The questions are already swimming in your mind – selling jewellery online? Would that be safe? How do I ship fragile jewellery to customers? How can customers trust our products sold online without touching it?
Let’s figure it out through this guide.
You’ll also get some inspiration along the way from homegrown jewellery brands that are doing well with their own independent eCommerce websites.
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Why sell jewellery online?
Because it is lightweight and therefore easy to ship?
Or because you do not have the anxiety of maintaining a brick-and-mortar store?
There are many reasons that will convince you to sell jewellery online:
1. Starting with – the sheer market size!
The Indian gems and jewellery sector is one of the largest in the world and contributes to over 29% of global jewellery consumption, according to Statista. Currently, we are home to over 300,000 jewellery brands and sellers.
According to IBEF, India’s gems and jewellery industry is expected to reach US$ 70 billion by 2025.
2. Another advantage is the increased purchases from tier 2 and tier 3 towns.
According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation, online sales from jewellery shopping are expected to account for 1–2% of the fine jewellery segment.
A recent trends report published by our team also predicts that entrepreneurs today understand the power of online presence and digital operation. eCommerce is on the rise, with COVID contributing to a surge in shopping online and from home.
Weddings are a huge market for jewellery. Also, an increase in buyer demand. Despite the high gold prices in the wedding season of 2023, investing in gold remained a priority. Here’s what Annargha Chowdhury of Anjali Jewellers had to say to Times of India –
“We are seeing a lot of footfall. Although prices are high, people realised that there is no substitute for gold as it is a safe option for investors. The younger generation understands that investing in gold is never wasted.”
According to CaratLane, India’s top online jewellery brand, people are cutting down on wedding ceremony budgets, making more room for jewellery purchases.
What are the biggest challenges to selling jewellery in India?
1. Identifying customers and gaining their trust
You need to first understand who you are selling jewellery to.
Identify your customer base using online surveys, Google Analytics or SEMRush.
We have seen ads where people shop for jewellery after carefully scanning each item in the store. So what happens when you shift online? How do your customers know you are not scamming them?
Our team carried out a short poll asking jewellery brands about the biggest challenges they faced and ‘gaining customer trust’ was the highest – at 75%!
2. Limited customer interaction
According to Gaurav Singh Kushwaha, Founder of BlueStone, websites do not offer enough customer interaction space, the way a physical store does.
Customers need to be assured constantly about the money they will spend on jewellery, and this can be a challenge when it is done online.
Related Read: How to start an eCommerce business in India
How do you get customers to trust you before they buy jewellery?
Here are some ways you can gain the trust of customers when selling jewellery online.
💡 Ensure the best quality and trademark
Just like the jewellery itself, it is all in the fine details. Check the BIS hallmark signs. This has – the BIS Logo, purity grade and fineness, jewellers identification mark and hallmark.
Check this super helpful guide to know how to assure the customer of jewellery quality.
💡Give them multiple ways to get in touch with you
Keep in touch with them using social media or a WhatsApp business account. Share a phone number with them through which they can contact you.
For example, Caratlane has a 24-hour customer care helpline to take care of any customer queries or complaints.
💡Take extra care with packaging
When shipping jewellery, make sure you pack it with a lot of care, packaging, and receipts.
For expensive metal jewellery, request customers to send photos or send a representative to help unpack the box for them. Here’s a helpful packing tutorial from Staples for any small jewellery brand.
Read this guide on building customer trust online for more tips.
💡 Get your own online store
Customers are going to pay you a large amount for the jewellery item they purchase. Therefore, you need to have a secure, safe, and trusted payment gateway policy.
Our advice: opt for an online store in India before you decide to reach out to a third-party marketplace to set up your jewellery business.
- You will have more control over the products you sell
- There will be direct access to customer data allowing you to personalise communications
- The profits of the sales will reach you in real time.
With Instamojo, you can get an online store for free!
💡 Refunds vs returns vs exchanges
Create a refund or return policy and upload it on your online platforms. A return policy clearly informs customers about your policies regarding any return or refund of a product.
Why is this important? You need to be able to trust your customers just as much as they trust you. Sellers have faced the agony of receiving empty boxes at the time of return!
How to make it easy? Choosing an eCommerce platform with a solid refund policy.
Ensure your chosen platform offers –
- A clear description of the refund time
- Allows customers and sellers to track refunds online. For example – All Instamojo merchants have access to an ARN (Acquirer Reference Number), which is a tracking ID used to trace the status of a transaction with your bank. If you are a seller on Instamojo and have issued a refund to your buyer, they can track the status of their refund with the bank. An email and SMS with the ARN are sent to the buyer as soon as the refund is generated.
- Final receipts, payout file, and any other document you need to keep as proof of purchase.
Your refund policy can look like this: “Products you return/replace must be in the same condition you received them and in the original packaging. Please keep the receipt.”
A checklist to keep when setting up an online jewellery brand
✅ Setting up an aesthetic online store/website
Make it aesthetic
Therefore, if you are just setting up but want your jewellery to look beautiful for customers, choose the premium online store feature on Instamojo. Set it up easily and add your photos, and description and the payment gateway will be ready too.
For example, Aurora Hope Pins, a BTS merchandise jewellery brand, uses an Instamojo premium online store to sell their products online. Started by Nitisha Sham, a huge fan of BTS, and features dainty, self-designed jewellery for the BTS fandom. Read more about her brand here.
Want to set up your own online jewellery store for free? Sign up on the Instamojo eCommerce platform and start creating the store of your dreams!
Start your own jewellery store online for free
Add relevant details
Add information down to the last little detail about the jewellery item you are selling. For example, The Rover uses beautiful photographs and provides complete information on the products they sell.
Here’s how you can nail the perfect product description for your jewellery item. See how this Instamojo seller carefully described this piece of jewellery. It has the product type, material, dimensions, and other quality details and the return policy is clearly stated.
✅ Creating social media accounts
Set it up – Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Do not underestimate the power of a beautiful jewellery photo. Social media is the safe space for you to boost your brand, emphasise the features of the products you are selling, and dabble in a little luxury marketing. How?
Here’s guide to help you get started with social media for your business.
Speak to influencers!
Invest in influencer marketing efforts and allow them to promote the quality of the products you sell! Encourage customers to share testimonials and stories about their purchases. This is the most organic way to boost customer trust!
View this post on Instagram
✅ Reliable shipping partner
Find an ideal shipping partner on Instamojo’s mojoXpress. Ensure your shipping partners have a record of safe shipping, zero packaging problems, and great customer reviews.
In fact, here is a guide to understanding and setting up shipping for your small business in India.
Silver sisters: How Quirksmith grew their jewellery brand online
Since Quirksmith joined Instamojo, we have seen plenty of jewellery sellers using the online stores to interact and sell jewellery online. But it started here.
Check out their awe-inspiring story here:
Like Silver Sisters, many passionate jewellery makers are growing their businesses online using an Instamojo eCommerce storefront.
You can be the next successful jewellery seller online! Just take the first step and sign up for your free online store.
Sell jewellery on your own online store
6 comments
Very informative post and helpful as well. My sister wants to start her own business, so I guess this post will help her in setting up her business. Keep sharing such helpful posts with the readers.
Informative submit! This is a fantastic
I want to sell my pipes and tubes online can i sell through my website .
Hi,
You can set up an online store easily on our website and start selling in no time!
Santosh
Great article ! This blog on the Instamojo is really outstanding way of expression on how to establish both a Business and an Instamojo Payment gateway.
Instamojo is really a simple way like ‘The power of simplicity’ payment gateway with simple User interface.
Thanks for your article and special thanks to This great Indian origin Payment gateway The Instamojo.
Thank you for your kind words Santosh. Please do share our blogs with your network if you found them useful! 🙂