How to get started importing beads?

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi All,

I’ve been wishing for an unlimited supply of high quality sugilite
at a reasonable price and wondering how one gets started in the
importing business. Is this a huge trade secret? I assume I would
have to travel to the mine, purchase the rough, send some of it to
China to get it processed into (in my case) beads (Gasp! The rest I
can cab myself), and then get it to the U.S. Any suggestions on how
to get started?

Thanks for any help.

Peg

Peggy E. Pollak, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640

2

Hi Peg -

I, too, frequently wonder how one gets started in the bead import
business, as I would like to start selling strands of beads on eBay
as a “bread-&-butter” side line. It seems that selling jewelry beads,
parts, and components is more profitable than selling finished
jewelry, and I sure don’t want to work until I’m 200 years old before
I can retire.

Christen at