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As every wise shopper knows, it’s important to branch out and try competing brands occasionally. Even though most weeks at the grocery store you mindlessly throw the tried and true products into the cart, it’s a good idea to look around every now and then. Maybe your favorite pasta brand has been sneaking their prices up without you noticing. Maybe there’s a new brand that’s cheaper and of comparable quality. Maybe there’s a slightly more expensive brand that’s worth the extra money.

We’re all familiar with this idea, and it rings especially true for business owners. I could keep on buying the same jump rings and beads from the same suppliers, but with hundreds upon hundreds of options available to me, it’s important to check out competing vendors regularly.

This was one such attempt. I’ve been buying my rings from the same source for about three years; their quality is exceptional and their packaging is actually useful even when the jump rings are finished. However, their prices are relatively high and, as a good consumer, I felt it was time to give one of their competitors a chance to impress me.

I tried a source that chain mailers tend to rave about – their prices are much lower and they have a much wider choice of rings. It took three weeks to get my delivery, they are not polished enough, and many of the rings are scratched or nicked to the point where I’m throwing them straight in the recycling jar. They’re also slightly different sizes from my standard supply. I realize that no two ring makers will make identical rings due to variations in metal, tension of the coil and so on, but it does mean I can’t mix the two into single projects and the sizing of my weaves is going to be slightly different. I also had tremendous trouble getting them delivered by UPS, since it was an imported order, which is, of course, no fault of the vendor’s, but it did make the experience less appealing.

The rings are fine, but not the quality that I have come to expect. I’m sure a few hours in the tumbler will help some of the problems, but I can’t help but think I should have just spent the extra on my regular vendor.

Now, this isn’t just a rant about the search for the ultimate jump ring – the experience got me thinking about the value that raw materials add to a product.

And yes, I have tried making my own rings. I have a flex shaft saw and all the gear. My rings are scratchy and irregular. I’m sure that lots of practice would change that, but I want to spend my time getting creative, not cutting rings. A company with years of experience in cutting rings, and who can produce them in huge quantities wins in my book every time.

Spending that little bit extra on my materials provides me with the following benefits:

• I get the order within a week and don’t need to mess around with delivery companies.
• They come in cute tins that I use to store odd beads or unfinished projects - beats another plastic bag that will end up in the trash.
• The company is run by truly nice people who love to share their creative and business experience with their shoppers – they make me feel good about supporting a small company with real people, rather than a faceless one that feels like it was built for and by engineers.
• In three years I think I’ve found one bad ring – and when they’re priced by weight that really matters.
• They’re perfectly consistent every time, so I don’t waste time filtering out mismatched or marred rings.
• They’re polished, labeled and ready for me to get to work.

That’s all very well, but what do you get out of that? Here are some benefits that my supplier choices create for you:

• Most simply, it adds to the quality of the jewelry.
• No nicks or burs mean your jewelry is never scratchy or irritating to wear.
• Perfect rings mean consistency across the whole line of jewelry.
• You should feel good about supporting a small business, who in turn supports small businesses.
• Every aspect of the jewelry is handmade – right down to the rings which are hand coiled and cut by my supplier.
• The cost of the finished piece of jewelry is actually lowered by choosing exceptional vendors – I don’t have to pay myself the time to cut rings or pick out the bad ones from a less-than-perfect supplier.
• My vendors price things according to market value so there’s little extra mark-up or buffering on prices – that means I can keep my costs and prices down.
• I try to select companies with strong environmental commitments who suit my own high standards.
• If you’re within the United States and concerned about the economy, you should know that shopping at Elena Adams Designs supports a whole string of home-grown companies – from the business itself to the jump rings and findings.

Are you willing to pay more for better quality? If you're a jewelry maker, what affects your decisions when you select a vendor? If you're a jewelry shopper does knowing where the supplies come from affect your experience?

Now get shopping!