Monday, February 5, 2007
How to Take Care of Sterling Silver Jewelry
When you have a lot of sterling silver jewelry, you really want to know the best possible way to keep it from tarnishing. Yes, all sterling silver tarnishes in time. Sometimes the manufacturers put a coating of rhodium over the top of the silver to keep it from tarnishing. This does not mean it is plated, it means that the jewelry is sterling silver with a coating of rhodium to keep it from tarnishing. (Plated jewelry is a coating of silver over junk metal, this does not make it sterling silver. Please be aware of the difference) The easiest way to keep your jewelry from tarnishing is to polish it everyday with a polishing cloth specially coat for cleaning silver, if the jewelry is kept out in the open. For instants, on top of a counter or hanging up on a board. If the jewelry is kept in a case that is pretty much air tight, then you will not have to polish everyday, only about once a week. Also remember if your customers handle the jewelry, polish it afterwards. Finger prints, will tarnish you jewelry also. Certain skin types that are very alkaline will tarnish silver almost instantly. So always remember to polish after handling. Use a good polishing cloth, one that is made specifically for silver. There are many out there, but only a few will actually be of quality. These clothes have a dry chemical that removes tarnish and leaves a protective coating on the jewelry. (Always good to have in the store, for yourself and for the customers who are buying from you.) We never recommend a silver jewelry dip. The reason is that most people don't follow instructions. These dips are designed for a quick clean, drop in swish around and take out. A lot of people think if a little time does well, then more time does better, WRONG! The more time the jewelry sits in the liquid cleaner, the pastier it gets. Your jewelry will never recover from this, so always read instructions about these liquid cleaners. Also remember if you are going to use one of those cleaners to always use a polishing cloth afterwards to put a protective coating back on the jewelry, otherwise it will just start to yellow in a few days and then tarnish again quickly. The liquid cleaners are designed for badly tarnished jewelry and as a last resort, or if you have a lot of pieces that are starting to tarnish but are not quite there yet. To get back to reality, if you are going to have sterling silver in your store, you have to keep up on it. It is not that hard if you remeber to polish everyday and keep the finger prints off of it, you jewelry will always look good for the customer. When not selling all pieces, remember to keep the jewelry stored in zip lock baggies and away from other types of jewelry, i.e. costume jewelry, fake silver jewelry, even gold jewelry will tarnish sterling silver, so never mix them together. Silver loves its self!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Wholesale Sterling Silver Jewelry
Q.) How Do I Start A Jewelry Store?
A.) It is hard to estimate how much money any store will bring in, so in relative terms you should always start small and work your way up. We were in retail for 8 years, traveling and vending from place to place and what we have learned is, the more stuff you carry, the more sales you make. But try not to start to small, $100 dollars of sterling silver is not going to get you too far. You are actually going to need around $2000 to get a good start and go up from there.
Q.)Just starting to carry jewelry?
A.) There are a few factors you have to consider. 1.) What is your market. 2.) Who will be buying from you. Lets explore your possibilities. If you are considering getting a mall store, then your market will consist of mainly 16-50 years old. (this is just an assumption) You will want to carry something for everyone, which means a lot of money to start your store, right? WRONG ! All you need to do is carry the basics. Never pick for your yourself, because what you like, many customers may not. Example: You may like big bulky jewelry, that is bold and makes a statement. That may be fine for some people, but in our travels, Most people are not looking for that. They are looking for simple or elegant, not flashy and showy. Keep it simple.
Q.) What should I carry?
A.) It is really difficult when first starting out to get everything you want to carry. We have discovered that the basics that sell well first is always Earrings, Bracelets, Pendants, Necklaces, Charms, and Chains. The reason for this is that, all these items except, bracelets and chains, you do not need to know the persons size in order to sell them. If you are going to sell rings , you need every size from small to large. Don't think that everyone that is going to come into your store is going to be your size. The average size for rings these days is a 7, but that is for a ring finger and most women already have that one covered. So you either need bigger for a middle finger or smaller for a pinkie finger. That is why when you are selling rings you need every size from 5 through 10 if possible. Also don't forget the men. Men's rings are real popular too especially the spin rings and design bands. Men's fingers generally range from a size 9 through size 13.
A.) It is hard to estimate how much money any store will bring in, so in relative terms you should always start small and work your way up. We were in retail for 8 years, traveling and vending from place to place and what we have learned is, the more stuff you carry, the more sales you make. But try not to start to small, $100 dollars of sterling silver is not going to get you too far. You are actually going to need around $2000 to get a good start and go up from there.
Q.)Just starting to carry jewelry?
A.) There are a few factors you have to consider. 1.) What is your market. 2.) Who will be buying from you. Lets explore your possibilities. If you are considering getting a mall store, then your market will consist of mainly 16-50 years old. (this is just an assumption) You will want to carry something for everyone, which means a lot of money to start your store, right? WRONG ! All you need to do is carry the basics. Never pick for your yourself, because what you like, many customers may not. Example: You may like big bulky jewelry, that is bold and makes a statement. That may be fine for some people, but in our travels, Most people are not looking for that. They are looking for simple or elegant, not flashy and showy. Keep it simple.
Q.) What should I carry?
A.) It is really difficult when first starting out to get everything you want to carry. We have discovered that the basics that sell well first is always Earrings, Bracelets, Pendants, Necklaces, Charms, and Chains. The reason for this is that, all these items except, bracelets and chains, you do not need to know the persons size in order to sell them. If you are going to sell rings , you need every size from small to large. Don't think that everyone that is going to come into your store is going to be your size. The average size for rings these days is a 7, but that is for a ring finger and most women already have that one covered. So you either need bigger for a middle finger or smaller for a pinkie finger. That is why when you are selling rings you need every size from 5 through 10 if possible. Also don't forget the men. Men's rings are real popular too especially the spin rings and design bands. Men's fingers generally range from a size 9 through size 13.
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