| Internet Wholesale Jewelry Distributors talk about | | | | They are ordering and reordering them. That is |
| their hot items and growing customer base | | | | the best kind of feedback about a product, in my |
| As multifaceted and complex as the wholesale | | | | opinion, when the customer reorders it." |
| jewelry industry can be, its allure and, to those | | | | In recent years, the precious stones market has |
| who know its niches and properties, value can be | | | | grown rapidly, thanks in no small part to the help |
| just as great as the precious wares it sells. The | | | | of the Internet. Though various jewelry retailers |
| intricate ins and outs of the wholesale jewelry | | | | such as Ice.com, and have taken advantage of |
| market, combined with the high demand for its | | | | the burgeoning niche, jewelry wholesalers have |
| products, make it an exciting and rapidly-changing | | | | jumped at this growth opportunity, actively |
| industry, especially for online jewelry wholesalers. | | | | entering into the opportunities connectivity offers |
| Because of the lightning-fast speed of online | | | | wholesalers and leveraging the global power of |
| trading and the already volatile nature of the hard | | | | the web. |
| mineral market, prices can experience dramatic | | | | "We have seen our web sales triple in the last |
| swings that send merchants on a rollercoaster | | | | three years," said Richard Chen, ecommerce |
| ride with their inventory in hand. The unpredictable | | | | manager of Alamode Jewelry in Garden Grove, |
| availability of, for instance, diamond, gold, and | | | | CA. "Over 85 percent of our sales are in rings. |
| sterling silver jewelry is a fact of life for wholesale | | | | That is our major product line; and what makes it |
| jewelry distributors. | | | | attractive to our retailer customers and their |
| That is why a number of online jewelry | | | | consumer customers is that we offer a great |
| wholesalers are mixing up their authentic, "rock | | | | variety of rings. Some companies will only offer |
| solid," jewelry with high quality Cubic Zirconia, | | | | 1,000 or 2,000 products on their websites. But we |
| otherwise known as CZ. Most likely the best | | | | offer more than 8,000. And we present them |
| diamond substitute available today, CZ has been | | | | well online. The combination of selection and |
| established as an affordable diamond replacement, | | | | presentation gives us an edge." |
| as well as an important fashion staple itself. | | | | There is a prevailing misconception that the |
| Top U.S. jewelry wholesalers like Plum Island Silver | | | | production of nearly all jewelry items sold in the |
| Company, and Goldfather's Jewelry have been | | | | States takes place overseas. But that is not the |
| leading the way in servicing the growing online | | | | case, as jewelry artisanship has been a growing |
| jewelry market. | | | | phenomenon in the American craftsperson |
| "Part of our product line is CZ, because it allows | | | | community for the last 20 years. Because of the |
| merchandisers to offer a wider range of | | | | trend, there is an abundance of gorgeous |
| consumers something that is both affordable and | | | | homegrown product that can be taken to market. |
| good looking," said Bill McClirk, president of | | | | "Eighty percent of the jewelry you see on our |
| Goldfather's Jewelry in Las Vegas. "We have seen | | | | website is made in the U.S.A.," said Nur Ahmed, |
| Zirconia bracelets, earrings and toe rings all do | | | | president of Bellagio Jewelry in Los Angeles. "Many |
| really well. These types of products have been | | | | of our finer products are actually made nearby |
| getting ordered by both our catalog and website | | | | our warehouse location, within driving distance |
| customers." | | | | here in southern California. Our customers |
| McClirk's wholesale jewelry firm was on the online | | | | appreciate the American-made quality that you |
| jewelry scene early, having been online for more | | | | can find with the products at our website." |
| than 10 years at The site offers both traditional | | | | A wide variety of exquisite earrings, necklaces, |
| and modern birthstone product lines for each | | | | lariats and chokers can be discovered in the |
| month in the calendar year. "People are now | | | | precious and semi precious stone categories at |
| finding us through both the site and trade | | | | Minimum orders at the site are $200, and have |
| magazines," he explained. "In the past, it would | | | | been growing month over month, Ahmed said. |
| just be trade magazines producing sales | | | | Meanwhile, he supplements his American-made |
| prospects. Now, we get prospects from both | | | | product stock with a choice selection of imports |
| sources." | | | | from India. |
| For the last several months, the industry veteran | | | | "Our rhinestone bangles or bracelets are very |
| has seen his line of Birthstone Babies fly out of | | | | popular with our retailer client audience," Ahmed |
| the warehouse. These decorative accessories for | | | | explained. "They are not cheaply-made imitations. |
| baby necklaces are available for girls and boys. A | | | | Plus, we have the type of service it takes to |
| 30 unit mixed box for both genders cost $99, | | | | keep customers coming back. If we get an order |
| which should reap an estimated profit of $650. | | | | in the morning, it is out the door in the afternoon. |
| "Oh man, do they sell fast," explained McClirk, who | | | | If we get one in the late afternoon, the latest it |
| has run the business with his wife, Patty, since | | | | leaves our warehouse is the next day. And I |
| 1983. "Everyone wants them, in terms of | | | | believe in a personal touch when it comes to the |
| mothers, friends of the mother, grandmothers, | | | | wholesale business. We honestly do not care if |
| aunts, you name it. We have been selling to gift | | | | you call us 20 times before ordering. Getting it |
| shops, mall kiosks, swap meets and baby stores. | | | | right is most important. |