Most rock shop retailers and specialty stores find that bags of semi-precious stones are great sellers. Not only do these polished stones look great on display in the store, customers find many uses for them at home too. As an importer of tumbled semi precious stones, I am often asked which stones are the best sellers and which ones to avoid buying. There is no easy answer to this question, because what sells in one store won’t necessarily be flying out the door in another. However, there are a few “customer favorites” that continue to sell well in almost every location.
Here are some of our customers’ favorite semi-precious stones. Interestingly, all of these stones begin with the letter “A”.
Aventurine
When it comes to tumbled semi-precious stones, aventurine is a perennial favorite. It can be very translucent or opaque and is considered microcrystalline quartz. Some specimens include shiny minerals like mica and hematite, which can give the stone added sparkle. This is known as “aventurescence”. Colors range from creamy green to brown, blue and peach, and this stone is often used in an ornamental fashion. Most aventurine is found in India, Spain, Austria, Russia, and Brazil.
Amazonite
This is one of my best selling bulk semi-precious stones, probably because of its unique mineral grain and lustrous appearance. It is often polished and sold as a cabochon because of its iridescence of the stone’s crystal structure. Amazonite is found in the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Russia, and is usually light green to bluish green with some light striations.
Aquamarine
For centuries, this pale blue and green gemstone has been used for some very ornate jewelry. A member of the beryl family, its color comes from small amounts of iron, which become embedded in the stone’s crystalline structure. Like other beryls, it has been a valued gemstone for thousands of years, and is even mentioned in the Bible. The name suggests that it was closely associated with water in the ancient world, which may explain why the stone is still highly valued by sailors as a good luck charm.
Tumbled stones in bags are an excellent way to present these semi precious stones in your retail environment. Check out the unparalleled selection of bulk semi precious stones by visiting the online catalog at Pikes Peak Rock Shop.
Amethysts Gemstones
Rock shop owners and retailers who sell gemstones of any kind are often surprised at how many amethysts they sell. Whether it is in the form of jewelry or as rough-cut amethyst geodes, these violet-colored stones practically fly off the shelves. For this reason, it is important to have a reliable source for “all things amethyst”, whether you need bulk amethysts gemstones or wholesale amethyst necklace, amethyst geodes or amethyst crystals.
So what is it about the amethyst that makes it a perennial best seller?
Totem Power Stones
For any rock shop retailer looking to attract a regular stream of new customers, adding Totem Power Stones to your inventory is a very smart move. Also known as Spirit Stones, the collectible Totem Power stones add an interesting new dimension to your store’s retail rock and mineral offerings, and Totem Power stones can drive repeat business as well. Whether they are called totem stones or spirit stones, these colorful semi-precious natural stones are deeply carved with “power” figures, each of which has its own intrinsic meaning. Interestingly, the meaning behind the images is blended with the metaphysical make-up of each stone to create a powerful “totem.”
Why would your customers want to collect Totem Power Stones, or buy them as gifts?
Black Tourmaline on a Wood Base
Specialty retailers and rock shops selling semi-precious stones are always looking for wholesale rock merchandise to meet the needs of their customers. And in many cases, rock shop customers are buying metaphysical or “new age” stones. New Age stones come in many shapes, sizes and varieties; each of which plays a unique role in the new age or metaphysical arts and religious beliefs.
Natural Stone Puffed Hearts
Rock shop retailers and souvenir shops are always looking for the latest “impulse buy” item to display near the cash register. With the summer tourism season upon us, it is time once again to stock up on some inexpensive yet attractive items that will increase your average sales receipt.
Also known as Natural Stone Hearts, Puffed Hearts are made from a variety of polished semi-precious stones and shaped into three dimensional hearts that are 1 ½” w by 1 ½” l . Some customers may already collect Puffed Hearts and will be looking for specific stones to add to their collection. read more…
With so many interesting rock and mineral products now available, you no longer need to focus your rock shop inventory on serious lapidary artists and fossil collectors. Many rock shops are located in tourist areas or near archeological sites and caves. As a result, your customers may include a lot of souvenir shoppers, children, and casual rock enthusiasts. Why not add some diversity to your store’s inventory by selling a line of Spirit Stones or Word Stones. read more…
Boji Stones
As a rock shop retailer, you may be getting several requests for Boji Stones. These unique rocks, also known as Pop Rocks, are becoming widely known and are in high demand, so it helps to know how these stones will be used your customers. Boji stones are used to balance the body’s meridian points and for metaphysical healing. They are quickly becoming a popular alternative to acupuncture and acupressure. read more…
New gemstone and rock shop retailers are often surprised how quickly their store is found by artists and craftspeople with an interest in lapidary supplies. Perhaps this it is because it’s so hard to find a rock shop or store with a decent selection of lapidary supplies.
Whether your customers are experienced gemologists or amateur rock collectors, it helps to know which lapidary supplies to recommend.
Rock shops and other retail stores rely heavily on the supply of Brazilian agate, tumbled stones and other Brazilian minerals because of their availability, selection and price. For casual collectors, it is hard for most people to tell whether they are buying Brazilian stones or stones from another region; they only know them by their color and unique patterns. read more…
If you’re new to selling fossils, you may be asking yourself “What types of bulk fossil rock should I be buying?” With so many different fossil families and price ranges, this is an important question to ask.
Getting to know your customers – and learning how to attract new ones – is the key to success for selling rocks and minerals of any kind. But before you stock up on bulk fossil fish and bulk fossil rock, or order bulk fossil shark tooth in large quantities, it helps to have a plan in mind to serve a every type of fossil collector. read more…