Frequently Asked Questions

Who we are

Nina Designs is a woman-owned wholesale jewelry company based in California, founded in 1983. We create original sterling silver and bronze charms, pendants, findings, and finished jewelry for professional jewelry designers, brands, and shops worldwide.

1. Do you sell to the public, or are you wholesale only?

Nina Designs is wholesale only on ninadesigns.com. This site is for jewelry designers, brands, and other resellers.
If you’re a retail shopper looking to buy a single piece of jewelry for yourself or as a gift, please visit our retail site ninadesignsjewelry.com 

2. Who can open a wholesale account?

We welcome distributors, jewelry designers, and resellers who purchase for resale rather than personal use. Wholesale pricing and ordering are available once your account is registered and your business credentials are verified before your first shipment. 

3. What documentation do I need to open a wholesale account?

To set up a wholesale account in the U.S., Nina Designs typically requires:

1. A valid resale license, and
2. A sales tax exemption certificate that includes your signature.

The exact forms vary by state, and you’ll find a detailed, state-by-state list on our Wholesale Accounts FAQ page. If you’re outside the U.S., we ask for a business license or similar proof that you’re operating as a business. Sales and use tax rules change over time, so we always recommend checking your own state’s requirements. 

4. How do I register and start shopping?

You can register for a wholesale account directly on our website. Once you submit your registration, you can usually begin shopping and place orders right away with a $90 minimum order, while we verify your resale documentation before shipping your first order. If anything is missing, we’ll reach out for more information. 

5. What is your order minimum?

Because we’re a wholesale company, our wholesale pricing is based on processing orders of $90 or more. Orders under this amount would force us to raise our wholesale prices, so we keep a firm $90 minimum per order. 

6. Which payment methods do you accept?

We accept major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) and PayPal for online orders. All orders must be paid with a single payment method; we don’t offer COD or extended payment terms. If you need to use multiple cards, you can split your purchase into multiple orders. Visa gift cards aren’t supported due to processor limitations. 

7. When is my card charged, and what is a pre-authorization?

When you place an order, your bank or PayPal may show a temporary authorization for the full order amount. This is a hold to confirm funds and is not a final charge. We only charge your card or PayPal account after your order is invoiced and ready to ship, which lets us adjust for any inventory changes or backorders. Extra authorizations usually disappear automatically according to your bank or PayPal policies. 

8. How quickly will my order ship, and what shipping methods do you offer?

We process orders Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm Pacific Time (excluding holidays). Orders are handled in the order they’re received, with expedited UPS shipments (like Overnight and 2-Day) processed first, followed by UPS Ground and USPS services.

We offer a range of shipping options, including USPS Ground Advantage, USPS Priority Mail, UPS Ground, UPS 2-Day, and UPS Overnight services, plus select international options such as USPS Priority Mail to Canada and UPS International Expedited. Each service has its own flat rate and typical transit time, which are listed in detail on our Shipping FAQ page. 

9. Do you ship internationally?

Yes, we ship to many international destinations. Options include services like UPS International Expedited and USPS Priority Mail for Canada, with transit times that depend on the carrier and any time in customs. Certain remote areas may incur additional carrier surcharges. 

10. How do backorders and pre-orders work?

If an item you order is temporarily sold out, we may place it on backorder or pre-order:

• Pre-orders usually have a $30 minimum per style; smaller quantities may be cancelled.
• We automatically backorder sold-out items that total $30 or more per individual style number; items below that threshold are not backordered and can be reordered later.

Backordered and pre-ordered items ship when they become available, and discounts are typically calculated based on what you intended to order or backorder, not just the items that ship immediately. 

11. How do your order total discounts work?

We offer Order Total Discounts when you buy in bulk. Starting at a certain subtotal, you can apply a promotion code (chosen from the Active Promotions link in the cart) to receive a fixed dollar discount, and larger orders qualify for higher discounts, including a percentage discount on very large orders. These discounts apply to regular-priced merchandise only and can’t be stacked; one discount code per order. Items that are sold out and not eligible for backorder don’t count toward the discount threshold. 

12. What is your return policy?

We have a “Love It or Return It” policy. If you’re not completely satisfied, you can return eligible items within 10 days of receipt for a refund, store credit, or exchange, as long as the items are unused and follow our return guidelines. Certain items—such as special orders, chain sold by the foot, partial packs, used stringing supplies, and altered or stamped pieces—cannot be returned. 

13. How do I send a return?

To return items:

1. Download and complete the Returns Form from our website.
2. Pack unused merchandise securely in a hard-sided box or padded mailer with a jewelry box, and include the form.
3. Ship to the address printed on the form, optionally with insurance.

Returns are generally processed within about 10 business days after arriving at Nina Designs, and we’ll email you a confirmation once your return is completed. Return shipping and insurance costs are not refunded. 

14. How do I use a Credit Memo or store credit?

If you have store credit or a credit memo from a previous return, you can usually apply it to a new order. Details are explained on the Returns & Exchanges FAQ page, and our customer service team is happy to help you apply credits correctly and ensure your discounts and totals are accurate. 

15. How can I see whether an item is in stock?

Item pages show current available quantities, but inventory changes quickly. Placing an item in your cart does not guarantee availability until checkout is completed. If you need confirmation or are working on a tight deadline, you can call us or email customer service for the latest inventory details. 

16. How do I manage my account information?

When logged in, you can go to Account → Reset Password or Email to update your login email and/or password yourself. If you change your email, we recommend contacting us to update the email address used for invoices and shipment notifications, to avoid misdirected messages.

If you need to update your billing address, please email us from the address we have on file or call customer service. If your new billing address is in a different state, you may be asked for updated sales tax documentation for that state. 

17. I can’t log in and see an error that my username or email can’t be found. What should I do?

If you’re an existing wholesale customer and get a message that your username or email can’t be found, please call us or email customer service. We can help you reclaim an older account, resolve more complex account issues, or walk you through next steps. 

18. What are your business practices around fair wages? 

Nina Designs is committed to paying a living wage and maintaining fair, long-term relationships with our artisan partners. Our production partners invest in training and promoting staff from within, and we support them with stable orders and ethical practices. Learn more on the Fair Trade page.