Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven A Barben.
Hi Steven A, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My father and I started a rock, mineral, crystal, gem and jewelry gift shop in the University Mall in Orem, Utah in the early 90’s. It was relatively successful for 4 years. While spending much of my time in the shop, I learned to make sterling silver and gold filled wire wrapped pendants and sold them with all of the other items in the store. In 1994 the mall began renovations to improve the appearance of the mall and its shops. However, none of the shop owners understood, until renovations were finished, that the costs would passed on to mall tenants (store/shop owners). When in 1995 contracts came up for renewal, we discovered that if we wanted to continue selling in the mall, our rent would be tripled for approximately the same store space and we would be required to build a new storefront for approximately $30,00.00, or we could rent a small kiosk, about a tenth of the size of our then current store area for about the same rate as we were paying. This was unacceptable, so we closed our store at the end of May, 1995.
Most of the inventory, my father took to southern Utah where he started another rock and jewelry gift shop. I kept many of the small stones, crystal, fossils, etc. that I could wire wrap and simply held onto them while I worked various jobs and went back to school at Brigham Young University. In 2014, with encouragement from my wife, I decided to return to wire wrap jewelry making and start an online store to sell them, so this is where I am today, and happy to be doing it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with many businesses, consistency is most difficult to find. There are many highs and lows, sometimes many sales, sometimes few, but we’ve learned to expect this and balance the income accordingly. The first few years, especially the first two were most difficult. I made many wire wrapped pieces and listed them for sale, but it took over a year and a half before making the first sale. We learned from other sellers online, that it is actually quite normal, as because of online fraud, deception, and fake sellers; customers don’t often trust new online stores until they have been in business for at least a year, nevertheless, hoping and waiting is a real challenge. After the first sale, sales have increased quite steadily.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My wire wrap methods and styles are my own. I didn’t learn them from books, mentors, or lessons of any kind. I developed my own art and craft from my own experimentation and experience. I predominantly use sterling silver and 14/20 gold filled wire, but not exclusively, some pieces are in bronze, and a few in solid 14k gold. I also specialize in finding rare and unusual and often very unique stones, crystals, fossils, etc., that other jewelers and wire wrappers don’t make into jewelry or offer to the public. Although I have purchased many of these from trade shows and gem dealers, many others I have taken from start to finish; found, broken or cut, and polished myself. This has given me a unique niche.
Currently I make most of the items I sell. My wife is also part of the business and supports me in doing much of the paperwork and financial side of the business. Additionally, we buy and sell some already finished jewelry, and sell some consigned jewelry for my father-in-law, a retired jeweler; and I have also written a book “Wisdom’s Way: Tales, Treasures, Truths” that is also available at our online store.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Most of what I have done to learn about selling, networking, etc., has been found simply by asking the online community what has worked for them, and listening to people who have given suggestions, even without my asking. I have found that many other online sellers are happy to help and give advice, especially to sellers who are not directly competing with them. Most important is to listen and learn from advice given. Most suggestions are not criticism, even if some of them seem to be; rather they are usually good advice. Often selling online or otherwise doesn’t work the way we may think it should and care should be taken to not be offended by perceived criticism, but rather just to learn from and about what others are saying or doing. That doesn’t always mean to do exactly what others may suggest, but to at least consider suggestions and advice as options, or changes that could benefit one’s own efforts.
Pricing:
- Pricing should be reasonable
- Don’t underprice your product by trying to compete with India, China, mass manufactured items, or large department stores.
- Don’t overprice your product beyond a value that a typical buyer for your kind of product would consider
- Remember that handmade craft and art is more valuable than basic mass produced products.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jemelww.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jemelww/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jemelww
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-barben-78365613/
- Twitter: https://x.com/jemelww
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JemelGems
