Why should you buy your jewellery from an online jewellery retailer instead of shopping at your local jewellery shop where you can touch, feel and try on the jewellery?  You might think it is obvious, however, I would encourage you to give your online jewellery retailer a chance.  You just migh be pleasantly surprised at the unique jewellery designs and consistent high quality you’ll find online, not to mention better pricing.

Handcrafted Jewellery verses Mass Produced Jewellery

Most of the jewellery you’ll find at your local fashion retailer has been mass produced and the jewellery you’ll find from online jewellery designers is usually handcrafted.  While some people don’t appreciate the quality and value of a unique handmade piece of jewellery, others thrive on it.  There are many reasons to shop online for handcrafted jewellery verses mass produced jewellery at your local fashion retailer.  For example when a jewellery product is mass produced the biggest concern for the manufacturer is their bottom line.  How much money will each piece cost them and how can they get their costs?  This could mean they compromise quality materials and assembly, which means you need to ask yourself if the metal is sterling silver or nickle, or, are the pearls on this necklace real?  However, when a designer is constructing their jewellery designs by hand, they have complete control over each piece, it’s quality and materials, and each piece is approved by the designer because it was crafted by their own hands.  All the jewellery at Pretty Beaded Things (including Sarah Lauren Designs) is handcrafted by us.

How does buying more expensive handcrafted jewellery online mean greater savings?

When you buy from your online jewellery designer you are paying for the jewellery and for a very small percentage of their overhead costs.  An online jewellery designer doesn’t have nearly as much overhead as your local fashion retailer.  Your online jewellery retailer has to pay for their website store front, advertising fees and materials to make their jewellery.  Most online jewellery retailers work from their home so they are using their home utilities and they don’t have to pay for studio space.  It’s true that as an online jewellery retailer grows, so does the need for more space, however, studio space versus store front space is a huge difference in rent.

A local jewellery retailer with a store font has to pay rent for their location, which is usually the most expensive of their overhead costs, salaries for their employees, advertising costs, utilities, wholesale merchandise and much more.  In addition to these overhead costs, the merchandise itself is passed through many hands before it reaches the retailer.  The manufacturer has sold their merchandise to a wholesaler, who then sells the merchandise to the retailer, who then displays the merchandise to sell to you, the customer.  In many cases the prices are doubled at each stage, starting from the manufacturer.

So, as for your savings…. When you buy your jewellery from your online jewellery retailer, you are technically buying straight from the manufacturer, also known as the designer.  You will find that materials and assembly aren’t compromised and the amount of money you are paying for your jewellery is much closer to the actual cost of making the jewellery.  Yes, your online jewellery retailer is making a profit because it is their business.  However, they aren’t selling their jewellery to anyone before it reaches you.  You might be paying more for handcrafted jewellery, buy you are paying for your handcrafted jewellery instead of price inflation, your local fashion retailer’s rent and advertising costs on an advertisment you never saw.  Therefore you are getting the quality of jewllery that you are paying for.  In addition, since each piece is orginally handcrafted, you are guaranteed a truly unique piece of jewellery that will serve as a keepsake for years to come.

Small Business verses Big Business

When you buy from a small online jewellery business you are going to receive the personal attention you deserve as a customer.  In many cases you may hear directly from the designer when you place an order and you won’t fee like a number in a huge array of orders.  Unlike a large business or department store, a small online business can offer greater customer service, which will result in higher customer satisfaction.  When you are buying unique handmade jewellery that will serve as a one-of-a-kind accessory in your collection, you want the personal attention that a small business can give you.  In addition, you will probably find out about the designers background, or exactly how each piece of jewellery was made, which adds character and greater personal value to your purchase.  Custom orders are a common service through online jewellery retailers.  If they don’t offer custom orders on their website, send them an e-mail.  You might be pleasantly surprised at what they can offer you.

Online Shopping Tips

There is no better place to buy unique handmade jewellery than directly from the jewellery designer.  You will find the quality and value you are looking for in addition to a truly unique piece of jewellery for your collection.  Below are some tips for buying jewellery from your online jewellery retailer:

• Check out their Return Policy.  If you can’t return the jewellery you might not want to order from them.  Many return policies have restrictions, such as keeping all tags on the jewellery or returning the jewellery in the original packaging.  These policies are to protect the designer from a customer purchasing the jewellery for one occasion and returning the jewellery once the occasion is over.  This is an understandable return policy because most online retailers aren’t loaning jewellery out, they are a business and they are selling their jewellery.

• Have the designer insure your package or send it registered post.  This may cost you more in shipping but it’s worth the extra to guarantee your package will arrive to you safely or it can be easily replaced.  Simply request insurance in the comments box or special instructions upon checkout.  An additional cost may be added to your order for insurance, if you would like to be notified of the extra cost of insurance before your credit card is charged, note that in the comments box or special instructions upon checkout as well.