Tips for Attending Gemstone ShowsIf you've been to gem shows, you know how overwhelming and daunting they can be. Although it's difficult to narrow down all those tempting options, your jewelry business profit margin will be greater if you plan ahead and focus on shopping for a particular line and color scheme of jewelry. You must keep the bigger picture in mind and try to keep your emotions out of the design process. Here are some tips for defining your market and researching it so that you can walk in and out of a gemstone show feeling confident in the business investments you've just made. What Is a Gem Show? Gemstone shows and fairs are marketplaces for vendors of gemstones, findings, jewelry supplies, and tools. Due to the large amount of competition between the vendors, prices tend to be competitive. I've found unbelievable deals on high quality gemstones and findings at gem shows. How Do I Find the Nearest Gem Show? To find gem shows near you, you can simply do a Google search for "gemstone show" or "gem fair". Other sources of information are your local convention and visitors' bureau and any lapidary clubs in your area. Is There an Admission Fee? Anyone can attend most gemstone shows. Although you don't usually need a wholesale license to get in, some vendors may ask for your resale permit before letting you buy at wholesale prices. Show admission fees tend to be in the $5 to $10 dollar range. Define Your Market Ahead of Time What market are you trying to target with your jewelry? Don't try to please everyone. Are you trying to appeal to individuals like yourself? What age bracket are you trying to reach? Does your jewelry line appeal to funky or traditional individuals? Research Your Market Next take a trip to your local department store and take note of the colors that are being used for the upcoming season. Look at the jewelry and observe the lengths of the earrings/necklaces, the sizes of the stones, and the other various style elements for the season. While your designs should not be copies or replicas of the jewelry in the stores, you can simply incorporate the observations you make into your own original design ideas. Fashion and jewelry magazines are also a great place to find out what trends are coming into the stores. Attending the Gem Show There will be an overwhelming array of gemstones and supplies at the show. Having a jewelry line style and color scheme in mind will allow you to narrow your focus. Vendors will offer gemstones in more shapes, sizes, cuts and colors than you can imagine. Stick to the colors you've mapped out for yourself and walk through the entire gem show once before buying anything. Jot down and compare the prices of items that you're interested in. Then take a break, go outside for some fresh air, and reflect on the items you saw and really liked. Then review your budget and the jewelry line you have in mind before returning into the gemstone show. This will help you get the best deals on the items you're most interested in, so that you don't blow your budget or become overwhelmed by the options. Author Melissa Jeffries of Turquoise Sands Jewelry creates colorful, vibrant gemstone jewelry that inspires exotic elegance. All pieces are inspired by the beautiful landscapes of the tropics. Her jewelry has been described as "unique, dangly, chunky, artsy and just fun!" Visit http://www.Turquoisesands.com to see Melissa's creations.
MORE RESOURCES updated Tue. March / 19 / 2024 Crafts retailer Joann files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as consumers cut back on pandemic-era hobbies PBS NewsHour Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy As Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies WKTV Joann craft retailer files for bankruptcy The Daily Progress Crafts retailer Joann files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as consumers cut back on pandemic-era hobbies Times Daily Craft and hobby classes in St. Louis St. Louis Magazine One Tank Trips | AdhDiy Craft Cafe KSHB 41 Kansas City News 6 Craft Hobbies Everyone's Talking About In 2024 Country Living UK 8 Craft Hobbies Set To Be Popular This Autumn And Winter Country Living UK Lancaster Countians win PA Farm Show ribbons for crafts, hobbies, plants, square dancing LNP | LancasterOnline The Latest Craze in Hobby Crafting: Becoming a 21st-Century Blacksmith The New York Times 4 Craft Hobbies To Try Out This Summer | Best Summer Crafts 2023 Country Living UK The 20 Most Relaxing Hobbies to Try This Year Country Living UK Hobby Supplies: How to Organize Your Hobby Room with ADHD ADDitude magazine Second Saturday event at Factory attracts shoppers, crafts: in photos Columbia Daily Herald The Alphabetical Guide To Craft Hobbies | A-Z List Of Crafts Country Living UK Rug Tufting: An Old Craft That's New Again Next Avenue Best new hobby deals for 2024: Lego kits, DIY jewelry making, ClassPass subscriptions, and more Mashable National Craft Month - March National Day Calendar Looking to pick up a new hobby? Indigo Studio is here to help. inputfortwayne.com Meet Mike Larisey, owner of Maritime Hobbies & Crafts Ltd Downtown Halifax The calming influence of crochet: How ASU students find relief from stress in the craft - The Arizona State Press The State Press Best craft classes for adults in Los Angeles Los Angeles Times Slemish Area One Day Craft School Farming Life New Year New Skills: 31 Hobbies To Pick Up In 2024 Outlook India Craft fairs, Hobby Con in Williams Lake this weekend Williams Lake Tribune London Named UK's Craftiest City | The Most Creative Areas Country Living UK The Heritage Crafts On The Brink Of Extinction Country Living UK The Hobby Lobby Controversy, Explained The Mary Sue Where to try new hobbies in San Diego County in 2023 The San Diego Union-Tribune Cobblestone Crafts and Hobbies still for sale in Holland Township HollandSentinel.com Cobblestone Crafts listed for sale after four decades for $679K HollandSentinel.com KreaDoe art, craft and hobbies fair IamExpat in the Netherlands Leny Handy Crafts: How a hobby became a business Manila Bulletin Business Intel: Crossroads Hobbies and Crafts Roanoke Times Endangered Crafts and the Destinations Keeping Them Alive (Published 2019) The New York Times Bucktown Crafts Shop Helps Chicago Area Artists Turn Pandemic Hobbies Into New Careers - CBS Chicago Best craft kits for kids that could inspire a new hobby Evening Standard West Virginia Hobbies & Crafts: A 25-year success story Huntington Herald Dispatch The nostalgic crafts that are making a comeback Yahoo Finance UK Druid City Makerspace offers room for people who create arts, crafts Tuscaloosa Magazine Bored at home? Now’s the perfect time to pick up a new hobby CNN Underscored The 16 biggest controversies in Hobby Lobby's five decade history Business Insider Business Intel: Salem Hobby Shop Roanoke Times OPINION: A love letter to arts and crafts Indiana Daily Student Lost trades: The industrial origins of crafts and hobbies National Science and Media Museum 103-year-old-Columbia woman stays active through crafts and community Columbia Daily Herald Hobbies and Crafts Theme Cruises Cruise Critic Hobby Lobby vs. Michaels: Which craft store is better? Business Insider Nobel prizes most often go to researchers who defy specialization – winners are creative thinkers who synthesize ... The Conversation How to Keep Hobbies Organized — Using the Kit Method for Hobbies Apartment Therapy Dawn's Folly grows from hobby corner to shop selling handmade goods Port Clinton News Herald Arts and Crafts Are Experiencing Surge in Popularity Amid COVID-19 Smithsonian Magazine Hobby Lobby To Discontinue 40% Off Coupon Curtis Tucker 10 of the Best Craft Kits for Adults Apartment Therapy Aldi Ireland to sell major hobbies and crafts range this week – with prices from €1.99... The Irish Sun Katie McAllister has a multitude of hobbies that all correlate to crafts The Central Trend
|