Fundraising with Finished Jewelry

Your social club, school, charity or non-profit organization has decided to sell finished jewelry as a fundraiser. Whether you are fundraising for group expenses and activities or for charity, the tasks are the same. Choosing which jewelry pieces to sell how much money your group has available to spend, your fundraising goals and your target audience. A good place to start is with Fire Mountain Gems' Everyday Jewelry™ Collection. Priced for retail success the Everyday Jewelry line combines current styles with economical price points.

Another great way make your product selection easier and maximize your fundraising budget dollars is to select from the Fire Mountain Gems Jewelry Assortments. The Assortments are filled with a wide variety of finished jewelry with designs incorporating a variety of some of the most popular beads, gemstones, crystals, jewelry, findings and more.

Consider ordering gift packaging in case your customers request it. When you are ready to order your finished jewelry, remember that our customer support team is on- call to answer your questions and provide friendly guidance.

Now that you have jewelry to sell, where should you conduct your fundraiser? If there is a specific event or location where your target audience congregates (a sporting event or "art walk," for example), get permission from the event organizers to set up your tables. Because you know your local community best, you should brainstorm location ideas with your group members. Also contact museum gift shops, art galleries, salons and small gift stores to see if they'd be willing to host your fundraiser.

Once you have the who, what, when and where all figured out, it's time to spread the word. Your promotion should include posters and fliers. Contact local TV and radio stations and newspapers to place community announcements. If you are fundraising for charity and have an interesting angle, or you can make available a recipient of your charity, you could gain a news interview or feature story. Don't forget social media such as Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and others. But your best ally is promotion through networking the time-tested word of mouth. In addition to friends and colleagues, call on local businesses, business leaders and local chapters of other groups such as Lions Club and Rotary.

Next, we'll explore the process of determining the pricing for fundraising jewelry items. The easiest method is called "keystone pricing" whereby you simply double the price you paid. Or you may want to calculate prices so that you sell enough to cover expenses plus profit.

 Now that you have a goal for your fundraiser, a team of volunteers, and jewelry priced and ready to sell at your location, here are a few retail selling tips:

1. Greet everyone
2. Don't hover, yet be approachable
3. Encourage customers to touch the jewelry

A few final points: bring tablecloths, displays, signs, a mirror and money to make change. If selling outdoors, A few final points: bring tablecloths, displays, signs, a mirror and money to make change. If selling outdoors, bottled water. Make sure your selling team is wearing comfortable shoes and dresses in layers. Holding a fundraiser with finished jewelry will be worth the effort. Get ready for an exciting and fun experience!