How To Sell Jewelry Online

Introduction

Whether you’re an individual or are an established vintage and antique jewelry dealer, the online jewelry market offers exciting opportunities to reach a global audience with your unique pieces.
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But with so many platforms, online jewelry marketplaces, and other considerations - where do you even begin?

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from deciding if online sales are right for you to finding the perfect platform to sell your jewelry and tips on how to get started.

Why You Should Sell Jewelry Online

Selling vintage and antique jewelry online unlocks several enticing benefits:

1. Wider Audience: Expand beyond your local community and connect with passionate collectors worldwide. Reach buyers from all over the world actively searching for unique, historical pieces.
2. Convenience and Flexibility: Sell from the comfort of your home, manage your inventory and listings at your own pace, and easily fit it into your schedule.
3. Diverse Options: Choose from established online marketplaces, set up your own website, or explore a combination of both strategies. The internet gives you the freedom to run your business in a way that best suits your comfort level and goals.
4. Potential for Higher Profits: Selling jewelry online requires very little overhead. Your biggest expenses will be packaging, shipping, and insurance costs. If you decide to sell on marketplaces, one other cost to consider is the commission fee marketplaces take for each sale. However, to offset the costs of selling on marketplaces, you can use custom pricing and mark-up your jewelry to maximize your profits. (Don’t worry, we will cover the best marketplaces for selling jewelry and their fees in this article).

How to Start Selling Jewelry Online?

Organize All of Your Jewelry

Before venturing into the online marketplace, take the time to meticulously organize your jewelry collection. Sorting items by category, style, and condition will streamline inventory management.

Write down your costs and decide on the selling price. Do a little research beforehand by going to different marketplaces and searching for similar jewelry. This can help you understand your pricing strategy.

If you already know which marketplaces you want to sell on, consider their seller fees and decide if you are going to mark up your products accordingly.

Write Down All the Specifications

Create a comprehensive list of specifications for each piece, including materials, diamonds, stones, carat weights, measurements, historical significance, and any additional unique features that make them stand out.

The more information you can gather about your jewelry, the more detailed your product listings and descriptions will be.

Whether you’re considering selling on your own website or on online marketplaces, including as many relevant details as possible will make it easier for buyers to find your jewelry, understand what makes it unique, and make a decision.

Write Detailed Product Descriptions

Craft compelling and informative product descriptions, highlighting the story, historical context, and notable characteristics of each piece. Detailed descriptions engage potential buyers and help them connect with the jewelry on a personal level.

Be sure to weave creativity, history, and technical specifications into your product descriptions.

Take Great Jewelry Photos

Good quality photographs are instrumental in attracting customers. Invest in a decent camera or smartphone with a high-resolution camera and take clear, well-lit photos from multiple angles. Photographing your jewelry in natural light with clear close-ups will help its intricacies and beauty.

Include images of any hallmarks, stamps, or engravings to help authenticate the vintage or antique nature of the pieces.

Check out this blog post for a detailed guide on how to take the best jewelry photos.

The Best Marketplaces to Sell Your Jewelry Online

The internet offers a variety of online marketplaces to sell you jewelry. However, with so many options available, identifying the best place to sell your jewelry can be a challenge. At Uploadify, we have years of experience helping jewelers optimize their eCommerce operations.

Here's a closer look at the top five marketplaces for selling vintage and antique jewelry, as well as their strengths, what makes them unique, and their seller fee structures:

1stDibs: Luxury Aficionados & Premium Vintage

• Why it's good for jewelry: 1stDibs stands out as a premier marketplace, catering specifically to a high-end clientele interested in luxury goods, including vintage, antique, and fine jewelry. It offers a sophisticated platform that aligns with affluent buyers seeking unique and premium pieces.
• What makes it unique: 1stDibs offers a curated shopping experience with strict seller vetting and expert authentication, ensuring quality and exclusivity. Their marketing efforts target affluent buyers worldwide and they do an incredible job of driving serious buyers to their marketplace. Expensive diamond jewelry does very well on 1stDibs.
• Seller fees: While 1stDibs doesn't publicly disclose its seller fees, they typically operate on a commission-based model and have a membership fee. You will need to submit an application and go through the approval process to find out your seller fees. From our experience, the membership fees are around $500/month and commission fees can vary depending on your membership plan, ranging from 14% to 20% per sale.

Interested in selling jewelry on 1stDibs? Check out our detailed guide on how to sell jewelry on 1stdibs.

Etsy: The Secret Corner of Vintage & Antique Jewelry

• Why it's good for jewelry: Etsy is a versatile and popular platform that attracts millions of users actively seeking vintage, antique, and fashion jewelry. It offers sellers an extensive audience interested in unique, artisanal pieces for a wide range of prices. At first glance, Etsy might seem like the place that only sells artisan and handmade items. However, there’s a “secret” jewelry corner of Etsy that is filled with vintage & antique dealers consistently selling jewelry from a couple of hundred dollars to $30,000+.
• What makes it unique: Etsy fosters a community-driven atmosphere, connecting you directly with buyers who appreciate antique and vintage jewelry. Etsy's uniqueness lies in its emphasis on craftsmanship and individuality. It provides a space for sellers to connect with a global community of buyers who appreciate the stories and uniqueness behind each piece.
• Seller fees: Listing fees are very friendly for sellers. They charge a $0.20 listing fee and with a 6.5% transaction fee for each sale. You can learn more about Etsy seller fees here.

Interested in selling jewelry on Etsy? Check out our detailed guide on how to sell jewelry on Etsy.

eBay: Broad Audience & Auction Power

• Why it's good for jewelry: eBay is a well-established online auction and marketplace that offers sellers the opportunity to reach a broad and diverse audience. It brings a lot of buyers to their platform and has great discovery functionality to help buyers find your items. It also offers auction-style listings that can create excitement and competition for vintage and antique jewelry pieces.
• What makes it unique: eBay offers flexibility in selling styles, allowing you to choose between fixed-price or auction listings. You can also leverage its vast global reach to target specific international markets.
• Seller fees: eBay charges sellers for listing items, a final value fee based on the sale price, and additional fees for optional listing upgrades. The first 250 listings per month are free, then eBay charges $0.35 per listing. For jewelry, eBay charges a commission of 15% if the total amount of the sale is $5,000 or less and 9% if the total amount of the sale is over $5,000. You can learn more about eBay seller fees here.

Ruby Lane: Niche Passion & Historical Treasures

• Why it's good for jewelry: Ruby Lane is a niche platform dedicated to antiques, collectibles, and vintage items, attracting buyers specifically seeking historical and unique pieces. This makes it ideal for estate, antique, and vintage jewelry.
• What makes it unique: Ruby Lane's uniqueness lies in its focused approach, creating a curated space for buyers who specifically seek out vintage and antique types of jewelry. Sellers benefit from being part of a community that shares a passion for historical and unique items.
• Seller fees: Ruby Lane charges a $25/month maintenance fee, which will be rebated back to your account as long as you list more than 15 items each month. Ruby Lane charges a 9.9% commission fee based on Purchase Order total (excluding Sales Tax), which is capped at $250 per item. You can learn more about Ruby Lane seller fees here.

Chairish: Vintage Aesthetic & Curated Selection

• Why it's good for jewelry: Chairish is a high end online marketplace, originally focused on curated vintage home décor and furniture. However, they have recently launched their new jewelry section, making it an exciting opportunity for jewelers to join a new and growing jewelry marketplace.
• What makes it unique: Chairish's uniqueness lies in its emphasis on curation and quality. Chairish offers a high-quality and aesthetically pleasing shopping experience, attracting buyers who appreciate well-curated vintage and antique items. Its new jewelry category presents jewelers with an exciting opportunity to join a growing marketplace that hasn’t been oversaturated by competition.
• Seller fees: There are no required monthly fees or membership to sell on Chairish. Their basic program allows you to list for free and has a 22% commission rate on vintage and antique jewelry. You can learn more about Chairish seller fees here.

Remember, the best marketplace for you depends on your jewelry's unique qualities, target audience, and budget. Consider the strengths and fees of each platform to find the perfect fit for your online selling journey! To maximize your success, consider joining all the marketplaces listed above to expand your online presence and boost sales.

Managing your jewelry inventory across multiple marketplaces can be time consuming and require a lot of effort.

By using Uploadify, you can automatically upload your jewelry to 1stDibs, Etsy, Ruby Lane, eBay, and Chairish + individually mark up your products to account for the seller fees.

Uploadify will also manage your jewelry inventory and, once something sells on one marketplace, it will automatically take down your listing from all the other platforms to ensure you’re not accidentally double-selling.

Should I Build My Own Jewelry Website?

While established marketplaces offer convenience and reach, building your own website can allow you to expand your online presence with more control. But is it right for you?

When considering whether to build your own website for selling vintage and antique jewelry, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons to make an informed decision.

Pros:

• Brand Control: Complete control over your brand is invaluable. It allows you to establish a unique identity for your jewelry business, shaping how customers perceive your brand. Brand control ensures consistency in presentation, storytelling, and overall brand image, fostering trust and recognition among your customers.
• Direct Sales: Selling directly to customers eliminates third-party intermediaries, providing a direct connection between your business and your clientele. Direct sales enable you to manage customer relationships, gather valuable feedback, and tailor your offerings based on customer preferences.
• Customization: Your own website allows you to showcase the unique style, history, and craftsmanship of your vintage and antique jewelry in a way that resonates with your target audience. Customization enhances the customer experience, making your website an immersive space that reflects the essence of your jewelry pieces
• Customer Relationships: Having your own website allows you to foster deeper connections with your customers. You can build an email list, offer exclusive promotions, and create a loyalty program to nurture repeat business.
• Data and Analytics: Your own website will also provide the opportunity to gain valuable insights into your customer behavior and website performance. You can use the data to optimize your offerings and marketing strategies.

Cons:

• Marketing Challenges: Driving traffic to your website requires ongoing marketing efforts like SEO, social media, and content marketing. This can be time-consuming and require strategic expertise.
• Maintenance Costs: Setting up and maintaining your website involves costs like domain registration, hosting, website design, and platform fees.
• Technical Knowledge: Some technical know-how might be necessary, depending on the platform you choose. However, many user-friendly options require minimal technical skills.

Best Platform to Build Your Jewelry Website

Established e-commerce platforms like Shopify offer user-friendly interfaces, various customization options, and integrated payment solutions.

These platforms can be a great starting point, even for those with limited technical experience.

Why Choose Shopify to Build Your Jewelry Website

• User-Friendly Interfaces: Shopify offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, allowing sellers to set up and manage their online jewelry store with ease
• Customization Options: Shopify provides a variety of customizable templates and themes, empowering sellers to create unique and visually appealing websites that bring their jewelry to life.
• Integrations With Other Platforms: Shopify offers a variety of helpful integrations to streamline your online jewelry business. Its App store comes with a ton of helpful plugins to help you design your website, optimize SEO, and more.

Shopify also integrates with Uploadify, a jewelry inventory management and eCommerce automation platform. By using Shopify with Uploadify, you can automatically upload products from your website to online marketplaces like 1stDibs, Etsy, eBay, Ruby Lane, and Chairish.

Remember: building your own website takes dedication and effort. But for jewelers seeking complete brand control, deeper customer relationships, and long-term growth potential, it can be a sparkling investment.

Is it right for you? Consider your budget, marketing skills, and long-term business goals. If you’re looking to establish a unique online presence, building your own website can be a great way to stand out from the competition and develop your brand presence.

If you’re interested in creating a Shopify website for your jewelry business, but don’t want to deal with all the technical aspects of building your website - Uploadify offers Shopify design and development services specifically for the jewelry industry.

Whether you’re just starting out or have an existing Shopify store, our team of experts can help you optimize your website, improve design, and set up powerful automations to eliminate manual work.

Best Tools For Selling Jewelry Online

There are a number of tools and software that can help you sell your jewelry online, such as inventory management software, photo editing tools, and social media marketing tools. Investing in tools can be a great way to save time and drive sales.

Here are a few tools can streamline your online jewelry business:

• Inventory management software: Tools like Excel and Google Sheets can help you keep track of your inventory. However, consider getting a dedicated jewelry inventory management software like Uploadify to help you track inventory, manage customers, create invoices & memos, oversee all of your costs, generate accounting data, and more. Uploadify also integrates with Shopify and online jewelry marketplaces, enabling you to automatically upload products and manage your inventory across online and offline sources.
• Photo editing software: Invest in a good camera, tripod, and photo editing software to capture high-quality images that showcase your jewelry's beauty. You can use tools like Photoshop and Lightroom to edit your photos. If you’re looking for a simpler solution, use a smartphone with a good camera and apps like PhotoRoom to edit your pictures.
• Social media marketing tools: Tools like Hootsuite or Buffer can help you plan and schedule social media posts to promote your jewelry listings and engage with customers. Shopify also has connections to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to simplify social media management.
• Email marketing software: Platforms like MailChimp can help you build an email list and send targeted promotions. Shopify also comes with pre-built email marketing functionality.

How to Manage My Online Jewelry Store?

Dedicating time to consistently manage your online jewelry business is key to success.

Regularly update inventory, respond promptly to customer inquiries, and stay informed about market trends. Utilize analytics tools to track sales performance and adjust strategies accordingly.

If you’re looking to establish an online presence but don’t have the time to regularly monitor it, going the marketplaces route is your best option. Consider joining all of the jewelry marketplaces outlined in this article. Marketplaces handle all of the marketing and logistics work for you. Plus, you can use a tool like Uploadify to automatically upload your jewelry to online marketplaces, manage your inventory, and help you optimize your listings.

If you’re looking for a jewelry inventory software, read our guide on how to choose the best jewelry inventory system.

Conclusion

Selling vintage and antique jewelry online opens a world of opportunities. By following the steps in this guide, choosing the right marketplaces, and leveraging the right tools, you can establish a successful online presence for your jewelry business.

Whether you opt to sell on established marketplaces or decide to build your own website, the online realm offers a vast audience eager to discover and invest in the timeless beauty of vintage and antique jewelry.

Whether you’re just getting started with selling jewelry online or are an established seller, Uploadify can help you optimize your process and boost sales. Learn more about Uploadify for jewelry eCommerce here.