How I Use AI to Support My Jewelry Business
As a one-person business owner, I wear a lot of hats. I’m the designer, the metalsmith, the photographer, the shipping department, the bookkeeper, the class instructor, the marketing team… and the list goes on. Over the last couple of years, I’ve learned that in order to keep growing my business and maintain my energy and creativity, I need to find ways to work smarter, not just harder.
One of the tools I’ve started leaning on is artificial intelligence — or AI. I know it might sound a little futuristic or impersonal at first (especially in a handmade business!), but I’ve actually found it to be incredibly helpful in really practical, human-centered ways. In this post, I wanted to pull back the curtain and share how I use AI to support different parts of my business — and how it helps me stay focused on what matters most: making jewelry and connecting with people.
✍️ Writing Help for Emails, Blogs, and More
Writing is one of the most time-consuming parts of running a creative business — and not necessarily something I thought I’d be doing so often when I became a metalsmith. Between class descriptions, social media captions, email newsletters, blog posts, and product listings, there’s a lot to write. Sometimes I know what I want to say, but I’m too tired or overwhelmed to sit down and type it all out clearly.
That’s where AI comes in. I use it like a writing partner. I feed it the details I want to include — like my class schedule, a story I want to tell, or product listing information — and it helps me turn those thoughts into something cohesive and easy to read. I always review and edit everything so it still sounds like me, but having that first draft or idea structure saves me so much time and stress.
📬 Smarter, More Consistent Communication
If you’re on my email list or follow me on Instagram, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a caption or newsletter that AI helped me write. It doesn’t mean I’m not behind the content — I still plan it all out and give the AI the tone and information I want. It just helps me show up more consistently, which is especially helpful during busy seasons when I’m at markets every weekend or running back-to-back classes.
Basically, I use AI for anything that would take me a long time to write from scratch but needs to sound clear and friendly.
📈 Behind-the-Scenes Help
Beyond writing and brainstorming, AI has also helped me with things like drafting grant applications, creating a pricing strategy for classes, writing my resume, and planning out timelines for studio upgrades and moves. These are things I used to dread doing alone — they’d stay on my to-do list for weeks. Now I have a tool to help me take the first step, and that makes everything feel more manageable.
💛 Why It Works for Me
You might be wondering, “Isn’t your whole brand about handmade work? Doesn’t using AI take away from that?” I totally get that concern — but honestly, I’ve found the opposite to be true. The more support I have with the logistical, time-consuming parts of running a business, the more energy I have for the hands-on work that really matters to me.
AI doesn’t design my jewelry or teach my classes. It doesn’t replace my creativity or my voice. It just gives me space to focus on the parts of my business that can’t be automated — the parts that make it special.
And as someone who’s still recovering from a tough few years — personally and professionally — any tool that helps me protect my energy while continuing to grow is worth embracing.
A Final Thought
If you’re a fellow artist or small business owner and you’ve been curious about using AI, I say give it a try. It doesn’t have to be intimidating or take over your work. For me, it’s become a quiet partner in the background — helping me stay organized, communicate clearly, and keep showing up with heart.
Thanks for reading and for being part of this journey with me. Every little bit of efficiency behind the scenes helps me spend more time doing what I love: making jewelry, teaching classes, and connecting with this amazing community. 💛
– Skyler
