Call for Entries: Halstead Bead Sponsors $6,000 Jewelry Business
Development Grant
Prescott, AZ - January, 2010 - Halstead Bead, Inc. is calling for
entries to its fifth annual Business Development Grant competition
for new American jewelry designers entering the bridge jewelry
trade. The deadline for packet submissions is June 9, 2010. The
winner of the 2010 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, lampworking, metal clay, beading, or metalsmithing
are eligible to enter the competition. Candidates must be US citizens
who began their businesses after January 1, 2007. Their design
companies must focus on “bridge” jewelry which is the segment between
costume jewelry and fine jewelry that includes accessories in
sterling silver, Argentium, 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, resume and answers to
several business planning questions. Applications must be received
between April 15 and June 9, 2010. 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 VOSTENAKstudios, Bridgland Studios, Belle Brooke
Designs, and Ananda Khalsa Jewelry. The grant sponsor, Halstead
Bead, Inc., is one of North America’s leading jewelry supply
wholesalers. The firm was established 37 years ago and now supplies
thousands of component resellers and jewelry manufacturers around the
globe. Halstead Bead, Inc. is wholesale only and sells findings,
chain, wire, sheet & beads for the bridge jewelry segment.
Cheers,
Hilary Scott
Halstead Bead Inc.