There are several different types of it that all brides should be aware of when choosing hair accessories for their wedding. Most people are aware that it is measured in karats – 10k, 14k, 18k, and 24k. To clarify, the karat indicates the amount of pure gold that is in the metal. The higher the karat, the more pure gold that is contained in the metal. Then you have gold filled and plated metal. These metals have the look and appearance of solid gold, but the plating will eventually wear off, revealing something quite different underneath. Gold filled metal is made when a layer of gold is fused to another metal. Like plated metal, it looks and wears like solid gold; but it is far more valuable than gold plate and lasts much longer.

Gold plated filigree combs or barrettes are beautiful, but the real will last for generations, making the hair accessories used in your wedding an heirloom that can be handed down to the women in your family for many generations to come.

To some, silver means pure of heart and the bride who selects silver combs or barrettes to wear in her hair on her wedding day has made a wonderful decision. Silver comes in a variety of weights and grades. Sterling silver is the standard. Silver is graded by the amount of pure silver in the metal by numbers, usually stamped somewhere on the bullion it comes from. Silver is less expensive, but in certain cultures, it has more spiritual significance than gold.

Handcrafted bridal hair accessories made from silver and gold can be made anyway you like, but they can be very costly. Most upscale department stores and reputable jewelry retailers offer an array of gold or silver hair accessories that would be perfect for the bride who chooses to wear gold accessories in her hair. Vintage shops are

Costume jewelry is a commodity that will always be in demand. Ever since it became popular in the early 1900′s, people without the means to afford expensive jewelry have turned to costume jewelry to meet their fashion needs.

Even with a such a broad vehicle such as costume jewelry, it is important to pick a niche if you want your business to become a success. There needs to be a specific reason why people choose to purchase your goods. Many first time business owners try to be everything to everybody and as such become nothing to everybody. Though it would be nice to have such a wide customer base as to satisfy everyone’s jewelry needs, you need to accept the fact that at least in the beginning you are going to be starving for customers. Having a narrower focus will actually allow you to attract more customers. You want to attract customers who are ready to buy. If you have a generic storefront that sells “jewelry” you may find that though you have more people checking out your store, the number of paying customers is going to be incredibly small. Lets say instead you decide to sell only vintage costume jewelry from the 30′s and 40′s. You are going to attract fewer customers, but the ones that do come will be much more likely to buy.

Next, it is important to know your customer. This is important. Have you ever tried to buy a car from someone who doesn’t know cars? How much trust would you have in their product if they didn’t know anything about it? You can find online groups and clubs that cater to people who collect costume jewelry. At the very least it is important to be able to speak your customers language. People buy from people they trust and its hard to put faith in a seller who doesn’t know what they are selling.

One last point that will make a huge difference in your ability to make good sales later on down the road is branding. What, exactly, sets you apart from your competitors? Let’s say you are selling costume jewelry online, why should someone want to buy their jewelry from you and not the other guy? Do you stand behind your product? Is there some personal touch to doing business to you? There are many ways to distinguish yourself from the crowd. Free shipping, fancy packaging and free gifts are just a few ideas. Either way, if you do something to set yourself apart from the competition, the next time your customer decides to buy costume jewelry, hopefully they are going to remember something special about doing business with you.