Increase your jewelry sales by uncovering current information on merchandising, fashion accessory trends and new jewelry vendors. Use these sources to cut purchasing costs and boost profits as you find marketing strategies to attract new customers.

Consider a variety of resources to receive up-to-date news. Wherever jewelry wholesalers, jewelry companies or jewelry suppliers gather, you’ll be able to discover first-hand tips and trends. When seeking the latest jewelry news and trends, try to:

1. Attend industry trade shows to meet with wholesale jewelry vendors or discuss merchandising with other owners of jewelry stores.

2. Subscribe to jewelry related blogs and newsletters for up-to-the-minute news stories and jewelry company news.

3. Become part of an industry organization with jewelers and other retailers to share information on jewelry supplies, marketing, trends and product developments.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Visit jewelry trade shows and conventions to discover new products and merchandising trends

Attend a variety of shows from industry conventions to craft-related trade shows that feature jewelry and jewelry making tools, supplies and projects. Both types will reveal upcoming jewelry colors, trends and styles. You may also be able to meet a new jewelry supplier or several providers of wholesale jewelry while walking the show floor.

I recommend: Attend a Couture Jeweler industry show to meet high end jewelry vendors, discover new styles and sign up for seminars on industry news and trends and making your business more profitable. Consider one of the shows held by the American Gem Trade Association that feature exhibits and industry related seminars. Find a gem and jewelry show near you through the directory at the Jewelry Mall.

Read industry blogs and newsletters for current trends and leads on new jewelry suppliers

Because blogs and websites are easy to update, you'll receive continuous industry news and marketing ideas. Look for content on the website of online jewelry stores or a jewelry wholesaler you do business with. You may even discover an online forum where you can share ideas with other retailers.

I recommend: Read newsletters on the global state of the industry at World Jewelry Center, based in California. Topics include company profiles, reviews of jewelry related events and fashion trends. Valuation Resources provides a listing of companies, articles and special reports detailing the state of the jewelry industry.

Join jewelry related groups to keep up with industry news and marketing ideas

Whether you sell jewelry through online jewelry shops or brick-and-mortar locations, you may qualify to become a member of jewelry industry related groups. Check each group's benefits and education programs to find one that provides informative articles, seminars, events and an online forum where members can discuss business practices and ideas.

I recommend: The Women’s Jewelry Association provides information on upcoming designers, sales and marketing and an assortment of industry contacts and resources. Become a member of the American Gem Society to meet jewelry vendors, attend industry events and receive informative services like sales training and marketing support.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As you discover new sources for jewelry news and trends, use the information--particularly when it pertains to new display and merchandising strategies--as a jumping off point for creative new ideas for your jewelry business. By putting your own spin on a new marketing idea, for example, you'll ensure that you're also setting a trend that others will follow.

Jewelry has adorned men and women for centuries, and jewelry suppliers and jewelry vendors remain busy creating and selling ever more varied designs to catch the eye of the prospective buyer.

Once exclusively the decoration of the wealthy nobility, jewelry is now worn by people of all ages in all walks of life. With a wider selection of metals, buyers can choose durable metal jewelry to symbolize the strength of their character and commitment or non-reactive metal jewelry that won’t irritate the skin of the wearer.
Accompanying the wider choice of metals is a wider choice of styles; retail and wholesale jewelry vendors now offer rings for either hand, and online jewelry suppliers offer options to customize trinkets for that special someone in your life.

Your options for finding jewelry online include:

1. Wholesale jewelry vendors to supply your big company.
2. Small niche jewelry stores catering to individuals.
3. Jewelry for youngsters and adults.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start them wearing jewelry at a young age

Jewelry isn't just for adults anymore. Many young girls look forward to their first necklace or pair of earrings in their teen or 'tween' years. The physical and online jewelry market continues to skew younger; now even babies can wear jewelry around their wrists or pinned to their diapers.

I recommend: Accessory Wholesale, Inc. offers beaded and amber girls’ necklaces, as well as special designs including footballs for the young ladies to show support for their favorite teams or try to catch the quarterback’s eye after the game. JewelBasket.com offers a wide selection of children’s bracelets, rings and earrings, as well as adjustable baby jewelry and ID bracelets that can be engraved with the child’s name. Loveivy offers jewelry sets for babies, children and teens, with the ability to custom-design bead necklaces and bracelets, charm bracelets and even diaper pins.

Let the right hand wear what the left hand is wearing

Unmarried women no longer have to go without wearing a ring if there isn't a man in their life to give them one. They can now buy their own rings from retail or wholesale jewelry vendors and wear them proudly on their right hands to show their independence proudly.

I recommend: Blue Lake Jewelry offers a selection of right-hand rings in its online jewelry catalog. Generous Gems offers an online catalog of fun, flirty ring styles designed to accommodate the difference in the webbing of the fingers of the right hand. Gillett's Jewelers also offers a selection of diamond and gemstone rings for women who want to exercise their rights, along with online advice on choosing the right ring for the right hand.

Get tough with tungsten carbide jewelry

Not just for drill bits anymore, tungsten carbide has found its way into rings and other forms of jewelry. Durable enough that only diamonds, rubies or sapphires can scratch it, tungsten carbide retains its finish once polished, making its shine last as long or longer than the relationship rings made from it are bought to commemorate.

I recommend: Titanium-Jewelry.com offers a line of tungsten carbide rings, bracelets, and watches. Xtreme Jewelers offers an online jewelry selection of bracelets and pendants. TitaniumKay features a selection of black tungsten rings for men in plain and laser-engraved styles.

Show your sensitive (skin) side with hypoallergenic jewelry

Contact dermatitis, a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to the nickel alloys in most jewelry, has kept some women from enjoying jewelry except on special occasions. Thanks to metals such as stainless steel or medical-grade titanium, these women can wear rings, earrings or necklaces whenever they wish without fear of hurting their skin.

I recommend: Simply Whispers is the leader in the field of hypoallergenic jewelry, with stainless steel and nickel-free silver and gold alloys. Rocky Mountain Wholesale offers its "Impressions" line of hypoallergenic jewelry with a lifetime guarantee against defects. Titanium-Jewelry.com offers earrings made of 99.9% pure titanium or the patented Black-Ti™ alloy, while Blomdahl Medical Jewelry offers metal jewelry made of medical-grade titanium and nickel and latex-free plastic jewelry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Choose a reputable jeweler before purchasing any jewelry. Look for knowledgeable jewelry vendors who offer quality jewelry and a range of services at reasonable prices.
• •  Look for jewelry styles and settings that protect the jewels from damage before buying, and follow all care instructions after buying. Keep different gemstones in separate jewelry box compartments because harder stones will scratch softer ones.
• •  When considering tungsten carbide jewelry, look for the words 'tungsten carbide' rather than simply 'tungsten,' which is a tungsten-steel alloy that, while tough, is much less scratch-resistant than tungsten carbide (and much easier to engrave). Look for cobalt-free tungsten carbide rings because cobalt can react with the skin to discolor the ring metal. Also, be aware that tungsten carbide jewelry requires special tools to remove it should it be necessary to do in an emergency.

Keep jewelry sales consistent and boost your bottom line by getting great deals on your merchandise, showcasing it effectively and finding fresh ways to market it to customers. Whether you cater to a high-end clientele or sell fashion jewelry to teens, effective buying and selling strategies will make your business a success.

When it comes to working with jewelry vendors, selling through brick-and-mortar or online jewelry stores and making the most of jewelry sales, consider the following methods to increase your profits:

1. Find reliable wholesale jewelry vendors for cost-effective purchasing, shipping and service.

2. Buy effective jewelry displays that best showcase your rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and related supplies to potential customers.

3. Subscribe to industry magazines and trade journals to obtain everything from information on successful marketing to new sources of wholesale jewelry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Work with a jewelry wholesaler to get great deals on quality merchandise

Discover a jewelry wholesaler that not only has attractive jewelry styles at fair prices, but that also has reasonable shipping rates and a reliable service and return program. Develop a good relationship with your favorite jewelry supplier--you may receive the inside track on upcoming product releases and deals.

I recommend: Richard Cannon Jewelry provides wholesale gold and diamond rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets, as well as a selection of wholesale fashion jewelry. Hannah D's Wholesale Jewelry & Purses is a supplier of wholesale trendy jewelry that you can market to fashion forward customers and teens.

Get attractive display cases, racks and boxes through jewelry suppliers to highlight your products

Create the best presentation for your designs with jewelry displays to complement them. By ordering an assortment of stands, cards and cases, you'll be able to change your setup to suit the sale, season or product you want to showcase. Check the supplier websites for hints on using the cases and displays to your advantage.

I recommend: Browse the online catalog at JewelBox Display and Supply to find trays, ring displays, pendant stands, bracelet cards and earring displays. The company also offers salesman’s cases and organizers. Wholesale Store Fixtures distributes combination displays, as well as standalone necklace, bracelet, ring and earring displays for jewelry stores.

Read jewelry trade journals and online jewelry magazines to find ideas to reach new customers

Boost jewelry sales with the practical advice, marketing tips and buying suggestions you find in industry publications. Also, look for jewelry company profiles, jewelers' resources and hot trends for upcoming sales seasons.

I recommend: Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America publishes the MJSA Journal, which offers business and marketing strategies to increase your profits. The group also has a search screen to put you in touch with providers of wholesale jewelry. Check out the National Jeweler Network, which offers publications, newsletters and industry guides to help make the most of your sales efforts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider asking jewelry companies or novice designers if they have new, smaller product lines that you can purchase at wholesale prices. Designers just starting out may be willing to sign an exclusive contract to get their designs showcased in jewelry stores, so you'll be the only online jewelry store or brick and mortar jewelry supplier where buyers can buy the trendsetting accessories.

There are many terms you need to know to be successful in the jewelry industry. You should be knowledgeable about how jewelry is made, the materials jewelry contains, the types of jewelry and the value of the different gemstones. To start with the basics, be sure you understand the meaning of alloy, white gold and hypoallergenic. It is also important to have a working understanding of the terms labradorescence, gemstone and Troy weight.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Alloy

Alloy refers to the mixture of two or more solids. This is a common term in the jewelry business because it explains how the colors, the strength and the luster of jewelry are made.

I recommend: Asia-Gems defines the term alloy and explains how it relates to jewelry.

White gold

White gold is a gold and nickel alloy. The nickel gives the gold a whiter, brighter color than silver but not the yellow color of gold. White gold is still a gold and just as valuable and popular.

I recommend: Canada Jewels gives a detailed explanation of white gold and how it is made.

Hypoallergenic

Hypoallergenic, when referring to jewelry, means that the jewelry is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. This refers to the jewelry being in a purer form and containing less nickel to cause the least amount of allergic reactions, since many people have an allergy to the nickel used in jewelry.

I recommend: Roman Research describes how jewelry can be made hypoallergenic.

Labradorescence

Labradorescence is a term meaning the bright blue, green and red flashes of color that come off of a gemstone. Other terms for this are shiller or labradorescence effect.

I recommend: Jewel Info 4u has a good explanation of labradorescence.

Gemstones

Gemstones are formed in nature through pressure, heat and chemicals. They are technically mineral crystals that are mostly small in size, but some are large enough to be cut and used for jewelry.

I recommend: America's Collectibles Network explains how some gemstones are formed.

Troy weight

Troy weight is a term referring to the measurement of jewelry - specifically gold, silver and jewels - by their weight. In Troy weight, a pound is 12 ounces, an ounce is 20 pennyweights and a pennyweight is 24 grains.

I recommend: In its jewelry glossary, Bernardine Fine Art Jewelry defines the Troy weight of jewelry, along with many other key jewelry terms.