How to Start a Jewellery Business in the UK (and Actually Make Sales)

Starting Your Jewellery Brand

7/08/25

Thinking of turning your jewellery-making passion into a business? Whether you’re hand-knotting beaded bracelets at the kitchen table or dreaming up a high-end fine jewellery line, this guide will walk you through how to start a jewellery business, and how to make it sell.

Where to Start With a Jewellery Business

Starting a jewellery business can feel like staring at a tangled chain, overwhelming at first, but totally manageable once you find the first link. Whether you’re creating from scratch, curating pieces, or outsourcing production, the first step is clarity:

  • What kind of jewellery are you selling? (Gold jewellery, handmade designs, personalised pieces?)
  • Who are you selling to? (Minimalist millennials? Sentimental gift buyers? Festival-goers?)
  • Why should they buy from you? (Do you offer meaning, uniqueness, value, or story?)

Without clear answers to these, even the best designs can get lost online.

How to Start a Jewellery Business from Home

Many jewellery businesses begin from the kitchen table, and that’s more than okay. Starting a jewellery business at home gives you full control without heavy overheads. Here’s what you need to do first:

  1. Get legal – Register your business with HMRC (as a sole trader or limited company).
  2. Sort insurance – Public liability and product liability cover are essential.
  3. Create a workspace – Even a small, organised area can make a huge difference.
  4. Think branding early – A strong name, logo, and consistent tone of voice will set you apart.
  5. Start small, scale smart – Begin with a tight product range you can perfect and expand later.

Selling Jewellery Online in the UK: What Works in 2025

In 2025, it’s not enough to simply have a website, you need to attract traffic and convert it.

Platforms That Work:

✔️ Shopify – Ideal for independent brands with full control.
✔️ Etsy – Good for handmade and personalised pieces, especially early on.
✔️ Not On The High Street / Wolf & Badger – Great for curated exposure (but competitive).

Essentials Before You Launch:

  • Professional product images (ideally lifestyle AND clean-cut)
  • Search-friendly product titles and descriptions
  • Clear pricing, policies, and sizing info
  • A strong ‘About’ story, people buy the maker, not just the product

How to Start a Gold Jewellery Business

If you’re going into fine or demi-fine jewellery, your strategy needs a little extra polish:

  • Source materials wisely – Reputable suppliers and hallmarking are essential for trust.
  • Highlight value clearly – Customers need to understand why your pieces cost what they do.
  • Build brand trust fast – Use customer reviews, ethical sourcing stories, and packaging that feels premium.

Gold jewellery buyers tend to be more cautious, so your website and messaging need to reflect care, quality, and confidence.

The 3 Things Most Jewellery Start-Ups Overlook

  1. Keyword Strategy
    If you’re not optimising your product pages and blogs for search, you’re missing traffic. Phrases like “handmade jewellery online UK” or “gold chunky necklace with letter charm” may sound a little obvious and clunky, but they help the right people find you.
  2. Tone of Voice
    Customers want to feel something. Whether it’s empowerment, sentiment, or celebration — your words should reflect that in every listing.
  3. Conversion-Focused Design
    Even beautiful websites can flop if the path to buy is unclear. Every jewellery website should be tested for:
    • Mobile speed
    • Easy-to-find collections
    • One-click add-to-cart
    • Emotional call-to-actions

FAQ: How to Start a Jewellery Business (2025 Edition)

How much does it cost to start a jewellery business UK?

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and that’s a good thing.

Starting a jewellery business in the UK can be as budget-friendly or as investment-heavy as you need it to be. It all depends on the type of brand you’re building and the model you choose to run it.

If you’re launching a fine jewellery brand using solid gold, ethically sourced diamonds, or holding significant stock, you’re likely looking at £10,000–£50,000+ to get off the ground with professional manufacturing, branding, and photography.

But if you’re starting small, using plated metals, semi-precious gemstones, or adopting a made-to-order model, you can get up and running for far less. Many jewellery founders start their business for under £1,000, using platforms like Shopify or Etsy, with minimal tools, packaging, and small-batch inventory.

A few things to consider when budgeting:

  • Your production model: Holding stock vs. made-to-order, re-selling, dropshipping…
  • Materials & packaging: These can vary hugely in price, always compare suppliers and request samples
  • Photography: You can start with lifestyle images taken on your phone, then upgrade as you grow
  • Website & selling platform: Shopify, Wix, or Etsy all have scalable options
  • Marketing: Focus on organic visibility first (e.g. SEO, Pinterest, email) before investing in paid ads

The beauty of starting now?
You don’t need a huge upfront investment to build a beautiful, profitable brand. What matters most is clarity, consistency, and connection with your audience.

Start with what you have. Grow intentionally. And don’t underestimate what a small, smart jewellery business can become.

If you’re ready to build a brand that gets seen and sells, my support can help you get the structure right from the start, without wasting budget on costly mistakes.

Do I need a licence to sell jewellery in the UK?

You don’t need a licence, but if you’re selling precious metals, you must comply with the UK Hallmarking Act. For handmade jewellery, standard business registration and insurance are enough.

Is it profitable to sell jewellery online?

Yes, absolutely, with the right strategy. Profit margins in jewellery are actually among the highest in retail.

Most product-based businesses operate with slim margins, often around 10–30%.
Jewellery, however, can carry average markups of 100–300%, depending on the materials and brand positioning.

  • Costume / Fashion Jewellery: 300–600% markup is not unusual
  • Sterling Silver Jewellery: often marked up 200–300%
  • Gold / Fine Jewellery: margins can still sit around 100–200% depending on exclusivity, design, and market

This means even small-scale sellers can operate with healthy profit per unit, making it easier to grow sustainably, especially when leveraging organic traffic and direct-to-consumer models.

The Jewellery Market Continues to Grow

  • The global jewellery market is expected to reach $330+ billion by 2026
  • Online jewellery sales are growing faster than in-store, with a notable shift toward direct-to-consumer independent brands

What Makes Online Jewellery Especially Profitable:

  • Low shipping costs relative to product value
  • High perceived value (especially for symbolic or personalised designs)
  • Evergreen products, no expiry, low returns
  • Strong gifting market
  • Opportunity to build a brand around meaning, storytelling, and emotional connection, not just price

Bottom line?
Yes, jewellery is profitable to sell online, if you combine clear brand positioning, healthy margins, and a strategy that prioritises discoverability and conversion (not just aesthetics).

Can I run a jewellery business part-time?

Absolutely. Many makers start part-time and grow gradually. The key is consistency, show up weekly with new content, new designs, or new ways to connect.

Feeling Stuck? Let’s Untangle Things

If you’re trying to figure out how to start a jewellery business, or you’ve already started and feel like you’re spinning your wheels, you’re not alone.

I help jewellery brands of all shapes and stages get seen, get clear, and get selling. From refining your product listings to boosting visibility and traffic, we’ll find the smart, strategic moves that work for you.

Want to chat about your brand or brand-to-be?

👇
Drop me a Message Here, I’ll reply personally within 2 working days.