A few tips
A few tips
TSH,
Jeremy is right. the 6.5-7mm and 7-7.5mm are the most commonly purchased sizes. Above 7.5mm and the price is too high for most retailers to want to buy, because they don't want to tie up too much money in inventory. It also depends on the demographics of your area. We are in the midwest and the retailers we sell to are mostly small mom & pop operations. They will carry 4-5 strands and perhaps sell 1 during the year and maybe 2-3 during christmas. They are used to paying distributors $500+ for lower quality strands, and so are excited to purchase a higher quality strand for less money. They can then charge a lower price to their customers (middle class to lower middle class clients) for $500 - $700 instead of the $1200+ they use to have to charge. A broader customer base then have access to pearls and the jeweler can turn their inventory more frequently.
If you already have a good source from strands for low cost, you may be in a good position to start testing the waters in your area. The key is to make sure you can converse intelligently about your product (this is a good place to study up) and to make a nice presentation. Visit the jeweler when you know it will be a slow time during the day. Don't try to go for the "hard sell" or exaggerate your background as a pearl guru. Be honest and let them know that you are new to the business, but have a nice connection for high quality, low cost pearls, and that your willing to give them better deals then they are currently getting.
Anyway, I hope you give it a try. It can be a little scary and intimidating when you first get started (expect to be rejected most of the time). But if you do have nice pearls and nice prices, your persistence will pay off.
Good luck!!!
