Posts Tagged ‘necklace ideas’

Strand enhancers enhance your business

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Looking at the new Wedding / Bridal / Prom section that we’re building in our Design Gallery, I learned a technique…

Strand enhancers can grow your business.  For a second, I thought this might mean “necklace extenders“, which are amazingly useful findings themselves.

But no, strand enhancers are yet a different way of offering extra value to your jewelry customers.  They instantly make any necklace into a “Y” necklace, as @wendytgibson put it on Twitter.  See one detached, and one in action, in this “Always a Bridesmaid” necklace design:

The "Always a Bridesmaid" design from Rings & Things

The "Always a Bridesmaid" design from Rings & Things

For this necklace, designer Cindy made the “pearl enhancer” with a #39-541-11 9×15mm oval no-trigger lobster clasp, in sterling silver.  Have a custom wedding order?  You can make clip-on strand enhancers with colors that match the bridesmaids’ dresses!

You can take this idea to craft fairs and jewelry shops too!  Offer necklace-buying customers a matching strand enhancer for a little sales bump.  They let the customer multi-purpose her necklace, choosing the style she wants.  And they’re easy to make — so you could even offer to “build to order”.  As @CreationsWHeart (also on Twitter) pointed out, “I can see how you could come up w/ a ton of designs whether it’s on a chain or beaded necklace! How fun!”

PS: A little extra design trick is to use seed beads in a pearl necklace like the one seen here.  They’re easy, affordable spacers and they take far less time than knotting the cord!

Want to suggest more necklace design tricks and tips?  Share them in a comment below.  You’ll be entered in our drawing!

May giveaway:
* You enter by leaving comments this month
* At the end of May, 2 winners will receive coveted Rings & Things goodie packs!
*
So read the blog regularly, to enter a lot & to see if you won!

Pearls Before Swine

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

pearls_before_swine

Dave,

Of course I want to say “ham, bacon, sausage, ham hock….”  But, instead I used the following R&T’s parts for the “Pearls before Swine” Necklace (this is from memory since Val has the necklace):

Qty Stock Description
1          Found Item              Plastic pink pig (couple inches long?) (sub other plastic critters at will)
2         #44-150-7 Filigree, Harvest, AC
16″      #40-099-08-7 Chain, Ftage, Curb, 2.8mm, AC
9         #37-136-7 Jump Ring, Round, Medium, AC
1         #37-422-7 Head Pin, 2″, Standard, AC
3         #37-722-7 Eye Pin, 2″, Standard, AC
1         #39-343-7 Clasp, Lobster, 12mm, Brass, AC
4         #05-810-08-201 Crystal, Bead, Round, Pearl, LtCrmRose

Happy blogging!

Mollie

PS:  This is Sondra’s pig–I pignapped him for the necklace; just a little jewelry surprise for her–she has no idea he is even gone.

March news: New monthly lottery, right here on the Rings & Things blog.  Here’s how it works:
* You enter by leaving comments. Comment on any March post(s).
* At the end of March, I’ll randomly draw 2 winners of surprise goodie packs! …So read the blog regularly to see if you won!