afford to spend the next three to four months worth of rent on one piece of jewelry; finally there’s a solution…costume jewelry! Yea, yea, I know costume jewelry is not new but I’m talking about real quality costume jewelry not something you would find in a gum ball machine. I mean costume jewelry that could pass for the real thing…at least to anyone who doesn’t currently live on a Goldman Sachs or Saks Fifth Avenue budget. Basically faux fine jewelry if you can imagine. Better yet check them out for yourself.

In my Etsy shop I offer jewelry that gives you the opportunity of looking like you’ve got it made even if you’re no where near to having it all. DBMCO jewelry are made from high quality durable glass, fine crystals, European beads, and cubic zirconia to name a few. And the best part, you can easily buy a full set, still make rent and afford your daily coffee habit. Well…maybe not for the entire week. Just kidding…Latte away. Still, right now there are a limited quantity of charm bracelets, rings, and earrings available. Get them while they last. Go ahead! Let your friends wonder what’s new in your life besides your shiny new baubles. I won’t tell.

Be Fabulous!