Want to Make Money From Metal Clay? Start Here (Podcast episode)
This week’s episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast is packed with practical, confidence-boosting steps to help you start (or grow) a metal clay jewellery business. Jess is joined by metal clay expert Anna Campbell to talk about what makes silver metal clay such an accessible material, how to make your materials budget go further, and how to build a business model that actually suits the way you want to work.
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In this episode you’ll hear why metal clay can be a faster route to building a collection, how to develop a signature style beyond ‘cookie cutter + texture plate’ (even if you’re a beginner), and how showing your process can become a powerful marketing strategy because the transformation from clay to silver is pure magic.
Jess and Anna also explore ways to scale when demand grows, including making your own moulds, exploring casting, and outsourcing specialist skills like stone setting. Plus: hallmarking in the UK, pricing properly, and why confidence is often the missing piece for turning great work into a sustainable income.
you’ll learn:
Why silver metal clay is ideal for business: low tool barrier, fast results, recyclable mistakes
How to reduce costs with supplier discounts and certification
How to develop a signature style (and why it reduces price sensitivity)
When to consider mould-making, casting, plating, and outsourcing
How teaching can become a second income stream (or your main one)
Why you should share your process and how it helps you sell
How the metal clay community can support your growth (connections, learning, confidence)
Choosing a business model: one-of-a-kind, collections, personalised keepsakes, teaching
Commercial thinking: batch making, timing your workflow, and pricing with clarity
Hallmarking in the UK: what it is, why it matters, and how it supports customer trust
The confidence mindset shift: find your people, price properly, keep going
key moments
02:02: Welcome + what this episode covers: getting started + building a metal clay jewellery business
02:42: Invitation to 5 Days of Metal Clay (starts 2 March) + what to expect
03:16: Mention of the Silver Metal Clay Diploma + upcoming cohort
04:13: Tip #1: Keep startup costs low + supplier discounts (incl. training/certification routes)
05:25: Why metal clay is great commercially: make more pieces faster (collection-building speed)
06:10: Metal clay vs sheet metal: why discounts are more possible with clay suppliers
07:10: Tip #2: Develop your signature style (beyond cookie cutters + texture plates)
08:43: Examples of distinctive styles (colour-led vs intricate storytelling work)
10:18: The power of experimentation + “take the pressure off”
12:17: Key business insight: signature style reduces price sensitivity
15:30: Tip #3: Scale with moulds + casting (make one great design, reproduce efficiently)
17:48: Expand into gold/other metals via casting + example of larger-scale success
20:12: Extra growth idea: outsourcing specialist work
22:46: Tip #4: Add teaching as an income stream
24:30: Why metal clay is great for beginner classes
26:23: Tip #5: Show your process online
28:14: Tip #6: Get involved in the metal clay community
32:31: Tip #7: Choose a business model
34:29: Collections + outsourcing as demand grows
36:26: Personalised jewellery model
37:36: Tip #8: Think commercially + price properly
39:22: Batch-making + workflow planning
43:42: Tip #9: Hallmarking in the UK
46:38: Talking to customers about fine silver
48:02: Confidence and finding your customers
49:46: Final reminders + resources
join 5 days of silver metal clay - free
The 5 Days of Silver Metal Clay is a free creative challenge starting on 2nd March 2026.
You’ll learn to turn silver clay into real, hallmark-quality silver jewellery in just five days. Each day introduces a new project and technique, from making a silver name necklace to setting stones, torch firing, and achieving a professional polish. You’ll discover essential skills like texturing, refining, and reconstituting clay so nothing goes to waste, all guided by step-by-step professional videos. The course is designed for complete beginners as well as those with some experience, and you’ll have lifetime access to the projects once they’re released.
Enrol now for free to secure your place and get instant access to the tools and materials list, so you can gather everything you need and be ready to create alongside us.
Mentioned in the episode
Join the free 5 Days of Silver Metal Clay challenge starting on 2nd March https://www.jewellersacademy.com/5-days-of-silver-metal-clay
Explore the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay for a full year of guided learning. https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma-in-silver-metal-clay
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Teaching Jewellery Making online course https://jewelleryschoolonline.teachable.com/p/teaching-jewellery-making
Free jewellery pricing masterclass and calculator https://www.jewellersacademy.com/pricing
Hallmarking for jewellers https://www.jewellersacademy.com/blog/hallmarking-for-jewellery-designer-makers
Alliance for Metal Clay Arts Worldwide https://amcaw.org/