Wholesale jewellery sales with sample case and trade shows

Independent jewellers, gift and souvenir shops, boutiques, spas and tourist-area retailers.

You earn the margin between your buying and wholesale prices. Regular visits bring reorders, and trade shows can bring a burst of new accounts.

• Confident in-person selling
• Building long-term relationships with shop owners
• Route and appointment planning
• Careful stock and price tracking

• Insurance for samples and stock in your vehicle and at shows; theft is a real risk, so check cover with a broker
• Rules on marking and describing precious metals; check the Competition Bureau and the Precious Metals Marking Act
• Trade show booth fees and travel costs can eat margin before you make sales
• GST/HST registration and how sales tax applies to sales to other businesses and across provinces
• Winter driving and seasonal timing, since many retailers place holiday orders in late summer and early fall
• Payment terms and unpaid invoices; consider deposits or card payment for new accounts

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000 CAD, depending on the size of your sample range, travel and trade show booth fees. Booth fees and travel can eat into margin before sales come in.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000 CAD, depending on how many shops you visit, the trade shows you attend and the order sizes you win. Many retailers place holiday orders in late summer and early fall.

Check insurance for samples and stock in your vehicle and at shows, and rules on marking and describing precious metals under the Precious Metals Marking Act. Also check GST/HST and how sales tax applies across provinces, plus payment terms for new accounts.