[Call for Entries] Bridge jewelry

Call for Entries: Halstead Bead Sponsors $6,000 Bridge Jewelry
Business Development Grant Prescott, AZ January 29, 2008 Halstead
Bead, Inc. is calling for entries to its third annual Business
Development Grant competition for new American designers entering
the bridge jewelry trade. The grant will be awarded to a winning
candidate in August. The winner of the 2008 Grant will receive
$6,000 in cash and merchandise as well as other benefits.

The Halstead Bead Business Development Grant differs from other
jewelry industry competitions and awards because of its emphasis on
business skills. Entrants must demonstrate not only extraordinary
design, but also a strong business strategy. The application
experience promotes the business planning required to make a jewelry
brand commercially viable at the national level in today’s
competitive market.

Designers utilizing a wide variety of fabrication techniques
including casting, beading, precious metal clay, stamping, or hand
finishing are eligible to enter the competition. Candidates must be
US citizens who began their businesses after January 1, 2005. Their
design companies must focus on “bridge” jewelry which is the segment
between costume jewelry and fine jewelry that includes accessories
in sterling silver, semi-precious stones, crystal, freshwater pearls
and other similar materials.

Complete application details can be found at
http://www.halsteadbead.com/Grant. Candidates must submit a design
portfolio, business plan, resume and answers to several questions.
Applications must be received between April 15 and June 17, 2008.
The grant website also includes several helpful articles on
launching a national jewelry brand as well as on past
winners and finalists. Previous grant winners include Belle Brooke
Designs of Los Angeles, CA in 2007 and Ananda Khalsa Jewelry of
Providence, RI in 2006. The grant sponsor, Halstead Bead, Inc., is
one of North America’s leading jewelry supply importers and
distributors. The firm was established in 1973 and now supplies
thousands of component resellers and jewelry manufacturers around
the globe. Halstead Bead, Inc. is wholesale only and sells beads and
findings for the bridge jewelry segment in sterling silver,
gold-filled, copper, freshwater pearls, glass and
Swarovski crystal.

Contact:
Hilary Halstead Scott
Marketing Director
Halstead Bead, Inc.
6650 Intercal Way
Prescott, AZ 86301

Ph: 928-778-6776
Fax: 928-778-3975