Ari Imports Inc. welcomes you to Czech-Mate.

Ari Imports is a direct importer and wholesale distributor of handmade art glass components from the Czech Republic with showrooms in Chicago IL.

Please Note: We do not offer mail-order services or provide a printed catalog.


What's New

Save for the lampwork, in June 2002 all of the remaining inventory of glass beads was sold off allowing us to focus just on handmade art glass components.

In early February 2002 we added six new lampworked beads of which three are our own design.

About Us

In 1990 ARI Imports was a supplier of bead stringing tools and findings when it was acquired by its present owners. In the beginning years we expanded into semi-precious stone beads and ethnic components from Afghanistan, Thailand, and Indonesia.

By 1994 we were able to re-focus the business to importing only glass components exclusively from European manufacturers and lampwork artisans. Finally we were able to use our knowlege of glass beads to commission old molds, resurrect old fabrication techniques, and design new lampworked beads.

In 2001 and 2002 the demand for pressed glass beads increased dramatically so much so we no longer had time to design new beads or new molds. Rather than expanding the business to meet the demand we elected to shrink it instead and sold the entire inventory of pressed glass beads retaining only the lampworked components which we continue to sell.

In the future, with the new scaled back operation, we hope to get back to our first love of working with handmade art glass components.

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Visiting Us

ARI Imports, Inc.
8 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603 		tel: (312)-263-3313
e-mail: info@czechmate.com

We are open by appointment only from 9:00AM to 3:00PM, Mondays through Thursdays. In addition to all national holidays we will also be closed:
        Sept 23 - Nov 1, 2002 - Vacation & buying trip

Please note: we are wholesale only. Payments are by cash or check only, no credit cards. When visiting us for the first time please bring a copy of your resale license or FEIN number.

Our showrooms are located in downtown Chicago just two blocks North of the Art Institute of Chicago.

If you are driving in, two large underground parking lots are within easy walking distance. The most economical one is only two blocks away and is reached by down ramps along the curb side of Columbus Drive. The second underground lot is much closer and is reached by "center of the road" down ramps along Michigan Ave. Exit both lots at their Monroe street exits.

If you are flying in, both O'Hare and Midway airports have rapid public transportation service to downtown Chicago.


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Policies

  • Purchases.
    • Wholesale only.
    • State license or FEIN number required.
    • Payment by cash or check only.
    • No minimum.
    • No mail order.
  • Discounts.
    • Based upon total purchase.
      • 10% ($500)
      • 15% ($1000)
      • 20% ($1500)
  • Accounts.
    • Established customers only.
    • Terms: Net 30
  • Privacy statement.
    • All information is confidential.
      • Will not be sold or disclosed to anyone.
    • No unsolicited e-mail or Spam.
    • Website design.
      • No cookies are set.
      • No Java or Active-X scrips are used.
      • No banners or ads to other sites.
      • No "click through" data are collected.
  • Copyright statement.
    • All information, pictures, and logo are the property of ARI Imports, Inc. They may not be copied, reproduced, or "framed" by another website without written consent.

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Click on thumbnail for more information. January 31, 2000


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