Behind the Scenes: Shopping for Supplies!

One of my favorite parts of jewelry designing is shopping for new treasures to incorporate into my jewelry.  Month after month I'm inspired by the artwork, architecture, and activity bustling around me in downtown Chicago.  Inspiration can come from anywhere - the stained glass exhibit at Navy Pier, new spring flowers at my local flower shop, the funny way Violet (a two-year-old I babysit) chooses to layer my necklaces on herself as she plays dress-up. 

Month after month, I fine-tune my ideas into styles I want to incorporate into my jewelry... then I finally get to shop.  Every few months, massive wholesale gem and jewelry shows come to Chicago and neighboring cities selling all things jewelry related.  They have a fabulous selection of fine jewelry (where I've splurged on a ring I love), but they also have booth after booth of wholesale strands of gemstones, pearls, gold and silver treasures, cheap plastic beads, vintage rings and broaches, thousands of styles of chains... I could go on forever.  If you've seen it in Nordstrom, they have a way for you to make it.  I thank God every time I go for my wholesale tax license!  There are some shows open to the general public, but the really good ones need a tax ID. 

I was recently spoiled with two weekends back-to-back of jewelry shows: Intergalactic Bead Show (one I've been going to for 12 years that also travels up and down the East Coast), and the Jewelry Fashion and Accessory Show.  I'm blessed to have two good friends - Nicole and Anna - who live in my building and are unconditionally supportive of my growing jewelry business.  They tagged along to both shows, which made shopping so much more fun!  I feel like I can develop tunnel vision with some of my styles and designs, so it definitely helps to have a couple people to bounce ideas off of.  My girlfriends got into the excitement and wound up buying several strands and pieces from both shows so they could put together some pieces of their own.  I love inspiring new artists!  Here's a bit of information on the shows I've been to since I've been in Chicago:

• Intergalactic Bead Show (www.beadshows.com) is expensive, even for a jewelry supply show.  I've been going to this show for 12 years - it was my first introduction to the overwhelming world of touring jewelry supply shows.  It used to have a huge presence and a lot of floor space, but it is slowly shrinking.  It's definitely worth the trip if it is coming to your area, especially if you don't have any shows coming up and you need to get your hands on some new pieces... but it isn't worth spending a fortune at.  I was extremely luck to find a new booth that I loved at this show last weekend which made the trip worth the drive: Adornments by Kathy Dokomos (www.adornments.com).  Loved her soft, matte gold pieces!  I'll definitely be ordering more - and she was so sweet and easy to work with!  You can check out some of the bracelets I made with some of her pieces on my Etsy at: www.etsy.com/shop/landonlacey

 

• Transworld's Jewelry Fashion and Accessory Show (www.jfashow.com) may be a Chicago thing.  It has more than just jewelry - scarves, perfume, shirts, etc.  This show is more extensive than IBS as well as more affordable, but still isn't the best.  They also have  pre-made cash-and-carry jewelry that retail stores can purchase to incorporate immediately into their shop.

• International Gem and Jewelry Show (www.intergem.com) is the best I've found.  They have an enormous selection of gemstones at rock-bottom prices, tons of styles of chain, and a beautiful selection of fine jewelry to drool over.  They also have a section that is wholesale where you need a tax-ID to enter.  I feel like a kid in a candy shop every time I walk in - it is overwhelming and exciting!  Definitely takes two days and a glass of wine and slippers at the end of each day!  Hopefully we'll road trip to this show when it comes to Columbus Ohio in a couple weeks!  

Looking forward to finding some new treasures at the upcoming shows!  Check them out as I incorporate them into some lines I'm developing! 

Interview with Dajana Markota: Owner of String a Strand on Wells

What I'm listening to: I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers

Yesterday I posted a photo blog of my trip to local Chicago jewelry supply store String a Strand on Wells with my fellow grassroots jewelry designer friend, Katy Katan.  Today I'm sharing my follow-up interview with Dajana Markota, owner of String a Strand.  Dajana put in a ton of legwork into making her dream of owning a jewelry supply store in a very competitive retail hub in Chicago.  Here's what she has to say:

Tell me a little about yourself - who you are, where you're from, what you love to do, etc:

My name is Dajana Markota I was born in Croatia, graduated from a business school, started jewelry making as a hobby that turned into my business.

Give me some background on String a Strand - how did it start, how long has it been in business, etc?

The store has been around for about 10 years.  Things were different back than, the economy was much better, it was easier to start and succeed, it still shouldn't stop anyone from pursuing their dreams, don't misunderstand me.

You're in an incredible location in Chicago (Old Town) - what made you choose this spot?

As they say Location Location most important part.  I don't know, somehow I just had this area on my mind, I remember coming here to Old Town and looking at a space that use to be a card reading place (psychic) and thinking to myself "that space would be perfect for my store," and my luck, in about a month, a confidential listing came out on the market for that particular space (unbelievable).  When I called the agent said it will be available next summer, they had to remodel the building.  I took it off the market the next day gave them whatever they asked for rent money :)

I had a whole year to organize and gather my inventory, this meant taking a lot of trips to different countries and hand selecting my merchandise.  All my displays are kitchen tables that serve as  my store display, wood bowls originally sold for dips and appetizers, they hold beads, tea candle holders, and so on, all designed and installed by me and my team.

I love how your store features both jewelry supplies and finished jewelry.  Who makes all the jewelry that's for sale?  Can people request custom pieces?

Most of the jewelry is made in-house.  We do outsource some, and also carry few other artists that use to be our students :)

Do you offer classes?

We do offer classes on jewelry making.  We also do parties, my website has little info about those, www.stringastrand.com.

What's the biggest obstacle you've overcome in owning your own shop?

Obstacle hmmm..... let me come back to that one.

How do you decide what to include in your shop?  Do you research styles that are trending?  Are there any websites you look at to figure out what's in style?

How do I decide what to put in my shop... what I like I buy haha, that brings me back to your previous question, I do have to buy things I don't like.  In the beginning I really was buying only things I liked, I did not want to carry dyed beads, plated findings; I wanted to carry high end merchandise, but my customers kept on requesting less expensive option, so I had to  go against my purchase choice and think from the customers' perspective and it helped my business grow, it really did.  Somehow we do stay on top of trends, through our travels, fashion shows, fairs, our customers, etc.

I'm so thankful Dajana had the determination and creativity necessary to start such a beautiful jewelry supply store in Old Town Chicago!  If you're ever in the area check her out at 1361 N Wells St, Chicago IL.  Thanks for reading!

www.stringastrand.com