Jewelry Making Tips with Metalsmith Society
Metalsmith Society is a community on Instagram where jewelers share jewelry making tips. On this podcast Metalsmith Society founder and author Corkie Bolton discusses tips from the Instagram page, provider deeper insights, answers questions, and highlights bonus content often shared by community members in the comment section.
Jewelry Making Tips with Metalsmith Society
Biggest Challenges of Jewelers Today With Special Guest Liz Kantner
In today’s episode I will be discussing some of the challenges independent jewelers face today with special guest Liz Kantner. We chat about high gold costs, doing trade shows and social media struggles.
Liz Kantner is passionate about working with independent jewelry artists to help them define their voices and thrive in the modern marketplace and has been working with artists since 2012. Liz is the founder of Stay Gold, a community consulting program where she dedicates herself to a select roster of fine jewelry clients, nurturing them to success through digital marketing, trade show strategy, sales-driving techniques, and branding. She also helps to curate emerging brands for Luxury Lifestyle at NY NOW. She also co-hosts the podcast, Success with Jewelry.
Connect With Liz
Join the Stay Gold Collective and use promo code TRYSTAYGOLD to save 50% off your first two months!
Curated at Luxury Lifestyle at NY NOW: https://nynow.com/luxurylifestyle/
You can follow Liz in Instagram: @liz_kantner
Visit her website: lizkantner.com
Check out her podcast with Laryssa Wirstiuk: Success with Jewelry
Supporting The Podcast
Buy a Metalsmith Society Shirt
Please follow the podcast and leave a rating and review!
Join my Patreon as a supporter or with a free membership! https://patreon.com/metalsmithsociety
Follow Metalsmith Society for all the jewelry tips: https://www.instagram.com/metalsmithsociety
Music attribution: Stock Music provided by RomanSenykMusic, from Pond5
Welcome to Jewelry Making Tips with Metalsmith Society, the podcast for anyone passionate about jewelry making. I'm your host, Corkie Bolton, and on this podcast, I will discuss jewelry making tips, social media marketing, running a jewelry business, along with insights from special guests in the jewelry industry who share their expertise and stories. Whether you've been making jewelry for a while or just starting your journey, this podcast is your go-to resource. So grab your tools, dust off your workbench and join me. I am so excited, Liz, to have you today, because I've been meaning to connect with you forever.
Liz Kantner:It's been years.
Corkie Bolton:Yes, literally years. So for folks that aren't familiar with Liz and I want to make sure I'm saying your last name correctly Kantner Yep, great, nailed it. So my guest today, Liz Kantner is passionate about working with independent jewelry artists to help them define their voices and thrive in the modern marketplace, and she's been working with artists since 2012. So you've been in the game for a while. After making her mark as marketing manager for Todd Reed, Liz left to found her own company, Stay Gold, and also curated brands for JA, New York's new designer gallery. Liz now works for Stay Gold, where she dedicates herself to a select roster of fine jewelry clients, nurturing them to success through digital marketing, trade show strategy, sales driving techniques and branding. She also helps to curate emerging brands for luxury lifestyle at. New York Now offers a community consulting program called the Stay Gold Collective, which we're definitely going to talk about today, and co-host the podcast Success with Jewelry. Liz, thank you for joining me.
Liz Kantner:Thank you for having me. I'm in awe of the Metalsmith Society and what you've built there. As somebody who seeks community and is always looking for places that designers can connect in independent businesses, I mean it's just, it's something I've places that designers can connect in independent businesses. I mean it's just, it's something I've been following for a long time.
Corkie Bolton:Well, I really appreciate your kind words and I feel the same about you. You've really fostered a community, which is, I think, one of the most important things about just being an entrepreneur in general finding your community, whether you know, whether you're selling your jewelry or not. Yeah, so we'll have to talk a little bit We'll have to squeeze that in today about building community, since we're both so familiar with that. But today, what I wanted to start chatting with you about because this is certainly your area, since you work with so many artists is I wanted to chat about what are the biggest challenges that independent jewelers are facing now there are so many, I feel like it's hard out there.
Liz Kantner:I think it's hard out there for any small business. I think this industry is one that takes many years to find footing in and find success in, but I think that some of the challenges that we're facing now and designers are facing now are making it a little bit harder. I think the big one that I mean it just like confronts me every time I open Instagram in the morning is the price of gold. Right, and it's like part of every conversation I've been having for the past at least six months a bit longer than that and it's just. You know, it's a challenge. That is just a part of it.
Liz Kantner:I think that the hardest thing for designers is pricing and feeling confident about pricing, especially if you're coming from like a hobby perspective, or you just love the craft or the art and you are moving into like being more of a business or taking it more seriously or it becoming a more full-time thing.
Liz Kantner:Pricing in general has always been hard because you're essentially like putting a value on your work, which is a challenge, and then if you're looking to wholesale your work, you have to even think more about your margins and marking prices up even further. So with the rising cost of materials and the cost of living and all of these things you have to take into account, you're looking at even higher prices and I think this is like especially hard for designers who are moving into the fine world and I work with a lot of designers who are kind of in demi-fine or working in sterling silver and looking to make more fine jewelry. It is hard when you're creating something that you cannot afford. So you know the fact that you have to like take the time this year, if you haven't already, to raise your prices. That's challenging.
Corkie Bolton:Absolutely, and I actually fall under that category of jewelers who you know. Last August I decided I was only going to work in gold, since I've been spending years focusing on stone setting and be coming in engraver. So this I really relate with, because I was just starting to put some pieces out there and then gold skyrocketed. So, when it comes to your community of jewelers that you're working with, how have you been advising them about raising prices? Could you give us some tips on that?
Liz Kantner:Yeah. So it's definitely something you have to look at. You have to be very clear about your pricing. You have to be really clear about your pricing. You have to be really clear about your margins. You want to set yourself up for having a sustainable business. So you can't be selling and making no money Like then you're just you don't have a business at that point. You want to create something that you can grow and something that really works for you.
Liz Kantner:Otherwise it's not necessarily worth doing. You know, or maybe it is, but we also want to think about the industry as a whole. So when you have pricing that aligns with the industry standard and what's out there and how people are marking up, it actually supports everyone because you're not undercutting anyone. So if you haven't looked at your pricing since the cost of gold has gone up, or if you've never really looked at your pricing like, you have to do that and you will have to raise your pricing by the end of the year or in the new year or before then, just because it's just, the numbers are going up too much, the cost of living is going up too much. So I'd say a hundred percent, look at your pricing.
Liz Kantner:If you're thinking wholesale at all. You have to make sure your margins are strong. You have to make sure that when you are only making the wholesale on something, it still feels like a good business to you. And this isn't just fine jewelry. This is especially like if you have sterling silver or demi fine too. You need to make sure the margins are working for you but also just like feel confident about what you're doing, which I know is so much easier said than done. It's hard to you know work by yourself, for yourself, and like be creating these numbers and putting them out there. It's like kind of terrifying, I think, for people. But I think sharing your process, sharing all that goes into what you're making, is something that can really validate it for the end consumer, and sharing you know why prices are going up can be helpful. I don't think it's something you necessarily have to do every time you kind of evaluate your pricing, but if it feels good for you to be transparent with your audience and your customers, then do that.
Corkie Bolton:I love that advice and you know I confess something I've always done. You know there are formulas. People are always looking for the formulas how do we price our jewelry and that can be tough. But one thing I have always done is I have gone to some of my favorite independent jewelry stores and I've made sure that I'm on par, and I do think that's, you know, important and I don't want to undercut that, and I also want to find out, like with comparable pieces. So, you know, would you suggest doing the same, going to online stores in terms of comparing?
Liz Kantner:I love that. I love looking at Twist online because they have such a huge variety of designers in all different types of materials and they just are they. You know, if you're again in the wholesale world then you know they are marking up for wholesale and I think that's just a great place to look. That's my favorite spot, twist.
Corkie Bolton:Esquilito, there were so many stores. So I mean, I think one of the other challenges we can maybe talk about is, you know, when I, liz, when I first graduated Pratt, I really had this huge goal. I think I've talked about it on the podcast before but like I thought I would arrive if I was in these favorite stores of mine I mean Love Adorned, escalito, twist, like those were the dreams, you know, and I did find it really challenging. But I also look back, because it was challenging because I graduated in 2007 and the economy was crashing in 2008. So it was a particularly challenging time. But I also look back in retrospect like I hadn't developed a solid collection, I hadn't maybe done some of the necessary things and I wasn't prepared to start doing trade shows. What would maybe be your advice to someone who is looking to wholesale their work but maybe isn't prepared for some of the expenses of some of these major trade shows? It's a long game.
Liz Kantner:Wholesale is a long game. Being in this business is a long game. I mean, even if you're looking to do direct to consumer, which has its own challenges, it's a long game. It's like most of the designers you're looking at and admiring and like, oh I wish I could be there. They're like 10, 20, 20 year success stories. They're not coming out overnight as a success, so I think that's something really to keep in mind. There's so much like smoke and mirrors with social media, and it's hard to like look at what other people are doing or what it seems like they're achieving, but nothing is the dream. So you know you could be in those stores. You just list it, and maybe your business is still because you didn't price things appropriately or you don't have your operations in line. Things are still not working for your business, and we don't know that. We don't know the inside of anybody else's business. I think that's something to always just kind of keep in mind, although it is good to have goals and it is good to have like dream stores and a prospect list. Some of the best stores, though, are ones that aren't like the cool stores. They're like smaller, they're more local or they're more traditional and like you can find a home in them and a great partnership. So I think that's something to keep in mind when you're creating your prospect list.
Liz Kantner:But essentially, if you want to do a trade show, the first thing you need to do is put together a wholesale strategy and make sure you're ready. So that's making sure that you've looked at your pricing like we just talked about. You have a line sheet ready to go, you have thought about your prospect list and what stores you want to be reaching out to so that you have an understanding of what shows you might want to look into doing, because you want to make sure you're choosing a show where these stores are walking or likely walking. You also want to put together an outreach plan. So before you even sign on to a trade show, it could be really good to start reaching out to stores.
Liz Kantner:So you have a prospect list, you're reaching out to stores every six weeks or so and you're reaching out to them with a strategy of I'm introducing my brand, I'm looking to build a relationship, so you are introducing it and then maybe following up and then you're leaning into marketing like you would an end consumer. So these are my best sellers. This is how I create my pieces, this is my inspiration. Here's what I'm launching for this season. So sharing these topics and not just constantly saying like hey, look at my line sheet, you're looking to build a relationship. You're not looking to just demand things of a retailer.
Corkie Bolton:Are you enjoying the podcast? Do you want to support me and get even more exclusive perks in return? Then the Metals mith Society Patreon is the place for you. By becoming a patron, you'll join passionate community members who not only love our community but want to see it grow and thrive. Your support allows me to keep creating high-quality podcast episodes, run the Society page on Instagram and provide resources on the Society website, such as finding a local class or checking out my latest book recommendations or checking out my latest book recommendations.
Corkie Bolton:But that's not all. As a patron, you unlock a treasure trove of exclusive benefits from monthly giveaways, exclusive promos from sponsors and a community chat area where you can even sell gently used tools. I now even have a free membership where you can come over, create a login and just see what it's all about. So if you're ready to take your support to the next level and gain access to a world of exclusive perks, head over to my Patreon page today. That's patreon. com/metalsmithsociety. Your support means the world to me and I couldn't do this without you. Are there any other challenges that come to mind that you hear your community talking about? I mean, there's so many, but so many so many.
Liz Kantner:I mean, if we want to like just kind of continue on just a couple more things, that I didn't even mention was like just the cost of it. I mean it is expensive to pursue trade shows. There are great programs out there. Trade shows there are great programs out there. Curate it at New York Now is a great program that I had the opportunity to help develop this past year where it's not only getting a trade show booth but it's also a huge amount of education with myself and Robin Kramer and we walk you through the whole process of how to do a trade show to make sure you're more set up for success.
Liz Kantner:Typically, they say it takes three show cycles to kind of find your footing, because retailers want to see that you're coming back. They don't want to, you know, buy a brand and then like they disappear. So that's why it's so important to kind of think about trade shows. You know there's still an important part of this industry and something to consider. You just want to make sure that you can afford it a few times, making potentially no money right away, and feel comfortable with your business in your business.
Corkie Bolton:Absolutely. Maybe we can link some of your favorite trade show opportunities in the show notes and people sure thing, yeah, yeah, check those out. Awesome. How about the challenges of social media and engagement for your independent?
Liz Kantner:artists. Yes, I think this is another challenge with huge frustrating for people. The thing with social media is that you don't own your followers. Then I think that's something to endlessly keep in mind. And I think that also something to really keep in mind and this has been the truth since social media started and it's been something I've been doing forever is that like your follower count doesn't matter. Essentially, like that is a vanity metric, likes on a post is a vanity metric and I know it's really, really hard if you're looking at like oh, I have 800 followers and I feel like I have no reach, and I feel like I have no reach.
Liz Kantner:But the way that people are consuming content these days especially, is that they're looking but they're not necessarily following.
Liz Kantner:And really think about how you're engaging with social media, because I noticed in myself too, I'm not liking or commenting or following in the same way that I used to either, and I think that's just because people are just inundated with so much content all of the time and just shorter attention spans get distracted, move on, but that doesn't mean they're not seeing your content. So you kind of want to think about social media now as like a secondary website. The real focus should be on the like, one-on-one interaction. So maybe that's like reaching out to a follower who's been interested in your work via DM and like focus on those direct message conversations or commenting on other people's content and going out and engaging. That will do you more good than worrying about the number of views you get on a reel and also making sure all of your content is aligned. So your social media content is aligned with what you're sending out in your email marketing and is aligned with what people see when they get to your website. That is going to make an impact.
Corkie Bolton:Absolutely. How do you advise your artists about their email marketing and what are?
Liz Kantner:some of your other tips. Yeah, email marketing, I think, is important. I think that it's something that a lot of artists feel like they don't have time for or feel really uncertain about. You know, like it's just like oh, I don't like getting emails, so I don't want to be sending emails, kind of thing. But if you get a consistent plan together and I usually recommend two emails a month, and I like to kind of alternate between, like, a more sales focused one, where you're focused on a product or bestsellers, or a collection or something like that, and then one that's more storytelling and maybe it's sharing your inspiration or your process or, you know, trying to engage your audience in some sort of way, so I like to alternate to make it feel a little bit more. You know, like you are seeking engagement, you are wanting to connect with this audience, and you're not always just selling them something, so I think that email marketing is really important.
Liz Kantner:The thing that like really will be impactful, though, is if you're aligning that with all of the other content you're putting out there, so that you're not just like saying something in email and it's not touched on anywhere else, because the way that I move around the internet, if I see something I like, it's like oh, I saw this email. Sometimes I don't even click. Sometimes I go right to the website to see if I can find the thing on the website, and if it's hard to find then I give up. Or sometimes I go to their Instagram page to see if there's like more current content, and I think that's the great thing about Instagram is that it feels more in the moment, and I think a lot of people seek that. Even my mom, who's 70, she'll look at an Instagram page because she's like I feel like when I'm like on their website it doesn't feel like what's happening now, and so the fact that like an older generation is thinking that way too makes it still a valuable tool.
Corkie Bolton:Absolutely. I certainly agree. I think there's so much storytelling that can happen, going more in depth in Instagram. You can be really playful with it. I still feel like some of the most engaged posts for jewelers are ones where you know you're the protagonist and you're telling your story, especially when you're an independent jeweler and you know you're maybe a one person show and you know you want to tell a little bit about your process. I mean that's something that would be very hard to tell on your website and email too. You know it is fun, I think, to think about. You know 50% of your emails going out as maybe being more educational or serving people or just telling a story versus like sell, sell, sell. But definitely it's something that people need to get over is not wanting to sell. When you're a jeweler trying to sell your work.
Liz Kantner:When you're a jeweler trying to sell your work, I mean that sounds like a ridiculous statement to make but, like I've met so many people that are like I just don't really want to like sell, I just want to like make and I mean I can certainly relate, but you know this is what we have to do, and sales is a service Like write it on a post-it, put it somewhere you can see it like a reminder to yourself, like especially as we're entering Q4, maybe in Q4 when this comes out but it is such a service to your customers to like people who purchase from you every year around this time to reach out to them in advance, to be proactive, to share what's available, to share your holiday deadlines to you know, tell your story in general and the same with like wholesale outreach.
Liz Kantner:You are doing these stores you're reaching out to, even if you feel like you're not hearing back, and you're like sending emails into the void, like you're doing them a service by telling them about your brand that could give them like maybe they're looking for exactly what you're selling. So I think that's just something to always keep in mind.
Corkie Bolton:Definitely I like the idea of a Post-it note, definitely I like the idea of a post-it note, anything that keeps you in that positive mindset, like I can do this. You know I have a banner in my studio that says yes, you can. Can I throw a question at you that? You know we always talk a little bit with my guests about. You know what we're going to discuss. But this question kind of comes to mind because I'm curious from my own past experience. But I know that there are some stores that are wonderful that are working on more of a consignment basis. So I'm going to kind of bring us back to the whole getting in the store thing. I just was curious, like what your advice would be if someone's approached with a consignment situation, if one of your jewelers was given that kind of opportunity.
Liz Kantner:So I would say always understand what you need, what your business needs, what will sustain your business. So, understanding your numbers, understanding like, can I afford consignment? That's something to think about in advance of beginning any wholesale strategy. Strategy like, what do you want to be doing? Or what makes sense for your business, because a lot of times I think designers are like you know, oh well, they asked for that, so I have to give it to them. And it is a relationship, you can have a conversation.
Liz Kantner:So something that you could, you know, offer instead of full consignment is like well, why don't we do partial consignment, like here are bestsellers, here's a small collection of bestsellers. You know, if you buy into these, I will consign, you know, these pieces with it. But for some stores, I mean, and some opportunities, it does make sense. And if you are in a consignment relationship where things are moving, things are selling, you're communicating, you're getting checks on time, then it's not necessarily a bad thing. But I think that it's really good to understand what you need for your business before doing a trade show or entering a wholesale strategy.
Corkie Bolton:I love that. Thank you for touching on that. So I do want you to talk a bit about the Stagold Collective that you run, which I've recently joined, and I was watching a video actually, you were just mentioning Q4. And this podcast will be coming out shortly after recording. So we will be heading into the holiday season and I was watching a video that you were talking about that I think it was a live call that you then shared within the community and I know you also did a recent podcast episode about it. So that's a two-part question. Maybe start by telling us a bit about the stagel collective and then maybe you can touch on some of that advice heading into the holiday season.
Liz Kantner:Sure, yeah. So the Stay Gold Collective is something I started in 2019. So I was curating the new designer gallery at J in New York, which was kind of similar to what I'm doing with Curated at New York Now, except for Curated at New York Now has way more education involved. What I was noticing is I was bringing these designers together and this was in 2016, to do a trade show, and you know they were all there together to focus on their business, sell their jewelry, to get in touch with wholesale stores, build relationships, all that. But they were building communities. They were coming together and supporting each other and sharing resources and helping each other out. And that went beyond just the show. Years later, some of them still connect and do pop-ups together and do things together and collaborate and things like that. And I was like this is amazing.
Corkie Bolton:How do?
Liz Kantner:I build something that kind of like brings designers together, because we are all seeking community and we're all looking for a place where we feel like we're not alone and can access information. And I find the jewelry industry to be a challenging one to enter. I was lucky. Working for Todd Reed felt like a master's degree to me. I learned so much. I'm so grateful for that opportunity. But it's not easy to enter this industry. There's a lot of nuances to it. It's very specific. So I was like how can I create a platform that has all of this information? Where can I share my knowledge? Where can I help guide designers without the cost of like a one-on-one consulting fee, which a lot of designers who are just starting out can't afford and it can be really expensive for that. So I was looking for like a low price consulting opportunity. I wanted to build community, I wanted to provide information, and so the Stakehold Collective was born and so when you join, you have access to the past five years of content.
Liz Kantner:So all of the videos are done live and people can join live, ask questions, be a part of what we're talking about and connect with other designers, which sometimes happens on the live calls, but they're all recorded and shared so you can go into this platform and you can search.
Liz Kantner:You know how to prep for a trade show and there's a video about that or you can search, you know. I think my favorite thing that we've done is jewelry designer interviews, where we brought designers in like Judy Powers, hannah Blount, marla Aaron so many great designers Ariana Broussard Rifles a really good one too Laura Fortune. So there's some great content in terms of like talking to jewelry designers as well. Those are some of my favorite videos and interviews. And then also like retailers and industry experts, people, you know, editors, all kinds of people. We even cover stuff like contracts and accounting and trademarks and things like that. So essentially, I want to create a platform and continue to create this platform and build this platform of like just all of the resources you could ever need, and then, on top of that, the community of a place where you can go to ask questions, access to me to ask questions so you're not feeling alone if you have something urgent that comes up.
Corkie Bolton:But I'm really proud of this stable collective and, yeah, yeah, I mean, I'm just thinking about sort of why I started Metal Smith Society six plus years ago, and definitely it was because I wanted to connect with other jewelers and what we've all done a great job doing is coming together to share all of those amazing tips. You know, nothing proprietary that allows anyone to copy anyone's designs. But, like I found this massive community but one area that we barely touch on is the business side. Because that we barely touch on is the business side? Because there's a few reasons. I think it can be really hard to articulate a tip about business on in a real, where people are like it's going viral, you know, and so and I agree with you wholeheartedly, it's not all about things going viral and super engaging, but I found that it was just harder for me. It was a challenge and also, like it's not my area of expertise, I confess, because I very much became, you know, my full-time job became metalsmith society and being an educator, I love selling my work. When I sell a gold piece, I'm like happy dancing, you know, it's amazing, but I'm not producing a ton of work and I'm, so therefore I'm not selling a lot of work.
Corkie Bolton:And so this area that you are talking about within the Stay Gold Collective, like this is so needed. You know, people need that community where they can say, okay, I just got in contact with this store and they're asking this of me like what do you think? Or like, liz, can you go over my line sheet? I can't tell if I'm, you know, if my pricing is, you know, on par. So, yeah, I just think it's awesome what you're doing. I'm excited to be a part of it, for sure. And now maybe for that part two of the question, like, would you share with us some of that advice going into the holiday season? Give people kind of a taste of, you know, the kind of discussion we had.
Liz Kantner:Yeah, and to touch on what you just said, it's hard to give out tips and advice, like there are definitely best practices, but I just want to say that there are many different ways to run a business. There is not one way to success, and I think that's a really important aspect of the Stakehold Collective 2 dimension is that you're not going to come in and see like this is how you have to do it to be a successful business and successful designer. There are many ways to find success, which is why I think it's hard to kind of talk the business side and share things, because there's a lot. Everybody has a unique thing that they're doing, so but, yeah, so Q4, so a lot of designers I work with have self-purchasing clients, which makes it hard for them to think about Q4 in the same way.
Liz Kantner:And there's this kind of like I find with artists, like obviously, like not loving selling always, but also like with like high sales time and like Black Friday and like all these things that like you're supposed to be doing and the way big businesses do it. There's like this oh, I don't want to do that kind of thing. But the reason why it's still important to think about Q4 is one is that for? Like our industry, it's like a huge time for sales. I mean it just is. And even if you have self-purchasing clients, a lot of people are already in the mindset of buying, buying gifts and then maybe like the exhaustion from buying gifts and like wanting to buy something for themselves People get bonuses this time of year. There's like a lot of reasons to kind of lean in Also if you're feeling uncomfortable, oh sure, sorry to interrupt you.
Liz Kantner:No worries, go ahead.
Corkie Bolton:Folks listening the self-purchasing client. Can you just I think I know what it means Explain what that is?
Liz Kantner:Yeah, please, Totally. So you might have a product that is not, as you see it, giftable. So your client who purchases from you is usually someone like me, coming to you and saying I want to buy a piece of jewelry for myself, rather than selling things like K-Jewelers would be an example of like. Probably most of what they're selling is a gift for someone else, Whereas a lot of independent designers are finding that it's like oh, somebody is coming to me and they're commissioning a piece for themselves or they're buying a thing for themselves.
Corkie Bolton:Absolutely Okay. Yes, please continue. Sure thing. Yeah, so Sorry, I knocked you off your game there. No, it's totally fine.
Liz Kantner:I just like had a brain.
Corkie Bolton:a brain no you were on a really good point, which is that people get their bonuses and that it is a high time for holiday sales Absolutely no-transcript or twice a month emails.
Liz Kantner:Now's a great time to try, because customers are ready for that, they're anticipating it, and so you're not going to like alarm them as much, so I think that it's just a good time to practice that. You're not going to like alarm them as much, so I think that it's just a good time to practice that. But the biggest tip I'd say for this time of year is to like have a game plan to be clear about what you're selling and when, and this is like I was saying how everybody can run their business however they want. I was talking to a designer in the group recently and she's like I don't want to be at my bench in December, so my made to order deadline is going to be December 1st or the last week in November or something like that, and it's like that's very cool. Communicate that with your audience. Decide what you want, what you want your Q4 to look like, and just communicate that with your audience. So get your plan together Now.
Liz Kantner:Look at the upcoming months and put a theme on them. Maybe think about doing a gift guide. Decide now what your sales are going to be Like. If you're going to do a promotion or sale. You do not have to. If you're going to do a gift with purchase, if you're thinking wholesale, maybe it's sending a nice note or a small gift to some of your top prospects, Maybe it's sending a nice note or a nice gift or a small gift or gift with purchase to your top clients. Like, think forward, think festive, think fun. I think that's what everybody's craving right now and I think it's a good idea to kind of lean in a little bit, keeping in mind your brand and your boundaries and what feels good for you. But it's such a good time of year to get very consistent and be clear about what you're selling.
Corkie Bolton:Love that, love that. Could you also tell us a little bit about your podcast?
Liz Kantner:sure. So the podcast actually came out of wanting community, also during the pandemic. I hate mentioning the pandemic a little bit because it's like I feel like it pops up always. A lot of people I feel like pivoted or transformed during that time.
Corkie Bolton:So it's going to be something we're going to be no, absolutely, and I do think it's relatable, you know yeah totally.
Liz Kantner:But during the pandemic I was craving community. I was like I had a community I was building and that was awesome and certainly I got a lot out of it too. But I was like I need to talk to somebody who's doing what I'm doing. And so Larissa Wersiak, who has a marketing agency called Joy Joy Marketing, she and I started having like weekly phone calls where we would just like chit chat about what was going on, what we were focusing on for clients, challenges, things like that, and we were kind of like we should record this, like this is something I feel like people could hear, like would want to hear. So we started a podcast.
Liz Kantner:It started out kind of like very informational. So our first episodes are like kind of like an info dump, but they've gotten more fun and we've kind of found our rhythm with it, where we're giving actionable tips but also it's, I think, more enjoyable to listen to you. But we just hit a hundred episodes, which is really fun. They're short there, thank you. It's something I can't believe we got here because it is hard to schedule and it is kind of just like a passion project. But the episodes are like 15 minutes. They're short, they're actionable, and then there's some bonus content. You know if you want to become an insider, but it's been a really fun project. I really like podcasting. I would not have done it without Larissa, because she does all the tech stuff and I just do the like, instagram and the content planning yeah, yeah, well, that's a you know a partnership, maiden.
Corkie Bolton:you know like that's a perfect partnership because that's what you're looking for. And I agree, Like this podcast is definitely a passion project. I wanted to reach new community members, people that are just looking for content. You know, about jewelry making, and my first podcasts were like I was delving deeper in to the tips that we're talking about on Instagram, and I still do those episodes.
Corkie Bolton:But because I have this tremendous community and you know people that are willing, like yourself, to come chat with me, I've had a lot of guests and so it's kind of been that and just like anything else I do, you know, the first five years I did Metal Smith Society, I shared a tip every day. I didn't miss a single day, and so when I first did the podcast, it was like every week we must have an episode, and I kind of took the summer off and it felt really good and I've been getting some people on my schedule again. So I'm excited for future episodes because it's just amazing to be able to hear the different perspectives of people in our industry other jewelers so I really appreciate you coming on today. Where can people find you?
Liz Kantner:Liz, thanks for having me. This was really fun. You can find me at my website, lizkantner. com, or @Liz_ Kantner K-A-N-T-N-E-R on Instagram, and feel free to DM me or let me know that you heard this episode. I'd love to hear from you. And then the podcast is called Success with Jewelry and you can listen to it wherever you listen to podcasts, and we have an Instagram page as well. It's @SuccessW ith Jewelry.
Corkie Bolton:So I will be linking all of that in the show notes. And I also wanted to mention that we have an exclusive promo code for my podcast listeners and I'll likely be sharing it within the Metals mith Society community as well. But if people want to try the Stay Gold Collective, which I highly recommend, they can save half off their first two months with promo code TRYSTAYGOLD. So all that info is going to be in the show notes. Thank you again. I look forward to chatting with you more. This is probably just part one of our conversation. So, yeah, thank you, L iz. Thanks, thank you so much for tuning into today's episode. I hope you enjoyed today's conversation with Liz and found it inspiring and full of valuable insights to take back to your own jewelry making practice.
Corkie Bolton:If you like this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with your fellow jewelers. If you'd like to support the podcast, you can head over to my Patreon. That's patreon. com/ metalsmithsociety. Your support helps me keep these episodes coming and it means the world to me. Your support helps me keep these episodes coming and it means the world to me. For more tips, tutorials and jewelry making content, follow me on social media at metalsmith society or visit my website, metalsmithsociety. com. And, as always, keep creating, keep experimenting and remember the best pieces come from a passion for the craft. Until next time.
