From the moment I started learning about jewellery, I started thinking about how I could approach starting a jewellery business. Do I go back to school? Do I look for a jewellery apprenticeship? What do I do about my current career?
I wonder if everyone ask themselves these sorts of questions at some point or another during their lives? Especially when they find a hobby they love? For me, I suppose I have always had it in the back of my mind that I’d like to start my own business. I like the idea of working for myself, and I know I have the discipline to do it, too. But, I’ve never had the first clue about what sort of business or where to start!
Where I Am Right Now
This post isn’t about how I (or you) go about starting a jewellery business (although, it’s a theme that I will probably revisit often) – I haven’t even decided if I will start a jewellery business. I’m just not ready!
Being realistic, I went to my first jewellery class in July and it’s September as I write. I’ve spent most weekends since then, practising making jewellery. But professional jewellers have probably practised and trained for years!
Right now, none of my pieces are of a good enough quality or finish that I would have the confidence to sell them. I mean, I just couldn’t face all the returns! I need a LOT more practice before I even think about a business! But I suppose it doesn’t hurt to *think* about how I would turn my hobby into a business. The raw materials for silversmithing cost a lot! I wonder if I start laying the foundations now, then I might have the beginnings of a business. Maybe I need to spend more time thinking about what types of jewellery and styles I like to make.
I’m in the (probably not uncommon) position that I’ve never trained in jewellery design or silversmithing. I also have a full-time job so jewellery making is a complete hobby. And while the idea of doing a jewellery-based degree or taking a diploma is appealing, I just don’t have the luxury of quitting my job and doing a degree. So, it seems that (for the moment at least) I’m going to have to be self-taught. I wonder how many people start the same way?
So that’s where I’m starting from.
Thoughts for the Future
For the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering whether I can do some volunteering work at the weekend or a part-time (weekend) apprenticeship. I’ve seen a number of apprenticeships advertised on Benchpeg newsletter – the idea of writing a letter to some of these companies to see if I can get a bit of experience is starting to appeal to me. I mean, what’s the worst that can happen? The company will tell me “no” and that they want someone who can work full-time. That’s ok and I’ve already set my expectations.
But maybe, just maybe, someone will say “yes” and let me work/volunteer on weekends. It would be nice to see what a real jewellery designer does – how do they create and finish a piece? What is the real end-to-end process of running a business? Whichever company could be getting free resource, someone enthusiastic and keen to learn, dependable… And I could see myself changing careers at some point in the future – so maybe, that company would get a trained/mouldable employee. Yeah… maybe I’m stretching that one a bit!
So I *am* left with the question “what’s in it for them?”. And it’s this question that i will need to answer before I do approach any jewellers, but I don’t suppose it can hurt to try, when I feel a bit more ready for a “next step”.