pugdog
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May 15, 2007, 4:12 AM
Post #2 of 4
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Re: [sandy47] distributors, importers?
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That's a broad issue.
If you don't have firemountain gems catalog, get it. They carry most things, and as a last resort (even if you don't use them first) you can find most things. If you start to order from them on a regular basis, you can get in on better deals.
As for swarovski, you need to shop around. There are a number of wholesale importers of the crystals, but none seem to have customer loyalty programs or reasons to buy from them exclusively. Shop around. It's a commodity item. For smaller quantities, you'll be hard pressed to beat firemountain. They got very competitive with the crystals.
With swarovski the birthstone colors and clear and clear AB are things to stock first, in 4mm and 6mm bicones and rounds, then expand up into some 8mm and down into the 3mm. Cubes and fancy shapes will depend on your market.
As for semiprecious stones--- mail order is risky. Even from 'good' suppliers. Pictures are always of average lots (or the best item). You really want to go to gem shows wholesale or other wise, and bring your tax id and see if you can get items you want at better prices. Usually for cash, and 100-200 minimum orders, you'll start to get vendors willing to deal.
You need to develop an eye for good stones, and not only that, but colors and shapes that go with the designs and items your customers and local market is interested in. that becomes the art of staying in business :)
Get listed on the various bead store lists, and try to get vendors to stop by as they pass through town. They can't stop by if they don't know you are there.
One thing you need to concentrate on is customer service. You need to provide what your customers/market wants and needs, and what mail order can't supply. There is no magic formula, your market isn't going to be the same as ours, or any other shop. We have 3 main bead shops in town here, and each has it's own market and inventories.
Helby is one company that imports and sells to bead shops. I used to order from them a lot, but have an issue that is now going on for a year and a half, and it's cost them a huge amount of business from us.
I've been extremely happy with Firemountain over all, and although there are always problems, they work to fix them ASAP. We started by using the Accuflex which we found to be better than any of the other stuff out there. Most of our customers have switched from other brands to it. We offer it at discounted pricing.
Caravan Beads wholesales, if you get on their list. They import japanese seed beads and swarovski. Their prices are reasonable, over all. We order most of our bulk seed beads from them, though we don't sell a lot of those any more.
You need to figure your market,and if you goal is to sell your own lampwork beads, make sure you have all the go-withs. That depends on your beads, your market, and other factors you'll have to evaluate.
We import our own bali, directly, avoiding middleman charges, but that means huge orders, and with the price of silver almost doubling, that can be a huge burdon. If you are looking to carry bali silver one thing you can offer your customers is "by the gram" pricing for mixed beads, something mail order cannot do. If you want to discuss this, PM me. I don't want to get into pricing and issues like that in a public forum, because it changes rapidly and search engines archive stuff.
PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
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I am from Michigan, and my partner and I (both long time beaders and lampworkers) are opening a shop in the very near future. If it is not bad manners, may I ask whom to go through for the best deals in semi-precious, swarovski crystals, jewelry making components and such? I do not even know where to begin 
I thank you in advance for your response, it is appreciated
I checked out the leads you sent me, they were helpful. The swarovski is still up in the air....I can't figure out why they don't have reps, searching out bead businesses to make sales, kind of like drug reps that go to Drs. offices? Any more help you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Again, thank you so much for your kindness.