Designing Jewelry for Teenagers
by Rena Klingenberg
http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com
Teenage jewelry is an important and lucrative market
niche. Today's 12- to 19-year-old crowd shops for fashions
more than any other age group.
Fashion market analysts say that American teens currently
spend $33 billion a year on fashion and beauty, with over
90% of them shopping for clothes and accessories at least
once a month.
For many teenagers, fashion is an important part of
establishing their identity. Jewelry, clothes, shoes, and
hairstyles can set young adults apart or make them fit in.
In this age group more than any other, what you wear
symbolizes what you believe, who you are (or want to be),
and what group you belong to. Teens also have fun
experimenting with fashion and color as their own personal
style evolves.
You may want to consider having at least a small section
of your jewelry business cater to the teenage market.
A considerable amount of jewelry is bought by and for
teenagers - both girls and boys - for four main reasons:
1. This age group is always looking for something new; a
typical teenage fashion trend lasts only six to twelve
months. In my own experience, it's very rare for a teen to
pass my booth at a show without stopping to look carefully
at nearly everything in my display.
2. Jewelry is a popular gift for adults to give to teens.
Especially around gift-giving occasions, I often have adult
customers asking me, "Do you have any jewelry for teenagers?"
3. Many teens love to shop, and many also have a sizeable
amount of spending money. Their income tends to be stable
since it comes from multiple sources (parents, part-time
jobs, babysitting, gifts) - and most of their income is
disposable.
4. The teenage population is growing, and this
demographic is expected to continue for several years.
That means that spending among this group will most
likely increase.
Tips for Designing Jewelry for the Teenage Market:
* The entertainment industry is the most significant
influence on teen fashion and beauty trends. Watch what's
being worn by young celebrities, pop stars, alternative
bands, etc. Check in on MTV occasionally, and thumb through
teen-oriented magazines.
* Ask a few teenagers you know for jewelry ideas and
feedback. You may be surprised by their insights.
* Visit a Hot Topic store, if your local mall has one.
* Keep in mind that teenagers generally don't want to
wear anything their parents would wear - so whether "you"
would wear a particular piece of jewelry is not the best
barometer of its marketability to teenagers (unless you're a
teenager yourself, of course).
* Spirituality is an important issue for teenagers.
Young adults are exploring their beliefs and tend to like
symbols of philosophies they want to be identified with.
Spiritual jewelry tends to appeal to a significant portion
of teens.
(Examples of spiritual elements that can be
incorporated into teen jewelry include crystals and healing
stones, crosses / fish / WWJD, star of David, and other
symbols of major religions. And don't forget about the
appeal of alternative spirituality, symbolized by elements
such as Buddhas, chakra-rainbow jewelry, ankhs, Quan Yin,
etc. You might want to choose just one or two religious
directions to represent in your teen jewelry line.)
* Stock some tempting impulse-purchase items. Teens have
a low resistance to impulse buys, and a price point of $15
or less can make a tempting piece of jewelry irresistible.
* Body jewelry is hugely popular among teens. Remember
it doesn't always have to be pierced styles - nonpierced
body jewelry is widely worn among this deomgraphic. In warm
weather, teens will be susceptible to tempting displays of
affordable ankle bracelets, toe rings, barefoot sandals,
and other styles that can't be seen under winter clothes.
* Young ladies aren't the only ones who wear jewelry.
Young men are wearing more of it now than ever before. In
general, masculine teen jewelry has a rugged look, with
materials such as leather, hemp, rubber, pewter or silver,
and beads.
* The majority of teenagers shy away from jewelry styles
that are too far over the top. Teen designs need to balance
"cool" with "wearable".
About the Author:
Writer and jewelry artist Rena Klingenberg shares thousands
of tips for selling your handcrafted jewelry in her
http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com website.
She also publishes jewelry marketing secrets several times a
week in http://www.jewelry-business-blog.com .
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