TopTen Tips for Opening a Wholesale Jewelry Business

You’ve spent some time researching and planning your next move, and you have come to the conclusion that jewelry is something you would like to take a shot at. Of course, this is a business that is loaded with possibilities… but it’s also a tricky trade to get into, if you hope to make some money. Taking a walk through the diverse and powerful pages of toptenwholesale.com, manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, and offpricenetwork.com can give you some ideas about the operators who are already succeeding in this business, but maybe you have a different thing in mind, and you’d like to have a go yourself? Today I’m going to talk about launching and managing your own wholesale jewelry business, so read on… and keep in mind that diamonds are not necessarily your only best friend!

Whether you like to hand-make your own custom jewelry, or purchase from an existing designer, there are endless choices when it comes to selecting the right style and target market for your product. It helps to have a personal interest in the kind of jewelry you sell, since most wholesale operations are made better when they’re supported by passionate and enthusiastic individuals that really enjoy the trade. Since jewelry is a historically significant item, this could be a no-brainer for the jewelry lover in you… but what steps to take from there? It’s not enough to simply love jewelry, and there are some specific things to address when you’re getting into the business. Here’s a handy TopTen list of tips for opening a wholesale jewelry business, to get you started:

1. The jewelry business is highly competitive and possibly high-stakes, so take time to cover yourself, legally speaking. Think of a creative name for your business, and take the time to come up with one that effectively speaks to customers bout what your jewelry business is all about. Have fun with it, too… because a humorous and catchy name will stick in people’s minds far better than a staid and proper one that sounds like a shopping mall cookie-cutter wedding ring store. You also need to make sure your desired name isn’t already somebody else’s. Check with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office… consult the Secretary of State… or reach out to a lawyer.
2. While we’re on the topic of legalities, let’s make sure you’re up to speed with your city and county on any needed licenses and permits. You might need to ensure that you are zoned to operate a business from home. You will also need to register your business, and get familiar with tax forms and policies. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce, or the Small Business Development Center in your city, since these things tend to be different for everyone, depending on where you live and operate your business. This goes double for those of you who are looking to source from China, India, or any other one of the big overseas suppliers.
3. Start looking into jewelry shows, because they can be a mecca for those who seek something new. As customers and buyers flock to the big exhibitions – as well as the smaller, more local ones – you would do well to put together a nice-looking display of your wares. This is a very important point if you’re going to show… because nothing will keep people at a 20-foot radius away from your display, if you decide to simply toss a few earrings onto a piece of black cloth. Don’t think small, either… since most jewelry is rather tiny and detailed, you’ll need display pieces that are big and bold, to put your table in the foreground.
4. Now you need a website. This is pretty much mandatory for the successful seller, and you’ll want to make sure that you get a lot of traffic too. When designing the site, keep simplicity in mind, and don’t load the site with painfully-slow streaming galleries of jewelry photos that come up in a steady and unyielding procession… right on your home page. Make that home page a pleasure to work with, and keep it clean, sharp, and easy to read. There’s a lot of jewelry sites out there, and they mostly range from clumsily amateurish to ridiculously cluttered. Your site should be one of the winners, and that’s something you have complete control over!
5. You want to make some big sales? Sure you do. Take measures to accept credit cards.
6. Experiment with seller sites, as well as promoting and selling your goods on your own site. Some buyers will only trust you if you’ve got a presence on a major forum, but you need to keep in mind that you’ll have to keep your activity levels high, and let people know that you’re always there to give support when someone needs to know something about your product. Sometimes the only thing a sale hinges on is the speed of the response.
7. While you’re tinkering around with the seller sites and your own site, don’t forget the jewelry forums. Jewelry is a big and popular field, and there are a lot of sites that cater to everyone from the rank novice, to the juggernaut sellers and even manufacturers. Get in the know. Get recognized for asking good questions… and eventually for providing good answers. In time, you will be known for your name, and it will create an environment of respect for your commitment to the business.
8. Don’t be cheap when it comes to pictures of your jewelry! You’re probably getting used to hearing me say that this is a competitive business, so why make it harder for yourself by offering your customers grainy, low-res, poorly-colored, and embarrassingly bad pictures you shot with your mobile phone’s camera? This is fine for your secret mission shots of the competition’s stuff, and little snaps to send your associates… but anything your customers see should be in full detail, and without any doubts! Invest in a real camera, or hire a pro. Simple as that. If you really want to be creative and artsy, you can scan your jewelry ona  flatbed scanner. Very cool results can be achieved this way, and it will set you apart from the rest if you make them a theme in your presentations.
9. Custom orders can be a blessing or a curse. Be prepared to face the fact that your customers might want something unique, and plan out your strategy for working within some acceptable limits for accommodating them without putting your production and distribution to a grinding halt.
10. Little service touches and detail-oriented signature style makes a huge difference. Offering customers free gift wrap can increase your sales, so make sure to provide a selection of different types of boxes, bags, and interesting pouches and delicate liner papers. This is especially important as a selling point around the holidays. Offer to ship the gift for them, to the recipient’s address. Include interesting and special information about the materials used to make the jewelry right in the package. Design and implement professional-looking tags and labels to polish your image when the customer opens the box. The deal maker or breaker will be the moment they clap eyes on your product, and it will seal the deal for continued sales if you impress them the first time.

Stay organized and be business-minded… but don’t forget to have fun with this thing, too! Jewelry can provide a lifetime of lasting memories for anyone, and it could be the ticket to your success in the wholesale business as you continue to Find it. Source it. Profit!

Wholesale Clothing and Accessories Company Brings New Items for Holiday Rush

With the holidays barely even a month away, Shopforbags.com, a leading national wholesale distributor, is helping retailers prepare for the Christmas rush by adding new fall and winter items to its already extensive list of trendy wholesale clothing and accessories. The site has expanded its Katydid Collection product line up, adding women’s cardigans, snow boots, valour jumpsuit hoodie sets, and long sleeve tees for children.

Top quality products at affordable prices make ShopforBags.com a favorite among retailers across the US . As the exclusive wholesale provider of Katydid Collection products, Shopforbags.com carries a wide range of items from the fashion line including products for men and children.

“The holiday season is a huge part of my annual sales, and I rely a great deal on Shopforbags.com” said Vicki Lee from Bella Nina Boutique. “Rhinestone apparel is always a strong seller. I expect the new valour hoodie sets with rhinestone designs to be very popular with my customers and to help me end the year strong.”

In addition to new items, Shopforbags.com has also restocked its most popular products for the busy shopping season, including its signature handbags in paisley, checkered and cross motifs. There is only a $100 minimum order and retailers can mix and match goods from thousands of different fashion products. For last minute retailers that need to stock their shelves, it’s not a problem. All orders ship within 48 hours, so there is time to order before the holiday rush. Order only what you need without worrying about delays in restocking.

Follow Shopforbags.com on Twitter for the latest updates on new styles available and for information on special offers. Order over $350 with checkout code “35VD” at Shopforbags.com, and ShopforBags.com is going to ship your orders for free.

About Shopforbags.com
Shopforbags.com is a leading distributor of wholesale handbags, apparel and fashion. Launched in 1999, the wholesale company supplies fashion merchandise to thousands of stores throughout the U.S., providing the latest trends at reasonable prices. For more information, visit www.shopforbags.com.

Time to Get Into the Mirage Jewelry and Merchandise Show!

Jewelry is in the spotlight once again… and with the economy looking a bit down, manufacturers and sellers are trying to heat things up by forging smoking-hot deals that make the most of those hard-earned dollars! I’d like to take a minute to point out that while you spend hours scouring the various places on the Internet… and using powerful vertical resources like toptenwholesale.com, manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, and offpricenetwork.com for the best partners and prices… you can get some early info on one of the big shows of 2010 that will be making heads turn in the jewelry business. Intergem produces over 90 Jewelry Shows across the country annually, and they have joined forces with LEAP Trade Shows to expand its presence in the Merchandise Marketplace bringing you The Mirage Jewelry & Merchandise Show. Their goal is to bring VALUE for your investment by providing an affordable show with the best service with quality buyers. Come to the show, and meet Retailers and Wholesalers, as well as Cash & Carry Buyers!

If you’re a potential exhibitor, here’s some important things to consider about this show:

Your Booth Price is only $1,880 for a 10′ x 10′ booth which includes 500 watts electricity and NO UNION DRAYAGE FEES for move in and out which is a great addition to your booth package.

• 10’ x 10’ standard booth

• 8’ high backdrop

• 2 draped tables, 2 chairs, trash can

• Security Lock up

• Booth ID Signs

• 500 watts electricity

Most importantly, great booth locations are still available! Marketing efforts for this event will be focused on direct mail, email , telemarketing, magazines, Internet, local markets, alternative media, and more! For those who worry about accommodations, room nights at the Mirage for a required fee of $89 a night. This offer extends through Sat-Wed, hotel tax NOT included.

Join the event in Las Vegas!

Mirage Event Center

February 28 – March 3, 2010

Las Vegas, Nevada

“We are committed to provide

QUALITY BUYERS

and the

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

at an

AFFORDABLE PRICE.”

- Paul Holder

Contact Paul Holder directly!

The Mirage Jewelry and Merchandise Show

Phone (877) 248-5327 ext 701

Fax (877) 248-1022

paulholder@vpexpo.com

TopTen Tips for Importing and Exporting This Holiday

It looks like foreign trade has experienced a very turbulent and predictably headache-inducing conclusion… after the global economic recession triggered a wave of changes and reassessments in everything; from foreign policy, to how goods are valued on the international market. In short, it’s all up in the air right now, and it would seem almost as if there is no order to any of it… but the good news is that amidst the chaos lies a great deal of opportunity! The other side of this is that the opportunities will only be discovered by the wholesalers and retailers who are willing to dig deeper than everyone else, and expose the best chances to build valuable relationships and find the sources that can be relied upon. A large part of your search for great partners in this field can be narrowed down by visiting the directories at toptenwholesale.com, manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, and offpricenetwork.com for a head start. This is one of the best ways to locate those great items like general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more!

Another thing to do is start with some ground rules in export and import. While the topic can seem a little broad at first glance, importing and exporting can be explained best by starting with the basics. If you are trying to get your head around what to do with all of the information, advice, and statistical data available – but you’ve found no solid starting point – this guide may be for you! Read on to see what I have to say about the TopTen things to look out for when kicking off your own export and import business…

1.Always maintain your integrity, and try to get into a business that you know something about… and enjoy doing. I’m not going to kid you, this can be a very tough business. I’ve probably quit about a half-dozen times while out here in China. It helps a lot to have a personal interest in whatever you’re selling, since motivation can hit an all-time low when you’re back’s against the wall in a deal. The best part of this is the feeling you’ll have when you emerge triumphant!

2.Focus on the customer… under-promise and over deliver. Bad service – it’s everywhere. It can also become your best friend, since so many other companies are willing to go this route. If you’re the one that gains a reputation for being the customer service king or queen, you’ll be in a very good place indeed.

3.Never ever run out of cash. What? You haven’t been reading the headlines since late 2008? There’s a lot of trouble you can get into by using credit recklessly, and my advice is to avoid it altogether every chance you get. Sometimes it’s necessary for security reasons, or to make the conversion or repatriation of currency possible… but you should always back your moves up with cold, hard cash if you want to sleep soundly at night. Harder to do than using credit, but it may save your business in the event of another period of instability in the global market.

4.Hit the books. Whether you opt to take international trade classes at the college level, or just spend a lot of time researching the topic, you’re going to have to learn something in detail before you blast off on some adventure in the wild and often unruly world of foreign trade. Grab a cup of coffee, and find a comfy chair… because you’re going to be reading and researching for some time before you ever reach out to a foreign supplier or government entity. Want proof? Check this out. Instant headache!

5.Personally visit your offshore suppliers or customers, and while you’re at it… visit the trade shows too. I can’t stress this one enough. You must get ample face time in front of your new trade partners, if you even hope to get the best price, best service, and best chance of not getting ripped off! Scams are coming out of the woodwork these days, and it will only get worse before it gets better. If you fall into the trap of believing the stuff on somebody’s website without ever knowing anything about them or making them feel personally obligated to you, then you are asking for trouble.

6.Inspect and approve merchandise before it is shipped. This one kind of ties in with point number 5… but it’s worth giving its own number. If you’re shipping a high-volume load of goods, and you’ve put a lot of money behind it… do us all a favor and take a flight out to wherever you are sourcing from. I know a guy from Africa who supplies uniforms and industrial safety wear to companies in his home country, and he always makes sure he’s the last to personally touch the shipping container before it’s locked up and transferred to the ship. Guess what? He’s never been ripped off since he started doing it. He also reckons he’s made up for the travel expense with the money that wasn’t lost.

7.Take advantage of online resources. Become an online resource. Nothing beats the Internet for ease of information-gathering… but when you become the source of information, the world really opens up to you. This doesn’t mean you need to be an expert in the entire field, but if you begin posting your findings and stories on the Internet, you’ll be amazed at how many others are looking for the same info as you were, back when you were just a noob…

8.Consider hiring an international trade consultant… but don’t neglect to become personally familiar with all monetary transactions. In short, hire the right person for the critical stuff… but make sure you know enough to keep that bean-counter from taking a little skim off the top.

9.Use a trade lawyer for agent and distributor agreements and licensing requirements. Not much more I can say about this one, since the legal stuff is something few of us enjoy sinking our teeth into. Make sure you get the right person for the job, and get updates on what’s going on at all major turning points.

10.Start on a very small scale. My mum used to tell me if I played with fire, I will get burned. Start with a small fire, until your hide gets thick enough to handle the really hot stuff.

With these little nuggets of tried-and-true wisdom, you can feel good about making the move towards expanding your horizons to include the vast array of goods that are available from outside sources. Don’t fear the challenges that lie ahead, and be prepared to do the work required to get yourself up to speed on handling this new operation of yours. If you’re looking at checking out the China market for some wholesale goodies, remember that doing business with China can at times be on friendly terms… and often turn into aggressive ones in a big hurry. Recent financial leverage gained by the PRC has made them the new bully on the block in some regards, and you’ll find that this attitude can manifest itself quite openly at the bargaining table… but you may be surprised to find another bargaining session taking place right before your goods are released to be shipped! Remember the guidelines above, and take a deep breath as you Find it. Source it. Profit!

Wholesale Clothing Deals from Fashion Source

Tis the season for good deals, and in times like these, who is not looking for the best bargains? Thanks to wholesalers and importers listed on TopTenWholesale, you no longer have to sacrifice quality for bargains. One such wholesaler and importer that anyone who sells clothing should take a look at is Fashion Source.

Wholesale Fashion Clothing

For the past 15 years, Fred Amini, has been catering to small to medium size business as well as online resellers. They are located in Los Angeles, and due to the relationships that Fashion Source has with his vendors, he is able to offer quality fashion clothes, wholesale juniors clothing, plus size apparel, and much more at far below regular wholesale prices. In addition to offering Grade A clothing, Fashion Source stocks a large line of fashion accessories perfect for any boutique.

Not only is Fashion Source offering great deals to any clothing reseller, but they constantly update their website with the hottest selling items. Their website is having recently undergone major changes and upgrades for easier navigation and added better quality lines of clothes. The website offers wholesale fashion apparel for men, women, junior and kids. Their junior contemporary line has been a solid success since the addition most recently. Women’s collection is a high end line at an exceptional value. The kid’s line is what started their website and it consists of infant girls and girls fancy dresses, christening dresses and infant boys christening sets. Fashion sunglasses for men and women have been another recent additional success. New items and styles are added weekly to their inventory. Retailers have a big selection to choose from in each category. Quality merchandise, superb customer service and styles variations are some of the reasons for repeated visits of current customers and constant growth of new customers. “Fred Amini”, the owner, is really excited about the growth and attention that the website has been getting and is looking forward to expand, add new lines to the website for his valuable customers in retail industry. For online ordering and any inquiries, call 213-623-3130, email at fashionsourcenet@aol.com or visit FashionSourcenet.com

Toptenwholesale.com Report: Orange Zone, Inc.

Looking for general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more can be a real test sometimes, especially when there’s a lot of new products out there… and not much time to sort through it all. While sites like  toptenwholesale.com, manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, and offpricenetwork.com can help you cut through the haze, it’s often a good idea to check our regular updates to see what else is going on in the ever-changing world of wholesale.

This time, I’m going to point out a leading online wholesaler of off-price clothing named Orange Zone Inc. This company is going to become your best friend for sourcing the hottest fashions without having to pay top prices, especially if you’re looking for plus-size apparel! Orange Zone is putting the emphasis on quality, value, and purchasing new overstock apparel directly from the nation’s largest manufacturers and suppliers. Here’s a few points to consider about this amazing company:

Quality plus-size apparel

just got easier to source!

• Successful strategic partnerships that have been in effect since 1996 allow Orange Zone to provide you with the best deals on fashion at the lowest possible prices. That’s real buying power, and the savings are passed directly to you!

• Buying the latest fashion in large wholesale volume brings the discounts to you.

• The company carefully sorts through and categorizes merchandise into unique, marketable and right-sized wholesale lots. That means no odds-and-ends, and les guesswork!

• This company’s methods are built specifically for small to mid sized apparel retailers, on-line sellers, apparel distributors, and exporters.

• All of the apparel purchased is First Quality and Grade-A Authentic Merchandise.

• Orange Zone does not buy irregular or returns. You will receive the same product found in your mid and high end apparel companies and department store retailers… except for the incredibly low prices!

As if that wasn’t enough, the other great advantage is Orange Zone’s advantage is found in the shipping program and customer service. Every order is treated with care, and phone calls or emails are answered immediately. Products are 100% guaranteed, making the process much less painless, as you discover your next number one source for apparel. With no minimum dollar amount on orders required, you should give Orange Zone a try… and find out what happens when you discover a solid partner in the wholesale business as you continue to Find it. Source it. Profit!

Yanks Win 27th World Series; Wholesalers Cheer!

It looks to me like the whole country is fed up with bad news, news about the global economy, accounts of countries playing tug of war, and updates on prices going up and down… because the headlines are positively lit up with late-breaking stories of the New York Yankees and their latest big win in the World Series. This could result in a whole lot more than just a ticker tape parade in the Big Apple, but maybe it will become a serious sales extravaganza that makes your numbers for this year go from a foul ball, to a home run with bases loaded! Start looking around at the sites that feature wholesale goods like toptenwholesale.com and its network of sites manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, offpricenetwork.com to get a glimpse at the amazing general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more that carry the Yankees logo, and other baseball-related themes.

Just to give you an idea of what I’m seeing from where I stand, there’s a few items besides the usual headgear and jackets that caught my eye. Here’s some of the more interesting – and maybe unusual – items that help buyers get into the fun of supporting their favorite baseball team:

• Wholesale sunglasses with MLB logos and designs…

• Sculpted Yankees mugs and cups for your morning coffee…

• Shot glasses and bar equipment…

• MLB / Yankees reclining chair. Yes, a reclining chair…

• Yankees jewelry and pins…

• Game ticket frames, mega-tickets, and ticket albums…

• MLB Yankees pet clothes…

It sure makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Are you being careful to offer the gifts and discount items that your customers are looking for? Be the one to pitch like the Yankees (who were positively smoking Philly with the pitches) and get your customers to take a swing! Keep in mind that the big parade in honor of the New York Yankees will be held on November 11 down the Canyon of Heroes… this could be the time to think about putting Yankees gear in front of everyone you can reach, since it will be a huge event that requires a lot of fresh merchandise and memorabilia to satisfy the need s of die-hard fans who want to show their undying support for their team. Be the one they turn to for the hot goods they want, and be sure to browse the pages of toptenwholesale.com to Find it. Source it. Profit!