Saturday, November 19, 2005

Nickel Free Fashion Sales on the Rise as Metal Allergy Hits a New High

Los Angeles, CA February 15, 2005 -— Nickel allergy, already the most common contact allergy in North America, is on the rise. Nickel, found in a wide array of common household objects like eyeglasses, jewelry, belt buckles, and watches, affects approximately 15% of the population. And each year, the population of nickel allergy sufferers seems to grow in size. Although the use of nickel in jewelry is banned in most of Europe, the United States still has no measure in place to prevent the use of nickel in objects that come into prolonged and intimate contact with the skin. And with nickel allergy affecting approximately 15% of the population, more and more folks with dermatitis are turning over every stone in search of the elusive nickel free belt or watch.

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Friday, November 18, 2005

How to Sell Your Products Without Competition

Rena Klingenberg

Selling your products at shows can be difficult when you have a lot of competition. Although some show organizers are careful to have a good mix of vendors, it's not uncommon for other shows to have 20% or more of the booths filled with vendors in the same niche - which is a buyer's market and a seller's disappointing show.Before signing up for any show, ask the promoter how many other vendors in your niche will have booths. And if possible, find out what kinds of these items will be represented at the show. Even if you have to dig a little for this information, it's worthwhile to find out in advance whether the show is likely to be profitable for you.For example, my medium is jewelry, which is usually the most competitive field at any show. And because of the overcrowding in this niche, many jewelry artists price the jewelry in their booth so low that it's hard for them (or any of the other jewelers at that show) to make any sales at a worthwhile profit.

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Thursday, November 17, 2005

Turn An Arts And Crafts Hobby Into A Business

BB Lee

Are you searching for a quick way to make an extra income? Why not turn that Cooking Interest, Comic Book Collecting, or Your Retro Clothing Collection Into A Home Based Business Venture! Most people enjoy hobbies they have pursued with great enthusiasm for years. Even though they may find their leisure activities fulfilling and enjoyable they never imagined making money with a fun hobby! The world is packed with amazingly talented people. Are you one of these gifted individuals? These talented individuals might have a passion for sewing fabulous original wardrobes, marvelous hand knitted items, furniture making, creative paintings, photographs, jewelry art, greeting card design, doll making, original toys, baby clothing, candle making, quilting, calligraphy, fancy soap making, about anything you can imagine! Crafting is actually a great way to start a home business on a shoe string. You might want to start on a small scale by offering your creative work to friends and family. Later on, once you have enough products, you might decide to rent a booth at local flea markets or crafts shows to display your work.

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Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Charming Trends in Jewelry

Carolyn Schweitzer

Fashions that owners and their dogs can share.The wearing of charms dates back to 400 or 500 BC, when they were believed to hold special powers -- particularly the power of protection. By the 1890's charms had evolved into a fashion statement and a popular keepsake. Now, as then, charms are often given by mothers to their daughters as gifts or family heirlooms. Many women start collecting them as pre-teens and continue adding to the collection as they mature. Charm bracelets make an ideal gift because of their broad appeal.Italian charms are the hottest trend right now and show no signs of slowing down.

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Sunday, November 13, 2005

Medical Alert Jewelry: A Life Saving Fashion Statement

Terry McDermott

No one really wants to be labeled as “different.” And certainly, no one wants to create that label and apply it to him or herself. But many medical conditions require some form of identification indicating that such a condition exists and must be considered in the case of an emergency. Thus, millions of people with hundreds of medical conditions must advertise that fact simply to protect themselves. For many, jewelry is the chosen medium.Fact: Up to 15% of the population of the United States could experience a life-threatening reaction to foods, drugs, insect bites or latex.Fact: Many diabetics suffering from hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) have been mistakenly identified as being drunk.Fact: Over 400 Americans die annually from an allergic reaction to penicillin.Given these and many more related statistics, the need for proper medical identification is critical. But in an image conscious society, clunky bracelets or dog tags may offend the fashion sensibilities of some while the overt labeling of medical conditions may be threatening to others.

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