THREADING THE BUSINESS NEEDLE: Management Strategies For Integrating Business and Design

Threading The Business Needle

Guiding Questions:
1. How can a jewelry designer survive successfully as a business?

2. To what extent should business considerations influence artistic choices?

3. What business fundamentals should be brought to the fore?

4. How does the creative person develop and maintain a passion for business?

5. What similar traits do successful jewelry businesses share?

Abstract:

It is very feasible to start and run a successful business selling handmade products. This is not something to be left up to chance. You need a road-map. You have to understand how the creative marketplace works. You have to understand, as well, what business fundamentals need to be brought to the fore. Business involves (1) Putting your jewelry designs on a sound cost/revenue footing, (2) Developing market-driven strategies (as opposed to product-driven ones), (3) Pricing your pieces for sale, (4) Implementing various selling strategies, and (5) Compromising artistic and design choices, in the interest of the business. It is important to understand why artists fail at business so as not to repeat…