Advice for New Beadmakers:

Selling Lampwork Beads on Ebay

Many new lampwork beadmakers hope to recover the money they have invested into lampwork bead supplies and equipment, so they want to sell their beads as soon as they are made.  New lampworkers often see sellers such as Kim Neely (Bluff Road Art Glass) selling bead sets for over $2,000, and they want a piece of the action.  I know that’s what I thought when I was a beginner!  

After making lampwork beads for over 6 years, I can easily say with conviction that unless you are extraordinarily gifted and can make incredibly stunning  beads as a "newbie", selling your beginner lampwork beads is not a great idea, for several reasons:

1. 1.  Your artistic reputation will be built on beads that you will likely not be proud of a year down the road. 
2. 2.  Chances are high that, after listing fees and supply expenses, you will probably not even break even selling your beginner beads.
3. 3.  It can be difficult to raise prices, and as you feel your skill level is improving, your customers (who are used to buying your beginner beads) are going to resist your efforts to increase your prices.

The best way to make a great impression when you first start selling your lampwork glass beads is to wait until your skill level is such that you can compete with the established bead artists.  That isn't to say that you have to be excellent, or even great.  Just wait until you can honestly say your beads are "good" - whatever that means to you.  If you wait to sell your beads until you are a more developed artist, you will not have to worry about raising your prices, because the demand for your beads will bring you a lot of customers.