Are you curious about which manufacturing option is right for your jewelry brand? As you grow in business, it’s going to become challenging to do everything yourself if your want to set your jewelry business up for profitability.
Understanding the right manufacturing options for a designer can be a bit tricky. Sourcing overseas can seem like a good idea to establish better pricing for your product. But is it really a better option than sourcing or producing in the USA?
As a designer who has been sourcing and manufacturing jewelry for over 20 years, via wholesale and now as a custom jewelry designer, building a profitable brand takes a holistic strategy. Sourcing overseas MAY seem like a good idea. In fact, I’ve done it on several occasions when developing for a price point for companies like Anthropologie, Red Envelope and Bloomingdales.
However, often times things went wrong that made shipping the orders super stressful. Many things can go wrong when sourcing overseas — including product that isn’t up to quality control specs and late delivery which can make the price gap not even worth it.
Here are 3 Reasons Your Jewelry Should be Made in the USA:
1. More Control
Outsourcing production so you aren’t making everything yourself is a GREAT idea if you are trying to scale your jewelry business. Inevitably, handing over the making to someone else is going to require training on both sides. This requires letting go and teaching the other party how to make it your way.
When you source manufacturing in the USA or even better in your local community, you’ll have a lot more control over the final product. This in and of itself is ideal if you are serious about growing your brand.
2. Quicker Turnaround Time
Sourcing overseas can take months! Finding good factories can be very challenging. Lead times in overseas, out of country factories can often be in excess of 3-6 months. When you have lead times as such, your cash outlay and cash flow are directly affected.
If a factory ships late or has issues with production, you may not know until it’s too late! Late shipments put you at risk for cancelled orders and a cancelled order means you won’t get paid for that production.
3. Local Jobs and Less Impact
Manufacturing or making your jewelry in the US creates jobs, keeps jewelers working, and has less of an environmental impact. USA manufacturers operate in a much more cleaner as well. Supporting local and domestic business is good all around!
For most niche jewelry businesses, the answer for manufacturing is going to be Made in the USA. Keep it local and deliver a better product all around.
We would love to hear from you! In the comments below, answer the following:
1. Have you considered manufacturing locally? If so, where?
2. What other advantages are there for producing locally?
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