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!

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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

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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!

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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!

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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!

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A man by the name of Sir Markadoo illustrates exactly what happens when an ordinary person takes their extraordinary belief – whatever it may be founded upon – and allows it to shape the future by creating an unstoppable will to succeed. Much like the recently-departed Michael Jackson, this company’s founder has been doing things the hard way… by working to provide each and every customer with the highest level of service and satisfaction! In this case, it was back in 1994 when Sir Markadoo decided to buy two dozen T-shirts, and printed religious messages on them. From this one step, his business was launched, and a year later his operation had expanded to a 700 square foot space that held a variety of products including fragrances, body oils and lotions, as well as bath and shower gels. Because of his drive to provide the best products at the best possible prices, the company quickly found itself housed in a 2,500 square foot facility. Today the company is known as Heavenly Body Products International, and it is operating within a 10,000 square foot warehouse in Decatur, Georgia USA. His business is flourishing, and covers both the needs of wholesalers and retailers alike. This – coupled with a strong online presence – has propelled the company to new highs, and shows a great deal of promise to further expand into other markets as well.

As a wholesaler, Heavenly Body Products International has been helping entrepreneurs with their own business dreams, by helping them launch their own small businesses with $100 starter kits of either body products or T-shirts. Sounds simple, because it is simple. In a wholesaler capacity, Heavenly Body Products International helps entrepreneurs launch their own small business with $100 starter kits of either body products or T-shirts. With a company creed that states “We help God’s people prosper,” and Sir Markadoo’s personal belief that helping people make today’s dreams the realities of tomorrow by giving them the tools to work hard for themselves and prosper, there’s a chance for anyone reading this right now to get a business started!

Some important points to consider:

• This is a company that strives to create a long term committed team of employees, each of whom is equally important to the overall success of the organization.
• Delivering excellent service by a friendly, efficient and well-trained staff is the priority.
• Offering a consistent product of high quality and value was the foundation.
• Pursuing success by fostering an entrepreneurial, sales focused culture.
• Aggressively pursuing financial growth and success, making it further evident that customer relationships are still a company’s best friend!
• Operating by the tenet of: “We Help God’s People Prosper!”

Heavenly Body Products International is a family owned business responsive to the needs of their associates and employees.  They are dedicated to providing a positive experience for each of their associates, and believe that every customer should feel cared for and valued.

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Let’s face it, in the middle of this non-recession(?), it pays to have a set of alternatives up your sleeve. I’ve mentioned the rise of opportunities during these economic hard times before, and I’ll say it again: this kind of market presents a lot of chances to service customers who are looking for the best deals, and the most personalized service. While the big box retailers do fine at their job of moving massive amounts of goods, they fail at identifying each customer’s needs on a case-by-case basis. This is where you step in, and make everything right for the frustrated consumer who needs immediate attention! DollarDays offers a whole bunch of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs as well as a quick-install, affordable option to start your own online store.

Here’s some additional highlights:

• This is a company that sells over 25,000 different wholesale goods on its website, and they are very interested in helping you to begin and grow your own business.

• Visitors have a choice between getting set up through their affiliate program, or by allowing the option to stock and sell their own goods.

• While there are hundreds – if not thousands – of sites that sell DollarDays goods, there are also plenty of brick and mortar stores that stock their products as well.

• If you don’t have the space to stock products, DollarDays offers a convenient drop-ship program that allows venders to drop-ship certain products by the piece.

• If you plan on buying a lot of goods from DollarDays, you can enroll in their Platinum Program, which could mean huge savings for you.

Look out for the twitter and facebook links on their site as well, and while you’re at it… make sure you get connected to our pages as well, where you can sign up to receive tweets, feeds, and updates from us about all the ways you’ll continue to Find it. Source it. Profit!

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Today I’m going to give you a little bit of help in selecting the right hat for your wholesale business, especially for those of you who are doing online sales and e-tailing.

• Choosing the hats to carry can be a lot like selling shoes, or watches, or even jewelry… but the price point is much lower, and that can make it easier for you to offer a wide variety of styles and materials, instead of cautiously keeping a limited supply on hand.

• The style choices and trends in the hat business follow distinctly cyclical cycles, which means that your inventory of hats that aren’t selling today could be flying off the shelves tomorrow!

• It’s also got a lot to do with the seasonality of wardrobe choices, since Winter tends to bring the richer and plusher fabrics to the fore… and these are always complimented nicely by a proper hat. Keep your eye on what materials are hot right now for jackets and scarves, and you will already have a good idea of what kind of hat material will pair up nicely.

• Hollywood has never made it easier to follow the fashion, as movies have brought hats back in a big way. Kate Hudson with a wide brim, the normally glammy Beyonce in a simple knitted wool hat, Brad Pitt and his signature newsboy cap, Mickey Rourke and the rugged cowboy hat. I’ve even noticed Justin Timberlake… who – in my opinion – has always been a bit of a fashion victim, but making news nonetheless in a variety of hats that customers are eager to find for themselves. You should be helping those customers find them, on your site.

As you can see, picking the hat isn’t the biggest issue… since there’s something for everyone out there, and a lot of existing marketing to support your selections. On the other hand, you’ve got to make sure that you stand out in the crowd when it comes to offering your customers the right blend of fashion and service. Here’s a few things you’ll want to keep your mind on, as you set up your site with a smoking-hot deal on hats:

• Make sure people know about your quality hat selection… whether you’re selling MLB caps, Stetson, Kangol, Cubavera, or even some of the designer-inspired gear… slap those logos up on your page! It will give your buyers something to reinforce their feeling of satisfaction, knowing that they’ve found a site that isn’t afraid to show who they carry.

• Selection is important… since there’s a hat for ever head, you need to carry a good range of choices. Be varied, and don’t be afraid to put two seemingly contrasting styles next to each other. After all, the one who gets noticed is going to get the sale.

• Make it easy to order… offer service online 24/7, design product category pages that are easy to navigate, create informative individual product pages are full of detailed color samples and other helpful information, etc… be creative!

• SSL provides encryption between web browsers and web servers… so make sure you’re using it. Putting a big header on your order page that says “100% Secure Ordering 128-bit encryption key over Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to provide the highest level of security” will only help you secure the sale, when the customer hesitates to click the buy button. Just make sure you’ve actually set it up correctly, or you’ll be dealing with some major headaches later on.

• Brag a little… about your customer satisfaction, that is. Offer a little insight into your store’s history, and give some testimonials from happy customers. Be honest. This will only lead to more sales with other happy customers, and everyone will win in the end.

Well, there it is… my little primer for those who want to throw their hat into the ring… and get going in the hat game. You want my personal point of view on the hottest hat trend for the season? I have always been keen on basic knitted watch caps myself, but I’m going to go out on a limb here… and say that for the ladies, cloche hats will make a big comeback. This one sure looks good on Hillary Swank, and it will look good on a lot of other girls out there too!

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In other words, the past few years of anything-goes seems to be coming to a head this year, and I reckon things will take a more decisive direction again, as soon as the news reflects more stability and predictability in everyone’s lives. This also means that you are going to have a lot of great options for selecting wholesale fashions and accessories for your cache of collectibles this year, because the emphasis will be on how you market the goods, not necessarily upon what you carry!

Plaid patterns will be part of the look this year!

Awesome, huh? Well, it might seem like shooting fish in a barrel at first… but if you don’t form a solid sales strategy based upon a foundation of fashion 101, you will be left with a dead inventory of overstock that looks more like the contents of every closet you’ve ever filled since you were five years old. Not so good. Let’s take a minute to look at what the fashionistas out there are talking about, and try to find the right line to follow this season as you Check out my quick list of TopTen Wholesale Winter Fashion Favorites!

• First, take a look at some classics… designers like PRADA and D&G will always be respected for taking daring steps into uncharted waters, but the power of classic appeal is undeniable. Make sure you look closely at what Geoffrey Beene, Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Halston have on offer, because they are generally the ones to turn to for rock-solid classic style that doesn’t fade fast.

• Now that you’ve made note of the classics, take a look at what else has made the list. This year, designs from J. Crew and Michael Kors have been noted as style picks by some, especially for those seeking a refined look.

• The short dress was hot all Summer long, and it will continue to be a force in fashion through early Winter. Worn on its own as a breezy and light piece, or paired with leggings, jeans, and even layered with longer skirts and sweaters… well, let’s just say it’s not hard to promote an item like this one… especially since it usually holds at a price point that makes it attractive to wholesalers and online sellers.

• Jeans will never die, and this year is no exception to the great run jeans have enjoyed for the past 50 years. While this season is leaning more towards glammy fashion on-the-go, jeans offer the easy way out for those who don’t have the time or energy to get dolled up. They also keep your shoppers coming back for more, since this is the one all-time favorite apparel item that is notoriously well-paired with accessories!

• Dressed up, or dressed down… street chic is one of the driving forces behind fashion these days. With high-quality manicures and hair styles, it’s become the look of the decade to sport lower-end apparel with more glamorous shoes, bags, scarves, and other components that make the outfit shine. This is the ideal look to promote on your seller site, because it appeals to almost every demographic from the youth market, to the moms on-the-go!

• BOHO-style is still around, even after hitting its peak around 2005. It’s an easy one to accessorize, and with all of the free-flowing fabrics and colors to choose from, it is easy to carry on your inventory as well.

• Accessories rule! Hats, scarves, gloves, wraps, leggings, and other hot accessory items will be taking a large part of the order lists this year, as buyers try to keep their budgets under control. Once the core wardrobe has been built, many shoppers will be on the constant lookout for anything that adds variety to their existing gear. If you offer it, they will come to you!

That’s all for now, I hope you’ve enjoyed this little foray into the world of apparel and accessories, as we check out Topten wholesale winter fashion favorites! Don’t forget to browse the search results on our site, as you Find it. Source it. Profit!

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