Turning Your Jewelry Into a Market-Ready Practice
By: Lyndsey Rieple with Springs Jewelry Studio

A little context before we begin:

My first market was Hot Dog Day weekend at Alfred University in 2008. I sold out of almost everything — and that one day changed the direction of my life. I took a year off college, worked a few jobs, and made jewelry. That was 18 years ago.

Since then I've done markets during college, after college, while traveling, and through every season of building a business. I've gone from making a couple hundred dollars at a market to close to $2,000 — and that shift didn't happen because I got luckier or made fancier things. It happened because I got more deliberate.

I've asked other vendors what their sweet spot price is. I've studied markets from the inside. I've learned from mentors and from people who have nothing to do with jewelry but everything to do with running a business. All of that is in here.

This is a framework for how to think like a business person who makes and sells art — not an artist who happens to be selling.

Selling at markets isn’t just about making pieces and putting them out there. It’s about creating a small, focused group of designs, sharing them with people, and paying attention to what happens next. Think of it like a learning lab alongside the “yippees!” of selling your work. 

First: Build a Business Mind

This is the part most people skip, and it's the reason most people quit too soon.

A business mind doesn't mean you stop being an artist. It means you get curious instead of precious. It means you treat each market like information, not just income. It means you can have a slow day and not take it personally — because you're watching, adjusting, and playing a longer game than one Saturday.

The makers who have the most fun at markets — and make the most money over time — are the ones who stopped waiting to feel ready and started treating the whole thing like a practice.

You don't need to have it figured out. You need to show up, pay attention, and not be entitled about your art. Nobody is obligated to buy your work. That's actually the most freeing thing about markets once you let it land — because it puts the creative power back in your hands.

Your first market isn't about selling out. It's about learning what your work does in the world.


OK, let’s get started.

1. Build a Small, Cohesive Group

Start with:

  • Making multiples of the same design and differentiating ONE thing. Examples include: the same earrings in different patterns; the same circle necklace in different sizes; the same ring in different stones. 

  • A shared theme or design vibe. Booths that do well have an immediate cohesiveness to them. 

These concepts help people understand your work quickly and gives you clearer feedback.

👉 Cohesion makes your work easier to see and respond to.

2. Use the Market as a Lab

Bring your work, then observe:

  • what gets picked up

  • what do people linger on

  • what questions do they ask- if it’s on repeat, that’s your queue to make a sign. 

Each market gives you information you can use in your next round of making.

👉 You’re gathering insight, not just aiming for sales. This helps you, and it invites your customer to be a PART OF your work; not APART FROM you. 

3. Notice the Difference Between Interest and Sales

Pay attention to:

  • Pieces people admire

  • Pieces people purchase

Both are useful signals. Over time, you’ll learn how they relate to each other in your work.

👉 This helps you refine both design and pricing.

4. Choose Markets with Some Knowledge

Know a bit about:

  • Who runs the event and does she know his/her clientele

  • What the clientele engages with and is looking for

  • Do you like the market’s energy?

If possible, visit first and see how it feels.

👉 The right environment supports your work.

5. Price with Clarity

Consider:

  • Materials + time

  • A margin that feels sustainable

  • Perceived value

Your pricing is part of how people understand your work. Keep it consistent and easy to follow.

>>Pricing: Have a range. My pricing was based on similar booths I saw do well. Consider an average sale as $35-$50, with a slightly above average sale of $75 with a smattering of over $125 sales. There are always exceptions. Someone who makes a killer $18 leather cuff might have the perfect item + price point for their customer while my customer is pleased spending $50 on sterling/brass earrings. 

👉 Clear pricing builds confidence and helps your work land the way you intend.

6. Start with What You Have

You don’t need a perfect booth to begin. You’ll learn more as you go. 

If you have:

  • a table

  • a cloth

  • a few simple stands

you’re ready for a market.

The goal is not to have it all figured out—it’s to begin and improve as you go. We all feel sheepish at first. 

👉 Don’t let perfection stand in the way of getting your work in front of people.

7. Make It Easy to Buy

Have:

  • a digital payment option (Venmo, Square, etc.)

  • cash for small transactions

  • a simple way to track what sells

👉 Ease of purchase supports momentum.

8. Adjust Between Markets

After each market, reflect:

  • What sold?

  • What drew attention?

  • What felt strong or unclear?

Use that information to guide what you make next.

👉 Small adjustments over time create stronger work. 

9. Simple Things That Make a Difference

  • Stand and engage with your work>>people respond to presence

  • Use clear signage>>it’s okay to repeat yourself

  • Bring bags or boxes for purchases

  • Have a way to stay in touch>> a card with your Instagram, a sign-up sheet, or a QR code to your shop 

👉 Small details support the overall experience of your work.

Remember, it’s important to notice:

  • What people buy vs.

  • What people respond to or compliment

Those are often different.

When you treat the market like a place to observe and adjust, your work starts to clarify. Over time, you’ll see patterns emerge—what connects, what holds attention, and what people choose to take home.

👉 The market can become a tool for refining your work, not just a place to sell it.

Bottom Line

Bring a small body of work. Pay attention to what happens. Let that shape what you make next.

You could say, this is a certain type of fun with a little more skin in the game- consistency is key- you got this!

Resources I have used:

Books: I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Remit Sethi/ The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Your Local: Small Business Development Centers/ Libraries: Grant and Funding Workshops/ Small Business Startup Hours (free)

Mentors: SCORE (free)

Apps: The Every Dollar budgeting app (free)/ Photoshop Express (free)/ Relens (free)

Podcasts: How I Built This (free)