Rings by Jessica Matrasko

Jessica Matrasko’s  rings are made from natural materials so each piece is unique. They’re all adjustable, retail prices range from $115- $145.  Free shipping is available just in time for Mother’s Day now  through 5/12/12- enter code WELUVMOMS at checkout.  www.jessicamrocks.com

Jessica Matrasko is a fashion forward jewelry designer based out of Los Angeles, CA. Her jewelry is composed of rough cut gemstones and minerals, most are painted with 24K gold while others are wire wrapped by hand. Jessica favors imperfect stones with irregular shapes and colors. She also incorporates real leaves and ocean life are that have been hand painted and preserved in gold. Because the materials are all natural, each piece is unique and beautiful.

As a child, Jessica learned her creativity from her mother, Jo Ann. She assisted with art and craft shows, learning about drawing, painting, sewing, and design. When Jessica lost her mother to Diabetes in 2005, she sought a new activity to help her through the loss. She found that jewelry design and wire wrapping were very relaxing and therapeutic. Jessica began making jewelry for herself and for gifts. As she wore her pieces around the city, she was often complimented and received purchase offers. As the requests for her designs grew, Jessica Matrasko Jewelry was born.

All of Jessica’s designs are named after a special friend or family member who has touched or inspired her. Jessica believes in honoring these people and places through charitable donation, as well. She regularly contributes portions of her sales profits to organizations including the American Diabetes Association; Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation;1736 Crisis Center, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the safety and long-term survival and success of domestic violence victims; and Heal the Bay, a non profit dedicated to improving the quality of Southern California’s coastal waters.

Jessica’s designs have been seen on celebrities including Rihanna, Cheryl Burke, Lindsay Lohan, Denise Richards, Naomi Campbell and Anna Lynne McCord.

To view Jessica’s entire collection, visit her website today!  www.jessicamrocks.com

For Jewelry Designers

• do you have a passion for jewelry but want to know how to make money with it?
• are you frustrated by doing it all yourself?
• do you want to get your product into more retail outlets?
• do you want to learn proven strategies that will set your line apart?

5 Essential Steps to Rock Your Jewelry Business!!

FREE Webinar with Jewelry Expert Dee Dee McGuire and Jane Hamill

Friday, April 20, 3 PM Eastern
(12 pm Pacific, 2 pm Central)

If this time does not work for you, please register anyway as you will have access to the replay!!!

Who is this Webinar for?

Established designers and newbies alike.

What You Will Learn:

• The insider secrets of the jewelry business from Dee Dee McGuire while Indusustry Insider, Jane Hamill, interviews her in-depth
• The single most important factor to which designers succeed and which ones will fail
• What a good pricing strategy and a pricing formula really means
• The 5 essential steps to get your business on the road to success and the one step most people miss
• How to research contractors and get price quotes
• how to define your target market and how to reach them

READ MORE AND SIGN UP FOR THE WEBINAR AT LINK BELOW:

Jewelry Business Success FREE WEBINAR Sign Up

Forward this post to a friend or aquaintance that may have dreams of being a successful Jewelry Designer!!!

If you are struggling to get your ideas into reality, then you need to talk to ME!

Even just one phone session could open up many new possibilities for you in achieveing YOUR
business dreams of being a Jewelry Designer, Wholesaler or Retailer.

I offered discounted consulting packages for the month of April 2012 and response was overwhelming, so I have extended the offer until May 11, 2012!

My usual hourly fee for phone or in person consults is $110.00 per hour.

I am offering a special promo only for subscribers of Dee Dee’s Jewelry Blog

Only  $199.00 for a 3 session package!!!

That is a 40% Savings for YOU! 

Regularly priced 3 session packages are usually $330.00!

• Offer valid to new and existing clients of Dee Dee
• Must be paid in full via paypal by May 11, 2012
• Must redeem all 3 sessions by May 30, 2012

If you need some direction as to how to be sucessful in this highly competitive market place, then do not hesitate, reply to this post and take advantage of this amazing LIMITED TIME OFFER!  I promise to help get you on your way to having the business of your dreams!

I presently teach at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA “The Business of Jewelry Design”. I prepare students to launch a successful business and better understand how to be profitable and successful in the Business of Jewelry Design!

I counsel Designers, Presidents, CEO’s, Sales and marketing managers and all types of entrepreneurs in the Jewelry Industry.
Check me out: Dee Dee’s VISUAL CV: http://www.visualcv.com/deemcguire

To redeem this offer, please register and leave a post or write me directly at deedee@deedeemcguire.com.

Visit Dee Dee’s Jewelry Blog to read:

Vital Steps to Starting Up or Growing a Successful Jewelry Design Business!

Exclusive online course developed and presented by Dee Dee McGuire – Instructor at FIDM “The Business of Jewelry Design”, and Jane Hamill of Fashion Brain Academy.

We receive calls and emails from Jewelry Designers world -wide seeking help and assistance in building and growing a successful Jewelry Design Business. That has inspired us to offer valuable education to help answer all of those questions you  have!

The first installment of this online course begins on Thursday May 10, 2012 at 1 PM EST and meets the following 3 consecutive Thursdays in May at the same time. 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, & 5/31.

• Course meetings at 1 PM EST on the following dates:

1. 5/10/12
2. 5/17/12
3. 5/24/12
4. 5/31/12

• Taking this course will save you the time and heartache of costly missteps on your road to success. Talk to leading industry experts for live Q & A and support!

• Presented by Industry Experts Dee Dee McGuire and Jane Hamill.

• Space in this course is limited so please begin registration NOW!

• For 2 payments of $99.00 each, you can be on your way to building the design business of your dreams.

• ·CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR JEWELRY DESIGN COURSE

• If you have a conflict with any of these dates or any other questions please contact me at deedee@deedeemcguire.com

Hello Everyone!

I have been busy working with clients, educating students at FIDM and developing ways to help you become successful in all of your jewelry business dreams! I am partnering with a colleague to bring our readers exciting content to help make your jewelry business dreams come true!!!

The course will launch in May 2012 and I will be posting details very soon.

If you are interested in this course please let me know by posting below. I am also asking you to write in some important questions about launching a jewelry business or any questions pertaining to any issues of operating a successful jewelry design business! We will be sure to cover this in the course.

Leave a post below and definitely sign our email list to the right of this post!

Thank you.

Dee Dee

Thank you all for following Dee Dee’s Jewelry Blog. Stay tuned to exciting content and information in the New Year!!

I wish you all a very happy holiday season and prosperous New Year!!

Regards,

Dee Dee McGuire

This question was submitted by Monica Seggos

This is an excellent question, and I am so amazed at the enormous fees that Public Relations Companies charge Accessory and Fashion Designers.

I have worked for many jewelry firms over the years, and at times we worked with PR companies and at other times we did not.

I think it is very important to create Press Releases and Press Kits if you wish to get exposure on your line. You can do this yourself or hire a firm to create this material for you. It is important to have some professional grade photography of the work that you wish to feature.

After you create your press releases and/or press kits, you can circulate this information by assembling a data base of publications, blogs, and stylists that you wish to appeal to.

Creating digital media that is email friendly or viewable on the net is the most cost effective means of publishing your material.

If these writers, editors and influencers are interested in writing about or featuring your product, they will contact you soon after reviewing your material. Keep in mind, that they receive a large sum of this media, so they may take a while to get to it. Remember to be persistent and follow up with the recipients on your mailing list.

You will need to have samples available to send upon request to writers, editors and stylists. If they request samples and do not receive them, there is a very strong possibility you will not receive a mention in the piece they are working on. You must be prepared with extra samples of your work, and be willing to ship them at your cost upon request.

If you are organized and persistent, you will receive the exposure you so deserve and want! Jewelry Designers often ask me if they should spend money on a PR firm, and I always advise them against it. It is a huge expense, and I recommend you spend the money elsewhere in your business, such as marketing, trade shows, product development, and sales support.

I am considering starting a firm that assists new designers in obtaining the media attention they need to get noticed. If this type of service interests you, please drop me a note at deedee@deedeemcguire.com.

You may submit any questions you may have on this post.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to receive regular updates from Dee Dee’s Jewelry Blog, please sign our email list to the right of this post.

This question was submitted by Rita Garthson.

Many designers dream of having their jewelry collection sold in stores like Neiman Marcus. There are many hills to climb before you get there, but it is possible.

Before you start to pursue business with any national scale Luxury Retailers, you should have several years of experience in selling your jewelry wholesale on a smaller scale to stand alone boutiques, multi-store boutiques and e-tailers.

Buyers for these big stores will want to understand your distribution level and experience in operating a business with multiple outlets of distribution. They will want to know everything about your business. Examples of some of those questions are: What is your production capacity, design process, number of years in business, number of employees, where you produce, who your customers are, what is your sales volume, etc.

On an operational level, you will need to have access to UPC Bar Coding for your products and EDI Trading Software to send and receive purchase orders and invoices. This may be an investment of several hundred to several thousand dollars.

You must have an AMAZING collection and really understand the customer you are targeting. If it is Neiman Marcus you are pursuing, your line must be high-level design and very high quality. You must have a fantastic assortment of items with several different concepts to show them. Look-books, CD’s, catalogs and press kits or any combination thereof are necessary to show buyers so they can review your information in greater detail for consideration. You should know the price of every item in your line and also offer suggested retail prices for everything. Buyers think and buy in terms of the “retail investment” so you will need thorough understanding of that.

If you are able to score an appointment with a buyer from Neiman Marcus, you may only have ONE chance to impress them. It is like an audition for a movie or try-outs for American Idol, you are not allowed a do-over in many cases.

I recommend you have at least 5 solid years of successful business under your belt before pursuing the large multi-store national retailers and department stores.

I have sold these types of stores for most of my career and am happy to offer my advice and information on how to successfully reach these very important buyers.

For more information, contact me directly at deedee@deedeemcguire.com

You may submit any questions you may have on this post.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to receive regular updates from Dee Dee’s Jewelry Blog, please sign our email list to the right of this post.

This question was submitted by Valerie Johns:

I have worked in the wholesale jewelry market for over 20 years and have never had to rent space for my line. This is not common practice in the sterling or costume jewelry market as far as domestic department stores are concerned, but it is common for Fine Jewelry. For example, Effy Fine Jewelers leases counter space at Lord & Taylor.

I think it is best for you to sell your line outright to as many boutiques as possible to increase your reach and distribution. I recommend this step before pursuing department stores. The Big National store buyers will want to understand your history and experience before even considering your line. Get the boutique and on-line business experience several years first before going after the big guys.

Many boutiques may wish to take your line on consignment. If this is the only possible way to do business, then take a chance but keep a close and watchful eye on your product and sales. I suggest you limit the number of stores you work with on consignment, as it will tie up your inventory and cash flow immensely.

If you have the opportunity to rent space in a boutique or holiday shop, definitely consider it, but do your homework first. You need to get history and experience on traffic and sales volume in the store. Does the store have a mailing list and regularly sponsor events to get customers shopping? You should have an aggressive marketing plan in place for your leased space to ensure you are turning a significant profit and have a regular stream of traffic.

Instead of paying a flat fee for your counter space, I suggest you negotiate a percentage of your sales as your fee. This way, everyone wins! Unless the sales are there, your landlord will not be taking your money.

I hope you found this answer to be interesting and informative!

If you enjoyed this post and would like to receive regular updates from Dee Dee’s Jewelry Blog, please sign our email list to the right of this post.

Please submit any questions you may like for me to answer by leaving a comment here.