Criteria for Evaluating Jewelry Sales Platforms
The global jewelry market will reach an astounding $310.90 billion in 2024. This is good news if you are in the jewelry-selling business because it means there is a strong target market to sell to and buy from.
That said, an aspect of jewelry sales that will receive laser focus this year is jewelry marketplaces or jewelry sales platforms. With the sheer number of options available, you must choose the right online platform to sell jewelry. If you are still searching for the best site to sell jewelry, consider the following factors:
Reputation and Trustworthiness
The most important thing to establish when looking at the best places to sell jewelry online is whether a platform has a good reputation and can be trusted. Jewelry pieces are big-ticket items. If you sell them on a less-than-stellar platform, you run the risk of fraudulent transactions, which can cost you big time in the long run.
You want to sell your jewelry on well-known sites like Etsy and Amazon Marketplace, where buyer confidence is high and transactions are always secure. Moreover, platforms like these follow ethical business practices, which is critical for the jewelry industry.
Selection and Variety of Jewelry
The platform you choose must have a target audience that aligns with yours. For instance, if you sell on Etsy, buyers expect unique items, while Amazon caters to a wider variety of demands. Therefore, if you produce bulk or mass jewelry, Amazon is the way to go. If you handmake all your pieces, Etsy is a better option.
Pricing and Value
Read up on every platform’s fee structure. Some may charge commission percentages, while others have high transaction fees. Consider how this will cut into your bottom line, and price your jewelry accordingly.
Also, choose a platform that allows you to set your prices and offer discounts. If there are limitations on pricing, you will find it challenging to maintain your profit margins. And you will not be able to offer your customers more value for their money.
Customer Service and Support
All online platforms suffer technical difficulties at some point. Evaluate your chosen platform’s customer service options and look for reviews focusing on response times. Ideally, you want 24/7 technical support. The platform should also offer a transparent dispute resolution process protecting your business and customers.
How To Sell Jewelry Online
If you have never tried to sell your jewelry online, there are a lot of other factors to consider besides choosing a platform. Finding the best place to sell jewelry and making the most of its features relies on the following steps:
Decide On the Pieces You Want To Sell
Do you want to sell wedding jewelry or costume jewelry? Do you cater to modern buyers or those looking to buy vintage pieces? Are your jewelry items made with precious or semi-precious stones? These are crucial questions to answer before you even start looking for an online sales platform.
Gather Inspiration From Online Jewelry Stores
Decide what you want your online jewelry store to look like by getting inspiration from existing jewelry stores. Observe how these stores promote jewelry and what their home design looks like. Scroll through their seasonal or holiday-inspired collections and see if they have virtual try-on features.
More importantly, look at their shopping cart and check-out page for user-friendly design ideas. See if you can find the same pages and information in mobile view or if they have an app. You can use these ideas to create your own online store.
Build your Feature Wishlist
Use what you have learned from other websites to write down a list of features you want for your jewelry store. For example, you may want to display your five-star reviews on the home page. Or include real-life stories of weddings and other celebrations where people wore your jewelry. On the technical side, you should list a one-page check-out option, discount codes, and mobile responsiveness as must-haves.
Decide Whether To Expand Your Development Team
Can you afford to build the platform yourself? Do you have the technical skills and knowledge to do it? If not, you should consider hiring a development team. If you are not planning to build an online store but want to sell on existing platforms like eBay and Etsy, you don’t need a team.
Consider Whether You Need Shipping Options
If you cater to a local market, you may not need a shipping option. It may be sufficient to store inventory in a local storage facility and drop off orders yourself. If you want to expand, however, you should consider partnering with a warehouse and drop shipper.
Select a Third-party E-commerce Platform
If you decide on a third-party e-commerce platform, choose one with reliable software and various security measures. Ensure that you understand how the backend and front end of the platform work so you can upload products and make changes whenever you need to.
Whether you choose Shopify or WooCommerce, the platform should be scalable to accommodate more products, be compliant with the regulations in your area, and provide all the solutions you need to sell jewelry online.
Build Your Integration Ecosystem
When you have all these steps down, you can create a platform that runs on integration. You need a solid payment processor like PayPal or Stripe. You also need management software that allows you to keep track of your inventory.
A CRM system can help you store customer data and market new products. Verification software helps streamline check-out processes. Your online platform must accept these components to ensure a memorable customer experience.
Establish Your Customer Service Foundation
Your customer service is as important, if not more important, as the platform you choose to work with. Whether you find the best place to sell used jewelry online or design the best app to sell jewelry, it will not mean anything if your customer service is lacking.
Create a dedicated FAQ section covering everything from types of jewelry to dispute resolution. Also, invest in a chatbot so your customers get responses even if you are away.
Build the Human Side Of Your Business Operations
As your business grows, you cannot rely on technology alone. Get human assistance by employing the best people in various departments. These include marketing, customer service, technical operations, and revenue.
Top Jewelry Sales Platforms
There are several top jewelry sales platforms to choose from in 2024, depending on your requirements. These include the following:
eBay
eBay allows ongoing product promotion to its 159 million active buyers. You can list your jewelry items within minutes and start getting inquiries. This platform is great for expensive jewelry (authentic) and a first stop for many buyers looking for fine jewelry. The platform also offers an auction feature.
Amazon Handmade
E-retailers love Amazon Handmade because the platform makes it easy to build and promote jewelry. It offers access to FBA, seller and buyer protection, and excellent brand awareness. The platform is user-friendly, which is great for first-time users.
Shopify
Shopify is a scalable cloud-based e-commerce platform. It offers users the ability to customize their jewelry website using a custom code. The platform integrates with several other apps and services so you can handle sales, accounting, and shipping on one interface. Shopify also offers a built-in shopping cart and payment processor.
The RealReal
The RealReal is the first choice for many jewelry sellers because it has a presence in more than 60 countries and boasts a speedy selling process. The platform also offers free shipping for curbside pickups and incredible product diversity.
Walmart Marketplace
Walmart may not be your first thought when it comes to jewelry sales. However, it is one of the fastest-growing digital marketplaces in the U.S. The best part is the company handles delivery, so you can list your products and sell them without worrying about delivery logistics.
Facebook Marketplace
Even after 20 years, Facebook is still a leading social media platform globally. Its online Marketplace is popular with users and will make it easy to introduce people to your jewelry collections. When you list your jewelry on Facebook Marketplace, it automatically appears in front of users looking for jewelry. You can also run ads to promote your pieces to a wider audience.
Ruby Lane
Ruby Lane is similar to Etsy, specializing in jewelry and other sales. However, with Ruby Lane, you must pay a monthly fee to list your products on the site. You also pay a commission on sales and must have more than ten qualifying items before you can start selling. It is a good place to sell high-return items, so it may be a viable option for you to start selling your jewelry.
Bonanza
If you have a WooCommerce-based online store, you will find it effortless to design a jewelry booth within the Bonanza platform. Within the booth, you can highlight the products you want to sell, making it visible to Bonanza buyers. Bonanza is excellent for local jewelry sales and discount campaigns, too.
Etsy
The Etsy platform has nearly 100 million active users and is one of the most popular platforms for selling handmade or vintage jewelry. Etsy has a good reputation, a built-in ads platform, and a user-friendly dashboard that allows you to list products and manage stock.
Worthy
If you sell diamond rings, consider the Worthy platform. Worthy is a fine jewelry auction site with a strong reputation for trustworthiness and reliability. The platform offers free IGI reports, free shipping, and jewelry insurance. Just remember that the product value must exceed $1000 before you can list jewelry items on Worthy.
Squarespace
Squarespace will work well for you if you want to create a jewelry website without paying a developer. You can use the drag-and-drop option to create a website, add a shopping cart, and payment processing. The platform is highly scalable, but you may need to pay more as your sales increase.
Sears
Sears has a 125-year retail history counting in its favor. The company introduced its online selling platform in 2014 and offers a secure platform to sell high-margin products. Currently, this platform is available to U.S. sellers only, which lessens the competition.
Magento
Magento offers an open-source selling platform capable of handling a lot of traffic and sales. You can use it to configure your products and customize your platform for ease of use. Magento is slightly more challenging than Shopify and WordPress, so you may need to hire a developer to scale your website as your business grows.
Overstock
Overstock offers a platform with millions of potential buyers. This auction site specializes in expensive and classic jewelry and discounts are popular, too. It offers an included fulfillment service, so you do not have to worry about delivery.
Cash For Gold
If your jewelry is made from gold or platinum, you can sell it on Cash for Gold. The difference, however, is that you are not selling to buyers but to the website. Cash for Gold offers cash for all types of jewelry (even old jewelry) and has a fast and transparent payment process.
Tips for Buying and Selling Jewelry Online
When you have decided on which platform you want to buy or sell jewelry, it is crucial to keep the following tips and strategies in mind:
Do Extensive Research
Stay on top of jewelry trends and online buying preferences by reading blogs, articles, and online libraries. This way, you will ensure that your sales approach and products align with what buyers want. By staying updated on jewelry sales trends and techniques, you can also attract more customers and grow your business.
The same goes for you if you want to buy jewelry. Knowing which jewelry and buying trends are hot will allow you to buy the most desirable pieces and get a valuable discount.
Authenticity and Certification
If you are buying jewelry, always ask for professional certification that proves authenticity. Never fall for deals that seem too good to be true. When selling, you must have accurate descriptions and photos of your jewelry and be transparent about imperfections.
You must also have the necessary certification on hand for fine and precious jewelry. Customers also appreciate proof of authenticity, so such documents may come in handy for making sales.
Understanding Return Policies
Before you buy anything, including jewelry, review the company’s return policy. This includes the return window, who pays for return shipping, and return limitations. Selling jewelry means you have to state your return policy on each product listing. Be sure to offer a reasonable return window to build trust with buyers.
Negotiation Strategies
Not everyone allows negotiation on jewelry, but if you find a platform that does, negotiate a reasonable price. Stand firm with your offer, if possible, if you know that similar pieces have sold for that price. If you decide to offer negotiations as part of your sales strategy, be prepared for wildly reduced offers. However, stick to the lowest price offer and consider offering additional discounts where feasible.
Sell More Jewelry With Podium
At Podium, we know that selling jewelry requires a delicate balance between attracting the right customer and selling in-demand pieces. This is why we have designed a system to help you attract more leads than ever before and convert more sales.
We offer textable review invites that result in more foot traffic. Podium is dedicated to getting you 2x more reviews per month and a more than 30% increase in online inquiries about your physical store. If you sell exclusively online, our Website Leads system will send valuable customer information directly to your Podium inbox. And you can connect with them faster using our AI-powered solutions.
You can even send payment links using our texting feature or turn your phone into a card reader with Tap to Pay. Experience the Podium difference today by asking for a demo here.
