3D Learning Hub

5 easy steps to start a jewelry business

Introduction

Jewelry has been around for centuries. It has already been known in ancient Egypt, as archeology shows. Starting your own jewelry business might seem overwhelming, but it’s not as hard as you think. To help you out, we prepared for you a simple guide to opening your first jewelry business. We will also show you how 3D printing can improve your designs and make your first steps in the industry much more straightforward. And as proof, we will discuss the best examples of 3D-printed jewelry businesses.

Our easy guide to start a jewelry business

We will introduce you to the critical steps you must take to start your own jewelry business. You will learn where to start, how to build your business plan and marketing strategy, and if you should set your business online or local. You will see that with an intelligent program, starting your own jewelry business is achievable.

1. What type of jewelry are you planning to make?

Make sure you know what your style of jewelry is. Are you going to make distinguished watches or precious metal rings? Asking yourself this question is essential for the start of your jewelry business. Make sure you consider all the possibilities. For example, you might like wearing rings, but you have to keep in mind designing them would require producing adjustable rings of different sizes. Prepare your jewelry designs and choose your niche. It will help you with the next step- pick up the target group.

A part of your business plan is also creating the brand. You need to pick a business name that best corresponds with your jewelry designs. Logo and branding are also essential for your brand to be easily recognizable. Otherwise, your customers won’t remember your company or you as a designer and won’t purchase from you again.

https://www.malinkodesign.com/listing/568029318/lotus-flower-ring

https://www.malinkodesign.com/listing/568029318/lotus-flower-ring

An example of a 3D-printed ring

2. Create your buyer persona

Putting it very simply, a buyer persona is your potential client. Let’s say you decided to create a collection of sterling silver 3D printed bracelets. Who would be interested in this product? Your audience would probably be millennials rather than baby boomers. A boyfriend would likely buy your 3D-printed bracelet for his girlfriend rather than a grandma for her granddaughter. There’s a high chance your typical client would be female. However, that only depends on your designs. Maybe male millennials would be a great niche to set as a target group?

It will help you research other designers 3D printing their bracelets; who is their audience? How do they reach them? Check the industry and try to gather as much data as possible. Maybe you will notice that your future competitors don’t sell a specific material you could check.

Make sure you have a clear vision of your target group. Otherwise, you won’t be able to reach them through dedicated channels. It is as simple as writing down a list.

3. Establish costs

Starting a jewelry business often doesn’t require a massive amount of investment. It’s mostly the cost of tools and materials. If you think your business would need more significant contributions, maybe you should look at crowdfunding solutions. Then you have also to consider that the people helping you paid for the products and you have to deliver them.

Carrying on with our 3D printed jewelry business, we would suggest using an online 3D printing service—an essential cost to consider than is a 3D modeling software license. However, there are plenty of free options. Next is the production. The prices depend on the material you use. When you choose to produce your 3D printed bracelets online, you only need to upload your 3D model, and you don’t have to worry about the manufacturing process.

You thought about the production process. That’s great. But you still need to deliver your products. Even if you open a jewelry studio but you are also selling online, you need to ask yourself if you want to target just your own country, or you will decide to ship your jewelry to Europe, the US, and worldwide.

Lastly, when your company grows, keep in mind to deliver the highest standards. Branding, such as business cards and packaging for your jewelry, is essential to build trust and give a satisfying customer experience.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/264779166/3d-printed-jewelry-cuff-perfect-gift-for?ref=related-8

https://www.etsy.com/listing/264779166/3d-printed-jewelry-cuff-perfect-gift-for?ref=related-8

This 3D printed bracelet comes in an eco box

4. Reach your target group

Now that you know who would be your typical customer and how much your jewelry will cost, ask yourself how to reach them and what channels they use? The Internet is the power of information. If you don’t exist on any channels, you don’t exist at all. Having your website and social media accounts is a must.

Of course, you don’t have to be everywhere. Maybe Instagram or Pinterest will reach your audience more efficiently than LinkedIn. This is a significant step, even if you open a jewelry studio because social media lets you promote it, and your clients share their experiences with your products.

This is precisely why it is so important to know your target group. Possibly you don’t need a website from the start. If you don’t plan on producing luxury products, a Facebook business page and Instagram account might be enough as the first step in promoting your business. Check which social media channels will be dedicated to your potential client. Using our example of 3D printed bracelets, we think an Instagram account with great pictures and fashion-orientated hashtags would be an appropriate starting point.

http://www.maison203.com/en/by-category/penrose-ring-1-bicolour.htm

http://www.maison203.com/en/by-category/penrose-ring-1-bicolour.htm

Those rings are a combination of innovative 3D printing with Nylon and craftsmanship by hand painting them

5. Start selling jewelry

Finally, you know what you’re selling, who you’re selling it to, how to reach your customers, and how much it will cost you—time to make your plan real and start selling. The start might not be easy, and each step you took before might change- don’t be afraid of it. If you see that your products are also popular among a different clientele than you predicted, adjust your marketing strategy and business plan accordingly.

Depending on your idea for the jewelry business, you might need a jewelry studio and a workshop. However, selling your jewelry online is also a great start. If you don’t have the resources to make your website, you can begin with online shops like etsy.com, where you can set up your account. Setting your account at an online shop also eliminates worrying about the shipping costs.

Why would you 3D print your jewelry?

Additive Manufacturing can be a great asset to starting a jewelry business. 3D technologies allow you to design stunning products, unachievable with traditional manufacturing methods. Thanks to 3D printing, you can create impressive structures such as interlocking parts and other abstract geometries. You have plenty of materials to choose from. Who said jewelry has to be only gold or silver? Break the rules with a jewelry line of flexible necklaces or colorful rings.

We prepared for you some examples of 3D-printed jewelry, but it’s never too late to enter the market. You can still become a 3D printing jewelry pioneer. Additive Manufacturing will help you not only to design very detailed and complex geometries but will also speed up your production process. And if you notice some imperfections, you can easily edit the 3D model and print the piece again.

Maison 203 and their Nylon collection

3d printed jewelry

Maison 203 proudly produces their geometrical jewelry in Italy in cooperation with different designers. They offer a wide range of products such as bracelets, rings, brooches, as well as jewelry lines 3D printed with Nylon material, which is robust but flexible at the same time. They also offer 3D-printed jewelry made with steel and brass.

Vojd Studio, which specializes in luxury 3D printing

3d printed jewelry

Vojd Studios aims to use the latest technology innovations to produce stunning, magnificent products. Based in Berlin, they cooperate with luxury brands like Loewe, Ferrary, and Alexander McQueen to combine the quality of craftsmanship and new design possibilities of 3D printing to give their customers the ultimate jewelry experience.

Perfect geometry by Archetypez

3d rpinted jewelry

Geometrical shapes driven to perfection to enhance the user’s style are what produce Archetypez. They design beautiful 3D models and make their jewelry with 3D printing Nylon. Archetypez is yet another example of what we can achieve with Additive Manufacturing in the jewelry business.

Malinko design and their award-winning clutch

3d printed jewelry

Malinko Design invests in 3D-printed jewelry pieces like rings and bracelets, but they don’t stop there. The company challenged itself to create something more significant and even more sophisticated. Their 3D printed clutch is lightweight, elegant, and flexible, thanks to Additive Manufacturing.

Start your jewelry business right now!

Please don’t waste any more time and do it! You have easy steps to follow. Now just fill them in. Make sure you have a clear business plan: what do you want to sell, to who, how to reach your potential client, and how much is it going to cost you. Then, you’re good to go! To achieve your goal, you might consider using 3D printing for your production as it’s fast, offers plenty of materials, and, most importantly, gives you great design freedom.

If you choose Additive Manufacturing for your business, don’t hesitate to contact us. We have eight 3D printing technologies, 75+ materials and finishing options, and Design Studio if you need help. Starting your own 3D printed jewelry business, it’s as easy as uploading your files to our 3D printing service.

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