Report on the Chicago Gemshow...

[perry]

All the usual Pricesopers were busy elsewhere so I went by myself.... (I had posted a thread a few weeks ago looking for other participants).

I had a grand time. Lots of interesting bling to look at. I was last at the Chicago one 2 years ago. I have also been to ones in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St Paul) and Milwaukee....

There seems to be more focus on 18K gold jewelry (bracelets, etc) since before... Something I appreaciate.

I went looking for the cut meteorite - planning to buy (the interesting crystal patterns); but that vendor was not there (and the guy at the Chicago Mineralogy booth said this was the first time he can recall the meteorite person not being there). So, I could not purchase what I had planned on.

There was a vendor there with some really interesting high quality carved ivory.... I was intranced. He said that he had not been to Chicago in about 3 years. It was out of my price range... (the pieces I was interested in was over $1000 - craftmanship hours must be paid for). But I can see getting some someday. Something to add to my want list. Somehow things on my want list happen. I have the vendors card.

And yes I did buy something..... One of the vendors was selling supplies for jewelry stores and home jewelerys. They had quite the selection of little zip lock bags. So I bought 200 small zip lock bags. When I travel (which is a fair amount) I tend to prebage my vitimens and medications into a morning, noon, and evening zip lock bags. Using full size sandwich bags is such a waste... and I was already thinking that I should just get some small ziplock bags (and do have a catalog that lets me buy them in about 2000 lot quantities + shipping). Problem is now solved.

Sorry about no pictures.... Yesturday I got out of work a half hour late and did not get my camera packed as I rushed out the door to head to Chicago (I was down there to attend a seminar last night). Stopping at the gemshow this morning (for about 3 hours) was only a few minutes out of the way from my normal return route from where I was traveling from. Also, my cell phone is ancient and lacks that capability (I plan on replacing my cellphone next year with a much more capable model - but the model I want and need is not yet available on the network that can support it in my area - should be here in January I am told).

I suspose I could take a picture of my zip lock bags now that I am home if anyone really wants to see them...

Anyway, I hope you all get a chance to get to a gemshow somewhere soon...

Perry

 

[bebe]

Perry sounds like you did indeed have a grand time.
What is your take on the attendance? Just wondering if the economy had any impact on people going.

I sometimes do the same thing with the baggies and like you, thought it was so wasteful to use even a sandwich size baggie for
vitamins and such. Glad you found a system!

The gem shows here in Houston seem "junky", but then I haven''t gone in 2 years. Wish it was better and had higher quality goods.

 

[perry]

Actually, some of the junkier stands were missing as well. No stands selling the cheapest junky costume jewerly that I have seen before and elsewhere.

But lets face it... most customers at these jemshows are not really looking for high level goods (and I doubt that most people there would recognize the difference). Thus, the vast majority of stands are focused on low to mid level stuff - with some reaching the medium high (at least to my standards).

Attendence seemed robust for the morning - enough people that you had to watch where you were going - but enough room that you could fairly easily move down the isles. I talked to several of the vendors on how it was going and they indicated that morning was the slow time of day and that traffic would pick up after lunch (at which time they thought the place would be packed).

A few vendors indicated that sales in general were down this year, I picked up the impression that was more on the pricier stuff. Items up to several hundred dollars seemed to still sell well. I saw a lot of people buying stuff...

Of course, people who were buying supplies to build crafts and jewelry were clearly present. For those who have never been to one of these... about 1 out of 10 booths is only selling stones, beeds, low cost gemstones, assorted chain, metal wire, assorted fittings and rings, etc. If you or your kid is interested in jewelry making or beadwork - these shows are the place to be. It will blow your mind what you can get (and you really need to walk down the entire show just to see what is available first). Actually, a lot of local artasan jewelers buy their annual supply of a lot of there stones at shows like this. I purchased a string or two of catseye the first one I went too.


Perry