| How often have you received or purchased | | | | is their design that comes out of the finished |
| anything that is completely handmade? Some of | | | | product and not that of some faceless, |
| you may answer probably. Some may say | | | | anonymous designer who know nothing about |
| occasionally. Others, rarely or even never. | | | | their individual preference. This flexibility of making |
| Handmade products are perceived as more | | | | customized designs is made possible by the wide |
| expensive because of the extra time, effort and | | | | range of materials available for purchase such as |
| materials used in making them. This perception is | | | | gemstones, metals, crystals and plastics. Because |
| even more prevalent in the jewelry-making | | | | people get to choose which materials and which |
| business - which explains why a piece of jewelry | | | | shapes to include in making their own bracelets, |
| such as a bracelet tends to cost more. | | | | they also consider the finished product as |
| Even bracelets made from less expensive | | | | extensions of their own personality - which |
| materials such as crystals, plastics, polished wood | | | | makes these bracelets even more valuable to |
| and clay are proportionally more expensive than | | | | those who will receive them as gifts. |
| the usual consumer items. The question that leads | | | | Handmade bracelets are not just for those who |
| many people to ask is: are handmade bracelets | | | | want to give them away as gifts. These items |
| more valuable? | | | | are also valuable end-products for people who |
| To people who have received these bracelets as | | | | engage in this activity as a hobby. These people |
| gifts, the answer can only be a resounding yes. | | | | are not just composed of bored housewives, |
| Here are the two most common reasons why: | | | | retirees and the unemployed. A growing number |
| - The Uniqueness of the Product - In an era | | | | of hobbyists who engage in this activity are |
| where even high-end jewelry is mass produced, | | | | people who are employed in professions that do |
| there's no question that these bracelets will come | | | | not produce any tangible products such as |
| out as one of a kind. With the variety of bracelet | | | | accounting, information technology (IT), sales and |
| materials available out there that consumers can | | | | personnel management. Studies have shown that |
| purchase, the possibilities are slim that multiple | | | | hobbies that produce creative and tangible |
| copies of the same bracelet will be produced | | | | products such as bracelet-making has some |
| from the combinations of designs that will be | | | | therapeutic benefits for these professionals. Even |
| chosen by those who prefer to make handmade | | | | though the bracelets themselves may not have |
| bracelets to give as gifts or to keep as part of | | | | any significant physical value, they are |
| one's jewelry collection. Unique bracelets will | | | | nevertheless worthy symbols of well-being for |
| certainly stand out in a crowd of commercially | | | | those who spend quality time creating them. |
| produced items. Simply put - more unique equals | | | | Whether as gift items, as hobbyists' therapeutic |
| more value | | | | symbols or as collectibles, these bracelets are |
| - The Flexibility of Design - People who choose to | | | | definitely worth more than their actual value for |
| make bracelets on their own always assert that it | | | | many people. |