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May 6, 2009 2q2btrue

One of the common themes I hear at almost every show I’ve done is “There are too many jewellers here”.  Or ” I did a show last week – and they put another jewelry person right beside me!”  The other theme I often hear as a teacher of wire sculpture (although not from my students, thank goodness) is “How can you teach people – don’t you know you’re adding to the competition?  They’re going to do the same things you do!”

One of my best friends is an incredible beader, she does work of such intricacy it blows me away.  She and I belong to the same craft guild, and we almost always do shows together.  We also like to be next to, or across from one another, and make a point of requesting this when we fill out our applications.  This horrifies a lot of people, and I think they just don’t understand.

To me, our creations are all so unique.  Some of us use the same basic techniques (let’s face it – we all learned from someone, or some book, or some video).  Some of us buy our stones or beads or findings from the same supplier.  But what makes it OURS is what we put into it – OUR style, OUR interpretation, OUR way of looking at how things come together.  And you know what?  Our clients are the same. 

If you put one piece in front of five people, you’ll get five different reactions.  And if you put 10, 20, or even more jewelry people in one room, YOUR client is the one whose going to find you.  Or your creation will find them. Customers tastes, styles, personalities and moods are as unique as your jewelry, so how can someone take away a client?

So – what competition?

The flip side of this is that we ARE all unique, with varying talents and arts.  I have one client who does a lot of shows – and she buys my work because while it ties in with hers, it is different.  We both win – I have a great business relationship, and she gets something new to offer HER clientele.  Win / win.  I have certain shows I love to do, and I share these with my network of jewelry friends.  Because I do this, I often hear about other shows long before people who keep everything to themselves.  Again – Win/ win.

The same thing happens with my students – I have learned soooo much from the people I teach, because they’re the ones who will say “OK, but can I do it this way?”  or “What if I did this?”  Bingo – a whole new outlook or concept!  I’ve also had students come to me and say “I have this great stone – I don’t think I can do this on my own so would you set it for me?”  And there is a new client, and a new friend.

The point of all of this is that contrary to popular belief, other jewellers are not the enemy – they can become friends, clients, and allies.  So the next time you’re at a show and near another artisan, take some time to talk with them, because you never know where it may lead.

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