Jewelry Making Supply Stores?

11 Mar 2010

11 Mar, 2010 jewelry making supplies

I’m going to start my own jewelry making business. I was wondering what the best place was for supplies? Would Michael’s craft store be good? The only problem I have with that store is that it might get a little pricey. So I guess like wholesale might be good? But, I don’t know how large the business will get so I don’t want to purchase too much at once.
The jewelry I plan to make will have sort of an indie, trendy, vintage, edgy feel. If you can understand the combination of all those things…haha.
I live in the Chicago area so local businesses would be helpful as well.

Thanks!

Someone suggested Rio Grande, and I agree. (http://riogrande.com)
You’ll not be able to buy tools wholesale from a store like Rio even with a tax number.
A tax number doesn’t allow you to simply buy wholesale, it allows a retailer to buy products she means to resell and collect taxes on to, in turn, pay the state sales taxes on.

The good news though is that the Interstate Commerce Clause (U.S. law) forbids states not having stores in the state you reside charging you their state’s (or your state’s) sales tax. But then there’s shipping…

I also like Stuller (http://stuller.com) but they’re hard to open an account with if you have no history in the trade.

I strongly suggest registering with the JBT (http://www.jewelersboard.com/)

Also, check out http://www.ganoksin.com/
There’s a wealth of jewelry information there.

PS, I’ve been a jeweler for over 30 years and never had a tax number. I am strictly wholesale to the trade and neither collect sales tax nor pay it.

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5 Responses

StoneWeevil
2010 Mar 11 1

Rio grande is where I go, (website wise) for gauge wire I go to metal liferous (not sure I got that right)
References :
lilyankee1029
2010 Mar 11 2

you can go to somewhere like Joann or AC Moore or this website has tons of stuff if you want to buy anything from online

http://www.jewelrysupply.com/
References :
.
2010 Mar 11 3

There’s a difference between beading and actually making the jewelry yourself. In order to buy things wholesale you need a tax ID.

If you’re making serious jewelry you’ll need a flex shaft. This is used for polishing your stones and metals and other things. You’ll need a torch so that you can do stone setting, but this is only good if you’re in a building with a good amount of ventilation. Keep in mind the cost of metals are very high right now. Gold is in the $900 range per ounce and the jewelry business isn’t doing very well at the moment because people are more interested in selling their jewelry rather than buying it.

If you’re doing bead work, JoAnn’s sells some supplies, wire cutters, beads, wire, clasps…this would be relatively cheap compared to being a jeweler.
References :
My husband is a jeweler. He made our wedding rings, 14K white gold.
Kelly
2010 Mar 11 4

go to joans.
References :
唵嘛呢叭咪吽
2010 Mar 12 5

Someone suggested Rio Grande, and I agree. (http://riogrande.com)
You’ll not be able to buy tools wholesale from a store like Rio even with a tax number.
A tax number doesn’t allow you to simply buy wholesale, it allows a retailer to buy products she means to resell and collect taxes on to, in turn, pay the state sales taxes on.

The good news though is that the Interstate Commerce Clause (U.S. law) forbids states not having stores in the state you reside charging you their state’s (or your state’s) sales tax. But then there’s shipping…

I also like Stuller (http://stuller.com) but they’re hard to open an account with if you have no history in the trade.

I strongly suggest registering with the JBT (http://www.jewelersboard.com/)

Also, check out http://www.ganoksin.com/
There’s a wealth of jewelry information there.

PS, I’ve been a jeweler for over 30 years and never had a tax number. I am strictly wholesale to the trade and neither collect sales tax nor pay it.
References :

Jewelry Making