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1.What’s the overall best buyer-only gem show?
2.What are the best days to be in town for all the shows?
3.What’s a good strategy to find the best sources and the best prices for my
business needs?
    
Make a Comment about the wholesale-only gem & mineral shows
1.What’s the overall best buyer-only gem show?
Arizona Bead Dog’s 2008 pick is the Holidome Show. This Show has something for every buyer, whether you’re a bead-stringer or gift gallery owner. Parking is tough, but since the Gem Mall has ample parking and shuttle service to the Holidome, it’s not bad. Plan to spend at least 4 hours here. Arizona Bead Dog likes the Gem Mall better for bead strand prices.
2.What are the best days to be in town for all the shows?
Consult www.tucsonshowguide.com and confirm with individual shows, but it looks like 2008’s four days when all shows are open are February 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th. The limiting show is Create Your Own Style With Swarovski. If you don’t care to go to that show, the expanded time block when all shows are open is February 5th through the 10th.
3.What’s a good strategy to find the best sources and the best prices for my
business needs?
Probably every buyer attacks these shows differently. Arizona Bead Dog’s advice: Attend at least 3 shows during your stay. If possible, visit one new show after reading Arizona Bead Dog’s reviews.
If you’re only in town for a day, and have a jewelry-making business that uses natural stone beads, the Quality Inn Show, hosted by G&LW on West Grant Road, is the best overall show; however, the Gem Mall, also hosted by G&LW, offers more vendors and seems to have more discounted bead strands. It is less compact, and takes longer to meet all the exhibitors.
Most buyers like the Holidome Show; it’s vast, and can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for. “Just browsing” is an ineffective strategy if you don’t have at least a week here.
Starr Pass and GJX are good shows for higher-end precious stones and finished jewelry. The disadvantage of Starr Pass is that it seems like it takes a long time for the shuttle to get you there; parking is available, but you must wait for a shuttle to take you to the resort. GJX also has parking woes, but has the advantage of being located downtown behind the federal court building.
A very accessible and laid back show is the Whole Bead Show at the Windmill Suites; it has an upscale (at least in 2003) feel, with a nice variety of beads, silk findings, seed beads, lampwork, and unusual giftables. Arizona Bead Dog knows one buyer who spent 8 hours there; pretty much her stay. But for serious buying, unless you already have a relationship with vendors there, the fact that it does allow the public (for an admission fee), affects the prices. Understand that most small buyers are indistinguishable from the public; not necessarily in terms of how much they will spend in total, but in terms of the quantities they want to buy.
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