Bead Stores

Finding Local Bead Stores

I won’t say every locale has a bead store, but there are more and more all the time. Even my smallish city (nearly 80,000 people) seems to be able to support two bead stores, not to mention the crafty superstore on the main drag of the city (and across the street from one of the independents).

If you don’t already know of any local bead stores, a little hunting may be in order. Look in your yellow pages under arts and craft supplies and see what you find. Alternatively, and for a possibly more up-to-date search, check the Internet. Use your favorite search engine and search for bead stores and your town or state, if you’re willing to travel a little.

This will at least get you the names and addresses of local or regional bead stores, and at best will direct you to the websites of local bead stores, so you can check them out before going to the store, which is especially helpful if you have to drive some distance to get there.

Bead Stores’ Websites

Like all other companies, the websites of bead stores are incredibly variable in quality. Some are so good that you can place your order for just about anything in the store online and have it shipped to your door. You might not even realize that some of these businesses have real stores because their websites are so convenient. Of course there are also plenty of wholesalers who don’t have brick and mortar stores but can give you a great deal when shopping on the web.

What I’m trying to get at is that you should look at your bead store’s website, but you shouldn’t hold it against the shop if there is very limited information posted and no way to order online. For some bead stores it is just too expensive to set up an online storefront for the very limited traffic it would receive. It’s always best to do reconnaissance in person instead of judging a store by its website.

Evaluating Bead Stores

If you’re lucky enough to have several bead stores within easy traveling distance, there’s no doubt that one will become your favorite. There are some easy ways to evaluate bead stores, but there’s always an X factor that moves a store from one in the pack to your absolute favorite.

Here are some things to look for when picking your favorite bead store:

• Atmosphere: Is the store clean? Is there good lighting? Are the beads well organized, with clean bins that keep individual bead types separate?
• Customer service: Are the employees helpful? Are they knowledgeable? Do they seem to love beads? Are they wearing beaded jewelry? Do they want to help, but not loom too much?
• Trust: How many beads are in cases that you can’t get to? It’s OK to keep expensive things in a case, but most of the beads should be out so you can see them.
• Project area: Is there a work area for customers to use? If so it should be ample enough for several people to work at once, have lots of space to spread out, good lighting, be cleaned up from the last people who were there and include basic tools and a planning board for each person who might be working there.
• Education: Are formal classes offered? If not, are employees willing to answer questions? If there are classes, are they helpful for a variety of crafters, teaching beginners as well as those who would like to learn more advanced techniques? How are the prices?
• Selection: Do they have the kinds of beads and findings you typically use? Will they special order things if you ask?
• Price: How are the prices? Compare local shops to each other if you can rather than comparing the price of something you can buy locally to something you can buy on the Internet. Are there bulk discounts and, if so, can you make a large order with friends to get the discount? Also ask about a frequent buyer program, if there is one.
• The X Factor: This could be anything from a cashier who makes you laugh to a really comfy chair in the project area. Whatever it is, if you find a store you can’t resist, by all means, spend your money there!

Getting the Most Out of Your Bead Shop Experience

The most important reason people shop at bead stores instead of online is because of the people. Human interaction is still very important, especially if you need help with a project or are new to beading and don’t know where to start.

For that reason, it is important to open the lines of communication with the workers at your local bead shops. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions and get friendly with them. Bead shop employees (especially the owners) can be very helpful in terms of alerting you to sales or pointing out products that you might like.

Once you have a good relationship with the people at your favorite bead store, you should feel comfortable enough to take your work there and do a project while chatting with the employees (only if the store isn’t busy). Ask for help and know that you don’t need to feel pressure to buy anything, but it is always nice to support a local store that has allowed you to camp out and work in peace for a few hours.

Having a good relationship with your bead store will make a world of difference in the progress of your craft. You’ll learn more and be exposed to new beads and techniques that you might not otherwise have known about. It’s a win-win situation.