My name is Jim Brown. I began Hummingbird Minerals about six years ago, while still working in the Medical Device Industry, as a Quality specialist and leader. I retired in the spring of 2009 from industry and started focusing full time on my business of selling fine mineral, rock and crystal specimens. I am a one person shop, at present, and thus do everything needed, such as sourcing specimens, doing the photography, internet site management and shipping. It is a lot of work, but I enjoy the business immensely and it keeps me mentally active.
I built the business around a preference for mostly cabinet size specimens with nice aesthetics or eye appeal. I have been told many times that I have a good eye for finding such specimens. I was not that interested in selling at Shows and decided to focus on internet selling. However, I realized, from experience, that buying a specimen over the internet could often be disappointing due to the varied quality of mineral photography.
Therefore, I decided to build a site with the highest quality photos I could achieve, with larger formats (file sizes), such that the images would be as close to actually seeing the specimen first hand, as possible. Of course, I did not achieve this goal as well as wanted in the beginning, but I have continued to learn and improve each year, and have received many positive comments on the site's photos. The photos are currently obtained using a Canon Rebel XTi 12 MP camera with a Canon Macro Lens EF-S 60mm.
Hummingbird Minerals currently has eleven (11) galleries of mixed fine mineral specimens from around the world. In addition, there is a gallery of Rhodocrosite specimens. I try to publish an update about twice per month. Recently, I acquired a fine collection from Jorge Diaz Asenjo of Oviedo, Spain, and will be offering specimens from his collection over the coming months. Prices on the site generally range from $50 to $1,000, but there are also specimens offered with much higher values and prices. I try to keep my margins reasonable, thus discounts are not easily offered. However, for repeat/trusted Customers, I am open to very flexible payment options.
I welcome comments and suggestions regarding content and quality of the Hummingbird Minerals site.
I can be contacted by email at hummingbirdminerals@hotmail.com or by phone at 845 986 7088.
