Sharma Designs - Behind the Scenes of a Handmade Jewelry Business

Baz Biz 2006

Well Baz Biz, as always, was a ton of fun.  Despite the rain, tons of people came out to shop.  I was happy because they actually put me next to Mei Lynn and Tara of Hella Good this year.  Last year we requested it and we were across from each other.  Not as much fun as right next to.

Carrie, aka shopping Carrie, helped me sell again and we had a great time.  My only complaint is that it was sooooo cold!  It was last year too and we didn't remember this little tidbit until we were setting up our booth (without our jackets).  The last half hour of the show we were just planning where we could go to get some nice warm soup.

I think attendence might have been down this year because it was pouring all day.  Rumor has it that people from LA dont like to go out in the rain.  Regardless, a bunch of them chose to and it was great.

Of course I had new jewelry for the show that isn't on the website yet.  All of the new stuff was a big hit so I was glad that I had stayed up late making it.

This was on I-5 on my drive home.  Aren't the clouds beautiful?  I took this from my car.  There was snow on the grapevine too but I didnt want to get out of my car to take the picture.  I was anxious to get home to my little munch.  Our separation is definitely harder on me than her.  She had a great weekend with my husband.  Im sure she barely noticed I was gone.

My posts will be sparse this week and next.  It's time for me to relax from Holiday sales and celebrate the Holiday!

Short Breather

You may notice the website is looking a little bare.  Well I had some pretty sucessful shows.  It was a very crazy week.  I was being show girl during the day and filling orders and re-stocking at night.  My husband was such a doll.  He entertained Bella every night and didn't complain that the house was a little messy and he was getting microwaved meals every night.  He's getting an extra big Christmas present this year.

This week promises to be just as crazy.  The orders are still flying in.  I noticed that most of my orders this weekend were from men.  What nice guys huh?  They are going to have some happy wives/girlfriends/daughters. 

Early Friday morning I am leaving for L.A.  I will be doing an office show on Friday and Bazaar Bizarre Saturday.  Please come out to Baz Biz if you are in L.A!!  I love to meet my customers.  It's so fun putting names to faces.  (That includes you Ms Sommer!)

I am so grateful for all of the orders I have received and all the sales going on right now.  That being said...I will be so relieved when the season is over.  I need to sleep.  On Saturday I slept pretty much the whole day.  Um burnout perhaps?

I'll try to post more this week.

Bazaar Bizarre and other Holiday Shows

I am so excited to announce that Sharma Designs will be at this years Bazarre Bizarre LA! It will be on December 16th at the Shrine Auditorium Expo Center. I had a great time doing this show last year and I am really looking forward to doing it again. Although I must admit that it is a little dangerous for me...all those handmade goodies under one roof!

I will also be doing a Holiday Boutique at Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale on Dec 7th and 8th. Obviously this is only good new for Lockheed Martin employees but I do have some customers that work at the credit union. I hope you ladies can make it!

The three other shows I have scheduled are home/work parties. If you live in San Jose or the surrounding cities and would like Sharma Designs to come set up a party in your office break room for a few hours let me know! It gives employees a chance to do a little holiday shopping without having to brave the malls at night or on the dreaded weekends. Personally, I won't go near a mall on the weekends after Thanksgiving. It makes me crazy!!

If you do decide to schedule a party, as the host you will make 10% of the total party sales in commission to be used towards Sharma Designs jewelry. Your coworkers will thank you and you will get some free jewelry!! What a deal! Please email me if you would like to talk about it further or set something up!

Making Dad Proud

Yesterday was the show I was busy getting ready for all weekend.  I set up a display in front of the cafeteria at Lockheed Martin.  Seems like a strange place to host a jewelry show right?

Well my dad works there.  He has for years.  He noticed awhile ago that on certain days there were vendors outside of the cafeteria at lunchtime selling their wears.  Being my biggest fan, he found out how to get me in there.  I was a little hesitant at first.  I remembered visiting Lockheed years and years ago for "Take Your Daughters to Work Day".  My impression was lots of nerdy guys with pocket protectors.  However, he swore there were lots of women that worked there too so I figured I would give it a go.

I actually had a great time.  Obviously, it is a huge company so there was a ton of foot traffic at lunchtime.  My dad sent an email to all his friends to come down and check out my jewelry. I got to meet alot of the people he works with everyday.  That may seem like no big deal but when your dad works at Lockheed you don't get to just "go visit dad at the office" or "drop by for lunch".  I had to go to a special visitors station and get a badge just to get on the campus.  So it was an unusual treat.

I have been experimenting with new display accessories and my display looked the best it has ever looked yesterday.  I wish I could show you a picture but they don't allow cameras on the campus.  You'll just have to trust me on this one.

Here is the funniest part of the day (to me at least).  The majority of the necklaces I sold were the assymetrical necklaces.  Why is that funny you ask?  Well I guess it's because I picture all Lockheed employees like my dad.  He's an engineer, super smart, and well...anal (Sorry dad but you know it's true).  If he wore jewelry it would be perfectly even and matching.  No assymetrical pieces.  Kinda like my sister actually....

So it really suprised me and made me chuckle that the assymetricals were such a hit.  My dad's theory is that maybe they are trying to break out of the routine and try something new.  Sounds like a good idea to me!

All in all a fun day.  Sometimes its good to do a show that's a little different. 

After Show Recap

Before I talk about the show let me give you an idea of my week. Both my husband and my daughter have been sick. Husband sick is not a big deal except it means that I take on more Bella responsibility but that's okay. The killer has been that she has been waking up in the middle of the night because she is coughing. Then she thinks it's playtime. I am a zombie. Between lack of sleep and trying to get stuff done for the show I was physically ill today. But I loaded up on caffiene and sudafed sinus (I may have caught what they had) and advil and went on my way.

My bf Jen came with me which is always fun. I knew that even if it wasn't a good show that I would have a good time.

It wasn't that great for me. I broke even and I handed out lots of business cards and may have made a really good contact but it's still not very fun when not alot of people are buying. Ahhh the wonderful saturated jewelry market. There was a ton of jewelry there. Most of it looked exactly the same to me. The trendy chain, minimal look. It's times like tonight when I think "I should just make that kind of jewelry. Then I would sell more at fashion shows".

But then I come to my senses and I know that I wouldn't be happy. I am not a super trendy person. Sure I like trends but I don't live and die by what is "in" and "out". I love my jewelry because it's beautiful and unique and it's me. It may not be for everyone but I am okay with that. The people that do love it become loyal customers and keep buying from me even when the trends have changed.

So I am okay with how things went. I'm tired and losing my voice. It wasn't my best show but certainly wasn't the worst. And Jen and I had a great time chatting the night away and gagging over the free Pepsi Jazz they gave us. It was also a great place to people watch.

Would I do it again? Nah. Am I sorry i did it? Nah. Am I glad that I don't have another show tomorrow night? Oh yes!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Appel and Frank Fall Fashion Fete

If you live near the San Francisco Bay Area please join us Thursday night at the Appel and Frank Fall Fashion Fete! The Show is going to be held at the Regency Center at 1270 Sutter Street and Van Ness and will go from 5:30-9:30pm.

You can find out more about the event here.

If you make it to the event please stop by and say hi. I would really love to meet you!

Party, Shopping and the Carries

What a weekend! I left Friday morning and made my way down I-5. Some people hate the 6 hour drive from Northern Cali to SoCal but I honestly have driven it so many times that I don't mind it a bit. I pop in an audio cd and armed with a Starbucks I take off driving.

Friday night I had a great jewelry party. I got to see lots of familiar faces and sold lots of jewelry! The one thing I am bummed about is that I was so busy selling and catching up that I didn't take any pictures. I even set my camera out to make sure that I would!

Saturday I picked up my B.F Carrie and we spent the day shopping in Westwood and wherever else there were stores! Carrie is my favorite person to shop with. We could spend hours in the stores and not be a bit tired. It was also nice to shop without feeling like I had to entertain the little one.

Saturday night we met up with my sister and her boyfriend for more shopping! We went to the Irvine Spectrum. That place is crowded but a ton of fun. There is live music and tons of shops and places to eat. We really closed down the shops too. My sister's boyfriend was quite the trooper. My husband would have been outta there.

Sunday I slept in (You moms know what a rare treat that is!) My husband called at 8:30 and said "Where are you?" (Meaning on the road). I said "Sleeping!" He was not happy. After Carrie (Who will now be known as Shopping Carrie - it's going to get confusing here) and I got our coffee fix we drove up north to the Palos Verdes Farmer's Market to see my other friend Carrie.....Carrie Sommer (We'll call her Handbag Carrie). I honestly just couldn't pass up the chance to see Handbag Carrie even if it was for a few minutes. And of course to see all her beautiful purses and aprons in person! There are even cuter in person. As we were leaving Shopping Carrie said "Wow! Her display is so cute! It feels like you are in a little boutique!" I couldn't agree more.

As you can see from the picture above I did score a few of her fabulous handbags. I think that brings my total to 4. How will I ever decide which one to use? I swear that Handbag Carrie moniters my thoughts as I peruse fabric websites (No I can't sew. I just like to look) because she always picks my very favorite fabrics! Every Sommer Designs handbag I have is soooo me.

So a fun weekend of shopping and friends. Could a girl ask for more? I did miss my bubbi and my husband terribly. My daughter gave me the silent treatment when I got home and almost made me cry. But we are good now. Little twerp! I guess she showed me!

Right now I am going to upload the new jewelry and I might just do a few markdowns too so be sure to check the site a little later and see what's new and newly reduced!