Taking Stock...

As I sit here...procrastinating from cleaning my studio, I'm reflecting on this past Artist Market season. This is the first year I haven't attended every market and this is the first year I started wholesaling. I loved having the ebb and flow of markets and store orders. I would think how well it worked out that one week I would have the market and the next I would fulfill an order and then realize that it worked out like that cause I scheduled it like that! 
•It's really nice to not have a weather dependent income and to have some Saturdays off! 
•It's also nice to be able to transition to something new but maintain the stability (and joy!) of the market. 
•Doing fewer markets made all of them good markets! Instead of ups and downs they were all really great and I'm so thankful for that.
You can read about how I made the switch HERE.

New 3 Piece Turquoise collar necklace and new Sterling Hoops

I started the year with my work in Trinket (where it has been since Rachel opened in '09) and the Stowe Craft Gallery where I had my work last holiday season.

When it came to finding new shops, I figured my best bet was to focus on Vermont. The Shoe Horn had been trying to get my work for a few years and they were happily on board to represent me in Montpelier. Then I got into Common Deer in Shelburne and then the Stoweflake Spa reached out and ordered. I contacted one of my favorite galleries, Gallery in the Woods in Brattleboro and they ordered too. This was a great start and it gave me the confidence and credibility to seek out shops in New England.

I did a lot of research. For every artsy/hip/funky/bohemian town I would look for a cool boutique and a shop that carried handmade goods. I would send both emails and catalogs and hope that one would write me back and this often worked! One of my favorite shops I've found is Ode. In July, instead of doing a market on a Saturday, I did a trunk show on a Friday at Ode and then they became an account.

Wherever we travelled, I set up appointments, some of those shops will be carrying my work next year. I managed to get my wraps into an Oxygen bar and my earrings into a beautiful shop, Maya in Santa Fe. 

I also had my share of rejections but there's no time to get upset about those. I would just cast a wider net, write more shops and move forward...plenty of shops in the sea!

I've had 3 Etsy wholesale orders since getting juried in last May. Each one has been super exciting, especially not having to make the effort to find the shop - they find me! And they just order! And it's gotten Colorado -T.Karn Imports, Washington D.C. -Wake Up Little Suzie, and Maine -Nest on the map! 

Montana from Trinket recommended my work to Magpie in NYC and Earth and Wears was carrying my chakra wraps and she just picked up my earrings. 

So now I'm in 13 shops! And most are ordering for the holidays and I'm just a tad... slightly... FREAKED OUT!!! Luckily I have my two interns, Molly and Fiona to help out. So thankful for them, I don't know what I would do without them. I can take a break from looking for new shops now and focus on the ones I'm in, I'll resume the search next year. Meanwhile more random Etsy Wholesale orders could come through so that's exciting/terrifying.

This year I'm taking it easy on shows, just the Women's Festival of Crafts and the Holiday Artist Market. I usually do 4 but I have to make room for shop orders. 

So that's where I'm at. Feeling super proud at getting to this point. Feeling like I've taken a huge leap forward in my business. Excited to send my little babies out into the world to fend for themselves, they are in great care in these gorgeous shops and galleries. 

I guess it's time to clean my studio...

Street Team?

It is exciting but hard work to get into new shops. For the past 6 months I've been simultaneously making jewelry and seeking out stores. I actually just received my second random Etsy Wholesale order from an adorable looking shop in Washington D.C. called Wake up Little Susie! That makes 12!

Last week I dropped off work at Magpie, in NYC (Upper West Side). Getting my work in there was the result of Montana (who works at Trinket) mentioning my work to the owner, when she was in NYC. Thanks Montana!

The more stores I get into the more jewelry I need to make... which means less time to seek out stores. Also, it's not always easy to "rep" oneself, especially when it's in other states that have never heard of my work. So this got me thinking... Would you like to see my jewelry in your city/town? Would you like FREE jewelry? Would you like to help a sista out? 

There's really nothing quite like positive word of mouth and if you enjoy my work and enjoy shopping and (when you're out and about) if you could just happen to wear my jewelry into your favorite boutique and talk up my work - perhaps give out my card or website, I would be so grateful. I would happily give anyone $50 jewelry credit if it resulted in getting into that shop. It really would only take a few minutes and it would mean so much to me! Or if you're so inclined to send an email out to your favorite shops, that would also be amazing. You could send them this link: http://www.jenniferkahnjewelry.com/stockists.html
Just be sure to tell the owner to pass on your name to me so I can give you the credit in my Etsy shop. 

So what kind of shops? Pretty much any boutique that sells Free People clothing is a good place to try. Or a place that sells handmade goods. I tend to shy away from stores that just carry jewelry - some of my biggest orders come from shoe stores and day spas so it's really more about the feeling, the vibe. As I say in my Etsy shop - I make jewelry for the modern bohemian: artists, yogis, professionals, mothers, teachers, servers, live music seekers, tea drinkers, organic food eaters and all those who appreciate comfort and style. If you want to pass my info on to your favorite spots, that would be awesome! And if it works out, you get the bonus of being able to shop locally, in your own town for my work!

Cities I'm looking to get into:
Portsmouth, NH
Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Asheville, NC
Denver, CO
Portland, OR
Tacoma, WA
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA

I'm not limited to that list, I'd be happy to be in touch with any shop that's a good fit for my style. Thanks for considering this! I would love to build up a rockin' street team!

A Crazy Busy June!

There was a minute there, during the last week of May when I had nothing on the docket. No new shops, no current shops re-ordering, all caught up on Etsy orders and fully stocked for the Artist Market. In those moments, it's easy to let panic or uncertainty in...especially when making a change or transitioning from one way of doing things to another. But everything can change in a day... at the end of last month, I had my first Etsy Wholesale order, the next day a super great Artist Market and a re-order from the Shoe Horn. Then it's easy to let the panic swing the other way and feel completely overwhelmed! But I can schedule things out and do what needs doing first, first. 

T. Karn Imports in Telluride, CO just happened to find me while scrolling through jewelry on Etsy Wholesale. Owner Tesha Karn ordered a collection of silver and brass pieces that go so well together. Her store incorporates unique items for the home and body - apparel, accessories, beauty products, textiles and decor from around the world. My jaw dropped when I saw photos of her shop, such gorgeous wooden treasures, old doors, pieces from India, Tibet, just my style. 
As far as I can see though, they don't have much jewelry and I'm just so honored that they're choosing my work. I did tear up a bit at the thought of it...that if a place like that, carrying world craft and ethnic arts wants my work... that I've achieved my aesthetic. I'm working on their order right now.

In the midst of everything, I was invited to be a vendor at the Dealer.com summer party. It was last Friday and it was amazing. Such great music, food and drinks and Ben and Jerry's! They really know how to throw an epic bash, complete with psychic readings, stilt walkers, an arcade, and carnival-like games. The highlight was selling a gold bar necklace to Alisa Xayalith from Naked and Famous. I didn't know who she was (but she was gorgeous and had mad style) until I saw her on stage and then I started freaking out. She even came back to buy more and so did her band mate and I got to get this pic. Eek!

Yesterday was a big day for me for 2 reasons... I did a count down sale and after having 7, I finally hit my 1000th Etsy Sale!!! 

And I received a HUGE order from the Stoweflake Spa. 

So if I wasn't feeling overwhelmed already now I'm kind of beside myself. But again, I'm scheduling things out and doing my best to breathe and hold on. It's all happening and I'm so grateful.