I just placed another order with LeathercordUSA today. It's difficult for me because I want to click the button marked, "One of everything." Can you imagine? I would be stacking spools of leather in my garage. Oh it would smell lovely.
I did not however order that much, just enough to compliment the leather pieces I already have. I am so bad at making a bracelet and earrings but not making a matching necklace. Inevitably someone will ask if there is a certain matching jewelry item and then here I am ordering more stuff to complete the ensemble.
This leads me to my thought for today. I spent some time last summer narrowing my suppliers down and ordering items in bulk in order to get my cost of goods under control. Check. Job well done.
This time I am contemplating limiting the designs that I create so that I don't go off willy nilly and have orphaned items of jewelry. I love coming up with new designs, and using that one unique bead that I found somewhere, but then again, how marketable is the one unique item?
There is something to be said for creating and selling a one of a kind piece. Some folks like that there are only one and they own it. I think if I were silver smithing, which might be the way to go. I suspect the price point would be much higher than what I typically work with as well.
What I see more often is a client chooses a bracelet and wants another like it for her daughter or best friend. One has tiny wrists and the other has large wrists. They should look the same, but be sized differently.
So with this thought in mind I think I will create a variation of a few designs, using similar beads and different colors of leather. If I create a new design, as I did this weekend, I will "float" it to friends, stores, and my web site to get input and gage its viability as a standard offering.
I would like to hear your thoughts on this approach versus the unique, one of a kind model. Also, tell me your favorite smell. Have I mentioned that I adore the smell of leather?
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