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About Rings & Things

Coming to a mailbox near you: New R&T catalog!

January 19, 2011

2018 Update: We no longer produce a printed catalog.
However, all of our items (and new Wholesale Program) can be found on our website at www.rings-things.com

The 2011-2012 bead catalog from Rings & Things

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011: Jewelry supplier Rings & Things has published a new two-year catalog that’s one for the record books. Everything about this 2011-2012 bead catalog—its range of new beads and findings, number of jewelry designs and more—reaches new heights.

At 457 pages, this new bead catalog provides more browsing, shopping and inspiration than ever. Extra space is allocated for extra product-usage hints, tips on Rings & Things’ services, and design suggestions—all in a new, lighter catalog!

The 310 designs almost double the previous catalog’s offering. All kinds of jewelry and accessories are illustrated in these free jewelry ideas: not just necklaces, earrings and bracelets, but also specialized pieces like zipper pulls, sleeve pendants, and belt buckles.

Featured new items include many Rings & Things exclusives. Lampwork glass beads are hot, from sugar skulls to mushrooms to candy corn. Hinged picture-frame pendants superbly showcase treasured memories, collages and photos. Ring blanks with flat pads for ornamentation are an easy “glue and go” jewelry project.

Further exciting additions to the bead supplier’s line of beads and findings adorn every section of the catalog.
Steampunk cogs and bezels keep gaining steam. SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystal filigrees, some with three rhinestone colors, dazzle while unique boxwood
ojime beads fascinate with exquisite handcarved detail.

Thousands more items await bead-loving readers, who can receive this free bead catalog when placing an order with Rings & Things (otherwise $5 postage paid). Orders and catalog requests are accepted online at http://www.rings-things.com/catalog.html; by phone M-F 8-5 Pacific, (800) 366-2156.

Live blog: Red Tag Sale!

December 28, 2010

3:30 PM, Thursday:

Thank you sunshine! Here’s that new wonderful “dangle chain” we’re featuring at today’s Red Tag Sale! (1/2 hour left, here at the Spokane warehouse.)

It’s dangly. It’s chain. It’s dangle chain!

And I leave you with this Happy New Year wish…

This could be you…saving 50%!

2:29 PM, Thursday:

The great bargains just keep coming! “What wood” bracelets!

Save…50% on wood bracelets!

Bright colors? Check. 50% off bargains? Check.

Body parts? Check.

To save 50% till 4pm today: (1) Go to Rings & Things’ warehouse. (2) Shop.

(3) Look for this sign, you’ve made it!

10:25 AM, Thursday:

Sunny with a chance of crowds! I see quite a bunch of excited showroom shoppers already. And I didn’t even peek in the other big room…

I have to share dangle chain with you. We’re featuring this in the Hall of Beads, between the 2 rooms:

It’s like an endless chain of charms. Cute!

(Got to get you a closeup photo of the dangle chain still. You’re going to love it!)

Another metal item you’ll find today, for half off:

Metal beads: satin finish, matte, trade beads…

And just to give you a sense of how full of fantastic finds the warehouse is today…

Beads piled higher & deeper than the snow outside 🙂

8:38 AM, Thursday:

Big 50% savings today only! It’s the last day of the sale. Streets are plowed, and we’re now laying out countless great beads & findings to greet you here. (Dangle chain…I want, I want…)

On Facebook, Jan posted these action photos from the Red Tag Sale:

So many beads!!

2:49 PM, Wednesday:

Signs you’ve reached the right place, as you seek out our Red Tag Sale:

Flags against the snow!

The way is lit after dark

Crackly matte agate beads at 30% off!

12:54 PM, Wednesday:

Action shots!

Helpers being friendly

This just in…

Beads being brilliant

…and affordable!

10:08 AM, Wednesday:

Doors are open for day 2!

Special note: Even if you can’t attend our Spokane Red-Tag Sale, you can still join our year-end savings extravaganza, via our 5-day sale! Get 25% off already-discounted closeout prices on SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystals, gemstone beads, glass beads, jewelry findings and more!

5-day sale started 9 am Pacific Time today — look for the yellow & red sale icon next to items in our store. Once the sale has started, your savings will be visible on your check-out summary (before entering payment info)! This goes through Sunday!

Click here to shop our closeouts sale! Click here to shop our closeouts sale! Click here to shop our closeouts sale! Click here to shop our closeouts sale! Click here to shop our closeouts sale!
25% Off: Closeout Beads & Jewelry Findings!
Get an additional 25% off already-discounted prices on our huge selection of closeouts, including SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystals, gemstone beads, glass beads, jewelry findings and more!

7:42 AM, Wednesday:

Just to entice you hardy Spokanites to our warehouse for today’s bigger red-tag savings (30% off!):

  • 2nd and 3rd Avenues are both already nicely plowed!
  • We’ve laid out these must-have, adorable new colored storage tins:

    Sweeter than a box of chocolates!

    (PS, I’m working on finding out what metal these shiny darlings are made of.)

  • Checking across the hall from our showroom, I see the bead elves have laid out literally thousands of strands of delicious beads, like this sample:

    I counted dozens of jaspers!

1:50 PM, Tuesday:

AnneMarie Lewis on Facebook contributed this:

“Here’s my haul for today…”

“…think I’ll head back tomorrow!”

1:24 PM, Tuesday:

Gold plate for a buck!

Probably worth its weight in gold…

11:59 AM, Tuesday:

Arla DeField on Facebook says: “I just got back from the Red Tag Sale and must say, if you miss this, too bad. Amazing, Fun and lots of great stuff on sale, along with all the regular Great stuff! Plus, you can get into parts of the building normally not open to the public! FUN FUN FUN!”

Not our regular great stuff 🙂

11:04 AM, Tuesday:

Hi, I’m coming to you now through Thursday from Rings & Things’ traditional end-of-the-year event, our Red Tag Sale! You can tell it’s live from that exciting shaky-camera look… 🙂

‘Most unique item’ winner

There are so many unique finds to choose from. You can even buy pirate heads!

A small part of the sale

What we really have tons of, is beads. Like kajillions of beautiful Czech glass beads! (Above.)

Today (Tuesday), everything is 20% off at the sale, so come to our Spokane showroom / warehouse for fantastic finds…and findings!

Keep checking back as I add updates of great finds & other fun stuff… — Dave

Red Tag Sale time!

December 23, 2010

Showroom Red-Tag Sale

December 28, 29 & 30, 2010 10am – 4pm:
Come early for the best selection. Come back for increasing savings!
Tuesday: 20% Off Wednesday: 30% Off Thursday: 50% Off

Help keep your visit enjoyable:

  • No pets, strollers or small children please
  • No holds, returns or exchanges during the event
  • You can place “will-call” orders for catalog items before the event
  • Bring a friend!
  • Purchases will be taxed without a Reseller Permit

Click for Directions to our Showroom.

The showroom will be closed:

  • December 27
  • December 31 thru January 2

A Glimpse at Past Red-Tag Sales:

Bins of stock packed the showroom.
Bins of stock filling the showroom.
Customers discovered gemstones in every shape, color and size!
Customers found gemstones in every shape, color and size!
Visitors stocked up on ribbon, chain, beading cable and much more at great sale prices.
Ribbon, chain, beading cable and more, at great sale prices.

New back-order policy

December 21, 2010

New Back-Order Policy!

Every new year brings changes. This New Year, Rings & Things makes some necessary changes in our policy on back orders.

Beginning January 1, 2011:

  • Unless you specifically ask for a back order at the time of your purchase, out-of-stock items will be canceled from your order.
  • Back orders that you request will be processed for item totals of $25+ (that is, back orders for less than $25 will be canceled).
  • Shipping costs on back orders will be paid by the customer.

The look of our new online-store Notify Me button. What’s Better Than Back Orders?
The look of our new online-store Notify Me button. Have you seen those black & purple “Notify Me” icons in Rings & Things’ online store? When you see one by an item that you want, click it to submit your email address, name, and the desired quantity. You will get an email when the item’s back in stock and orderable. Try it — we think you’ll like it!

Last minute orders? No problem!

December 14, 2010

Last minute orders?

No problem at Rings & Things!

Last minute orders? No prob!

    • Same-day shipping when we get your order by early afternoon!
    • Open later for East Coast customers!
    • Ground or air, no problem: we ship it your way!
  • We are open the week between Xmas and New Year’s!

Try us, you’ll like us!

Change

December 9, 2010

Change: next Tuesday, Rings & Things expects to cut over to our new, faster internet service and reroute our phone lines.

When? The scheduled time is 12:01 AM Tuesday morning.

Change

What??? We’ll have new “IP addresses”. It may take a little while to migrate from the old to the new IP addresses. Our web site names (rings-things.com) won’t change–just the underlying IP addresses will.

How might this affect you? It may take a while (minutes, hours, usually not days) for the DNS translation to migrate through the DNS system.

The upshot is, you may notice small difficulties or delays next week. Thanks in advance for your patience with us!

As seen in: poly clay video

December 8, 2010

Maggie Maggio is a skilled craft artist with a fun “Blog for the Color Curious“!

We were tickled when someone pointed out the ruler Maggie was using to make…

...split-ring polymer chains!

…split-ring polymer chains!

Click the pic to go & watch!

Product Testing: Radishes Required

November 12, 2010

Yesterday was an eventful day for product testing! We sent the obligatory email telling people not to worry about “the strange plastic smell’ that arose from testing some non-toxic faux enamels.

We decided to add a great new riveting tool ~ watch for it in December.

We also tested the usability and effectiveness of various patinas and metal treatments. It started out simply enough, test a metal treatment from a new vendor. No problem, we’ve done this quite a few times and know the drill, or so we thought!

We definitely noticed that the basic instructions were written in calligraphy. And, we did wonder about the need for a solid copper pot. We questioned whether rainwater was really needed. But, we didn’t pull the plug on the test until we read the instruction to mix-in freshly grated daikon radish.

The radish requirement inspired fits of giggles. Fortunately, we have several other non-radish based metal treatments that are great to work with!

♥ Sondra

When bead shows are…different

November 6, 2010

Sometimes, bead shows can surprise you. Sometimes, they even surprise us

After one long day of driving, running a bead-show, and more driving, our crew decided to just have dinner at the hotel. But when they went to the restaurant, they weren’t able to have dinner there — Because the tables had been taken down to set up for our show! Yep… our setup was in the usual bar / restaurant of the hotel. The checkout stations were set up around the bar, 2 per side, with cabinets of liquor behind them and coolers full of beer between them. Unfortunately(?), the cabinets and coolers were all locked. Hard to say how much some customers would spend otherwise…

Bead show in the bar

This one was the first bead show we’d ever seen with bench seating:

Bench seating at the bead show

One hotel in California where we did a show charged a small fee for parking. Some customers commented on that…but most of them were used to paying for parking. According to at least one customer, “The only place you can park for free in LA is the freeway!”

Thanks to everyone for the bead-show memories! We’ll be back “on the road” starting in early spring!