Anna Bremner, Jewelry Designer

Now on Newbury street

2005-09-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

I'm very happy to share that my jewelry is now being sold in a new store on Newbury Street! (For those of you unfamiliar with Boston, Newbury is the city's hippest see-and-be-seen shopping street). The store, which sells sunglasses, accessories, clothing, and jewelry, is very cool and definately worth stopping by--it's called I Boutique, and is located at 251 Newbury Street.

Needless to say, I'm very excited to have my stuff there, and hope that this is the first step to a global jewelry enterprise. Or maybe just a fruitful jewelry designing future.

ALS Vegas necklace update

2005-06-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

Another really cool thing happened this week to fuel my momentum: the necklace and earrings set I donated to the ALS Vegas auction went for twice the fair market retail value I had given it. It was my favorite piece, and I was reluctant to part with it, but it was for a good cause so it was worth it. Also, it wound up going to someone I know and like, so at least it's in good hands. Of course, given my usual confidence problems, I was so worried before the auction that no one would like my work that I told my boyfriend he would have to bid on it if no one else did. Imagine my surprise as I (frequently and not so surreptitiously) wandered past the auction table to check on it, and saw that people were bidding--a lot!

I'm always shocked when someone likes what I produce. I shouldn't be admitting this in such a public forum, but then I would be leaving out a big part of the challenge of building this business if I didn't admit to the fear and the lack of confidence that comes with it. And that would be defeating the purpose of this blog.

Reinvigorated

2005-06-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

Wheeee...back on the horse after an unintentional slow down, due mostly to a busy day job.

Last week, for the first time ever, I sold my jewelry in person at a party. The party was put together by a group of designers (collectively known as SMK) launching "Beaters," a line of really cute designer "wife beater" t-shirts, and also featured the fabulous fabric flowers of She's Wicked Crafty and the adorable handbags of Megan Mary.

Needless to say, I was absolutely nervous about the prospect of standing in front of people while they looked at my work. There's something very comforting about the anonymity of the internet, and something very scary about putting yourself out there in front of people in a live setting. Thankfully, there was nothing to fear in the end. I had a blast, sold a bunch of jewelry, met some great people, and got some insight into what designs people respond best to and what price points work.

ALS Vegas (or: Mixing business with business)

2005-05-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

At last--mixing my day job with my, er, night job (?). Donating a piece to another charity event, but this time one that I am on the planning committee for as part of my day job (and b/c it's a fun event for a cause that is close to my heart--but then my day job is all about working on causes that are close to my heart. Lucky me.)

The event is going to be a wild night of casino action, celebrity atheletes, auctions, coctails, dancing, and Vegas-style fun, all to benefit several ALS related efforts. It's being held at Gillette stadium (of Superbowl winning Patriots fame), and is going to be a blast. Also the name is cool: ALS Vegas: What happens here . . . goes to a cure. www.alsvegas.com. Tickets are still available, but they're going fast!

Thinking of hiring Philip Marlowe for answers

2005-04-14T22:31:00.000-07:00

I think that "line sheets" may be the most closely guarded secret on the internet. Though referred to constantly on jewelry designer and independent artisan websites, I have yet to get my hands on an example of a line sheet, or at the very least a thorough description of what one is supposed to look like. I know I'm not alone, as I get numerous emails from other jewelry designers with exactly the same questions I have.

Everyone I speak to knows the basics of what a line sheet should include: pictures of your pieces with all the information a buyer would need to know--price, description, materials used, and so on. What mystifies me are the details, for example: whether there is a specific standard layout that is expected; how big and detailed the pictures should be; what kind of product description is appropriate; how many pieces should appear on each page, and so forth.

I wonder if maybe there is no special secret. Maybe a line sheet can take any form, as long as it provides the right kind of information in a form that is easily readable and readily accessible to buyers. Any insight would be much appreciated!

More cause related jewelry

2005-04-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of requests to donate jewelry to auctions, which I am always very flattered to receive. I wish I could donate a piece to everycharity that asks for one, but sadly that's not possible. So I've been choosing the causes that feel the strongest about, and hope that I can find some other way to contribute to the others. Maybe down the line when I can afford it more, I'll be able to donate a piece to all of them!

I recently donated a piece to a great organization in Boston, Jane Doe Inc. (www.janedoe.org), The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. Take a look at their web site to learn more about them.

Keeping the momentum

2005-04-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've posted, which seems to be a recurring theme for me these days. It's hard to find the time to do everything I need to do to build my jewelry business, which is, needless to say, very frustrating. Getting external reinforcement gives me confidence to keep moving forward, so lack of activity on my part and resulting lag in external reinforcement create an unfortunate confidence zapping cycle. I've been trying not to let it psyche me out, and keep in mind that my neuroses tend to be my worst enemy. If I can conquer them, I'm way ahead of the battle.

My goal for the week is to finish making line sheets (anyone with any advice on linesheets is welcome--or rather, urged--to write to me about it!), a press kit, and call a few of my target retail stores. I hope to post again soon with news that these are done.

Creative bartering: worth it's weight in gold,

2005-03-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited about a really cool opportunity. A talanted photographer by the name of Tom Blakely, www.tbphotographic.com, who saw one of my craigslist postings is going to use my jewelry in his series of black and white old-Hollywood style portraits. What I have seen so far in the series is really beautiful--classic, elegant, creative, seductive--and I am so thrilled that he's going to integrate some of my pieces into it!

This will be a great benefit to both of us: I will have some beautiful pictures that show my jewelry that I can use on my materials, and he will get exposure through a new audience. Very cool stuff.

Jewelry for a good cause

2005-02-22T19:56:00.000-08:00

I'm donating a necklace to charity for a cause that is close to my heart: ALS research. An organization I used to work for is having a silent auction, put together by one of their many wonderful supporters. I'm really happy that I can do something with this that contributes to a good cause!

A little background on business so far

2005-02-20T18:41:00.000-08:00

After years of designing jewelry and telling everyone that one day I would make it a business, I finally made good on my promises in December of 2004. I launched a website, which also features the work of my good friend Carla, and sent an email blast to everyone I knew asking them to look at the site and pass the link on to anyone they thought might like it.

Launching in the begining of December turned out to be great timing. I got lots of orders from people buying presents, and, thanks to my wonderfully supportive friends, family, and boyfriend, word spread. After a little break over the holidays, I was back in January saturating the internet (most notably CraigsList) with postings urging people to go to the site.

I continue to get orders from people all over the country, and am blown away everytime it happens. I have always loved designing jewelry, making jewelry, and seeing others wear it. The idea that someone on the other side of the country is wearing something I made is amazing to me. What has been equally exciting that I have been approached by a few retailers expressing interest in carrying some of my pieces, and an art gallery (Canvas Alley Gallery) that is currently featuring my work.

In addition to orders, I have been receiving some wonderful emails from people expressing their support and interest, and in some cases, suggesting working together on various creative projects. I am incredibly excited by some of these opportunities, and, at the risk of sounding repetitive, am blown away by the idea that these talanted people are interested in working with me.

That brings us basically up to date. Right now I am working on linesheets and presskits, with a plan to seriously approach retail buyers next, and fashion media (read: magazines) after that. Needless to say I am overwhelmed with how much I don't know yet, and am taking things step by step so that I can learn as much as possible, and try to do things right. I can't help dreaming in fast-forward, however, and imagining silly scenarious of great success. I am having the time of my life with this, and can't wait to see what comes next.

First Post

2005-02-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

When I launched my jewelry line it was suggested by many that I put a bio up on my website right away on the grounds that it would put a story behind a name, and would make people feel more comfortable ordering online knowing there was a human at the other end of the internet void. Some of these people urged me to take a step further and create a blog so that I could share the ongoing story of getting a jewelry design business off the ground. Based on the curiosity that I myself have of other website and/or small business owners, and on the benefit of recurring traffic to my site, I can see that keeping a blog of my experiences on this endeavor is a neat idea. So here I am.

The purpose of this blog will be to share with anyone interested in reading it the highs, lows, ideas, and questions that come about as I go from relative obscurity to (one can only dream) world renowned jewelry designer.