How to run your jewelry workshop

Published 2026-06-05

In most jewelry stores the workshop bills as much as the counter, yet it's run on a notepad and memory. The result: customers' pieces get misplaced, quotes are forgotten and deliveries slip. Fixing it doesn't take more staff — just a clear process.

1. Log the piece the moment it comes in

Every piece entering the workshop belongs to a customer and you're its custodian. Record what you receive, its condition and, if needed, a photo. Without an intake record, a dispute becomes your word against theirs.

2. Tell repairs apart from custom orders

They're not the same: a repair fixes a customer's existing piece; a custom order creates a brand-new piece from scratch. The custom order needs design specs and reference images; the repair needs the problem described. Mixing them confuses the bench.

3. Clear deposit and balance from the start

Taking a deposit when you accept the job protects your investment in materials and labour, especially for custom work. Record how much was paid and how much is left so handover doesn't end in an argument about the amount.

4. Visible statuses and a promised date

'Received → in progress → ready → delivered' with a committed due date turns 'is it ready?' into a one-glance answer. And it lets you prioritise what's due soonest instead of what you happen to remember.

OpalFlow's Workshop module brings this together: one order per repair or custom job, with customer, status, deposit and balance, promised date, a description of the piece and reference images for custom orders — alongside the same inventory and customers the rest of the platform uses.