If you have started a home jewelry business then you will know that its not easy keeping track of everything once things get a little past the craft table and that small box you used to be able to fit all your beads into.

Now that you have drawers full of beads you can end up spending more time looking for parts and counting beads than you do making jewelry.

Getting organised can seem like such a pain as it takes time away from your everyday running of the business but the truth is if you are working like that then the business is running you and you need to take it back!

By taking 5 simple steps you can begin to get your jewelry business organised and running efficiently.

1 – Start out by making an inventory of everything you have: Once you know what’s there than you don’t need to wast time looking for it and then counting how many beads you have once you find it.

2 – Organise your customer data: If you have a good supply of customers keep them on record. It is so much easier to sell to someone who has bought something from you once before than it is to sell to a new customer. Keep good records and send them a card on their birthday or anniversary. Even an e-card will do, it really is the thought that counts.

3 – Make professional looking catalogs of your completed jewelry pieces. If you have made a piece and then sold it you should have a record of it so that you can show that design to someone else. A good catalog will help to show the range and skill that you have in beading and impress your potential customers.

4 – Have an organised invoicing system: If your selling quality jewelry pieces then it makes sense to have quality invoices for your customers.

5 – Make use of Quicken or MYOB accounting packages: Everyone knows what a headache it is come tax time but by keeping on top of it throughout the year a few little steps at a time the headache that is tax day will be much easier.

By making time every day to do these things you’ll be amazed how organised you can become. This will help you work more at ease and have less stress in your beading business.

Diamond earrings, emerald rings, ruby bracelets, sapphire pendants; no doubt about it everybody loves beautiful gem stone jewelry. Gemstones are quite literally hard as rock, buy they can be damaged from careless handling and negligence. Here are some tips for keeping your gems and jewelry looking fabulous for years to come.

1.Remember, even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, then lost, gem. 2.Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately so that harder stones don’t scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw your jewelry in a heap in a drawer or jewelry box. 3.Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem, particularly if you wear them all the time. You need to clean them regularly to let the light in so your gems can shine. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap. Use a bowl of water rather than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won’t catch on the prongs) For diamond, ruby or sapphire, a touch of ammonia in the rinse water won’t hurt a bit and can add extra sparkle (for platinum and gold only, not silver!). Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds and rubies and sapphires will be fine but many other gems many not be, in particular emerald, opal, pearls, peridot: when in doubt, leave it out. 4.Organic gems like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular. Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light. 5.Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks, not crystals of a single mineral like transparent gems. There gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use and ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.

A little care and common sense can add life, luster and longevity to your precious jewelry and gems. Protect your investment by following the above guidelines.