You are amazing, I’m Sheila Newman I just purchased my welder from sunstone, love it an all your videos as well, I appreciate all your informative information. Thank you an I can’t wait to start my business, I can do this ❤
Ventura, California I just created an account. I have been making sterling silver or gold filled gemstone jewelry for 20+ years and selling in local boutiques and at pop-ups. I’m excited to add this to my offerings and as a way to increase the quality of my pieces.
Hello Liz, I really enjoyed reading this because it is a brilliant move for you to offer this, or at least use the welder to level up your pieces and also offer customized lengths. Many jewelry makers shun the idea of permanent jewelry as a fad, but they absolutely should not. There is something to be said for classically beautiful pieces, but a designer and maker should also offer what the market is looking for. I wish you the best of luck and I'd love to hear how it goes. Dana
I just discovered PJ and I’m happy I discovered this business as I loss my job . I am going to ask my friends and family to invest in my business AND the expo! Hopefully I will be able to see you there!
You got this! I often feel that when one door closes, another opens. I know it's cliche. However, that's how life has worked out. As long as you're constantly on the hunt for the opportunities and the silver lining, you will get there. Unfortunate, and even terrible, things happen all the time. The difference between success and failure is how you view and use those challenges. Always keep that in mind. I came from zero money because we were poor immigrants (I can tell you stories about how I had to stand aside during gym class in elementary school and watch as other kids play dodgeball etc because we couldn't afford proper running shoes and in those days, teachers were jerks . I couldn't bring myself to tell my parents this because I knew we could barely afford rent. My parents don't speak English and at the time, my dad was cleaning floors and my mom worked in a cafeteria - 2 minimum wage jobs in a large city with 2 kids. Their families LOST everything when the communists confiscated their businesses and land over night). You can start from nothing again and win it. The key is resilience. I am with you, Sister!
I started this business and am having a horrible time finding events to actually be in. It’s so bad at least where I live in the Bay Area. There’s nothing at this point that I can go to. I will try to reach out to businesses to do pop ups but as far as fairs, they’re impossible
Absolutely, you should create your own opportunities for pop-ups. Even boutique coffee shops! Do weekend events - buy 10 to 20 coupons for coffee and give them out free with each welded bracelet. Make sure everyone wins, including the host business. It makes their day more fun and draw people in. Good luck!
watching from Dallas, TX! I love your content. You have been so beneficial to my business & I look forward to meeting you at the PJX Expo this year!---Thank you so much for your channel!
I’ve never seen numbers like this and I’ve owned a permanent jewelry business for over a year now. I need to move where your from, my suburb isn’t cutting it. Lol
LOL - if you have a small population and very little foot traffic, consider doing events, weekend markets and create events yourself by reaching out to local sports leagues to set up and donate a portion of the sales to their league. My mentor once said "Don't wait for business to come to you, you go to the business. Observe what the people, you want as customers, are doing, wearing and watching. GO TO THEM." Make it a challenge for yourself. It's video gaming - and you can slay it!!!
Hi Dana! Would you recommend using a strong magnet from Amazon to test gold, sterling silver etc? I know you made a video on acid testing but I’m wondering how well a magnet would be , especially for on the go! Thank you!
Hi Deena - you don't need a very special magnet. Save yourself the trouble. Just get a fridge magnet. If it is strong enough to lift a paperclip or nail easily, it will suffice.
Hello Dana! I just found your video and am inspired! Question: would it be beneficial or a hindrance to the PJ business to also sell non- PJ jewelry(regular) in the same place? The reason I ask is bc I was about to start up a business of 14k GF and silver jewelry, and came across your video. I also agree that the markup profit is so much lower at 2-3x. Thanks for answering!
For clarification: I wasn’t sure it the two will compete against each other where the customer would see how much cheaper it was to buy a bracelet that you can take on and off, vs the PJ.
Hi! I understood what you meant. The resounding answer is NO - it will not be a hindrance. In fact, it will augment your permanent jewelry sales, and experience, for the following: 1) you have a captive audience - they're there already and it's a quick add-on 2) this can also mitigate their feelings of guilt - they can buy a small gift for their friend who couldn't come, so it's not necessarily all about them 3) when there's a large group coming, there might be at least one who cannot have pj for medical or work reasons and this allows them to participate. Btw, this is also why all pj artists should also purchase some clasps - you can make custom length jewelry for those who can't wear pj. 4) when there's a line up, instead of people getting bored, they can browse. Think magazine racks and candies all along the grocery store lines. It makes the time go faster and it's easy sales. I hope this helps. The fact that you are familiar with jewelry, you are ahead of most in the industry. I wish you the best of luck!! Dana
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply, Dana! I’m sure it will help others as well. Yes, I actually make GF and Sterling jewelry, but also want to resell wholesale stuff too (bc making ALL of it is labor intensive for one!). Sorry to have one more follow up question to your answer: 1) For the custom-length service with clasp: Is it better to weld the jump rings in front of the customer or not have to weld at all, and then just close the jump rings with pliers and that’s it? 1b) For the already made jewelry on display: Do you pre-weld all the jump rings that attach to the clasps (end of other side), so that they are “closed” jump rings instead of “open” ones that are just closed with pliers? What would you do? Do you have this kind of set up in your brick and mortar stores where some is permanent, and some is premade jewelry with the clasps already on and ready to buy? TIA!
It isn't recommended because a larger number of people are allergic to it. It contains nickel and also seen as a cheaper substitute for sterling silver - so it is seen as an inferior product. Unless it is very chunky, the difference in cost of Italian 925 silver to stainless steel is minimal. Silver would be approx US$2 - $2.80 for a 7" bracelet. You can charge more for it and easily make up the difference. Providing a superior product will help elevate your branding as well.
It's important to note, for PJ businesses doing theses numbers, there are 10 times that number making a fraction. PJ is not immune to the principles of free markets. The work involved to gain access to a market, event, store location etc that can do 290 bracelets in a single day, can not be understated. I"m not trying to be a Debby downer here. While its great to see the potential of this industry, and there are certainly overnight success stories for early and well-placed adopters, the vast majority of business owners have a much longer road ahead. But it can be a golden road indeed!
Agreed, that is true of any business, in any industry. It just so happens that the upside potential for this is much bigger than mature industries such as traditional jewelry or beauty industry - at this point in time. This, too, will eventually mature, as have Pandora style bracelets. Each person should perform a SWOT analysis, focusing on the opportunities and competition, that is particular to their market. THey should also really consider how much time and effort they can commit to this , or any new venture. I believe that is why so many small businesses fail - many don't understand the obsession for success that one must have to reach explosive success. There's luck and timing, but also a huge amount of commitment.
@@stonesandfindings I think your reply is more in-line with reality vs what came across in the video, and is very valuable advice. And again I appreciate the message of inspiration, Pj margins are great. But so is coffee, makeup and shoelaces. I understand your motives and really I respect the business you’ve built. social media has blurred the lines between “friend” and someone trying to sell you something.. so I guess sometimes I feel the need to make sure newbies popping around Facebook and RUclips have a sense of the big picture.
I appreciate your thoughtful responses. It is completely true - there are many things that have great margins and people can make money doing all sorts of things. It is often difficult to encapsulate that in one video. I wanted to make a video in response to a number of questions I had been receiving "Is permanent jewelry a profitable business?" And it really is. Perhaps it is a combination of high margins + it is on trend, which may change or become saturated soon. I would like to think that it would morph into mainstream as tattoos have, and the bigger market, would be customized jewelry (made to measure) for all jewelry retailers. I am a data collector and that's actual data from customers of ours, who tend to higher quality and are perhaps more marketing savvy. Mind you, I am certain there are customers who don't respond to my questions because they have not been doing well, hence, skewing my results. That's a distinct possibility. There are so many variables and it's so hard to put that into a short video. I had posted a video last year, where I just rambled about whether PJ is right for you. In it I talk about all that it takes and there are so many other ways of making money; unless you love being in front of people, working closely with them, committed to really hard work and sacrificing your free time, it's not for you. Interestingly enough, I have seen a great deal of resistance from traditional jewelry retailers. Perhaps there is an elitist view that it is not real jewelry - rather it is kitsch. I have not been able to break through to them. The ones who have embraced wholeheartedly, have done well, and I mean really well. On the other hand, I have seen a couple of stores where, they've purchased a welder (either from me or from someone else, but we sell them the chains), but the long-time employees have just put it to the back instead of creating a marketing campaign to launch it and shout out to everyone that they have it. It confounds me. I feel that you have to be in it 100% - everyone must be on board. It's not just getting the machine or high quality chains. You have to work at it. Yes, coffee has perhaps even bigger margins. We see so many fold, we see Starbucks going strong, we see boutique roasters doing extremely well. There is variance as with any business. It is a given that one must work and put effort into it. The thing that makes PJ different is that it is still in the naissance of the trend for most places. This is your opportunity to get in and work hard and then cross the chasm into wealth and empire building.
@@stonesandfindings Thank you for the reply. the question of "is PJ a profitable business?" is kind of a funny one. I could ask, is a restaurant a profitable business ? There are so many factors to that answer but the same thing rings true, for every profitable one, there 10 that make little to nothing. I applaud your efforts to try and break down your answer with data collection and there is no doubt people are making a lot of money (myself included) --for now :). Are you running a retail PJ operation or just doing wholesale supplies? Experienced retailers know these trends phase in and out. That is partly why you are getting resistance. Training and Liability issues is another. The duration of the PJ trend for sure has gone beyond my expectations, but I do not agree it's in its early stages in the US. Globally I"m sure, but in every major city here, there are dozens of folks doing it. You yourself are populating a list of PJ vendors (brilliant marketing btw!) by area. So I'm sure you know exactly how saturated it has become. In my case, we are profitable bc we were profitable before PJ. PJ just added massive fuel. But to those without an existing business model and loads of competition entering the market, the answer to "is PJ a profitable business?" is more than likely: no. But that never stopped the dream, and for people like you say, who are committed a 100%. That person will not fail. They will not fail no matter what they do.
I am happy to read that PJ is making you a lot of money. As for the question "is PJ a profitable business?", I can and have said this without hesitation because the high rate of success is what qualifies it to be labelled as such. I definitely would not tell anyone that a restaurant is a profitable business despite some of them being highly profitable. Money making restaurants are the anomaly, not the norm. I can say the same for coffee shops and clothing boutiques - in fact, most brick and mortar (non-service) retail businesses in this current environment. I strongly feel the reason why PJ is such a successful and desirable business is because: 1. it is a service that has no online competitor 2. unlike other services, it (still) has high margins and fast turnaround time 3. taps into the trend of permanence and self-expression in the age of disposable/transience 4. low start up cost (low barrier to entry) As for saturation - yes, it is getting there for many major American cities. It is interesting that I see the same thing for tattoo parlours and I don't really know where that is going. Tattoos were not mainstream when I was growing up - they were always situated in some sketchy basement or above a fast food restaurant. Now, they have taken prime retail locations and there are many of them. I would have thought this would have died down. How many tattoos can one get? How can they afford such high rent? There are so many competing parlours. However, I think tattoos have become mainstream and the good ones are here to stay. I am hoping that permanent jewelry will go the way of these tattoo parlours. I am not running a retail PJ location, but I work closely with many who do, as in I help out and have personal conversations with them on a weekly basis. I ran a jewelry and accessory retail store for about 3 years and wholesaled jewelry to retail boutiques for about 25. I have many loyal customers and long time friends who own jewelry retail boutiques. They are all resistant, and I was only able to convince a few of them to try PJ, by leveraging my friendship and reputation as a long time supplier. They absolutely do not regret it, but still grumble as they are making loads of money. I feel many of my finished jewelry boutique customers have (had) been highly successful before the pandemic and feel things should go back to the way it was. However, there's far more competition from online retailers and people who used to support local brick and mortar have been forced to buy from the likes of Amazon and now will not go back 100%. Who suffers from this? The traditional small boutiques - and it breaks my heart. I think retail and consumer behaviour has changed permanently and one must evolve. I feel the next thing will be to offer customizable length for necklaces and bracelets - on the spot. No waiting for the jeweller to send it out; no trying to measure yourself and order from Amazon on Etsy the approximate length, if they even offer this. It is done on the spot and no extension chains. Every chain length is bespoke. So, I feel my boutique owning friends should all invest in a welder. It's not even about selling to them and definitely not what's in it for me. I can make money doing a lot of things and I don't need this. I just see the evolution so clearly and I'm a business analyst at heart.
My Husband is a Goldsmith/Jeweler. He has a brick-and-mortar store. We have been watching this trend for the last 3 years. I started my own PJ business it's prolonged where we live in Brookings Oregon. But by next year it will be better. Going to local events here in the community.
Great to read your story. I am delighted for you - and I am sending positive energy your way, sister! I also think that brick and mortar stores that offer jewelry will soon offer custom length chains made to measure. That's the way to stave off the online competitors. Please tell your husband to advertise this and let me know how it goes. I want to know!!
Yes, we are based in Toronto. However, we ship all over the world and we are one of the largest distributors of permanent jewelry supplies in the USA. We just love being Canadian and living here! The prices in this video, and as in most of our videos, are in USD.
You are amazing, I’m Sheila Newman I just purchased my welder from sunstone, love it an all your videos as well, I appreciate all your informative information. Thank you an I can’t wait to start my business, I can do this ❤
Sheila - thank you for watching and for this encouraging note! It’s great to hear! I wish you luck, Sister! Let me know how it goes for you.
Ventura, California
I just created an account. I have been making sterling silver or gold filled gemstone jewelry for 20+ years and selling in local boutiques and at pop-ups. I’m excited to add this to my offerings and as a way to increase the quality of my pieces.
Hello Liz,
I really enjoyed reading this because it is a brilliant move for you to offer this, or at least use the welder to level up your pieces and also offer customized lengths. Many jewelry makers shun the idea of permanent jewelry as a fad, but they absolutely should not. There is something to be said for classically beautiful pieces, but a designer and maker should also offer what the market is looking for.
I wish you the best of luck and I'd love to hear how it goes.
Dana
I just discovered PJ and I’m happy I discovered this business as I loss my job . I am going to ask my friends and family to invest in my business AND the expo! Hopefully I will be able to see you there!
You got this! I often feel that when one door closes, another opens. I know it's cliche. However, that's how life has worked out. As long as you're constantly on the hunt for the opportunities and the silver lining, you will get there.
Unfortunate, and even terrible, things happen all the time. The difference between success and failure is how you view and use those challenges. Always keep that in mind.
I came from zero money because we were poor immigrants (I can tell you stories about how I had to stand aside during gym class in elementary school and watch as other kids play dodgeball etc because we couldn't afford proper running shoes and in those days, teachers were jerks . I couldn't bring myself to tell my parents this because I knew we could barely afford rent. My parents don't speak English and at the time, my dad was cleaning floors and my mom worked in a cafeteria - 2 minimum wage jobs in a large city with 2 kids. Their families LOST everything when the communists confiscated their businesses and land over night). You can start from nothing again and win it.
The key is resilience. I am with you, Sister!
Thank you! Minneapolis, Minnesota here!
Hello Elizabeth from Minneapolis!
I started this business and am having a horrible time finding events to actually be in. It’s so bad at least where I live in the Bay Area. There’s nothing at this point that I can go to. I will try to reach out to businesses to do pop ups but as far as fairs, they’re impossible
Absolutely, you should create your own opportunities for pop-ups. Even boutique coffee shops! Do weekend events - buy 10 to 20 coupons for coffee and give them out free with each welded bracelet. Make sure everyone wins, including the host business. It makes their day more fun and draw people in. Good luck!
From the Netherlands… filling my cart on your shop.. took a lil break but I’m back ❤
Thank you for this note! Glad you're back in the swing of things!
watching from Dallas, TX! I love your content. You have been so beneficial to my business & I look forward to meeting you at the PJX Expo this year!---Thank you so much for your channel!
Awesome! Thank you so much for this note. I look forward to meeting you in PJX - I hope you're coming to one of my talks.
Dana
Watching from Belleview, Fl
Hello Florida! Thanks for watching and for this note, Michelle.
Best,
Dana
thank you so much from atlanta GA!!!
Hello Atlanta!!! I've been there and loved my 5 day stay. You're very welcome for the video.
Watching from Houston!!
Hello Ms. Houston!!!
I’ve never seen numbers like this and I’ve owned a permanent jewelry business for over a year now. I need to move where your from, my suburb isn’t cutting it. Lol
LOL - if you have a small population and very little foot traffic, consider doing events, weekend markets and create events yourself by reaching out to local sports leagues to set up and donate a portion of the sales to their league.
My mentor once said "Don't wait for business to come to you, you go to the business. Observe what the people, you want as customers, are doing, wearing and watching. GO TO THEM."
Make it a challenge for yourself. It's video gaming - and you can slay it!!!
Hi Dana! Would you recommend using a strong magnet from Amazon to test gold, sterling silver etc? I know you made a video on acid testing but I’m wondering how well a magnet would be , especially for on the go! Thank you!
Hi Deena - you don't need a very special magnet. Save yourself the trouble. Just get a fridge magnet. If it is strong enough to lift a paperclip or nail easily, it will suffice.
Watching from London
Hello from this side of the pond! Hope you're having a good day, Ms. London.
Hello Dana! I just found your video and am inspired! Question: would it be beneficial or a hindrance to the PJ business to also sell non- PJ jewelry(regular) in the same place? The reason I ask is bc I was about to start up a business of 14k GF and silver jewelry, and came across your video. I also agree that the markup profit is so much lower at 2-3x. Thanks for answering!
For clarification: I wasn’t sure it the two will compete against each other where the customer would see how much cheaper it was to buy a bracelet that you can take on and off, vs the PJ.
Hi! I understood what you meant. The resounding answer is NO - it will not be a hindrance. In fact, it will augment your permanent jewelry sales, and experience, for the following:
1) you have a captive audience - they're there already and it's a quick add-on
2) this can also mitigate their feelings of guilt - they can buy a small gift for their friend who couldn't come, so it's not necessarily all about them
3) when there's a large group coming, there might be at least one who cannot have pj for medical or work reasons and this allows them to participate. Btw, this is also why all pj artists should also purchase some clasps - you can make custom length jewelry for those who can't wear pj.
4) when there's a line up, instead of people getting bored, they can browse. Think magazine racks and candies all along the grocery store lines. It makes the time go faster and it's easy sales.
I hope this helps. The fact that you are familiar with jewelry, you are ahead of most in the industry. I wish you the best of luck!!
Dana
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply, Dana! I’m sure it will help others as well. Yes, I actually make GF and Sterling jewelry, but also want to resell wholesale stuff too (bc making ALL of it is labor intensive for one!).
Sorry to have one more follow up question to your answer:
1) For the custom-length service with clasp: Is it better to weld the jump rings in front of the customer or not have to weld at all, and then just close the jump rings with pliers and that’s it?
1b) For the already made jewelry on display: Do you pre-weld all the jump rings that attach to the clasps (end of other side), so that they are “closed” jump rings instead of “open” ones that are just closed with pliers? What would you do?
Do you have this kind of set up in your brick and mortar stores where some is permanent, and some is premade jewelry with the clasps already on and ready to buy? TIA!
Watching from south west Missouri
Hi Miss Missouri ;) thanks for watching and letting me know!
Thx! Santa Barbara
Hello John in Santa Barbara! THanks for this note.
Watching from Los Angeles and Dallas 😊
Hello LA and Dallas!!! Great to see this - you have much warmer weather than I do.
Pittsburgh, PA
Hello Pittsburgh!! :)
Hello! I love your videos:) Can I ask why it is not recommended to use stainless steel (316L)?
It isn't recommended because a larger number of people are allergic to it. It contains nickel and also seen as a cheaper substitute for sterling silver - so it is seen as an inferior product. Unless it is very chunky, the difference in cost of Italian 925 silver to stainless steel is minimal. Silver would be approx US$2 - $2.80 for a 7" bracelet. You can charge more for it and easily make up the difference. Providing a superior product will help elevate your branding as well.
I am watching from Jamaica
Hello - so happy to read this! I have close friends from Jamaica - warm people who like to laugh and party. Thanks for watching!
Watching from Bellingham, Washington
Hello Bellingham! Thanks for letting me, Cindy. Hope you enjoyed the video
It's important to note, for PJ businesses doing theses numbers, there are 10 times that number making a fraction. PJ is not immune to the principles of free markets. The work involved to gain access to a market, event, store location etc that can do 290 bracelets in a single day, can not be understated. I"m not trying to be a Debby downer here. While its great to see the potential of this industry, and there are certainly overnight success stories for early and well-placed adopters, the vast majority of business owners have a much longer road ahead. But it can be a golden road indeed!
Agreed, that is true of any business, in any industry. It just so happens that the upside potential for this is much bigger than mature industries such as traditional jewelry or beauty industry - at this point in time. This, too, will eventually mature, as have Pandora style bracelets.
Each person should perform a SWOT analysis, focusing on the opportunities and competition, that is particular to their market. THey should also really consider how much time and effort they can commit to this , or any new venture. I believe that is why so many small businesses fail - many don't understand the obsession for success that one must have to reach explosive success. There's luck and timing, but also a huge amount of commitment.
@@stonesandfindings I think your reply is more in-line with reality vs what came across in the video, and is very valuable advice. And again I appreciate the message of inspiration, Pj margins are great. But so is coffee, makeup and shoelaces.
I understand your motives and really I respect the business you’ve built. social media has blurred the lines between “friend” and someone trying to sell you something.. so I guess sometimes I feel the need to make sure newbies popping around Facebook and RUclips have a sense of the big picture.
I appreciate your thoughtful responses. It is completely true - there are many things that have great margins and people can make money doing all sorts of things. It is often difficult to encapsulate that in one video. I wanted to make a video in response to a number of questions I had been receiving "Is permanent jewelry a profitable business?" And it really is. Perhaps it is a combination of high margins + it is on trend, which may change or become saturated soon. I would like to think that it would morph into mainstream as tattoos have, and the bigger market, would be customized jewelry (made to measure) for all jewelry retailers.
I am a data collector and that's actual data from customers of ours, who tend to higher quality and are perhaps more marketing savvy. Mind you, I am certain there are customers who don't respond to my questions because they have not been doing well, hence, skewing my results. That's a distinct possibility. There are so many variables and it's so hard to put that into a short video.
I had posted a video last year, where I just rambled about whether PJ is right for you. In it I talk about all that it takes and there are so many other ways of making money; unless you love being in front of people, working closely with them, committed to really hard work and sacrificing your free time, it's not for you.
Interestingly enough, I have seen a great deal of resistance from traditional jewelry retailers. Perhaps there is an elitist view that it is not real jewelry - rather it is kitsch. I have not been able to break through to them. The ones who have embraced wholeheartedly, have done well, and I mean really well. On the other hand, I have seen a couple of stores where, they've purchased a welder (either from me or from someone else, but we sell them the chains), but the long-time employees have just put it to the back instead of creating a marketing campaign to launch it and shout out to everyone that they have it. It confounds me. I feel that you have to be in it 100% - everyone must be on board. It's not just getting the machine or high quality chains. You have to work at it.
Yes, coffee has perhaps even bigger margins. We see so many fold, we see Starbucks going strong, we see boutique roasters doing extremely well. There is variance as with any business. It is a given that one must work and put effort into it. The thing that makes PJ different is that it is still in the naissance of the trend for most places. This is your opportunity to get in and work hard and then cross the chasm into wealth and empire building.
@@stonesandfindings Thank you for the reply. the question of "is PJ a profitable business?" is kind of a funny one. I could ask, is a restaurant a profitable business ? There are so many factors to that answer but the same thing rings true, for every profitable one, there 10 that make little to nothing. I applaud your efforts to try and break down your answer with data collection and there is no doubt people are making a lot of money (myself included) --for now :).
Are you running a retail PJ operation or just doing wholesale supplies?
Experienced retailers know these trends phase in and out. That is partly why you are getting resistance. Training and Liability issues is another.
The duration of the PJ trend for sure has gone beyond my expectations, but I do not agree it's in its early stages in the US. Globally I"m sure, but in every major city here, there are dozens of folks doing it. You yourself are populating a list of PJ vendors (brilliant marketing btw!) by area. So I'm sure you know exactly how saturated it has become. In my case, we are profitable bc we were profitable before PJ. PJ just added massive fuel. But to those without an existing business model and loads of competition entering the market, the answer to "is PJ a profitable business?" is more than likely: no. But that never stopped the dream, and for people like you say, who are committed a 100%. That person will not fail. They will not fail no matter what they do.
I am happy to read that PJ is making you a lot of money.
As for the question "is PJ a profitable business?", I can and have said this without hesitation because the high rate of success is what qualifies it to be labelled as such. I definitely would not tell anyone that a restaurant is a profitable business despite some of them being highly profitable. Money making restaurants are the anomaly, not the norm. I can say the same for coffee shops and clothing boutiques - in fact, most brick and mortar (non-service) retail businesses in this current environment.
I strongly feel the reason why PJ is such a successful and desirable business is because:
1. it is a service that has no online competitor
2. unlike other services, it (still) has high margins and fast turnaround time
3. taps into the trend of permanence and self-expression in the age of disposable/transience
4. low start up cost (low barrier to entry)
As for saturation - yes, it is getting there for many major American cities. It is interesting that I see the same thing for tattoo parlours and I don't really know where that is going. Tattoos were not mainstream when I was growing up - they were always situated in some sketchy basement or above a fast food restaurant. Now, they have taken prime retail locations and there are many of them. I would have thought this would have died down. How many tattoos can one get? How can they afford such high rent? There are so many competing parlours. However, I think tattoos have become mainstream and the good ones are here to stay. I am hoping that permanent jewelry will go the way of these tattoo parlours.
I am not running a retail PJ location, but I work closely with many who do, as in I help out and have personal conversations with them on a weekly basis. I ran a jewelry and accessory retail store for about 3 years and wholesaled jewelry to retail boutiques for about 25. I have many loyal customers and long time friends who own jewelry retail boutiques. They are all resistant, and I was only able to convince a few of them to try PJ, by leveraging my friendship and reputation as a long time supplier. They absolutely do not regret it, but still grumble as they are making loads of money.
I feel many of my finished jewelry boutique customers have (had) been highly successful before the pandemic and feel things should go back to the way it was. However, there's far more competition from online retailers and people who used to support local brick and mortar have been forced to buy from the likes of Amazon and now will not go back 100%. Who suffers from this? The traditional small boutiques - and it breaks my heart.
I think retail and consumer behaviour has changed permanently and one must evolve. I feel the next thing will be to offer customizable length for necklaces and bracelets - on the spot. No waiting for the jeweller to send it out; no trying to measure yourself and order from Amazon on Etsy the approximate length, if they even offer this. It is done on the spot and no extension chains. Every chain length is bespoke. So, I feel my boutique owning friends should all invest in a welder. It's not even about selling to them and definitely not what's in it for me. I can make money doing a lot of things and I don't need this. I just see the evolution so clearly and I'm a business analyst at heart.
Westerly RI :)
Hello to Rhode Island!! I had visited once and I loved it there.
Houston, Tx
Hello Houston! Thanks for watching.
Cedar city Utah
Hello Cedar City! My youngest daughter's name is Cedar :)
I hope you enjoyed the video. Thank for the note.
Watching from Uganda
Hello Uganda! This is very interesting, indeed. Thanks for watching.
My Husband is a Goldsmith/Jeweler. He has a brick-and-mortar store. We have been watching this trend for the last 3 years. I started my own PJ business it's prolonged where we live in Brookings Oregon. But by next year it will be better. Going to local events here in the community.
Great to read your story. I am delighted for you - and I am sending positive energy your way, sister!
I also think that brick and mortar stores that offer jewelry will soon offer custom length chains made to measure. That's the way to stave off the online competitors. Please tell your husband to advertise this and let me know how it goes. I want to know!!
are you based in toronto
Yes, we are based in Toronto. However, we ship all over the world and we are one of the largest distributors of permanent jewelry supplies in the USA. We just love being Canadian and living here! The prices in this video, and as in most of our videos, are in USD.
@@stonesandfindings awesome! Do you do 1:1 trainings for permanent jewelry
Watching from Belleview, Fl
So cool! I love your weather!! Thanks for watching.
Watching from Delaware
Hi Delaware!!! Good luck. Sending you great energy. Dana