Retail Bead Sales Business

[Polly]

Hi Joe,

Do you plan on selling mostly loose beads and jewelry supplies?  
If so, do you plan on letting your customers use tools that you would have on-hand for finishing the ends, etc.?
And also, how do plan on displaying the beads & other supplies?

Or do you plan on making jewelry to fill most of the booth/kiosk?  And then having a small section of beads that people can buy, or point to for special order jewelry?

What's your feelings about base metal findings vs. Sterling silver and 12kt GF?  If using a lot of gemstones, precious metals are better ... but that can all add up to quite expensive.

What stringing methods are you comfortable with?
That too will help me come up with some tool ideas.

One thing I think you'll want to do right away, is compile a list of the gemstone beads you want to stock, and promptly make signs and hand-outs that talk about the various energies / healing properties attributed to gemstones.  There are a zillion lists like this on the internet, that you can use to get your ideas of stones you want to carry.  I'll try to post a good basic list here early next week ... unless some else beats me to it!

We also carry a comprehensive (726-page!'> book called "Love is in the Earth: A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" that you might want to have available at your booth for people to look things up in.  (It's stock # 61-169 ... I'll get a link in here later today, or you can type 61-169 into the search in our online store.)

Also, for less-beady stuff:
There is a magazine called "New Age Retailer" that might have some good suppliers in it, for books, T-Shirts, candles, crystals, etc.
You can get a free subscription at
http://www.newageretailer.com.  (Somehow, I'm on their mailing list too ... I think maybe as a potential advertiser.)

As with most magazines that are free, this magazine is mostly filled with New Product News releases from the various suppliers in it.  Once you're established, that makes for boring reading, but it can be very handy when you're looking for suppliers and new stock ideas.
Some of those suppliers may be able to give you some pointers on stocking some non-bead items.

Sorry I answered your question with more questions.
I'll try to have some more complete answers after I have a better idea of what kinds of jewelry you're aiming for.

--Polly

[csvinc]

Please help me. I am preparing to start a bead and new age jewelry sales shop. I plan to start moderately small at a Swap-Mart and eventually expand into a small shopping center or mall kiosk.

What is recommended as a "start-up" kit or what tools and supplies should I start with?

Thanks for your help.

Joe

[Luann Udell]

Some suggestions for basic stock items:
1) tools: round nose plyers (for making loops in headpins); chain nose plyers (for bending wire); flush cutters (for trimming headpins).  I also recommend carrying those new bead-crimping pliers.  These four tools, along with very sharp scissors, are my primary jewelry-making tools.  You can start off offering the inexpensive ones that retail for around Ů-9 each, then offer nicer ones as your clientele grows more demanding.

2) beads: that will depend on your target audience.  You'll probably want a little something for everyone, but younger folks are into the leather cords and macrame string with more ethnic looking beads (trade beads and inexpensive beads from China & India) while women who are in their 30's & up seem to gravitate to either seed-beading techniques or jewelry-making with what I call "bigger-than-seed-beads"--larger than 4o size beads.  There's some overlap, but in general, people who are into beading with seed beads demand a whole nother bead inventory (including a huge inventory of colors & styles of beads) than the folks for make jewelry with larger beads.  

Also, I've found that people very new to jewelry-making like those inexpensive and gaudy beads from India and China, but people who have been making jewelry for awhile like a wide range of European glass beads (especially the Czech pressed-glass beads & Swarovski crystals).  

As far as how to sell beads, I love stores that have bajillions of beads set out in old printers' type-trays, all arranged by color and material--it is so appealing!  But I think it will also drive you crazy dealing with people that want to buy 3 ten cent beads, 7 two cent beads, 50 five cent beads, etc.  To force higher purchases, you may want to consider bagging beads in lots of 10, 50 or even 100, and offer a good selection of stranded beads.  By offering a better per-bead price on these, you can encourage people to spend more $$.  Also, I'm sure it cuts down on shoplifting.

I make and wholesale my jewelry to stores across the country, and I mail-order most of my stock,  But even though I don't buy most of my stock retail,  I still try to patronize the bead stores in my area when I can.  It's nice to know I can get to a bead store in my town when I need an emergency supply.  So I appreciate any deals they offer me on bulk-buying and frequent purchases.  

3) findings, supplies, etc.
It's nice to offer inexpensive base metal findings, but if you want to educate and "grow" your market, it's also nice to start teaching people the value of sterling, gold-filled and perhaps even real gold findings.  Also, I have learned the hard way to mostly rely on American-made findings.  They cost more, but the quality is worth it.  Findings take a lot of abuse, and it's frustrating to have to redo an entire necklace because the clasp broke--or have the necklace break and lose the beads!  

4) classes:  The best way to grow a bead audience is to offer lots of classes, workshops, bead trunk shows and lectures on jewelry-making, beads, etc.  People who come often end up buying more stuff, too!  :^)
Okay, I've run out of time, but hope this is enough to get you thinking.  
hth,
Luann