When carrying new work to existing accounts, or when trying to establish new accounts, presentation is almost as important as the work itself. Not only should you be dressed in business like fashion, but you need to transport and display your work in a professional way also.
At the same time, especially with jewelry, you don’t want it to be obvious that you are carting around merchandise worth major bucks! How to meet both needs can be a challenge.
After trying several different methods, I am fairly pleased with my current set up, and wanted to share what is working for me.
I purchased a rolling soft-sided carrying case from Rio Grande, item 400469. It is 19″ high, and holds a nice number of display trays, depending on the depth of your tray. It has an adjustable handle, so is easy to pull. The wheels make it easy to maneuver, and it looks a lot like a rolling overnight bag, so is not too obviously a jewelry carry case.
Rolling case
Rolling case with display trays
I arrange the jewelry in standard display trays with inserts. I have recently found some that I love - they are black plastic display trays, and they stack. The bottoms have slots, and these fit over the top of the tray beneath, holding them very securely, so they don’t slide around as much as my “nicer” display trays do. These are from Fire Mountain, item A28-1095PK. You can see in the picture above, that the plastic trays at the bottom are all nicely aligned. The “traditional” trays at the top are decidedly NOT aligned!
Plastic tray on the left, traditional tray on the right
Bottom of the plastic stacking tray
Now I just need to come up with a way to keep the jewelry in place on top of the display pad in the tray while traveling. I’m going to make some tray “pillows”, and see if that will do the trick.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Kerri 10.10.09 at 8:48 am
Beth- I loved the intro to the professional display- and have a suggestion for keeping the jewelery in place in tray- If you live near or have access to a closed cell foam company (look in any industrial or technical park and find out who makes foam) and get some cut to fit.
-I have used upholstery foam in the past- it comes in 5/8 to 1″ thicknesses and in rolls up to 10 feet (That’s alot of trays!) the grey-graphite is best black seems to be a bit more expensive.
-The way to store them while your trays are out- get a cheapie compression sack and just stuff the foam in it- and compress! it fits neatly into the case when not used, and is ready to go when you open it!
-If you get really progressive- the company I bought from also cut slots in several blocks of foam so I could transport bracelets vertically!
-Hope this helps- be safe and enjoy the days!
Kerri
Holly 10.10.09 at 4:12 pm
I have the exact same thing and love it. Good thing to share with people.
Holly
patpruitt 10.27.09 at 1:15 am
Yes, traveling/carrying jewelry is a challenge. What I have ended up with (and you know the weight of my jewelry) is a case by Pelican (1510 Carry On Case) and each piece of jewelry is individually bagged in re-seal-able bubble wrap type bags (uline.com part# S-5097). The nice thing about the case, you can lock it with a padlock, is airline approved for carry on, AND has built in wheels. Not to mention the lifetime guarantee by Pelican. The bags keep my jewelry from damaging itself during transit, a problem Ive had with other types of arrangements.
Bubble wrap might keep your jewelry from shifting around on top of the trays.