Wholesale Beads
Buying beads and other jewelry making supplies in wholesale quantities at discounted prices is a purchasing requirement for big jewelry manufacturers as well as for smaller, independent jewelry designers. Bead factories do not usually sell their products directly, but have wholesalers that handle the distribution for them. Most wholesalers sell in larger quantities, although volume minimums vary from company to company. Fortunately, distributors can be found to meet the needs of jewelry producers of all sizes. As a general rule, the larger the quantity, the greater the price break, allowing customers to choose the quantity and pricing which best fits their needs.
If you are an independent jewelry maker and buy from a company that sells direct to the public, even if you are given their “wholesale” prices, you will not be getting the best pricing available. These prices may be a better price for hobbyists, but genuine resellers can buy direct from a bead distributor/supplier and get true wholesale prices. It is worth taking the time to search for new bead sources and find the company that offers the volume and price levels that you require.
While you get the best prices for the largest volumes, it is not usually cost effective to buy in quantities greater than your needs. You do not want to sit on inventory that will not make a decent return on investment. Instead, you will want to find a company that offers a good balance between quantity and cost for your production requirements.
Many wholesale bead companies will only sell in the original manufacturers packaging, which is often in gross quantities. If you want smaller amounts, it may be better to order from a wholesale distributor, who will subdivide these amounts and sell in smaller quantities. They often offer various price breaks depending on the volume ordered.
Finding a true wholesale bead company will take some diligence. While online searching has made finding many things easier, usually wholesalers don’t advertise or optimize their sites for search to the extent that retailers do. If you find a site online, just because they say they offer wholesale prices, make sure you verify the information. Continue to shop around and compare their claims for accuracy in regards to wholesale pricing.
One of the best ways to find new sources for buying wholesale jewelry supplies is to attend trade shows. The best shows are the ones that are not open to the public, but are the ones that require a business license or resale permit to attend. This is a good indication that the suppliers are geared towards selling to resellers and not the retail customer.
Information about trade shows can often be found online, from current suppliers, and in the back of bead making magazines. Once you attend a show, you have access to show catalogs which provide vendor listings and other show calendars. Often, finding the best bead suppliers happens in a series of steps as you become more involved in searching out wholesale sources.
Jewelry designers looking for smaller wholesale quantities may find that companies such as Rio Grande, Shipwreck Beads, or Fire Mountain Gems adequately meet their needs. These companies offer catalogs to bonafide resellers that allow them to order beads and other jewelry making supplies with relatively low minimums. Their product lines include a wide range of beads and components, including genuine stone beads, crystal beads, murano glass beads, hand blown glass beads, and Swarovski crystal beads.
Jewelry companies with larger bead requirements will find companies that cater to volume buyers, such as K Gottfried, a better option. Volume wholesalers typically sell beads in original manufacturers packaging, often in gross quantities. There will typically be order minimums as well.
As you contact prospective wholesale bead suppliers, it pays to ask questions. Find out the company policies in regard to volume quantities and total dollar order amounts to determine if the company can fulfil your wholesale bead needs. If the company does not seem to be a good match, continue with your search. Eventually the persistence will pay off with a few good wholesale jewelry sources.
Rio Grande - Online source for the professional jeweler
Shipwreck Beads - Supplier of beads and beading supplies
Shipwreck Beads - Supplier of gems and beads
Halstead Beads - Wholesale beads and wholesale findings
K Gottfried, Inc - Supplier of Swarovski Crystal for volume buyers
Lapidary Journal
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