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A New Shop On Folksy And Feeling Scared!

Now that I make the majority of my own findings to use in my jewellery I very rarely look on the internet to buy them. One of the things I did used to buy were pure copper findings before I got myself a bigger and hotter torch - a mini butane torch is just about hot enough to ball 20g copper that's if you don't mind standing there for 10 minutes waiting for it to happen!

I used to get frustrated at the lack of places online in the UK that actually sell pure copper findings - there's lots of "antique" copper, the base metal coated in an antique colour coating stuff but not that much in pure copper that's oxidised in liver of sulphur so................... I thought I'd start making and selling antique pure copper findings myself!




I've just opened my 2nd shop on Folksy called Cinnamon Jewellery Findings, selling ball headpins and earwires, fancy headpins and earwires, copper discs and dangles plus sets of 3 or 5 pairs of headpins and earwires just waiting for beads to be added! The majority are antiqued (oxidised in liver of sulphur and polished) but there's also a small selection of bright copper and rosy ball findings too.




I'm planning on making some findings using silver-filled wire too, once I've experimented with it. Apparently it's very similar to sterling wire to work with and can be hammered and oxidised, so if they look ok they will go in the shop too. I might list some pure sterling silver findings also but the price of sterling at the moment may put people off!



I'd forgotten how scary it is when you open a new shop - those big fat zeros on the right - no sales, no feedback, wondering if anyone will visit, buy, tell me I've not gone completely mad! I've SEO'd my listings to death and was pleased to see one of the first items listed already showing up on Google about three links down, when I searched for handmade antique copper findings UK earlier today ( not bad!)
Will they sell? Who knows? I know there's a market for them so we'll see. There's always eBay!



Comments

  1. well, I for one am SOOOOO glad you have done this...I LOVE your designs sweetie and a place to purchase the "essentials" is a exciting!

    I too ordered some silver-filled wire {on the say so of your post on it}, want to experiment with making ear wires {anything else is out of my league just now} and this seemed a good alternative to using the "expensive stuff" ;o)

    I'm heading back to check out your findings again this morning....trouble is I can't decide what to have!

    have a fab weekend....

    hugs

    hello gorgeous xxx

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  2. hey gorgeous, have just placed my order ;o)

    would love to have some jump rings in the antique copper too, are you planning on offering any?

    hugs

    hello gorgeous xxx

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  3. Whoop whoop good for you. I hope it goes well. I'm just going through my stuff and organising things to start getting listed again on folksy when my maternity leave. I'm hoping I can be a bit more successful on the internet this time.Previously my sales were mostly face to face. I'm trying to get used to naming every picture with tags and mentioning Christals Creations on each new item. Maybe i'll crack it this time.
    I look forward to browsing your shop soon. xx

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  4. Good luck with your new supplies shop, it looks great! Added it to my faves on folksy :) And I've seen you've had some sales, well done!
    I make my own headpins [thanks again for the torch advice, it's doing a great job!] but might end up purchasing some discs from your shop when I next have money in my paypal, they look lovely.

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  5. Thank you for your lovely comments. Will let you know about the jump rings Sue, I might decide to make some and list them....

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  6. LOL. I needed 'Dolly' to try and aide my photography skills. She is doing well with the childrens things which I'm hoping will be my 'money spinners' at the school fairs however i've yet to see what she will do for the 'proper' jewellery when the sun comes out next. She may need a change of clothes. Or I may need to learn some photography skills!!
    You have inspired me to be less lazy and make some of my own findings. Failing that I may have to pop to your shop. :o)

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  7. Good luck on your shop!! Looks like you're doing pretty good so far!! It's funny because I was thinking about doing something like this sometime in the future...selling some handmade supplies that is!!! :)

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  8. Lovely, have favourited your shop!

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  9. Findings are so fun and versatile and your market is humongous with all the jewelry creating going on out there. With such creativity and beautiful photos, you'll probably have a hard time keeping up with the orders! Best of luck to you : )

    Danielle
    (findings on Etsy at Aunali)

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  10. Good luck with your new venture! These copper findings are beautiful. I carry sterling silver findings and surprisingly they still sell at the high prices today! I think it is because it is such a great metal and nothing can really replace it. ~Val

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  11. Great that you filled a gap in the market - im sure your shop will do really well! It's great to know where to find all these things, thanks for posting :)

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  12. Thank you! I'm planning on making some sterling earwires tomorrow to go in the shop and hang the expense! They seem to sell well in the handmade findings shops on Etsy......

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  13. Really great post, Thank you for sharing This knowledge.Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same level of content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up!

    ReplyDelete

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