Writing a reply to Kalicat today has got me thinking about wholesalers. What if that shop you approach asks about your wholesale prices? It’s something to consider if you are serious about your jewellery.
If your jewellery takes a long time to make I wouldn’t even think about wholesale. Your piece is priced to reflect your time, not necessarily materials; the way it should be.
However if you are making a pair of earrings that takes two minutes to make using freshwater pearls and happens to be an excellent seller then I think researching wholesalers would be an excellent idea. In this case ordering direct from China would be the way to go about it. Don’t forget to include postage costs, time and customs charges to your price.
I am writing an article today about finding wholesalers and benefits so if you are interested please have a look at it!

4 Responses to “Wholesalers…”

1. kalicat Says:
   

   thanks for your post.
   I truly enjoyed reading your thoughts.

   April 13th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
2. David Says:
   

   Dont be so quick to go down the China road. Is price everything? Its cheaper in China because Chinese people arent paid a fair wage for a fair day. Ever thought what a fair day was in China? I believe that Jewellery made in sweat shops does not bring good karma to its eventual owners, how can it. Great Jewellery is made with passion.
   Celebrate your unique designs, if they are good they will be copied so you have to be new and exciting. Don’t try and compete with cheap jewellery importers, set yourself apart, charge a higher price relative to your obvious talents. Never put profits above the well being of contractors and suppliers.

   September 22nd, 2007 at 7:44 am
3. Zemi Says:
   

   David,

   I think you’ll find every bead that’s produced comes from a country that is payed less than what their time is worth in the destination country. Making jewellery from beads in countries where the wages is lower is not bad karma - it’s unavoidable, and also ensures that the countries that need the trade get the trade. Although it’s always a buyers market, the traders always have the choice to set a price and dictate what they get. With living costs also reduced, I think that’s completely unfair to reject importing beads.

   Personally I’ve had a lot of experience of buying wholesale abroad and would fully support it. The pricing is obviously better - which means you can afford to get better quality and not end up charging the world for your products - and I’ve found the service to be superior to many ‘local’ bead suppliers.

   I’ll tell you the difference between buying from China and buying from your own country: Your own country will have suppliers that will be ripping you off. The stock will come from exactly the same place, don’t kid yourself into thinking that local means anything but higher prices.

   -Zemi

   September 22nd, 2007 at 11:46 am
4. David Says:
   

   Zemi,
   you miss my point although I agree with your sentiments. I would never suggest that you should buy local if you can buy direct but these local suppliers that you speak of, are they ripping you off? If you invest in a container load of beads from China and sell them wholesale are you not entitled to make a profit? We all have morgages. Have you thought how you buying direct affects the wholesalers? In Australia and Im sure the Uk too, many of the wholesalers are hitting back and selling direct to the public. Most of the engagement rings that I make do not include the centre diamond. My retail clients bring in diamonds purchased from ‘wholesalers’ and Im left with the make side only.
   The industry has been changing rapidly over the last 10 years, since every second backpacker came home from India with a suitcase full of silver and flogged them off at the markets. The only way to suceed is with an edge. I have mine, whats yours Zemi?

   September 25th, 2007 at 11:35 am

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