Business · Companies · 8 hrs ago
Jeweller outsourced making after years of exhausting work
An Adelaide-based jeweller spent years making and selling silver and gold jewellery through her own online business.
By late 2013, she was working more than 100 hours a week before the busy selling season, while her health suffered and her income remained low.
She wanted to grow the business but could not make more jewellery herself, so a friend suggested she outsource some of the work.
She visited an overseas workshop to check its conditions because she wanted to avoid supporting a sweatshop.
She found skilled makers, safety measures, set hours and a sunny place for lunch.
She realised the workshop’s conditions were better than her own cramped, unsafe workspace and long hours without proper breaks.
She ordered components made there and began using them in her designs, assembling and finishing the jewellery herself.
An Australian jeweller decided to outsource the making of some jewellery components after years of exhausting work.
By late 2013, she was working more than 100 hours a week before the Christmas selling season and was experiencing pain and worsening health.
A friend suggested that she design the components and have an overseas workshop make them, while she assembled and finished the jewellery.
She visited the workshop to check its working conditions and found them better than her own.
- Who
- An unnamed Australian jewellery maker with about 30 years of experience.
- What
- She began outsourcing the making of jewellery components while continuing to design, assemble and finish the pieces.
- When
- She began considering the change around New Year’s Eve after feeling exhausted by late 2013.
- Where
- She ran her business from the Adelaide Hills and visited an unnamed workshop overseas.
- Why
- She was exhausted and could not make more jewellery herself; she also wanted to ensure the workshop was not a sweatshop.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
She tried selling jewellery through Etsy and made her first online sale within an hour.
After working more than 100 hours a week before the selling season, she felt exhausted and her health was deteriorating.
A friend discussed the business with her, and they came up with the idea of outsourcing the making of components.
She placed her first order with the overseas workshop.
- Jewellery-making experience
- About 30 years
- Etsy
- First tried in 2006
- Work hours
- More than 100 hours a week in the months leading up to the selling season
- Business location
- Adelaide Hills
- Workshop
- Overseas; location not stated
What people are saying
I was exhausted.
Most importantly, it was clearly not a sweatshop.
Sources
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