If you run a bricks and mortar business, discover what makes your area unique, and theme your wholesale jewelry business around that uniqueness.  In a tourist destination town, this may prove difficult – everyone’s selling seashell earrings by the seashore!  But you can do some research by going online and finding unusual seashell jewelry items (body piercings or toe rings, for example) other stores aren’t carrying, and prominently display them in a catalog you send to local jewelry shops. Once retail sellers realize you have a variety of items easily available, your sales will increase.

Whether you have a storefront or only an online presence, an inviting, attractive website is a must.  Make yours quick to load (shoppers won’t wait around for a slow website!), interesting, and easy to navigate.  Learn how search engines reach your website, and design it with your customer’s shopping habits in mind.  Carefully choose what goes on the home page of your wholesale jewelry website, since it’s the first chance you have to entice customers to explore the items you have for sale. 

The first thing a customer needs is a quick overview of what you have to offer.  Place smaller pictures of your most unusual pieces near the top, with easily-navigated links.  If you specialize in a particular type of jewelry (beaded or ethnic, for example), make that clear with both text and pictures.  Also indicate what methods of payment you accept – PayPal may be the easiest for most customers.  You can also start a blog, join Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites, and provide a way for customers to sign up on an email list so that you can send them news on your latest sales.  For those sales, discounts on holiday-themed items (red and gold jewelry for Christmas, perhaps) should be offered far-enough in advance so your customers can get their orders in time.

One last thing – offer a donation to a choice of non-profits with every purchase.  List links to these non-profits, and theme the choices to the items, if possible.  Then, when your customer chooses those lovely dachshund toe rings, the ASPCA will benefit, your customer will be glad they choose to shop with you, and you’ll see your sales start climbing!

Photo: theogeo