A Weekend at the Tucson Gem Show

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show happens every year, typically in January or February. The City of Tucson becomes a Gem lovers dream! Pop up tents on the side of the road, hotel parking lots, ballrooms, and guest suites transformed into a glittery haven. Driving in for the first time can be overwhelming. I am sharing my experience as a seller with you so that if you decide to visit the show, you will feel prepared and ready to embrace the chaos. Read on to hear about my experience, some common Q&A's, and lessons learned.

Day 1- What’s that saying? The best laid plans… I secured a large rental van and we planned to leave around 10pm and drive through the night. Unfortunately, high winds, I’m talking 50 to 70 mph gusts, delayed our start for several hours. We left my house at 4:45am and did our best to minimize stops. There really aren’t many places to fill up or eat on our way, so we had to be strategic. We rolled into Tucson around 2pm and went straight to our first show. Lunch wasn’t in the cards today, we had to survive off of road trip snacks until dinner! Gem shows are incredibly active! Day 1 we walked 10,000 steps, and that wasn’t even a full day of shopping! We went to as many vendors as possible during show hours. Once the official show hours end, my appointment shopping begins with known and trusted vendors. I continued shopping private appointments until 8pm while my assistant picked up the packages from other vendors. We enjoyed a late dinner and went straight to bed!

Day 2- Most shows don't start until 9 or 10 am so thankfully the next morning started a little easier. Once we got to the show, we focused on finding customer wish list requests. There was a lot of DM’ing and posting items on Instagram stories for sale. You all know how I pride myself on offering the highest quality pieces. I hand select every single piece at these shows. My experience and my intuition are my ultimate guides as I seek pieces that will bring light and intentional shifts into the lives of my customers. You are at the front of my mind with each vendor I visit. We continued shopping until 6pm. Unfortunately this particular night my appointment fell through so I treated myself to Texas Roadhouse. I was famished and probably looked like a total weirdo at the bar, alone, scarfing down my well-deserved meal! At the restaurant i realized my phone was at 1% and I was without a charger! a quick text to my assistant and crisis averted. A valuable lesson was learned; bring a charging cord and battery pack!

Day 3- Wasn’t as productive as I had hoped. We went to 2 different vendors and the pricing just wasn’t right and the items weren’t speaking to me. It’s okay to go home from a vendor if the vibes aren’t right. I was reminded to trust my intuition and I am grateful for the experience. We ended up driving home later that day. 

Lessons Learned/ Tips 

Over the years, I’ve made plenty of mistakes and learned a lot of lessons to help make my Tucson trips easier and more productive. 

Plan out your day. Do some research beforehand to find the shows that call to you and schedule your day. There are food trucks at some shows and no food near others. Plan out your meals, how you will pay, and where you will park.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the volume of shows and vendors, the endless supply of stunning pieces and understanding a good deal. First and foremost, know your budget and listen to your gut. It’s okay to think on a piece, you don’t have to buy it at that moment. A friend of mine recently said, “if you come back to buy a piece and it’s sold, then it wasn’t meant for you.” Follow your intuition, especially if you are pressed for time. 

If you’re flying in for the event and order a large volume or large pieces, remember you can ship it back home! There are pallet drop locations throughout the show. 

International vendors took Cash or Zelle only. On the weekend, Zelle has a $2000 cap so having access to cash is very important. US based and larger sellers do take credit cards.

Bring good walking shoes and wear layers. You will be on your feet for a long time. Gem shows are a genuine work out! Lots of walking, lifting, and pulling. 

 Bring a wagon or some other way to get your purchases back to your vehicle. Gems are heavy! And lugging them around the show is bound to get exhausting. Save yourself the aches and pains and bring a wagon. 

For large orders, some vendors allow you to drive up to their booth after show hours to load up. This has saved me. Feels very VIP!

Common Questions and Answers 

Where should I stay? There are pop ups all over the city, but the largest show is at KINO. Any hotels around there would be convenient. If you plan on purchasing high priced gems, find a hotel with good lighting in the parking lot. Theft is common so be cautious!

Which shows should I go to? Kino will get you the most variety in one location, but I have also found amazing pieces at 22nd street. Lots of smaller shows and especially hotels can have some great hidden gems (pun intended). You could spend the entire month shopping and still not see everything. 

Does it cost money to get in? Nope! Some places charge for parking but entry into the various shows is free of charge and open to the public.

Can anyone go? Yes! Not every vendor will sell to the general public, some are wholesale only. But you are free to browse and many vendors provide both wholesale and retail products. 

Is it safe? With every city, there are some parts that are nicer than others. Plan out your route, know where you are, and stick near the shows and you’ll be just fine. Keep your phone charged to ensure you can always map your way to the next destination.

 

Are prices negotiable? It varies from Vendor to Vendor. Some become quite offended if you try to haggle while others may be willing to if you’re buying an expensive piece or several items. Can’t hurt to ask but respect the answer they give you. 

Should I go at the beginning or end of the show? I wouldn’t stress too much about this. Vendors are receiving more products all throughout the show. No matter when you decide to go, you are bound to find some incredible pieces.

How do you understand pricing? Pricing is done based on the kilo or gram. If you have the time, I recommend browsing a few places before committing to a purchase. For me, my pricing depends on the relationship I have with the vendor. Quantity of purchases, length of relationship, and ability to pay cash all determine the price I can get.

How can I tell if something is real or fake? My experience and knowledge allows me to assess quickly if something is real or fake. Most common fakes are opal, moldavite, malachite, and citrine. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you're getting a steal of a deal, there is probably a reason.  

 *Some vendors are wholesale only, make sure you ask before you fall in love with a piece and can’t buy it!

Thanks for reading my Tucson recap, I hope to see you there next year! Check us out on Instagram to see story sales and live shows. Shop our newest additions on the Website anytime.

Xoxo,

V