2009 Recession

A quick message to all our loyal customers who may have noticed some price increases recently on certain items. As you are in no doubt that we are all in a recession, with the newspapers quick to spread doom and gloom.

The good news is that crafting and jewellery making tend to do quite well during these times as buyers look for cheaper alternatives to high priced retail jewellery.

The bad news (good news for all our Eurozone customers) is that the downturn in the UK economy, this time, has seen the Pound Sterling weaken against many currencies. It has weakened considerably against the US Dollar and the Euro. And since we mainly import goods using these currencies, it is costing us more at present and unfortunately we are having to pass on some of these costs.

For those of you who have been buying from us for a long time, you know that we offer quality products at competitive prices that rarely increase. The raw price of goods we have been buying from the manufacturers have been increasing for a year or two, but we were able to offset these increases against the strong Pound and we were able to maintain prices. However market forces are working against all importers at present, making the cost of goods ever more expensive.

We are absorbing as much costs increases as we can so as to help keep prices down. However you will notice certain products increasing in price more frequently than normal. We are only doing this for products that we have recently imported (and therefore cost more). Prices won't change for items where we already have stocks.

Of course if the Pound strengthens significantly in the future, then you will see our prices come back down. Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to keep prices stable. May I suggest that where you buying items that have increased in price, that you look to increase your selling price as well. This will ensure you are still making a living from all your jewellery making.

We will endeavour to keep sourcing new jewellery ranges and beads in 2009 in a bid to keep things fresh and to give you more ideas and choice.

Jewellery bags and pouches - new arrivals

Take a look at our new range of jewellery bags and pouches that we've added to give greater choice in addition to our popular organza jewellery bags.
These will provide an alternative option to jewellery boxes to sell your jewellery in for your Christmas sales. As I've previously mentioned, well presented jewellery will increase the sales of your jewellery and give added value. Your customers would be more inclined to buy your jewellery as a gift at this time of the year and so it would be a good idea to sell your jewellery in a nice presentation box or bag, whatever suits your style and range.

When pricing your jewellery make sure you include the cost of any presentation boxes or pouches into the final price. Display materials need not be expensive, you can find great value and quality jewellery bags and pouches at internationalcraft.com .

Indian glass lampwork bead mixes

We have finally received our ever popular stocks of super value glass bead mixes from India. Over one tonne of glass beads have been re-stocked. Even the pallet the shipment it was delivered on could not take the weight.
We hope to have some new jewellery bags and pouches uploaded to the site this week. These will provide an alternative option to jewellery boxes to sell your jewellery in for your Christmas sales.

Fancy plated metal Beads

We have just received and updated our on-line catalogue to show our latest bead additions, high quality silver and gold plated metal fancy beads in great designs. These beads can bring added value to your jewellery designs. They bring bling and elegance to jewellery pieces at a fraction of the cost of real silver and gold beads.
If they prove popular we'll get more styles in.

Jewellery Presentation Boxes

With Christmas and the gift season fast approaching it is a good idea to consider the use of jewellery presentation boxes and pouches for the display and selling of your jewellery.

Not only do they enhance the beauty of your jewellery pieces but they also help increase your sales. Your customers would be more inclined to buy your jewellery as a gift at this time of the year and so it would be a good idea to sell your jewellery in a nice presentation box. Not only would the box protect the jewellery piece, but it also allows your customer to present it as a gift.

When pricing your jewellery make sure you include the cost of any presentation boxes or pouches into the final price. Display materials need not be expensive, you can find great value and quality jewellery presentation boxes at internationalcraft.com .

Indian Glass Bead Mixes

Our new stocks of the ever popular and super value glass beads will arrive by sea freight by mid-late November. I wish it was sooner.

Elasticated Charm Bracelet - Stock

As some of you have already noticed our Elasticated Charm Bracelet (Ref: F.1201.EL.SP) is out of stock.
This was a new product we introduced last month and has been much more popular than expected. The result being that we sold out in a very short period of time. I have been informed that new stocks will be due at the end of November.
The bracelet consist of an elasticated core which has been threaded through a silver plated chain. This gives the impression of a bracelet made up of hundreds of links. Jumprings have been attached all round the bracelet where individual charms and bead can be added.
Thanks for your patience.

Jewellery making with Pandora style beads

Jewellery making with beads is a fun and rewarding hobby that can easily turn into a business and what better way to start than with the current hot fashion in the jewellery market, Pandora style charm bracelets and beads. Jewellery pieces can be made very easily with no skill. All you need is imagination to make stylish designs.

Pandora bracelets were created by a Danish company using the best designers to create beautiful beads and jewellery using Italian Murano glass, Sterling silver and 18kt gold. They perfected a simple and flexible technique to create personalised and interchangable charm bracelets. In the past couple of years this concept of jewellery has become extremely popular with now a few celebrities wearing them.

They work like all charm bracelets, allowing wearers to attach beads of their choice to a bracelet to create their own personalised jewellery piece with its own story. These beads are available in a range of materials and shapes from coloured glass beads with inner metal cores to solid metal beads. Shapes and symbols include animals, flowers, birthstones and letters. With such a range of beads to choose from it is very easy to create your own bracelet and just as easier to change it to suit your mood or your outfit colour. The art of designing your bracelets is fun and very easy.

The only downside is that genuine Pandora beads are very expensive, with individual beads selling from £20 each up to £1000 a bead. However with all successful things, come cheaper copies. Now available are Pandora style beads and bracelets made with non-precious materials that are just as good but are a fraction of the cost. Learn how it works below. How it works

• Select a base bracelet. These come in a snake chain style in lengths between 7 - 8". They come in silver plated and Sterling silver with differing clasp types.
• Next choose clip beads. These are used to clip over the smooth section separators on the base bracelets. These decorative clips help keep the beads from bunching and falling off the bracelet. You usually require 2 - 3 clips per bracelet.
• Finally select your Pandora style beads of choice. These beads all have a large inner hole that simply slide onto the bracelet. Choose from a combination of glass charm beads, metal charm beads and birthstone charm beads. Pick and slide your beads onto your bracelet in the order desired to achieve the look you want. Then apply your clip beads to separate the sections. If you are not happy with the look, simply unclip and slide off the beads and start again.

For a full range of Pandora style beads at International Craft.