It isn't a legal requirement to take out Products and Public Liability insurance cover if you make or sell jewellery in the UK however, it is highly recommended, whatever the size of your business, to have it.
WHY DO I NEED INSURANCE TO MAKE & SELL JEWELLERY?
PPL insurance protects you and your business from the unforeseen circumstances that can occur in daily life. As with any business, insurance is an essential expense to protect you should things go wrong.
Accidents and/or incidents happen and could leave your business in a vulnerable state. Without the right level of cover you and your business may not be able to overcome the situation and it can threaten all of the hard work you have put in. Fortunately, it's rare for things to happen, but the risk is always there. Should you find yourself with a claim made against you, it's good to have assistance on hand to manage and deal with it to get your business back up and running as soon as possible.
If you make and sell jewellery with low or high end price tags, you are likely to have volumes of stock, tools and items that could potentially harm another person and, if you teach jewellery making, then the possibility is greater.
Jewellery making is an large part of the UK’s craft industry and our policy is specifically tailored for this in mind, but is also ideal for all craft makers.
So, whatever the type of jewellery you sell, either online or offline, having the right level of cover will protect you, your business and potential customers.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE GoJD AND BPA PPL POLICY?
If you sell your products online, through a gallery or shop or in person at your workshop, product liability insurance is there to cover you should a customer be injured directly because of one of your products. If the customer claims your product is responsible, your insurance will cover compensation and legal fees should you lose a claim.
Public liability insurance is a complementary cover for instances where a customer gets injured or damage to a property is made in connection with your business. This essentially expands further than just your products, focusing on anything related to your business; for example, if someone tripped over a table leg when you were exhibiting at a craft fair. This type of insurance is usually essential in this situation and often required by event organisers.
If your jewellery business holds further risk and you offer training programmes or crafting courses, then the GoJD/BPA PPL cover includes this too.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN TAKING OUT JEWELLERY MAKER OR CRAFT INSURANCE
Make sure you read and fully understand the policy you're taking out. If there are any or details that you aren’t sure about then please ask and know that you are getting the right level of cover for your business.
More things to consider:
If you sell on marketplaces like Etsy, eBay, Amazon Handmade, or other websites (such as your own), then PPL cover is still recommended. It isn’t always clear on the sites themselves whether having insurance is a requirement but, without it, you are putting your business at unnecessary risk. If you are selling products that are handmade then you should seek insurance.
If you are unsure, give us a call or send us a message for more information and clarification. Our PPL insurance policy is tailored specifically for jewellery and craft makers.
DO I NEED INSURANCE IF I MAKE AND SELL JEWELLERY FROM HOME?
It is highly recommended that you do. You should also speak to your home insurance provider to discuss the requirement as many providers will not cover you for business items in your home, regardless of having content insurance, so alternative cover from a more suitable provider may be required.
Many makers consider making and selling jewellery as a hobby and think that they don’t really need it yet, but, if you are directly selling your products, you are putting yourself at risk of a potential claim and should therefore ensure you have insurance to protect you and your business.
DO I NEED INSURANCE TO SELL JEWELLERY OR OTHER CRAFT PRODUCTS AT A FAIR OR EXHIBITION?
Craft fairs and events organisers usually require evidence of your insurance policy. Therefore, we would advise you to take out your cover at the earliest possible opportunity. Both public and product liability will be important in this situation and, as a minimum, £5,000,000 will be required. The GoJD/BPA Policy provides £10,000,000 of cover for members and a Certificate of Insurance Eligibility is available for qualifying members.
