Selling Artisan Jewelry Online During the Holidays
Most jewelry artisans do the majority of their business online
during the Christmas season. Busy shoppers are finding the
convenience of online shopping to be a valuable tool to help them
meet the Christmas deadlines. A well-designed, current and secure
site can provide a good shopping experience and go a long way to
alleviating the stress of holiday shopping for your customer.
The shoppers who buy artisan jewelry online also find that
frequently even the cost of shipping is offset by no sales tax and
the savings on gasoline for the shopping trip. These shoppers also
benefit from a much wider choice of styles and materials in their
jewelry. Its up to you to remind your site visitors of these savings
in both time and money and an increased number of choices while they
are on your site.
Remember that many people start their Christmas shopping by
early October. In recent years, the Monday after Thanksgiving has
been the biggest day for shopping online during the year. This means
that your site should be up-to-date, well stocked, recently tested
and secure for what you hope will be an onslaught of visitors. Your
site marketing should also reflect a quality and service.
Other benefits your website can provide for online shoppers are:
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A variety of payment options - Online shops usually
accept credit cards and PayPal along with other methods of
payment such as eChecks, checks or money orders
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Gift wrapping - When sell artisan jewelry online,
your offer of free gift wrapping with a card can encourage a
buyer who may be undecided to make the purchase.
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Drop Shipping - If you offer to drop ship the gift
wrapped piece of artisan jewelry directly to the recipient, you
can save your online customer both time and money.
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Gift certificates and Coupons - Providing coupons,
gift certificates or gift cards for a certain value to be used
on your website allows your holiday shopper to give a gift they
know is just right for the recipient. Be sure that all gift
certificates and coupons provide your website address, an amount
or percentage off of a purchase and have a redemption date.
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Gift cards and gift certificates should be for a
specific amount and the redemption date should be six months
to a year after purchase. They should have an identification
number so they can be used on your website.
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An electronic gift certificate can be purchased online
and sent to the recipient on a specific date. These gift
certificates should be numbered and written for a certain
amount and have a certain redemption date. This date should
be at least six months away.
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Coupons can be used in a variety of ways during the
holidays. One good way is to use them in your marketing by
giving several to a realtor, insurance agent, hairdresser or
anyone who may want to give a small thank you gift to a
client. These coupons should be in the form of a certain
percentage off and the must be redeemed by a certain date.
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Another way coupons could be used is to sell them as
inclusions in Holiday cards. You could sell them at a
reduced price, a certain discount per dollar. This would
allow your site visitor to give a $5 coupon for only $1.50.
These coupons would also need a redemption date.
Holiday shoppers will make use of your good service and time and
money saving offerings if you make your site a gift resource. Here
are a few possibilities.
Give accurate descriptions, photographs and measurements on your
website.
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Provide a variety of price points so site visitors can buy
for a wide variety of people
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An online gift guide can be used to help your site visitor
with some unique ideas. You might even provide a questionnaire
to gain some information about the recipient and send a
personalized list of suggestions.
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Create a way for your site visitor to save orders to be
pulled up later for further shopping
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Provide a birthstone or anniversary stone guide.
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Provide a wedding registry.
Host a "Special Day" reminder service.
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Create a reference page of stone meanings and properties.
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Have a jewelry care guide.
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Provide multiple payment methods.
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Have a lay-away service.
If you market your site throughout the year, provide an
up-to-date and easily used secure website, offer a variety of
gift-related services and create a way of constant communication
between yourself and your customers, your website can become their
most preferred way of shopping for artisan jewelry.
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