Jewelry De-Stash Options
We've talked about this issue on this site's Jewelry Making Forum, and I've seen it mentioned more than once over at the Etsy forum. Since someone else's old-stash may be someone else's treasure, it is tempting to tryto sell off some of our supplies. And the sooner the better. But, is this always possible, and if so, is it even a good idea? What do you gain or lose through de-stashing?
First of all, is it possible? Of course, anything is possible, but from what I've read on the forums I mentioned and from my own experience selling supplies as well as just selling jewelry in general, there is no "quick way" to make a buck, ever, in any legitimate business. I actually read one post where the crafter was upset that she had her store open for four days and hadn't unloaded her stash yet, 4 days! If you are thinking along the same lines, then forget about it. That just isn't going to happen. Selling your stash on-line is similar to selling your jewelry on-line: it takes time to create a customer base.
So, if you are ready to spend the time to sell of your stash items, is it going to be worth your time? That depends, of course, on what you hope to gain, which is something you need to ask yourself. If you have the time, it may be worth it because you may be able to create a long standing business this way, maybe even be able to create some kind of small niche craft business for yourself.
The gains and losses are negligible. I don't think anyone, especially with the economy the way it is now, will be able to post on Craigslist, Etsy, Ebay, or even open a web site and sell his/her stash for a profit or at least break even in just a few days. Those who think that will be disappointed. Even a garage sale or ad in the paper may turn up low results. So think long and hard before you go this route. It may be worth sitting on that stash awhile longer as you try to figure out what you hope to gain from de-stashing. What are your thoughts on de-stashing? Is it worth your time or not?
Comments
Why not look at your “old” stock and reuse them in a way that you never thought of, look at different texxture or color combinations and simply “recycle” them in a new creative way!
Sometimes it’s better to just trade off with someone else, or just give the excess away to another beader or charity group. A charity group that could use these types of items would be a senior citizens’ group, or a craft organizer who works at an assisted living home. My mom lives at an assisted living home, and their craft director is always in need of supplies. The way I see it, the items are better used,than sitting in a storage closet. If you really need to, the charity group can give you a receipt for your donations.
I weeded out a tonne of beads last summer through a craft forum I belong to. The takers were an interesting mix. I had two newbies, one crafter who wanted to return to beading and one woman who worked with disabled kids. I took the stash and broke it up evenly between the four, mailed them out, and all four loved their new beads. I got loads of emails thanking me for the beads, and that kind of good feeling and good will is priceless as far as I’m concerned.
And although I don’t have time to bead anymore (hence why I closed my online shop), I still make time to play around with the beads I chose to keep and work with. I now make jewellery to wear to work. I have at least two sets to choose from every morning not matter what I put on.
I’m wearing something today I made over the weekend.
I still love making jewellery - I don’t think that will ever go away - but there’s something liberating about travelling through life with less or only the absolutely beautiful beads in my collection. I plan to weed out more, but not till next year. Hee.
I have pix up at my main blog if you want to see what I made this weekend. I changed the chain to a gold version that’s three inches longer than what you’ll see in the photos online, though.
http://strangeaddiction.com/?cat=32
Try giving to charity or some senior center for others to have some fun with.
I made over 50 pieces, bracelets and necklaces, last Christmas, and gave them to my mother’s nursing home activities director to give to whoever “needed a present.” I included handmade boxes and ribbon to wrap in and contained each present combo in a sandwich ziploc. Each time I visit my mother, I see more of my jewelry being worn and I receive lots of thanks from residents and staff. The rewards to me are immeasureable. The tax deductions were great in April also. I hate to admit it but it doesn’t look like anything is missing from my stash. If others want to donate to nursing home residents, make the jewelry fairly simple and light, minimum 18-20 long, extremely sturdy, and easy to use clasp such as loop and bar, so that impaired residents can wear them. You can also make pretty little weights to attach to the end of call button pull cords.
De-stashing to me means getting rid of things that are just taking up space. I never thought of it in terms of making a profit.
There are things in my stash I just like to look at. There are oodles of vintage European seed beads, rescued from a beaded cashmere sweater that acquired too many moth holes to mend. I suppose I ough to get rid of some of the bizarrely colored plastic pearls that came as part of a box lot of goodies, but I keep thinking I’ll find the perfect use for them.
My stash is for going through when I have no ideas.
I donated some extra beads to the local elementary school’s art department. They were thrilled. Our “junk” can be a landscape or mosaic to some budding 7-year-old artist. Support your local schools!
I have thought about having $1.00 grab bags of beads at my next yard sale. I figured I would take the time to actually go through my huge stash and put together coordinating colors, so the buyer would have everything they would need for a necklace. If I end up doing this, I will leave feedback on how it went.
after over 20 yrs of making jewelry, my garage was overtaken by beads! i started selling some stuff on etsy and now whenever i buy new beads for my designs, i buy a few extras to sell. it helps feed the bead monster in me!
I also give a good deal of supplies to charities. That sounds like a good idea for another blog post.
I never have a problem unloading from my stash. In fact, it has helped me transition into metal clay because I just reinvest the bead money into clay and tools. I do generally sell at wholesale or below because that’s what I paid originally, but I am also advertising for free and charge them actual shipping so there is no other cost for me to recoup. I use the yahoo groups beadsandmoreclassifieds and beadsforsale to advertise.
I love that many of you fellow beaders have suggested donating your “unwanteds”, especially Cara’s idea of donating to your local school. The art teacher in the elementary school I work in is always grateful of my donations (from yarn to yogurt cups). I used to make greeting cards and if I was empty-handed in the creativity department, I would limit myself to three colors plus a neutral. I’ve tried something similar to that idea with beading and have found a few “new-to-me” ideas or creations. Give it a go! *Enjoy*
I haven’t de-stashed yet, as I’ve hardly accumulated enough beads to even consider doing such a thing. But I frequently buy beads from de-stash accounts, so I figured that perhaps hearing from a de-stash buyer might shed new light on the topic, for those who are interested in selling.
Personally, instead of buying from suppliers (which I also do, but can’t often afford to do), I enjoy browsing around for de-stash accounts.
When I do, I look for a de-stash seller that is going to give me the most value for my money. 90 glass beads for 1.75? I’m all over that kind of stuff, as long as I’m interested in the beads. My stash is rather small, so I’m usually looking for more beads, in more colors, more shapes, and more sizes. I want all these things, for cheaper than I would pay purchasing from a beading supplier.
Assuming you’ve kept a rough estimation of how much those beads cost you, you probably want to come out of the de-stash transaction with a little more than you spent. Cheap bulk pricing is not for everyone’s bead stash, I’m sure.
Bead mixes are one of my favorite things to purchase. I love it when beads are grouped by color and then I’m offered different sizes and shapes within a color family. Additionally, mixes from a de-stash generally provide me with “just enough.” I purchased a two-color mix of grey and black 4mm and 6mm bicones this weekend. This purchase beat the heck out of spending $7.00 for 100 black bicones, and $7.00 for 100 grey bicones. Right now, I don’t need to augment my stash with 200 dark-colored bicones, and I only spent 2.00 to get 75 beads. If I needed over 100 of those beads, I’d purchase from the same mix again, assuming that it was still listed.
Also, purchasing from a de-stash allows me to try out a new size, shape, material, or style of bead without committing to buying a bulk-size order of it… or spending a lot of money just to get a meager strand of it.
I’m not sure what other buyers look for, but I look for these things.
People out there -do- purchase from de-stash shops. The question is, how quickly do you need the money that you want to make from a de-stash? No one can guarantee that you’ll sell any of your beads right away, if at all, which Tammy mentioned in her post.
Personally, I think that donating your spare beads is a wonderful thing - money is hard to come by in today’s economy, and if your beads can help a charity or children’s program, it’s a rewarding feeling. Swapping allows you to mix up your bead stash, and maybe trade off that 15-year-old strand for some new and exciting beads that you’ll actually use.
However, if you’re really interested in selling your extras, it can’t hurt to try, can it? If you try to de-stash on Etsy, the worst that can happen is that you lose 20 cents on your listing if no one has purchased your beads within four months. If you’re posting a de-stash opportunity in your own blog, it’s free. Perhaps try listing one or two de-stash items to see if there’s interest, and then branching out from there if you make a sale? Again, my perspective is limited, as I’ve yet to feel that my stash needs to be cleaned.
Just thought it would help to let other beaders know that there ARE people out there who are always looking to make a purchase from someone’s de-stash, because de-stashes are the things that keep broke beginner beaders like myself going.
When I do shows, I also set up a table for the kids to make stretchy bracelets for $1.00. This goes over really big and my stash of unused beads happily disappears! My husband mans the table and ties and glues the knots. He loves it too!
What I have done to “de-stash” is pass them on to my 14 yr.old neice. I started working with beads, making jewelry 3 yrs. ago, and have given my neice things along the way. It has helped with her creativity. This past year in High School Art Class, she got an A+ on her design and creation. She finished her project before the others in her class, so the teacher gave sterling wire to work with. (they had been working with copper). Her teacher was very impressed with that next project and it was featured in the Art Fair. She even makes some extra money making eyeglass holders for the teachers! SO I would recommend passing forward some of that “stash”….you never know who you will inspire….better yet, you may be inspired!!
I like the idea of donating beads. Another place to donate would be non-profit organizations.
After I began treatment for breast cancer, it was difficult to do much. One thing I could do was go to my area Gilda’s Club. They offer support for those with cancer, their families & friends. They do this thru lectures, pot-lucks, plays, someone to talk to, entertainment & classes to learn new things. They are run thru an all volunteer base. This is done without cost to their members. Groups like this need donations of all sorts (including enthusiastic folks to lead the classes!)
Gilda’s Club has many locations. You can look them up at: gildasclub.com
I had wanted to learn beading since I was small & was amazed at the beaded American Indian souvenirs picked up for us. Classes, along with the cost of materials seemed out of my reach. When I saw this class was on the list at Gilda’s, I signed up. The class was led by a gal who shared her beading knowledge with us. We would see the same people wk after wk, & sometimes someone new would stop in. I got to meet a group of people with varied personalities. We shared beading supplies & stories. It’s a super place to help keep up your spirits …. & sometimes giving/getting advice about finding needed resources. I learned a lot in those classes! After 2 yrs I am a beading enthusiast with quite a supply of my own started!!! LOL
As with Schools, Senior Centers & Nursing homes, these places are always in need of supplies too! If not a Gilda’s club, perhaps you can find some other support group to donate to in some way.
PS: Just wanted to add, everything at Gilda’s is FREE! Even the supplies … however, if you have supplies of your own, you can bring them, too!
It’s the perfect place to be in order to forget for a few min all the trauma your going thru.
A couple of years ago I donated a ton of beads and stones to St.Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
They were so appreciative, as the kids - particularly the older ones- love to make jewelry.
Why not make your stash available to others and help a charity at the sametime. Some of my best junque jewelry stash finds have come from a second hand store that benefits our local medical clinic and I wouldn’t hesitate to give them some of my extras.
-Sue