It is just beginning to turn into Fall here in California and I’m super excited for my Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes! Yum. I wanted to remind all you jewelry enthusiasts out there that NOW is the time to start promoting your holiday lines and gifts. So whether you are making jewelry for gifts for friends and family, or whether you have your own line ready to sell, this is the PRIME time to begin your marketing efforts.

A few quick holiday tips -
1. If you have a website (or etsy page) start showcasing with a holiday theme. Holiday promotions on the home page are great!
2. If you are in a retail store, visit and make sure your merchandising is front row and center!
3. Create holiday displays – I had a jewelry show around Halloween time in Ireland and we draped cobwebs and spiders all around the pieces!
4. Holiday packaging – This is essential as well. Either make or buy some cute little boxes or gift bags and offer them complimentary with purchase! I swear customers sometimes buy a piece just because the packaging is clever!
5. Up-sell sets – The holidays are a great time to up-sell clients to not just a necklace, but the entire matching set with bracelet and earrings!
6. Holiday trunk and gift shows – These are great whether you are in a shop, at your home, or hosted by a friend. Invite clients, friends, family, neighbors and spread the word. You can even join up with some other vendors and throw a holiday gift party!

So remember – Make sure to maximize your sales this Holiday Season!

Cheers

She has a fabulous product (DVD) on making tutus for little kids!
They are ADORABLE.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen them at county fairs, craft shows etc
but they are fabulous projects to do with your child and they make
great gifts!

I don’t recommend just any old product, and let me tell you -
This one is great! And it’s “dummy proof” which I need! LOL

You know my method is the “kiss” one.
Keep it simple stupid.
You don’t even need a sewing machine!?

So if you are crafty and feel like making something for your daughter,
grand-daughter, sister, niece, someone you baby sit – Whatever.

Click the link below -
http://www.misstutu.com/main.html

Enter the keyword “KAM7″ and receive $7 off your purchase at checkout!

Cheers to being crafty!
Kameron
http://www.kameronkay.com

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited!

As most of you already know, my own line of music and jewelry is know as “Celtic Kameron.”

http://www.celtickameron.com

I have always been drawn to Ireland, the tradition, the folklore, the legend and of course the Guinness and craic! I’ve lived, worked and loved in Ireland and it holds a very special place true to my heart.

I was also very blessed to have the opportunity to spend a month there with my “Nana” who recently passed. It was one of the most amazing experiences in my life with memories that I’ll cherish forever. So I encourage those who have relatives (maybe you haven’t seen for awhile) to at least make some effort – a phone call, a visit, a trip, whatever this St. Paddy’s Day. Life is precious.

And now back to jewelry –

1. As an artist you need to find your passion and your inspiration. This is not something that I can teach you in my course or in a class or by a mentor. This is something that is inborn that you need to discover on your own with time. Once you find your passion, then you can focus in and target your niche.

It is easy to get lost with so many exciting designs and options flooding your mind, but you must remember to stay true to yourself or as Shakespeare once wrote “To thine own self be true.”

2. Currently I am obsessed with the Celtic influence that Tiffany has adapted for their key collection,
and I wanted to share the link with you.

It is a perfect merge of classic Tiffany design with a Celtic knot edge. Love Love Love!

http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Category.aspx?cid=573050&mcat=148211

So Happy St. Paddy’s Day!
May the luck of the Irish be with you now and always.

Cheers,
Kameron Kay
http://www.kameronkay.com

PS – What are you doing this St. Patrick’s Day? I’d love to know. Post your comments below….

Kameron Kay Jewelry Valentines Day

Be smart and creative and come up with a promotion that fits your style and your location.

For instance, what I suggest is that you learn from the best.
What does that mean?

Start paying attention to the magazine ads, television commercials and online specials for companies with large advertising budgets and see what they are doing. This will give you an idea of where to start and then something may spark your creativity!

Here are 3 examples of current Valentine’s Promos running -

1. www.Godiva.com
The Grand Prize Winner of our annual Valentine’s Day promotion will enjoy an exclusive trip for two to New York City to attend the star-studded Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) gala event. Our winner will meet and present Sir Elton John, Chairman and Founder of EJAF, with a check for Godiva’s donation of $200,000.
Plus, we’ll give back even more by making a donation of $20,000 to a charity of our winner’s choosing.

*To me, this sparks an idea to tie in your Valentine’s Jewelry to donations for Haiti. Just a thought?

2. www.Tiffany.com
Be My Vintage Valentine – They have a clever “Cupid’s Picks” featuring their exclusive line of keys.

*There is no discount but clever marketing which means if you don’t want to offer a discount, you better make sure you spend that money on a great looking website and fabulous photos that look expensive and worthy of paying full price.

3. www.VictoriaSecret.com
They are holding their “Wild Card” promo. This is a brilliant way to build their client list and collect information. They ask you to enter your name, e-mail, address etc. to be able to play their “Wild Card” game with the potential to win $500.

*You can do this on a smaller scale where you collect e-mail names and addresses to your website in exchange to win a necklace, earrings whatever you want to give away.

Hopefully these have given you some inspiration to hold your own Valentine’s Promotion.
You don’t have to have a HUGE budget and spend loads of time but just be clever.

Cheers!
Happy Valentine’s Day

Kameron

I made this quick 3 minute video to say THANK YOU to all of those who helped inspire, support and promote Jewelry Selling Secrets in 2009!
It is my one year anniversary (launched Dec. 2008) and I am so excited for the upcoming year

I also wanted to share a family tradition of mine called “story boarding” which is a great way to set goals, intentions and resolutions for the upcoming year.

Check out this quick video.

Wishing you all a year filled with love, luck, health, wealth, peace and happiness!

Cheers.
Kameron

So one of my clients, Rose Marie is a talented jewelry designer and owner of Girly Girl Beads.

She asked that I evaluate and give her feedback on her designs and her website.
There was one thing that stood out to me that I found very clever and I wanted to share!

The Online Jewelry Party

Ok so this is what I REALLY loved as it is not only creative and a great way to sell your jewelry,
but it saves the overhead of a regular jewelry party or trunk show!

YOU SHOULD REALLY CHECK IT OUT –
http://www.girlygirlbeads.com/parties.html

Let me know your thoughts

Cheers and Happy Holidays!
Kameron

The holidays are approaching and it is the perfect time to make homemade jewelry.

It is fun, creative and will fit your budget (usually 1/3 less of the cost if you purchase it from a store)!

By making jewelry, you are not only giving that special someone a personal piece they will remember forever,
but you are also practicing your jewelry skills to become a designer for the future

My course has the A-Z steps to becoming a jewelry designer and my video tutorials demonstrate the basic steps to making:
Necklaces
Bracelets
Anklets
Earrings
Wine Charms

So start making your custom holiday gifts today and you’ll be a seasoned designer by the New Year!

Cheers!

PS – What are your favorite Holiday jewelry projects? Feel free to comment below!

One of my clients and fellow jewelry artist, Kelly Sweet, sent me a package this week to review.
I figured it would be a great learning experience to film my commentary, critique and insider scoop for all aspiring artists to learn from.

Kelly is a doll and I gave her an overall A for her effort and review

Kelly Sweet Jewelry Review
The topics covered in the short video include:

1. Shipping – Standing out from the crowd
2. Bio and Photo – Always include photo and background story to create personal bond
3. Presentation Portfolio – Website
4. Packaging – It is as important as the jewelry
5. Pricing – list and numbering system
6. Personalization – handwritten card
7. Gift Enclosure – necklace
8. Surprise – cleaning cloth
9. Business Card – Match your theme and make it memorable

Let me know your thoughts and ideas….

Do you have suggestions, advice or additional critique? Feel free to comment below

This is a learning experience for all!

Cheers and Happy Beading!
Kameron

My friend and jewelry colleague David Weiman of
“MarketingJewelry.com” is surveying handcrafted jewelry-makers like
you to learn more about how you market your jewelry.

Can you please help by completing a brief survey?
It takes about 5 minutes to complete, and when you’re done

–as a thank-you –

you’ll be directed to a page where you download a complimentary
copy of David’s 10-page Special Report:
Profitable Jewelry Selling Home Parties.

Click here to take the survey.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=y94m_2fekNaeNqxCTApXtebg_3d_3d

The survey will close at midnight on October 22, so please complete
it as soon as possible.

Results will be published in an upcoming issue of Jewelry Selling Insights.
You will also get a summary of the results sent directly to your e-mail inbox.

To learn more about David Weiman and Jewelry Selling Insights, click here:
Marketing Jewelry

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Cheers,
Kameron
http://www.kameronkay.com

My friend and fellow jewelry expert Kathy Faulker from “My Beads Club”
across the pond in the UK is having an awesome contest called “Simply Vintage.”
So if you are into designs between 1920-1980 this is right up your alley!
Check out the rules and regulations below.
This is not only a great way to showcase your designs,
but to potentially win a membership worth $100!

Prize
WIN a FULL years membership to My Beads Club (worth $100)
PLUS the chance of your design featured in a NEW book to be published this Autumn.

Theme
We are looking for a “Vintage Style” Jewelery item from the
eras 1920 to 1980 . ie Necklace, bracelets earrings, brooch etc.

Entrants
Please supply step by step instructions with materials needed
(they do not need to be actually vintage) and tools and a clear
photo of the finished piece in an electronic format. (ie one that can be emailed)
The winner and the top 30 designs will be featured in a new book
called “Simply Vintage” to be published this Autumn.

Rules:
Closing date is Oct 31st.
Designs must be your own work. No more than 5 entries per person.

All designs to be emailed to sales@mybeadsclub.com by midnight Oct 31st .

If you are one of the lucky winners you will be asked to give your
permission to the publisher to include your design in the book.

All designs published in the “Simply Vintage ” book will be
accredited to the designer by name and their own copyright.

Photos need to be in jpeg format and instructions in a word document.

Winners to be announced by 7th Nov 2009 and contacted via email,
the publishers decision is final.

All 30 successful entries will receive a complimentary
electronic version of the ” Simply Vintage” book.

So contest or not, if you haven’t already checked out
“My Beads Club” it is SUPER awesome so check it out here!

—————————MY BEADS CLUB——————————-

Cheers and Good Luck!
Kameron
http://www.kameronkay.com