Procrastination is a natural part of running a creative business, but it doesn’t need to control you. In this episode, Patricia van den Akker explains why we procrastinate and shares practical tips for overcoming this habit. Patricia is the founder and director of The Design Trust, an online business school for designers and makers, and the creator of an annual planner designed specifically for creative business owners.
If you’re interested in developing your signature style and diving deep into learning how to run a successful jewellery business, our new diploma programme is for you! In this episode, Jessica tells us all about the brand new jewellery design and business diploma. She talks through each week of the curriculum, describes the benefits you can access by enrolling, and shares how you can find out more about each of our four diplomas.
Whether you’re trying to come up with things to ask for for Christmas or you want to treat yourself to a special gift this year, this episode is for you! Jessica shares her top 10 recommendations for Christmas gifts that any jeweller will appreciate, along with specific examples of the products and tools she loves and where to find them.
Read MoreMetal clay is an exciting material to work with, but it presents some unique challenges when it comes to making rings. In this episode, Jessica and Anna Campbell share a preview of our brand new course, “Ring Making in Metal Clay.” They explain how you can get a discounted rate on the course, and Anna breaks down her top five tips for making metal clay rings.
Read MoreCorkie Bolton knew from the time she was in high school that she wanted to be a jeweller. Today, she’s the founder of Corkie Bolton Jewelry, and of Metalsmith Society, a community where jewellers can ask questions and share their knowledge. In this episode, Corkie opens up about her journey to starting her businesses, and she shares some goals she hopes to achieve in the future. Corkie also gives us a preview of her brand new book, “Metalsmith Society’s Guide to Making Jewelry.”
Read MoreIf you haven’t used Argentium silver before, you’re missing out. In this episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, we talk with the inventor of Argentium silver himself, Peter Johns. Peter shares the fascinating story behind the creation of this material, and he answers some of our jewellers top questions about working with Argentium, sharing tips for soldering, fusing Argentium with gold, hardening, polishing, and much more.
Read MoreBuilding trust and desire with your customers takes time, so now is the time to start marketing for Christmas! In this episode, Jessica breaks down her top tips for marketing your jewellery business via social media, email, and in-person networking. She shares some Instagram content ideas that work especially well for the holiday season, offers advice about discounts and promotions, and encourages listeners to get creative with their marketing. Wherever you are in your jewellery business journey, this episode has something for you!
Read More“Start and Grow a Profitable Jewellery Business” is officially available, and in this episode, we’re giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the process of writing, designing, and printing this book. Emma René, the founder of Narratorium jewellery and the designer of this book, walks us through the process from start to finish and shares a sneak peek at some of the special features and topics covered in this book.
Read MoreYou’ve probably heard stories of jewellers who’ve found success on TikTok, but if you’ve never posted before, getting started can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Jessica Irwin of Violet Moon Jewelry is telling us all about her experience with growing her business on TikTok. Jessica shares her top tips for jewellers who are new to the app, explains how she stays motivated and inspired, and shares some real-life examples of how posting on TikTok increased her sales.
Read MoreNo matter what the economy is doing, you can build a thriving, successful jewellery business. In this episode, Jessica Rose and Community Manager Anna Campbell share five important things to focus on in the midst of a financial crisis. They explain how our new book, “Start and Grow a Profitable Jewellery Business” can help you better understand your finances, find inspiration from other jewellers, and much more. Anna and Jessica also tell listeners about a special opportunity to get a free online course, so you won’t want to miss this episode!
Read MoreWith so many places to buy jewellery supplies, it can feel overwhelming when you’re first starting out. In this episode, Jessica Rose shares a list of her favourite places to buy supplies, including everything from tools to gemstones to packaging. She also encourages you to join the Jewellers Academy Facebook Group to find recommendations from other jewellers for suppliers in your part of the world
Read MoreClare Yuille realised that no one really teaches makers how to pitch themselves and their work to retailers, so she decided to do something about it. As the founder of Indie Retail Academy, Clare helps jewellers and other makers sell their work to independent stores. In this episode, Clare shares some of her top tips for building and managing relationships with retailers, advice for selling during the holidays, and more.
Read MoreIf you want your jewellery business to grow, you need to commit to marketing it as consistently as you can. In this episode, jeweller Elin Horgan shares the strategies and routines that have helped her successfully market her business, without taking too much time away from the actual process of making. Elin is one of the featured case studies in Jessica’s book, “Start and Grow a Profitable Jewellery Business,” and she has so much valuable insight to offer!
Read MoreDeveloping your signature style as a maker is a constantly evolving process. And sometimes, you may not even realise that you have a recognizable style until someone else points it out to you! This was the experience of Ange Benjamin, who is the owner of Ange B Designs and a featured case study in Jessica’s book, “Start and Grow a Profitable Jewellery Business.” In this episode, Ange describes her journey of figuring out her style, and she shares tips for rediscovering your inspiration when you feel stuck, making the things you love, and staying true to your brand while still trying new things.
Read MoreYou’ve seen her on television, and now she’s joining us on the podcast to talk about all things jewellery making! Nyanda Yekwai was a contestant on the BBC2 show “All That Glitters,” and in this episode, she shares some behind the scenes stories about what it was like to be on the show. Nyanda also describes her experience of becoming a jeweller and shares her best advice for anyone who’s just starting out in the business.
Read MoreYou don’t need thousands of customers to have a profitable jewellery business, but you do need to understand which stage of business you’re in and plan accordingly. In this episode, Jessica Rose shares a preview of her upcoming book, “Start and Grow a Profitable Jewellery Business,” which talks about the three stages of growing your jewellery business. Jessica also explains who the book is for, what concepts it covers, and how you can stay up to date on all the events and resources surrounding the book’s release.
Read MoreChoosing the right prices is not just about picking numbers that your people will be willing to pay; it’s also about having confidence in yourself and not undercutting your fellow makers. To help ensure jewellers are paid enough for the work they do, we’re so excited to announce the Handmade and Well Paid Campaign. In this episode, Jessica Rose and Community Manager Anna Campbell share everything you need to know about this new campaign. They also talk about why pricing is so important and explain how building a community of other jewellers can help you succeed.
Read MoreHallmarking protects both the jewellery making trade and the people purchasing jewellery, but how does it translate to online jewellery sales? In this episode, Marianne Wilson from the British Hallmarking Council and Charlotte Turner from the London Assay Office discuss The HALO Award — an exciting new initiative that’s encouraging jewellers to get creative about promoting their hallmarks online. Marianne and Charlotte explain how you can apply for the award, and they also share some practical tips for jewellers who want to promote their hallmark online but aren’t sure where to start.
Read MoreSearch Engine Optimization is a powerful tool for helping people to find your business online, but getting started can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Jessica Rose shares her top five, free tips to start improving your jewellery business’ SEO today! Whether you’re a new jewellery or you’ve been growing your business for years, these simple strategies can help you take your brand to the next level.
Read MoreWhen Alice Cant decided to start making jewellery, she knew she’d need some guidance. Alice completed the Jewellers Academy Diploma in Silver Jewellery, and she uses the lessons she learned to create beautiful sea glass jewellery for her business, Alice Catherine Jewellery. In this episode, Alice describes her experience with joining a diploma programme as a relative beginner. She also explains why sea glass inspires her and shares how she manages the unique challenge of making jewellery with a material she finds in nature.
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