Her books include How to be Successful in the Bead Jewelry Business . For those of us in the gem, bead, or jewelry business, trade shows are so important. I've learned quite a bit over the years and, to save you time and aggravation, am sharing my tips with you.
Trade shows are one of the best venues for buying supplies.
Although there are many ways to acquire the things you need, going to shows is one of the best ways to purchase. Just being able to look at a huge collection of loose stones, findings, filler beads, wire, or chain lying together on a table can be inspiring for both the jewelry designer and the gem buyer. And there are so many different dealers and manufacturers that you can compare products and prices almost instantly. And meeting your vendors is important - it is great to be in a business where we can actually have relationships with those we work with. Many of us have been saving all year to spend rather a lot of money in rather a short time.