Do you love making and wearing jewelry? Do you want to turn your hobby into a source of extra income? If so, you might be interested in starting a jewelry side hustle in the UK.
A jewelry side hustle is a small business that you run on the side of your main job, where you create and sell your own jewelry products online or offline. It can be a great way to express your creativity, showcase your talent, and build your own brand.
However, starting a jewelry side hustle is not as easy as it sounds. You need to consider many factors, such as finding your niche, legalizing your business, finding suppliers, selling your jewelry, and marketing your brand.
In this blog post, we will show you how to start a jewelry side hustle in the UK in 7 simple steps. We will also share some tips and tricks to help you make your jewelry side hustle successful and profitable.
Step 1: Find Your Niche
The first step to start a jewelry side hustle is to find your niche. This means deciding what kind of jewelry you want to make and sell, and who your target customers are.
There are many types of jewelry products, such as fine, custom, costume, or handmade jewelry. Each one has its own market, price range, and competition. You need to find a niche that suits your skills, style, budget, and demand.
Some questions to ask yourself are:
- What kind of materials, techniques, and tools do you use or want to learn?
- What kind of designs, themes, or styles do you like or specialize in?
- What kind of customers do you want to attract and serve?
- What kind of price point do you want to set for your jewelry?
- What kind of value proposition or unique selling point do you offer?
You can also do some market research to find out what kind of jewelry is popular, trending, or underserved in the UK. You can use online platforms like Etsy, Pinterest, Instagram, or Google Trends to see what people are searching for, buying, or liking. You can also visit local markets, shops, or events to see what other jewelry makers are selling and how they present their products.
Step 2: Legalize Your Business
The next step to start a jewelry side hustle is to legalize your business. This means choosing a legal structure for your business, registering with HMRC, getting the right licenses and certificates, and paying taxes.
The most common legal structures for side hustle businesses are sole trader or limited company. A sole trader is the simplest and cheapest option, as you just need to register with HMRC as self-employed and file a self-assessment tax return every year. However, as a sole trader, you are personally liable for any debts or losses your business makes.
A limited company is a separate legal entity from you as the owner. This means that you have limited liability for your business debts or losses, but also more paperwork and costs involved. You need to register your company with Companies House, file annual accounts and returns, pay corporation tax, and follow other rules.
Depending on what kind of jewelry you make and sell, you may also need to get certain licenses or certificates from the local authorities or trade associations. For example:
- If you make or sell precious metal jewelry (such as gold, silver, platinum, or palladium), you need to get it hallmarked by an assay office in the UK. Hallmarking is a legal requirement that guarantees the purity and quality of the metal.
- If you make or sell organic or natural jewelry (such as pearls, coral, amber, ivory, bone, horn, shell, or wood), you need to check if it is subject to any restrictions or regulations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). You may need to get a permit or certificate from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to import or export such items.
- If you make or sell costume jewelry (such as plastic, glass, resin, metal alloys, etc.), you need to ensure that it complies with the EU REACH Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. This means that it does not contain any harmful substances such as lead, cadmium, nickel, or phthalates.
Step 3: Separate Your Business and Personal Finances
One of the best practices for running a side hustle business is to keep your business and personal finances separate. This will help you track your income and expenses more easily, manage your cash flow better, and avoid any tax issues or confusion.
To separate your business and personal finances, you should:
- Open a separate bank account for your business transactions
- Use a separate credit card or payment method for your business purchases
- Keep all your receipts and invoices for your business expenses
- Use accounting software or apps to record and categorize your transactions
- Set aside money for taxes and savings
Step 4: Find Startup Funding
Starting a jewelry business does not have to be expensive, but it does require some initial investment in materials, tools, equipment, packaging, and marketing. Depending on your niche and scale, you may need to spend anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds to get started.
There are different ways to fund your side hustle jewelry business, such as:
- Using your own savings or income
- Borrowing from friends or family
- Applying for a small business loan or credit card
- Crowdfunding from online platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo
- Applying for grants or competitions from government agencies or organizations
You should also create a budget and a cash flow forecast for your business, to estimate how much money you need and how much money you expect to make. This will help you plan your spending and income, and avoid running out of cash.
Step 5: Find Suppliers and Create Your Jewelry
The next step is to find reliable and affordable suppliers for your jewelry materials, tools, and equipment. You can source your supplies from local shops, online platforms, wholesalers, or manufacturers, depending on your needs and preferences.
Some factors to consider when choosing your suppliers are:
- Quality and variety of products
- Price and discounts
- Delivery time and cost
- Customer service and support
- Reputation and reviews
Once you have your supplies, you can start creating your jewelry. You should follow the best practices for making jewelry, such as:
- Designing your jewelry with your target customers and market in mind
- Testing your jewelry for durability, safety, and comfort
- Labelling your jewelry with your brand name, logo, or hallmark
- Packaging your jewelry with care and style
Step 6: Sell Your Jewelry
The most exciting part of starting a side hustle jewelry business is selling your jewelry to customers. There are many ways to sell your jewelry online or offline, such as:
- Creating your own website or online store using platforms like Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace
- Selling on online marketplaces like Etsy, eBay, Amazon, or Notonthehighstreet
- Selling on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest
- Selling at local markets, fairs, events, or pop-up shops
- Selling through consignment or wholesale to other shops or boutiques
You should choose the sales channels that suit your goals, budget, and skills, and use a combination of them to maximize your exposure and sales.
Step 7: Establish Your Brand and Start Marketing
The final step is to establish your brand identity and start marketing your side hustle jewelry business. Branding is more than just a name or a logo; it is the way you communicate your values, personality, and story to your customers. Marketing is the way you promote your products, reach new customers, and grow your business.
Some tips for branding and marketing your side hustle jewelry business are:
- Create a catchy name and a memorable logo for your business
- Define your mission statement, vision, and values
- Identify your target audience, their needs, and their preferences
- Develop a unique selling proposition (USP) that sets you apart from competitors
- Choose a consistent tone of voice, style, and color scheme for your website, social media, and packaging
- Use high-quality photos and videos to showcase your products and process
- Collect testimonials and reviews from happy customers
- Use SEO (search engine optimization) techniques to rank higher on Google
- Use social media marketing strategies to build a community and drive traffic
- Use email marketing campaigns to nurture leads and increase conversions
- Use content marketing strategies to educate, entertain, and inspire your audience
- Use paid advertising methods such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or Instagram Ads to reach more customers
- Use influencer marketing methods such as collaborating with bloggers, vloggers, or celebrities to boost your credibility and exposure
- Use referral marketing methods such as offering discounts, freebies, or rewards
Conclusion
Starting a side hustle jewelry business in the UK can be a fun and fulfilling way to earn extra income while pursuing your passion. However, it also requires careful planning, research, and hard work to make it a success. By following the steps above, you can launch your side hustle jewelry business with confidence and grow it into a profitable