My First Forays into Mass Marketing

Many readers have inquired about the results from my participation in the BMAC show last month. The answer is simple: it's too soon to tell.

I was warned repeatedly that breaking into the wholesale end of selling jewelry is a matter of persistence. Many repetitions of retailers seeing my work will be needed to generate a sense of familiarity and recognition that will lead to success. To increase my exposure, I have sent three separate rounds of postcards to an ever-expanding mailing list (generated laboriously by me, searching the internet for potential matches).

I have placed my very first print advertisement into the ACC Baltimore show preview edition of American Craft Magazine.

I have printed that same image on the ad onto a notecard that I used to send handwritten thank you notes to buyers that I visited with at BMAC. I'm debating more advertising and more direct contacts to galleries, along with my upcoming trip to the American Craft Council Show (wholesale only) in Baltimore in a few weeks. So far, this is all a very expensive proposition, in terms of both money and time. And only time will tell what works and what does not.

Bead Marketing -- Brochures

After spending all that time on my brochure design, I tried to print them at home onto brochure paper with my photo printer. It was a frustrating process, with ink getting on the rollers and winding up in undesirable places. Time consuming and expensive, as well.

Finally my DH suggested that I have them professionally printed at the place his business uses -- Copy Craft.

It was really easy to upload them via FTP (they even took my Photoshop files). After a few specifications of paper weight and folding pattern, they were printed and in my hands in less than a week (despite a goof on the address that sent them to the wrong city).

Now I'll look at some of the other products available through their services.

BTW, I've added quick links to the brochures on the blog sidebar.