[Tucson 2006] General information

Last year the Arizona Dept of Weights and Measures decends on Tucson
checking all scales. The state wants to keep this money maker safe
for the buyers. mike in AZ

Hi all, I am so excited to meet everyone at the Orchid dinner! I’m
sure many of you know the feeling of frustration when talking to your
(non jeweler) significant other about some exciting new technique
you’ve learned or how happy you are about a new piece you’ve made and
his/her eyes glass over as the technical terms start flowing from
your lips. I always look forward to meeting other jewelers whose eyes
get big with excitement and they have a look of understanding when I
start talking “tech”.

Does anyone go rockhounding while in Tucson? I managed to find a
place three hours away in Lourdsburg, NM that had some interesting
specimens, but I’d rather stick to some place a little closer to
Tucson. I’d really like to find a place that has Turquoise veined
rocks.

Finally, some of you may remember that I was offering rooms in a 3 br
townhouse on West Grant (approx 3/4 mile from the Rodeway show) and
many have taken me up on that. I still have a spot or two. Two
bedrooms available for 1st period (Jan 28th - Feb 1st), full for 2nd
period (Feb 2nd - Feb 6th) and one bedroom available for 3rd period
(Feb 7th -Feb 12th). If anyone has not yet booked a hotel (good luck)
let me know (email me privately at @Polly_Spencer) and I’ll send
you all the info. The cost is the same as staying in a nice
hotel…but I’ll be providing breakfast every morning and hosting
a jeweler’s only cocktail party during each period in addition to
having many books, magazines and videos on the jewelry trade
available for your reference during your stay. For those who have
never been to Tucson, I will also be transporting you to the shows,
showing you where to find good buys, and answering any questions you
might have along the way.

I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone at the Orchid dinner!

Cheers,
Polly Spencer
Mary Amalia Jewelry
148 High St.
Portland, Me. 04101
www.maryamalia.com

Could Tucson gem show attendees share info about where they stay for
the show. This will be my first time attending.

Thank you
Judy Parady
www.judyparady.com

Could Tucson gem show attendees share info about where they stay
for the show. This will be my first time attending. 

Judy, I’m staying at the Rodeway Inn on Grant Rd. Is anyone else
from Orchid staying there? Perhaps we could share a cab to the Orchid
dinner?

Lisa

Lisa Hawthorne
@Lisa_Hawthorne1

Hi all, I’m back on Orchid after a bit of a hiatus - starting at the
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, working hard. This year will be
my first trip to the Tucson show, and I’m profoundly excited. I’ll be
there (with only my non-jeweler mother) from February 6-9th. Hotels
and such are already booked, my question was actually about getting
into shows. I am a jewelry student at a four year art university,
which I know in some cases is acceptable for wholesale shows. I also
run a teeny jewelry business selling my pieces, for which I have
business cards, but its really only gotten going very very recently,
and I was planning to file taxes this coming year - I don’t yet have
a tax ID number. Are there any shows I should just forget about
trying to get into? Are there any that are more flexible? Would it
help to bring my transcript, to prove my enrollment in a univeristy
jewelry program? Should I just suck it up and apply for a tax ID
number now? Any help would be greatly appreciated, or advice on any
other aspect of the show!

Thanks so much.

Hello Rebecca Ross-Russell,

I’m an advocate of "sucking it up and applying for a tax number"
when you start selling. The records you keep and tax you submit helps
you verify your business in so many ways.

That said, it is so near the end of the year that you probably would
not get one for 2005. Apply now for the certificate to take effect in
2006. You’ll need copies of your sales tax certificate/license/or
whatever your taxing jurisdiction issues. The other thing you need,
besides your business card, is evidence of wholesale purchases from
your suppliers. You may not have actually purchased much at this
point, but for instance, say that you buy findings from a company
exhibiting at the show you want to attend. Ask the company for a
letter to the show promoters to admit you. That should work.

Tucson is an experience for sure. I was overwhelmed the first time I
attended. Just don’t think you can see everything - make a list of
what you MUST see and a list of want-tos. The plan your attack based
on those lists.

Hope to be going myself, but haven’t decided yet!

Judy in Kansas

Hello Everyone:

I'm an advocate of "sucking it up and applying for a tax number"
when you start selling. The records you keep and tax you submit
helps you verify your business in so many ways. You'll need copies
of your sales tax certificate/license/or whatever your taxing
jurisdiction issues. The other thing you need, besides your
business card, is evidence of wholesale purchases from your
suppliers. 

I’m a bit confused by this post and I wanted to ask some questions.
I have been making and selling jewelry for about 3 years now. I have
a resale license from the state so I am free to make wholesale
purchases and collect sales tax from my clients on behalf of the
state. The resale license is the only “tax” related number I have. I
file on a Schedule “C” at the end of each year.

I am confused about the need to apply for any additional numbers as
I don’t have my own store and I don’t have employees. When the above
post talks of a “tax id” are you talking about a Federal Employer
Identification Number (EIN)? Why do you feel this is needed? You say
that it validates a business. How is this? Are you possibly talking
about the need for someone to obtain a loan from a bank?

I am concerned that people who are small businesses (like me) might
go right out in 2006 and get a Fed. Tax I.D. thinking that they have
to or should or might as well because they will need it later anyway.
The reason I would not tend to obtain a Federal Tax ID number, at
this time, would be this. If I were to apply for a tax id, I might
have the tendency to want to classify myself as something (ie.
partnership, LLC, corporation etc.). Here in Connecticut (I don’t
know about other states) LLC, Corps, S Corps, and partnerships have
to pay the state a yearly tax assessment just for the right to
operate said business in the state. People who file on a Schedule “C”
(so far) do not.

I am not a CPA, although I am not misleading anyone by the above
post. If you have questions about your personal tax status, I would
urge you to contact you’re CPA before making any changes to your
status.

Best Regards,
Kim Starbard
Cove Beads
p.s. I am just finishing up holiday orders and boy am I stressed

Hi:

Should I just suck it up and apply for a tax ID number now? Any
help would be greatly appreciated, or advice on any other aspect of
the show!

I cannot speak for all states, but, when I first started selling
jewelry and filing on my tax return, I realized that i needed a
resale license from the state to collect sales tax and, also, get
into wholesale areas at shows and buy wholesale in general. I was
able to drive to a state Department of Revenue Services office and
get a temporary tax id on the spot. (it took an hour I think). If
this is really all you need for now and you just want a way to buy
wholesale in Feb. why don’t you try calling your state’s Department
of Revenue Services and asking if there is an office you can go to?
Better yet, there is probably a website you can check.

As with the disclaimer accompanying my other email on tax
id’s…this email is in no way meant to offer any tax advice. I
would urge anyone to check with their CPA before making any change to
their tax status.

Best Regards,
Kim Starbard
Cove Beads
p.s former accountant and glad I don’t have to do that anymore.

In a past life - up until a couple of months ago - I worked in an
accounting/tax office. The “tax number” the thread has been talking
about is a sales tax license (also known as a transaction privilege
license or other names in other states). THIS is the number you use
in purchasing for wholesale/resale - besides keeping the state happy
with their share of the big $$ you make, if you are filing a Sched C
on your personal income taxes THAT number is your Soc. Sec. Number
and you sure don’t want that being passed around your suppliers for
some unscrupulous person to get hold of. As far as I know - some
states might be different - an EIN or Fed ID doesn’t qualify as a
"resale license" number.

If you need further clarification, holler at me on or off the list
and I’ll be happy to help.

Deb Weller
Mesa, AZ

Hello Kimberly,

No sweat - don’t stress. Actually, I think you misread; it’s not a
"tax ID" that’s needed, but copies of the paper certificate issued
to your business by the taxing jurisdiction for whom you collect
sales tax. In my state it’s a "sales tax registration certificate."
Other states probably use some other term(s).

The verification of your business does refer to the potential need
for a loan. In that case the bank will want evidence of both an
honest person as well as the verification of past income. Your copy
of the IRS Income Tax Schedule C should provide that.

I actually do have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN),
even though I have no employees other than myself. My state
incorporates it in their sales tax report form - I didn’t ask why.
Probably another example of cross-referencing income between
governments. My accountant hasn’t been concerned by this.

Judy in Kansas Gee. Maybe it’s Big Brother and not Santa who is
watching. (Shades of “1984”!)

Judy M. Willingham, R.S.
B.A.E. 147 Seaton Hall
Kansas State University
Manhatttan KS 66506

Hi Kimberly,

Generally all that is needed to purchase wholesale at any of the
Tucson shows is a sales tax license from your state. If you live in a
state that doesn’t collect sales tax, a business license or some
other form of documentation that shows you are part of the
jewelry/lapidary industry will suffice.

Many of the shows are open to the public & dealers at these shows
will sell to anyone. If you can prove you’re part of the 'industry’
you may get a better deal. It’s up to the individual dealer at these
shows whether he sells wholesale or not.

Dave

Hi Dave:

Many of the shows are open to the public & dealers at these shows
will sell to anyone. If you can prove you're part of the
'industry' you may get a better deal. It's up to the individual
dealer at these shows whether he sells wholesale or not. 

Thank you, this actually brings up another point now that I think
about it. A couple of years ago, I was at the Javitz Center in New
York trying to go to the MJSA Expo. I was able to get in the door
because I had a the checkbook from the bead store (I was a part owner
of the store at the time). However, the man in line next to me
couldn’t get his business partner into the show at all. The man
produced a business card and told the clerk that he and the man next
to him were partners and worked together. The woman was saying “if
he’s your partner, why isn’t his name on the card?” They literally,
were not allowed to go in.

I have often thought about my personal security in traveling to the
city. I would like to go to the Expo in March for Designer Day and
the Expo itself. I would like to travel with someone, though, so I
can feel more secure. I am going to be hiring someone in Jan. to help
me, but I, in no way, want a partner, nor do I want to put anyone on
my business card. (I guess you can kinda tell things didn’t work out
well at the bead store). Any tips?

Best Regards,
Kim Starbard
Cove Beads

I would like to travel with someone, though, so I can feel more
secure. I am going to be hiring someone in Jan. to help me, but I,
in no way, want a partner, nor do I want to put anyone on my
business card. Any tips? 

It is hard to believe that anyone still accepts business cards as
proof of anything-- it is so easy to print them as needed on a
computer. So maybe an answer is to print a couple of business cards
that show that your companion works for you or your business. Or
supply them with a letter on yopur letterhead stating that they are
there as your representative.

HTH!
Noel

Hi Kim,

I am going to be hiring someone in Jan. to help me, but I, in no
way, want a partner, nor do I want to put anyone on my business
card. (I guess you can kinda tell things didn't work out well at
the bead store). Any tips? 

I really can’t help with any guaranteed tips for getting you or your
employees into a show. The admission requirements are established &
administered by the show’s organizer.

However, having business cards with your name & the name of a
business that’s ‘in the industry’ goes a long way to establishing
legitimacy at some shows. Another possibility is membership in a
national/international (i.e. MJSA, AGTA, etc) organization that’s
part of the business.

Dave

However, having business cards with your name & the name of a
business that's 'in the industry' goes a long way to establishing
legitimacy at some shows. Another possibility is membership in a
national/international (i.e. MJSA, AGTA, etc) organization that's
part of the business. 

Pre-registering with the names of everyone from your business who
will be attending that show helps, too. When you get a registration
form from the show, it will have places to list everyone who will be
representing your business, and their title, which at minimum should
probably be “buyer” or “manager”, even if YOU are the one holding the
checkbook and credit cards. Usually, if mailing the pre-registration,
you are asked to include business cards for each participant.

True, business cards ARE easily created, but they are not the only
item required for admission to the wholesale only shows. Other shows
might require a photo of your storefront, a listing in the phone book
under the business name, a certain annual income for your business
(if you don’t make $100K+ per year, don’t bother trying to register),
a certain amount of annual purchases made from suppliers (or even
from a specific supplier - if you don’t buy $XX thousand, don’t
bother) or maybe even a listing with D&B.

I do know that they do SOME verification if you register at the door
at AGTA - I don’t know WHAT verification they do, or how much. It
took about 45-60 minutes for us to register at the door last year and
to get our credentials for the AGTA show in Tucson.

Deb Weller

Hello Rebecca Ross-Russell,

By the time you will be getting to the Tucson Shows on February 6th,
the four major shows which are “wholesale only” and require a tax ID,
and other stringent means of proving that you are a wholesale buyer,
will be over or will be ending on the day you arrive. They are the
GLDA show at the Star Pass Resort, and the three “wholesale only”
downtown shows - the GJX (Big tent in front of the Convention Center
on S. Granada Ave)- the AGTA at the Convention Center and the WGJ at
the The Hotel Arizona (formerly Radisson City Center) (it is a new
show that replaces the old GLDA show - with many of the original GLDA
exhibitors).

Since you only have one short day for all of these shows (these
shows close early on the last day - you can only get in the door up
to 3 p.m.) The GJX and the WGJ are the only two you should try to get
into. If you get into one, then you can get into the other - as they
are run by the same show promoter.

The AGTA show is extremely strict about having a tax ID and a
handful of Invoices proving you are a colored stone buyer.

The GLDA show at the Star Pass Resort ends on February 5th.

If you manage to get a badge for the GJX and/or the WGJ shows, you
will be able to get into any of the other “wholesale only” shows
around Tucson with no problem. At these other shows, they usually
just affix a sticker to the GJX Buyer Badge, though they will
probably ask you to leave them a business card so that they can put
you on their mailing list for the next year’s show information
mailings.

Check out the Tucson Show Guide online which lists the shows
locations and dates: http://www.tucsonshowguide.com/tsg/show_index.cfm
On some of these there are links where you can pre-register so that
your badge should be ready when you show up at the registration desk
at the show.

Have fun and come by our booth at the GJX to say hello.

Best regards,
Robert Lowe
Lowe Associates - Brasil
Gemstones, Rough, Specimens
Tucson - February 1 - 6, 2006 - GJX # 205
1-240-757-6022

here’s a suggestion to add to the other excellent help ideas already
posted:

if you have invoices/sales receipts from industry wholesale
suppliers - rio grande, kingsley, fire mountain, wholesale bead
companies, etc., etc, make copies of them, your state tax
certificate, business license (if required in your state), and
business card. staple all of these papers together - card on top down
to largest copies on bottom. these were sufficient for most shows.
BUT be forewarned they were not enough for the gem and jewelry
exchange (across from convention center on grant/granada) gjx
required photo i.d. in addition to above - my driver’s license had
fallen under the cabin seat on the last leg of the flight to tucson -
but even with several thousands of dollars in sales receipts from the
previous few days, the company in my name, badges from the other
shows around my neck, she was going to give a badge only to my
partner. UNTIL… (here’s a hint about little napoleons at
registration desks)… i asked to speak with a supervisor. if you
believe there’s unnecessary difficulty when registering, very
politely, but firmly, ask to speak with a supervisor. don’t raise
your voice, get personal, speak rudely, or act disgusted. just stand
there a couple of feet off to the side (out ot the way of those
behind you but still touching the desk/counter, you don’t want to
tick them off and have them gang up on you with the clerk) until a
supervisor shows up. hand your papers to him or her and quietly say
you are trying to see dealers in their show and those dealers will
not be happy if you tell them you were prevented from getting in to
buy. you do not have to give any dealers’ names. a show company
depends on dealers continuing to pay huge fees for being in that
company’s show.

good luck -
ive
who wonders if those little napoleons could win one-way trips to st. helena.

Hello Rebecca

Tucson Shows on February 6th, the four major shows which are
"wholesale only"...will be over or will be ending on the day you
arrive. 

you will be glad to hear that some big shows will not be closing on
february 6, the day you arrive, they won’t be closing until the
12th. for a better picture of the show calendar go to:
http://www.colored-stone.com/tsg/
(which comes up if you put in www.tucsonshowguide.com)

Many shows, including the MJSA Expo and many of the larger wholesale
shows in Tucson, offer buyer pre-registration via mail, fax, or Web
site. I STRONGLY suggest that you do this whenever possible, even if
you just think you might want to attend the show! The registration
staff at shows are often just temps, and are neither prepared nor
authorized to deviate from the norm at all. This is as much for your
security as for the shows: temps can’t be expected to tell “gate
crashers” from legit variations. So if you don’t match the “typical”
show attendee, getting in will require a battle with red tape, and
the least.

Registering prior to the show is often handled by experienced show
staff, who are more likely to have both the authority and the time
to figure out whether you should be admitted. Plus, you’ll be able to
cut through whatever red tape you need to at your leisure, instead
of watching precious show minutes tick by while you argue with a low-
level clerk. You can find registration at most show Web
sites, and you can find them at www.tucsonshowguide.com. Be aware,
though, that pre-registration ends several weeks before the show
opens, so if you’re planning on heading to Tucson, you should get
your registration forms faxed ASAP.

If you MUST register at the show, bring every piece of documentation
you can think of to support your status as a going concern in the
jewelry business, and ask to speak to a supervisor if the clerk
doesn’t know what to do with it. Expect to WAIT if you must do this
though, and stay calm and polite. It’s best if you arrive after the
first rush, as well: Show registration supervisors are frantic beyond
belief in the first hour or so that a show opens, and they have more
problems and arguments than you’d believe, and may not be
particularly inclined to listen to your argument. It can be
frustrating, which is why I encourage everyone to register in
advance. Besides, pre-registration lines are always shorter and move
faster, which lets you get to the show floor that must faster. No
need to waste precious Tucson time waiting while the guy ahead of
you argues with the clerk about his business status!

Have a great time at the shows!

Suzanne … who was once denied entry at the MJSA Expo registration
desk herself, when she was editor of AJM, MJSA’s monthly magazine,
and an MJSA staff member!

Suzanne Wade
Writer/Editor
@Suzanne_Wade1
(508) 339-7366
Fax: (928) 563-8255
www.rswade.net

Rooms for the Tucson gem show can be found on 2 websites’
tucsongemshowguide.com and tucsonshow guide.com. I just found a room
for my wife and I. Look under hotels, and start at the end of the
list first. Everyone else always start from the front. The rooms I
reserved cost me about $90/day. This is probably the minimum you
could expect. I tried priceline, travelocity, cheaptickets and
others, finally broke down and used the “Let your fingers do the
walking” routine. At this late date, get a room first, then try to
upgrade to better facilities. Rooms are still available on the usual
travel websites if you are willing to pay $200 plus. Remember people
cancel all the time so be diligent and patient.

Good Luck, Chris Schanbacher See you there!