"You should charge more!"
Sunday, as I methodically worked to create a jewelry display that would be both welcoming and aesthetically appealing to shoppers, my work came to a halt as another vendor approached my table. It isn’t uncommon for vendors to walk around, mingle, and shop one anothers merchandise before the rush of customers. I always welcome the opportunity to meet new people, grow business connections, and sell jewelry.
At first, it was all “ooh” and “ah”. Then the conversation turned to, “You sell your stuff too cheap”.
It’s a hard conversation, I've heard it before, and it never gets easier. It hurts every single time it’s said to me.
Why… Well, picture this, you’ve been in your kitchen for several years making something delicious. SEVERAL YEARS!!!! It took several years because the recipe called for ingredients to be cultivated and cooked for long periods of time. It’s necessary for it to taste just right. So, here you've been in your kitchen for years, sweating over a hot stove and finally the day has come for you to serve what you've been cooking. All of your hard work, sleepless nights, time away from family and friends, tears, burn scars… all of it, it’s time to finally serve everyone what you've made them, and only seconds after serving it, someone says, I think it should have more salt. Trust me, it wouldn’t only sting… it would be like someone knocked the air out of you. The fact is, you didn’t forget to salt it. The salt content was EXACTLY how you wanted it to be. You spent months just on perfecting the salt levels in your recipe. The truth is, it wasn’t lacking salt. It tasted exactly how it was intended to taste. Maybe… they just didn’t like it.
I hate being told how to price my jewelry. I didn’t just throw beads on a table and smack a price on them. Critics are everywhere. It’s part of owning a business.
With an external smile on my face and a few nervous chuckles, I took the ten minute correction they gave me but inside felt so defeated, deflated, and rocked to my core. (To their defense, I’m sure they thought they were being helpful.)
The truth is, I don’t know it all and I am absolutely one of those individuals that wants to learn and keep growing.
However, some things about me and my business will not change. Honestly, I didn’t really feel like I was given a chance to explain why my prices are what they are, not to mention, this was happening minutes before the market opened the doors and I was still trying to make preparations to my table, and get my mind and spirit ready for the busy day.
It has bothered me a lot so, today, I get to say what I wanted to say and what I wish I had said then.
I am passionate about Sarahfide jewelry being priced how it is.
Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money. When I say we didn’t have a lot of money, I mean none. My parents worked all the time to make ends meet. My dad was a chimney sweep, janitor, night security guard, steel mill worker, pool man and my mom was a seamstress, teacher, plant nursery worker, fabric cutter, house cleaner and more. My parents did anything and everything to make money but jobs were hard and they were underpaid because they were both high school dropouts. I should add, it further complicated things, because during this time, to defy the odds, my dad was going to college. Most of our household income went towards his degree. We lived near Chicago. It was a very difficult time, but as a family, we persevered. After that, even with the degree, we were a below average income family. (My father had broken his back and with no medical insurance, it was hard.) Both of my parents worked and we lived in moderate houses and only purchased used cars. You might wonder what that has to do with my prices and to that, I say, everything!!!
I am often told that I could sell some of my pieces for hundreds of dollars each. What I’m doing is so rare, people will pay a high price for it. No one does what I’m doing, but there are some that do something similar and they do sell theirs for a much higher price . A piece of jewelry can be viewed as a work of art that should be sold for what a gallery painting is sold for…. I’ve heard all of this and I know…
But see, I want my jewelry to be worn by women like my mom, my sister, my friends. Does having a lower price point mean that there will be people who won't shop with me because they refuse to spend under a hundred dollars on earrings? Sure. And, that’s okay. Some of those people are my family, my friends.
I am passionate about everyday women, being able to wear handmade, hand painted jewelry at affordable prices. For me, it isn’t just about profit. It's about the love I have for what I do and my desire to share it with everyone. I love fashion and I love sharing my take on trends in the form of a small hand painted wood bead. Seeing women wear Sarahfide, seeing their faces, seeing them feel more confident, more on trend, and feeling comfortable because my jewelry is lightweight, THAT is what I’m here for. That is why I am priced what I’m priced. Here at Sarahfide, I promise to give you handmade, hand painted jewelry, made with my whole heart, soul, and mind, at prices you can afford. Some pieces will be more expensive because they are more intricate and take longer for me to paint. Some pieces will be less expensive because I’ve learned to streamline the paint design and use more affordable metals in my creative process. Instead of using 14 Kt gold earring hooks, I use Stainless Steel, hypoallergenic earring hooks.
This weekend, I wanted to say, “Trust me, I know what I’m doing. My business is thriving. It’s growing. I’ve got more deals and offers than I can say yes to. Let me worry about how much money I make and you just enjoy it. Admire it. Know that it was made with love. Wear it. There is nothing like it. It’s one of a kind. Buy it before someone else does.”
I didn’t say it the other day, but today, I’m saying it. I’m making it known and I’m making it clear.
