Hi Alison Griffiths!
I’m starting a small hobby/business making jewelry. I am interested in your Mag-lok clasps. Please send me your contact information so that I can EMail you directly.

Most people don’t realize the scam being perpetrated by the large international couriers bringing parcels into Canada. I drove long-haul for 27 years, crossing the border every week and had to deal with customs regulations.
Back in the early 70’s when UPS was trying to penetrate Canada, the government, in an attempt to safeguard the postal service, denied them use of large trucks on our highways. They had to use small vans to move their freight. In order to speed up service, they thought that by buying a customs brokerage, they could expedite parcels across the border. It didn’t take very long for them to realize they were making more money on brokerage fees than they were making on freight services.
Pretty soon the other couriers, in an effort to match UPS, bought their own brokerages.
To avoid the staggering customs charges, simply ask your American supplier to kindly use USPS (the post office). There is a reciprocity agreement between the two governments. They will not charge customs fees.

I would love to find some Canadian manufacturers but so far I’ve only uncovered a few cottage industry types where the volume is too low. Still looking though!

As for shipping, I agree with Kenna. It is very hard to be competitive in Canada when our shipping costs are so high.

I try not to order from the States, there could be hidden import fees depending on who you order from, and I find the shipping more expensive. However, if doing a big bulk order in the future (if I ever sell enough jewelry to need to do that) and there are shipping discounts, I will.

There are a ton of Canada-based jewelry suppliers on Etsy, selling nearly any kind of jewelry-making item you can think of. When you do a search on Etsy for the type of item you’re seeking, be sure to go down through the options for narrowing your search – and tick the box to choose Canadian sellers.

(I’m assuming you’ll get an option to choose Canada-only sellers, since here in the U.S. I get the option to choose U.S.-only sellers.)

Many bead businesses are on the bead, gem and mineral shows circuits across Canada all year round, and if you go to the various show websites, you will see a list of vendors and you can click through to their respective websites. Check out your local gem and mineral/rockhound group, as they will know people selling findings, beads and pendants. If you look up bead societies across Canada (Toronto Bead Society, Grand River Bead Society to name just two), you’ll find members who run businesses making and selling various supplies.

I see you’re in Stratford. Am I allowed to promote myself? I’m in Woodstock, sell at the Farmers Market at the fairgrounds every Saturday morning (7 a.m. to noon). I carry a lot of beads and findings.

The Ringlord is based in Saskatchewan with a warehouse in Toronto. The have findings as well as tons of jumprings.