Prescott, AZ – January 24, 2008 – Halstead Bead, Inc. is calling for entries to its third annual Business Development Grant competition for new designers entering the bridge jewelry trade. The grant will be awarded to a winning candidate in August. The winner of the 2008 Grant will receive $6,000 in cash and merchandise as well as other benefits.
The Halstead Bead Business Development Grant differs from other jewelry industry competitions and awards because of its emphasis on business skills. Entrants must demonstrate not only extraordinary design, but also a strong business strategy. The application experience promotes the business planning required to make a jewelry brand commercially viable at the national level in today’s competitive market.
Designers utilizing a wide variety of fabrication techniques including casting, beading, precious metal clay, stamping, or hand finishing are eligible to enter the competition. Candidates must be US citizens who began their businesses after January 1, 2005. Their design companies must focus on “bridge” jewelry which is the segment between costume jewelry and fine jewelry that includes accessories in sterling silver, semi-precious stones, crystal, freshwater pearls and other similar materials.
Complete application details can be found at http://www.halsteadbead.com/Grant/Application.html. Candidates must submit a design portfolio, business plan, resume and answers to several questions. Applications must be received between April 15 and June 17, 2008. The grant website also includes several helpful articles on launching a national jewelry brand as well as information on past winners and finalists. Previous grant winners include Belle Brooke Designs of Los Angeles, CA in 2007 and Ananda Khalsa Jewelry of Providence, RI in 2006.
The grant sponsor, Halstead Bead, Inc., is one of North America’s leading jewelry supply importers and distributors. The firm was established in 1973 and now supplies thousands of component resellers and jewelry manufacturers around the globe. Halstead Bead, Inc. is wholesale only and sells beads and findings for the bridge jewelry segment in sterling silver, gold-filled, copper, freshwater pearls, gemstones, glass and Swarovski crystal.
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