On one hand, custom jewelry orders are gratifying – a compliment to your skill and artistry.
Someone admires your work and trusts you enough to commission a special piece, made just for them (or for a loved one).
On the other hand, the responsibility of creating this special piece of jewelry can be a bit of a burden.
Luann Udell wrote an excellent post recently about The Quagmire of Custom Orders - her struggle to finish a custom piece of jewelry, and why custom orders often feel so difficult.
I know a few jewelry artists who always turn down custom work because they don’t enjoy it, which is certainly one way of solving this issue!
But custom jewelry orders often lead to other good opportunities for your jewelry business, so it’s a good idea to consider carefully before closing the door on them completely.
If you struggle with custom orders, what makes them difficult for you?
For me, it’s because what I love about making jewelry is letting go and being a channel for the flow of creativity with no constraints nor attachment to any outcome – just letting everything flow where it will.
I love being part of that process, and seeing the result in the finished piece of jewelry.
In contrast, a custom order that requires me to work toward fulfilling a customer’s vision of the outcome removes the part I love about jewelry making.
It’s more of a job than a creative experience.
It’s hard to get motivated to start on the project, and I usually feel that my custom work is not my best work.
However, I’ve rarely had a customer who was anything but happy with the outcome of a piece of jewelry they commissioned, and that’s the good part of custom work – the privilege of spreading joy with my art.
Related article: Making Custom Jewelry Orders Profitable.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the insight. I did read Luann’s post–what an ordeal. I’ve had a few custom orders, one was great, one ended up being a lot of work for 1 necklace. But customer loyalty does stand for something.
Personally, I thrive on custom work. It makes me extend my creativity, and drives me to think out of the box. I think many people are scared to ask for custom work. Not sure why…perhaps they don’t want to bother the artist? Not really sure what they want? It’s taken me a while to figure out how to coax their desires out of them when they can’t express them initially.
Unfortuantely I haven’t had too many requests for custom design from my clients but then..I hardly have any clients let alone business as the economy is slow and is very hard to ask for anything for more than $ 15 in it I think. Stores that sell discounted items and ones for $ 5 are doing well like your walmarts,TJ Maxx’s and Petcos to name but a few but your average artisan,artist and local mom and pop shop is suffering in this recession!
-Artzstuf
http://freewebs.com/annspets4
I’m delighted you enjoyed my post on custom orders, and I like your tips for getting through them.
An artist friend commented that as a painter, she’s noticed that custom order customers tend to be very different from her regular customers. And that custom order people do not tend to turn into loyal customers. A different mindset at work…. Because of this, many painters refuse to do custom work.
But I agree with your conclusion, that it’s wise to think carefully before automatically closing this door. Some of my best artistic leaps-forward have come from custom orders, difficult or not!
Oh, and I just shipped my LAST CUSTOM ORDER from my summer show today! :^D
My business is based on custom orders and my best sales and repeat customers are from custom orders, not my pre-made original designs. I love the “go with the flow” feeling of creating my own jewelry but the business part of my art is serving the customer. I have never had anyone go away unhappy and I think people love the special attention they get when purchasing custom order jewelry from me. Thanks for the post!