Hi,
Tax refund means we have enough to get good display cases and
lighting for shows. Which are besti I am leaning toward Arizona
Cases.
We would appreciate any input
Thanks,
Louise
http://www.jewelryspectrum.com
Hi Louise, I just bought one from Arizona Case. It’s the small table
top model (ag231)…very nice. It’s easy to set up and take down
and seems pretty sturdy. I’ll be using it for the summer art shows so
portability is important. They were easy to work with did what I
asked. It wasn’t cheap, but It’s built very well. hope this helps.
Good luck
Scott Verson
www.metalandstonedesign.com
Louise -
When you are looking for display cases - you have several things to
consider. While cost is certainly one important factor, consider
also security, weight, reflections, ease of lighting inside case, and
what you are going to display the cases on. Also consider how much
space you have to transport the cases.
I currently have several Arizona case displays - I had them make the
portable cases only 16 inches deep (back to front) instead of the
standard 22 inches. I display them on propanel podiums, which are 30
x 16 inches, and I use 42 inch tall ones. The Arizona cases are
secure - I can lock them and actually go to the bathroom without fear
of being ripped off. I have halogen lights for inside shows and
bright leds in a string for outdoors. In general I really like them
and they look very professional. They are heavy. They set up very
fast without tools - an important point where the unions have rules
about tools. You can buy relatively inexpensive packing cases for
storage and shipping and schlepping.
My prior set up was with Dynamic Display cases. They are
lightweight, and fold up into practically nothing. They look really
good. Then are not secure in any way - the Plexiglas is too flexible,
it scratches, and the doors are a joke. The bases wiggle and scare
folks away. If you put the cases on a sturdy base, for example a
propanel podium, they are sturdier - but not secure. They are fiddly
to set up and the little screws are a nuisance. The more you use
them, the more the bases wiggle. And until they get wiggly, they are
very difficult to get them to give up and fold down. These don’t come
with storage cases, mostly pillowcases. Their shipping cases look
like what you ship golf bags in and are relatively expensive and very
bulky.
I’ve used Abstracta cases. They fold down flatter than anything.
They go together fast. They don’t like to come apart when you break
down. There are a jillion ways to set them up and they are sturdy.
They are the 90 percent choice of artists at big shows like the
Buyers Market of American Craft. They look like abstracta. They are
not particularly secure - again Plexiglas is the culprit. There are
lots of fiddly little clips and holders. It is an erector set for
jewelry display.
Bottom line - I’ve gone from the erector set - cheap, to the Dynamic
Display stylin’ deal, and have happily settled on the Arizona cases -
flat and vertical portable ones. I think I’ll stay where I am for a
while, they work well and look great. And incidentally, the Arizona
case solution is less expensive than the dynamic display ones.
Judy Hoch
Hi Louise,
At a recent show, I saw a woman using this display, by Dynamic
Display Systems. She seemed very pleased with it. I think she saved
some money by making her own fabric skirts. It looked very
professional, and was extremely compact for transport. It is on my
wish list. (no affiliation)
Carol
If you are on a tight budget, fish tanks turned on their sides are
excellent show cases. You can build a back using Velcro as a closer.
You have plenty of height so I use stair step organizers (like used
in your pantry for can goods) to display lots of jewelry. Cover the
bottom back, and the steps with a sophisticated non-print fabric. Or
use stemmed glasses turned upside down with a glass shelf on top.
You would be surprised how beautiful these can be.
LaVerne
Hi Louise. You should check out the cases by
dynamicdisplaysystems.com. I haven’t used the cases but I’ve seen
them. They’re excellent and built for travel. Pricey, though. I have
been using their collapsible bases for years and have been very
happy with them.
Allan Mason
You can build a back using Velcro as a closer. You have plenty of height so I use stair step organizers (like used in your pantry for can goods) to display lots of jewelry
Very creative but heavy for transport.
Hi All,
I purchased Dynamic Display System cases when they first came out
and maybe they’ve improved since then but I have had quite a few
problems with mine and they were very expensive. The plexiglas sides
didn’t fit well and tended to bow. The little screw that you tighten
with a very tiny allen wrench strips easily. I have had problems
with the lights - one set had to be sent back because it gave off a
really terrible odor. The lights are expensive and they are large
and very visible in the cases. My cases have the angled tops and no
matter how I set them up, the glare is terrible and customers really
have a hard time seeing the work. I can’t comment on their bases
because I don’t use them. I have to have cases that collapse because
of vehicle space limitations but I would like to go to new cases
given the opportunity. Just don’t like the look of other collapsible
cases I have seen. Any new companies out there.
In all fairness to DDS, they dealt with all my problems in a fair
manner so I can’t complain about their customer service - just not
thrilled with the product.
Arizona Case is good. I discovered Rocket Red Box. Also very nice,
good selection and fair prices.
Bev Ludlow
Renaissance Jewelry
http://www.wirewrapjeweler.com
My wife and I do 'art fairs" exclusively, from the east coast to the
left coast. I would suggest dynamic display in black. We earn our
living through our work; so though the initial cost is higher than
some it’s a business expense and we feel they are worth it. They are
a little awkward when first putting them up, but it gets easier.
We fly to shows and I don’t know of another setup that would allow
that. I still haven’t resolved the lighting situation. I’m going to
buy an interior light bar from the place in NJ and see how that
works with a couple of halogens for ambient light.
The metal halides that have been mentioned hurt my eyes. They are too
intense for my taste. I don’t use diamonds often, but lots of colored
stones and the M16s work fine.
Hope this is helpful.
K P Kelly
You can build a back using Velcro as a closer. You have plenty of
height so I use stair step organizers (like used in your pantry
for can goods) to display lots of jewelry
Very creative but heavy for transport.
Not as heavy as you would think. Go to a store and lift one. The
13x13x30 tank is perfect.
Arizona Case is good. I discovered Rocket Red Box. Also very nice, good selection and fair prices.
I did a web search for Rocket Red Box, got no hits. What is iti
Noel
Hello, if you are talking about the light strips that use the tiny
little halogen bulbs that you can buy from ‘econo light’, I have a
suggestion. I have them in my cases now and have used them in other
cases in the past. Be sure and load up on the little bulbs, If your
cases are vented I would consider putting them on 6" or 8" centers. I
have mine on 1’ centers and don’t think they are bright enough.
Please be sure and talk about this with the folks who make these
strips, they may have a reason for not putting them closer. I think
that I took their advice when I purchased mine. But if they can go
closer I would sure add a couple more in the length. All in all they
are a great way to get light into the cases. they are really pretty
cheap.
good luck, Dennis
I did a web search for Rocket Red Box, got no hits. What is it.
rocketbox.com Based in New York, but also has distributor in LA,CA.
Bev Ludlow
Renaissance Jewelry