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Artist Invents New Methods to Survive Pace of Digital Age Artist/designer Jennifer Lownie has been perfecting her lacquered jewelry for twenty years. As she developed an online presence, however, Lownie discovered a truth that both merchants and artists have had to face: the “I want it now” world of the Internet demands new methods. Her breathrough technique will make this possible. Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) February 25, 2006 -- In the mass produced, "must have it now" culture of the modern world, individually created art is always a treasured acquisition. Artist/Designer Jennifer Lownie has made her lacquered jewelry a very personal celebration for patron and designer alike. Her work, a meticulous process of multiple layers and coats of lacquer, features tiny sculptures of whimsical creatures, tiny dancers, beautiful florals, and unique pendants and earrings with personal messages in Japanese Kanji (writing). But the work has always been very time-consuming, taking up to two weeks to produce a finished product. She had to change, or say goodbye to her expansion plans.
“Artisans have had to adapt to new technology and marketplaces for millennia, and the retail business has always been about meeting new challenges. A generation ago, banks closed at 3:00 p.m. Stores closed by 6:00 and few were open on Sunday. None of that works in the internet world. We've all had to change. So I'm joining the twenty-first century.”
Ms. Lownie's original methodology served her well while she was doing her artwork part time and selling only at local craft fairs and shows. She quickly developed a loyal following in Providence, Rhode Island and later Fort Myers, Florida and Kansas City, Missouri. In 2001 Lownie made the transition from the corporate world to full-time artist. Instead of opening up a local brick and mortar store she chose to “set up shop” on the internet.
"In 2001 I created my first website and featured a handful of pieces. The work was very well received and before I knew it I was overwhelmed by the pace of production necessary to keep products stocked. Everyone wanted their jewelry shipped as soon as they ordered. Handmade pieces of art do not necessarily lend themselves well to the “instant payment, instant shipment” internet culture. That, combined with having to compete on price with the "popout" jewelry market, led me to develop a whole new line of work with gemstones and pearls, jewelry that is beautiful but also has the advantage of being work that can be done more quickly."
Lownie opened her gemstone and precious metal jewelry store, Weekend Jewelry at www.weekend-jewelry.com as a retail outlet for her gemstone and precious metal work and at www.weekendjewelry.com as a wholesale and dropship outlet. "I fell in love with gemstones, but I also appreciated that the stone and metal work is much less time consuming. Despite the much higher cost of materials, ironically my gemstone work is less expensive than Paper Jewels. It's all about time. I can create and ship gemstone pieces quickly, much more in line with the demands of internet marketing. But that work does not lend itself to the personalization inherent in Paper Jewels.
“My lacquered jewelry is very personal for my customers. I have made wedding jewelry that incorporated the actual papers of the wedding invitations. After 9/11 I made a New York firefighter and his lady matching calligraphic necklaces, and recently I created a custom-made pair of earrings incorporating amethyst, peridot, and my lacquer design, for a woman who wanted to declare, in discreet Japanese, that she was an Angry Goddess."
The breakthrough that will allow Lownie to continue her lacquered jewelry came after a long period of trial and error, working to discover methods that would allow her to create her paper jewels more quickly.
"I'm very excited about my new process," she explains, "instead of shipping in two weeks, I can send my work out within three or four days. I can still produce quality work, it is still lightweight and rugged, but I can do it more rapidly and at a lower cost. With my original method, I could not even consider moving into the wholesale arena because it took me so long to complete each piece. Now I can produce work in a quarter of the time. That makes it possible to expand into wholesale and e-stores, instead of offering my work exclusively on my own website."
Ms. Lownie has begun work on her new line of jewelry with the new methodology. In anticipation of a Spring 2006 introduction of the new work she is having a super “everything must go” sale at Paper Jewels. "It started as “invitation only”, Lownie explains. "Of course my customers were offered “first dibs” on the remaining work, offered at 60% off my normal retail prices. They knew that work had never been available at such a low price and those same pieces will never made again. Now I've opened the sale to the general public. The remaining items will be offered for a few weeks, until my new line is ready." Paper Jewels features the original lacquered jewelry creations of Jennifer Lownie, available only at www.paperjewels.com. Her all-original designs include lightweight clip and pierced earrings, necklaces, and pins with Japanese kanji, women pins, florals, and animals. Weekend Jewelry, her spectacular handmade work in gemstones, pearls, and precious metals, can be found at www.weekendjewelry.com (wholesale) and www.weekend-jewelry.com (retail).
Contact: Jennifer Lownie Designer/Owner Paper Jewels 816-358-6152
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