MrBead Spring UK Bead Fairs

Visit us in the UK this spring, say you're a MrBead Newsletter reader and receive a free gift and a gold & black MrBead bag!

Full list of: our 2016 UK Bead Fairs
See a video of some of our past bead fairs

Labradorite Beads Make Popular Jewellery

Labradorite is a feldspar, an abundant crystallized rock that develops in metamorphic stone. The natural iridescence flashes a rainbow of colours producing very-attractive jewellery that craves attention.

Labradorite is a transformational stone that naturally heals and balances the aura. It shields the aura, protecting your consciousness and your body from foreign influences, especially during vulnerable growth phases and intense transitions. Labradorite resonates with spiritual mystery and is the companion stone of the modern mystic.

A cheaper bead to natural laradorite is Mystic Crystal: a manmade alternative with similar iridescence, producing a striking effect when lit. Although we don't have any in the MrBead shop, we do have a range on show at our UK bead fairs. However, we do stock a lot of opalite moonstone which is very much alike - see below:

See all our labradorite beads at MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com.

    
Moonstone is nature’s treasure with a sensuous and seductive charm. The characteristic feature is its magical play of light. Moonstone is translucent, and softens the light shining through it to give a pearly moon-like glow which appears different whenever the stone changes position. Years ago, it was thought to be brought upon by the moon’s phases. This shimmering affect is caused by light being refracted inside the stone.

Colours
Moonstone comes in colourless, white, grey, and subtle yellow, but always has a blue or white sheen. Rainbow moonstone is colourless with a blue sheen and a rainbow-like array of colours.

Moonstone folklore
Much mystery surrounds this stone. In India it’s considered sacred to lovers, and is also known as a “dream stone” bringing beautiful dreams. In Arab countries women often were moonstone sewn into their garment as a symbol of fertility. It was also believed to be especially protective to seafarers, who have been using it since ancient times. During full-moon, moonstone is very powerful for reconciling love - and as the moon decreases, is said to allow one to foretell the future.

A feminine stone for female issues and the inner-child, but also used by men who want to reach their feminine side. Moonstone brings confidence, calms the emotions, and aids spirituality, intuition, and clairvoyance.  Also thought to protect against fever, fluid-retention and urinary problems. Its soft shine supports the emotional and dreamy side of a person. Wearing moonstone will also increase your sensitivity for others.
  
Natural moonstone
Classical moonstone from Sri Lanka shimmers pale blue and is expensive. Moonstone from India has a cloud-like plays of light on beige, brown, green, or orange backgrounds – and some have a cat’s eye or a multi-rayed star.

Uncut moonstone is dull and lacks the play of light. This is brought out by the cutter’s skills, who must locate the stone’s axis. Classical moonstones are always cut as cabochons.
Value
The more intense the colour, the larger and more transparent the stone, the more valuable is the gem. Really top quality fine blue moonstone shows an incredible “three-dimensional” depth of colour, which you will see clearly only when tilting. Such specimens are rare and expensive. Brighter coloured Indian moonstones are usually less expensive, so are opalite moonstone.     
                                                                                                          
Opalite moonstone
Opalite moonstone is most common today.  This is a synthetic stone looking similar to genuine moonstone, that's only been around recently.  Against a light background, it appears milky white, shimmering golden faint lilac-blue and other colours.  Against a darker background, it changes to a bright icy blue with the highlights altering to intense oranges and reds.  The stone practically glows on its own, and demands attention by outshining all around.

Opalite moonstone adds a romantic feminine allure to your jewellery, always looking refreshingly cool - ideal for summer. Its pastel glow is soft and captivating, complimenting other light-coloured stones like lilac amethyst, blue chalcedony, and rose quartz.  It also loves to compete with wild bright colours like reds and turquoise. This flamboyance makes opalite ideal to wear during a night out on the town. 

 Looking after moonstone
All moonstone is fragile and should be handled carefully. However, a jeweller can polish a dulled moonstone back to its original glory.

 

We have over 48 different opalite moonstones - to see all click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

Pricing Jewellery

Custom handmade jewellery is becoming as popular as ready-made pieces on the high street

Artisan handmade jewellery is now as increasingly popular as buying ready-made pieces on the high street. People tend to flock to shops on eBay, Etsy and Folksy to find quirky, handmade pieces - knowing that there probably won’t be many other people wearing that same piece as them which makes it feel exclusive.

Jewellery that is handmade has much more of a personal feel and it really does feel as though you have a unique piece and you know every single item – no matter how many produced – and tends to look that slight bit different. It definitely provides more of a conversation starter than a generic, mass-produced piece of jewellery from a high-street chain!

Never Sell Cheap
If you sell too low, you’ll run out of stock, work too hard, or never make any profit.  But if you sell too high, you’ll feel better because you’ll have to work less, and you may at least earn some profit. 

If in doubt of what to ask - always charge more, rather than less

Making money out of your handcrafted jewellery is just like every other business: buy low, sell high.

Selling Jewellery for More Profit
A sale involves creativity, feeling, and imagination - as well as the service of design and exchange of money.  Think about what you’re really selling.  Is it jewellery? 

You’re selling beauty and sex appeal - and the benefits these bring

Profiting from custom jewellery is all about selling a BENEFIT. 

Benefits
That necklace you took hours to craft and even longer to design, will make the wearer feel better.  It may make them feel richer or boost their confidence.  Because of this they might get a new job, make more money, sell more, attract a partner etc.  Or the necklace may just make them more comfortable in a way a nice meal would.  Whatever, the benefits have no relation to and far outweigh material cost. 

The more style your design, brought about by good taste, creativity, and fashion sense: the greater the benefits, and so the higher the price. 

Customers feel value for money in originality, rarity, and quality: not in price

If you sell cheap you:
·         Lower net profits.
·         Lead to the purchase of inferier quality or unreliable suppliers.
·         Require even more sales to make up the difference in revenue.
·         Need extra stock and time to make more jewellery.
·         Increase customer demands to drop the price even lower.
·         Increase complaints - customers looking for the cheapest are usually trouble.

Sell Benefits, not Products
Look for the BENEFITS and hidden values to sell to your prospects.  Help them see how great their life will be with your jewellery, and you've got a customer.  Set your prices high and hold fast.  Don’t be afraid to shout your price, believe in it.  Remember how long it took you to create the piece.

It’s more work than you think
You had to source the beads, buy them, get them home, design the jewellery, make it up – and all that’s before the time and expense of selling.  Think of the risks: all that and they may never sell. 

However, you can’t justify your selling price to the customer by the work involved.  They don’t want to know.  I’m just trying to justify you to charge a fair price - a fair price for you! 

Most customers don’t buy on price alone.  If you’re unlucky enough to attract this type of buyer - then they’re likely to complain, pay slow, and waste your time.  If you market correctly, customers will be anxious to do business with you.

Don’t Copy Losers
There will always be someone selling cheaper.  Someone willing to go out of business before you!  Most ventures fail because they sell their products/service too low. 

Customers Will Pay!
If you truly sell your jewellery, they’ll purchase whatever the price.  If a prospect doesn't buy because they claim it’s too expensive, they probably wouldn't have purchased anyway.  Selling has nothing to do with the price of the product.

By the time your customers finds out about the price, they should be determined to purchase no matter what the cost.  Say how wonderful the piece is. Talk of aesthetic value: beauty, design, style, harmony, balance.  Leave price until last.

Gain from the Competition
In times of recession it’s easy to gain new customers from your competitor’s mistakes.  They will flock to you if you give them fast delivery, high quality, guarantees and after-sales service - whatever the price.  Notice how smart businesses’ raise their price in a recession. 

Do You Need To Increase Your Prices Right Away? 

People have less disposable income during the recession and with increased competition from other jewellery makers, I'm sure you have lowered your prices.  However, have you gone too low?

• Do customers complain about your prices? 
  
• Do buyers always haggle before paying? 
  
• Do most customers buy just a single item from you at a time? 
  

If the answer to these questions is NO, then you’re under charging and need to increase your prices.

Sometimes it’s easier to sell for more, rather than for less!

What Price Change Does To Your Bottom Line

Most people don’t realize that small changes in the selling price make huge differences to your profit.

If your costs of materials and time to make the design come to £20, and you sell for £40, then you have made £20 profit. 

If you think you may sell more by cutting the price 20%, then you will only make £12 - 40% less profit.  £40 less 20% = £32 sales price, less £20 cost = £12. 

However, if you increase the price 20% to sell at £48, then you will make £28 - 40% more profit.  £40 + 20% - £48, less £20 costs = £28.

Don’t be afraid to charge more. Your customers will respect you for it, although they won’t let on! However, don't get too carried away. All markets in 2016 are more competitive - so larger price increases must be matched by more creativity, originality or quality. Get steady sales first before experimenting.

Our old newsletters                       2005 to 2016