Rings and Things

If you’ve just received our nice new catalog, you may have looked in it for charms.  There are some in there, but for “hard copy” types, the real gold mine is our separate, free Charms Catalog:

Get a copy free with your order from Rings & Things, or buy one separately for $2.  You can always view the Charms Catalog for free on our site!

And of course, our thousands of charms are in our online store, with life-size photos, 24 hours a day.☻☺

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The 2009-2010 Rings & Things catalog, improved by feedback from...you!

Rings & Things introduces exciting changes with our newest two-year catalog, hitting mailboxes as we speak.  This 2009-2010 edition features numerous improvements.  These were based on feedback from countless loyal customers (hi there!):

• It weighs 29% less than the previous edition, saving not only postage but fuel consumption for transport.
• It’s half as thick as the previous one, allowing the use of less packaging for shipment.
• The catalog content has actually increased, from 377 to 400 pages. Free jewelry designs have more than tripled, and there are now 10% more products.
• Colored tabs mark each section of the catalog (for example Gemstones; Swarovski® Crystal; etc.) for quick access.  Each section also has an informative cover page.

As always, our catalog is available for $5 (US), or for free with your order.  (More info on ordering our catalogs.)

Thanks for helping make this our best catalog yet!  When you receive yours, log in below and tell us what you think.

Update: We’re hearing nice things on Twitter about the new catalog.  Thanks @fabfibers @jlyarnworks!
(Follow us on Twitter, we’re called @rings_things.)

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As you know, Rings & Things puts out a catalog every 2 years.  (Our 2009-2010 catalog is coming in the New Year!)  Part of the catalog-production process is to review and revise prices as needed.

For the last two catalogs–that’s 4 years–we chose to not raise gemstone prices across the board but rather “eat” vendor price increases we received over the years.  Unfortunately this year we are forced to implement a price increase for most gemstone beads.

The reasons for the price increase are varied:

• Lack of “rough” material means higher prices for finished gemstones. Gemstones are not a renewable resource.
• Competition for high-demand gemstones has increased prices.
• Vendors have given us multiple price increases over the years.
• The US dollar has lost exchange value compared to the Chinese Yuan (RMB).
• Inbound freight cost has increased over 15%.
• China, where most gemstones are processed, has implemented three cost-of-living minimum-wage increases for its workers.
• New EPA-style laws in China raised our prices.
• China has changed their tax laws, which caused an increase in prices.
• Our desire to maintain a higher-quality gemstone than some of our competitors requires us to seek out new vendor sources at higher prices.

The average price increase is about $1.25 per strand at wholesale price–but many items went up only 25 to 50 cents.  A few items have had a larger price increase due to the multiple vendor price increases we’ve received over the last four years.

We appreciate your business over the last several years, and our commitment is to continue delivering you the highest-quality gemstone beads at the best prices we can.  We think you’ll see and appreciate the difference as always!

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Every autumn, the leaves fly and the Great Pumpkin hits the ground.  (Or is it vice versa?)  It’s time to connect you with great seasonal components and other cool new beads and findings!

That’s what you’ll find in our Fall 2008 catalog supplement, which we mailed out the other day.  Have you gotten yours yet?  Here’s what to look for:

I’m not about to spoil the fun of discovering what’s in the Fall supplement, but here’s my “top 5″ list of favorite new items:

• Sterling silver mosaic shell pendants
• Rich new colors of Swarovski crystal pearls
• Leather chokers with magnetic clasps
• Dog tags for painting, stamping or gluing
• Art Clay metal-clay kits (enameling, UV resin, photopolymer, overlay paste)

When you receive your copy of the Fall supplement, let us know what your new favorites are!

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