All, I just got back from being a dealer at the G+LW in Tucson. In
my display I have custom facetted custom cut cabochons,
and jewelry. I sold by dollar amount of total sales, 60% cabs, 30%
jewelry, and 10% facetted stones. As far as interest by customers,
90% looked at the cabs and 10% looked at the jewelry and facetted
stones.
Across from me was one of the largest colored facetted stone dealers
in the USA. He did not make expenses at the show from his booth. He
had I would estimate over a million dollars worth of inventory and
sat reading the paper most of the show.
Of the customers at the show I would estimate that 80% were there
only to buy finished jewelry and beads made in China, Thailand,
India, Mexico, and Bali. The show was well attended and dealers in
products from these countries did very well.
We did OK. Made expenses and maybe pocketed $1,000 after
subtracting cost of product sold. I could have made more working in
my home shop and selling on EBay. But, in neither of these places
would I meet face to face the five new customers that bought my
products and promised to be back again.
Gerry Galarneau