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I have been to more than a hundred beadshows as the tradeshow manager at Nina Designs and I have collected amazing jewelry findings and beads in my travels. The ladies in the office always ask me where and how I find my goodies, so I have decided to share some tips to finding unexpected delights.

• Scan every booth as you walk up and down the aisles. There are hundreds of new products at every show, so give each booth a good look before passing it by. Ask the vendors about new products or which products have been popular. Nina Designs isn’t the only company that realizes having new designs is important to customers who want to stay on top of the trends.

• Ask vendors for their recommendations. If you like their product, it probably means you trust their taste. I am always happy to recommend my favorite vendors.

• As you scan the booths, also pay attention to your experiences with the vendors. I prefer to develop relationships with vendors who are friendly and knowledgeable about their products. Having a relationship with your vendors can be really beneficial. Not only will they be helpful and courteous, but they will listen to your suggestions, bring special products just for you, and possibly even give you better discounts – this is especially true if you are buying stones.

An Awesome Street Vendor in Tucson

• Ask for prices on everything. You may be surprised at how affordable or  unaffordable some beads can be. Sadly, I wish I had thought to ask about pricing earlier that time I carefully chose three rutilated quartz bracelets from a plastic bin and was told that they totaled more than $600 combined!

• Don’t be shy. Jewelry designers tend to be really excited about jewelry and beads and will be more than willing to talk about them. If you see someone who is wearing a piece of jewelry you like or have fashion sense that you admire, ask them where they buy their jewelry parts. They may not be willing to give away all of their trade-secrets, but will likely point you in an inspiring direction.

• If you find something you really like check with the vendor to see if you will be able to re-order it from their website or catalog. If not, buy more than you think you might need. When we were in Tucson this year, we found some fantastic crystal geode bracelets that we knew would be perfect office gifts. That night I realized I really wanted at least a couple more to give as gifts (and to keep for myself). Unfortunately when I went back the next morning, every single bracelet had been sold! Luckily Nina Designs has a great website and catalog which make re-ordering a breeze, but you can’t always rely on that.

• Keep an open mind. If you go into a show with a narrow idea of what you are looking for, you may miss some true gems. I always find beads that I didn’t know I was looking for.

More Offbeat Jewelry Findings from Tucson

Fabulous Geode Bracelets