After posting about attending a recent G&LW show, I had someone ask my opinion about being a vendor at one, and I thought this was a good blog topic. Generally, the question asked if this was a good show for people who make jewelry to try to jewelry that they made, finished jewelry.


First, I have to preface this with the statement that I'm giving my own personal opinion here. As someone who did art shows years ago, I would venture to guess that any show (wholesale or otherwise) can have its pros and cons, and some times you have a good show and sometimes you don't due to a huge number of variables such as the economy, clientele, season, competition, and merchandise.

That said, I'll tell you a little more about what you can expect as a buyer at these shows, and those of you who are thinking of maybe becoming a seller may find this helpful (hopefully).

Cash and Carry - This means this show requires that, for the most part, you will pay and carry away your merchandise right there. While I know some buyers (I've done this myself) will also buy from vendors they meet at a show at a later date, the majority of buyers expect to buy merchandise right there at the booth and take it with them. As far as I know, few if any buyers order merchandise to be made and delivered at a later date.

Rocks and Gems - You will find all kinds of gemstones at this show in all type of forms from rough stones to beads to highly faceted loose stones. You name it, and someone will be selling it there. For the most part, I usually buy gemstone beads, but I've also purchased cabs and a cool rock specimen on occasion.

Parts and Pieces - For people who make jewelry, this type of show is a jewelry maker's dream come true, or well, okay, it's a dream if you have enough money to spend. You'll find vendors selling all the necessary items you need such as jewelry findings, beads, tools, and wire. I recently discovered Silver Planet at the last show who sold some finished jewelry as well as findings, but in the past, I've also purchased wire and findings from CGM. And, you'll find table after table after table of gorgeous temporarily strung beads - just a mind-boggling amount to pick from.

Finished and Ready to Wear - If you don't make jewelry, no problem. There is plenty of finished jewelry for you to purchase and wear out the door. Actually, I can say that over the years, I've seen more and more vendors selling finished jewelry. Blake Brothers is one example of this. They specialize in silver jewelry, and they usually have a huge booth full of sterling silver chains, pendants, rings, you name it. I even picked up a few barrettes for myself last time.

So, is it worth your time to try to sell your own jewelry at a G&LW show? My advice is to contact the company and check it out. I also highly recommend attending a show. They have them all over the U.S. You may also want to ask other vendors about their experiences at these shows. Since I tend to see a lot of the same faces year after year, then I would guess that some vendors do well enough to make this a regular event.