Bead Business

[Hotglass]

Hi,I have a very small bead supply store but wanting to add a lot more stock.I would like to know what would be the first things to order to make my money stretch.What seems to be selling the most.I will add more as I can but what do I need to get started?I haven't been really doing much with the store but now I want to get it going and would really appreciate any help.
B

[Russ Nobbs]

We'll be glad to make some suggestions but first tell us a little bit about your self and your store.

Do you have an on-line store, a store-front store, weekend market store or home sales store?

What kind of beads do you currently sell?

Of your current stock, what are the 3 best selling items?

What kind of beading or jewelry making do you do?

From your screen name it sounds like you are a hot glass bead maker?  If so, are you wanting to sell other beads to go with the beads you make.

Are you in a big city, small town or what kind of community?

Are there other bead stores within 25 miles of you?

[Hotglass]

I live in E.Texas.We are the only bead store within 100 miles except for a very small one about 45 miles from here but they are very limited on what they wish to sell.I acquired the beads from a Man who lost his wife and she was very big into jewelry making.We own a stained glass retail store and yes we do the lamp work beads so it all ties in together.I have a lot of beads that I packaged and findings and a lot of natural stones.I have a pretty good assortment but need to get some serious stock in here before I start spending money on advertisement.I just need to know what the public is buying.I haven't had that many customers yet but I know I will when word gets out that I have this bead store.I just don't know what to order first.I have all the basic tools and a lot of misc. items but I really want to get this thing going and would really
appreciate any input.I read Bead and Button and have gotten a lot of good info from that.
Thanks for the help!
HG

[Luann Udell]

I keep trying to think of things and get stumped.  I know what I buy when I go to a bead store, but I don't know what's hot.  And what's hot right now will not be hot in six months, a year, even two years.  

There is what you plan for your biz, and what your biz will turn into over the next few years as it grows and evolves to meet your customer demands, and where your interests lie.  Being the only bead source for 100 miles is a good start!!  But I don't know what your area customers are looking for....  Seed beads?  Or trade beads?  Fine Czech and Venetian glass beads?  Or cheap stuff from India and China?  Semi-precious stones?  Pearls?  Basic supplies?  Or a jillion charms?  And in brass or sterling silver???  Basic simple earring supplies?  Or silver soldering classes?  The mind boggles....

Here are a few ideas off the top of my head:
Decide if you will do a primarily mail order (and can specialize in a certain style/brand of bead such as Delicas, Swarovski crystals, Czech pressed glass, etc.)  Or if you are going to depend mostly on local (100 mile radius) clientele.

Think about if you want to offer depth (THE beading stop for seed bead supplies!) or breadth (something for everyone, but not everything for anyone.)  Do you prefer specializing in one style/form?  Or trying out lots of different things--memory wire, peyote stitch projects, chandelier earrings...?

IMHO, since you already make lampworked beads, it would make sense to sell beads that would complement them.  That is, customers buy your lampworked beads and create designs with them as focal points.  So you decide what colorways you design with and buy "supporting beads" in those colors, too.  You can add jewelry-making supplies and tools so that people can make earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. using your beads, and the appropriate findings.

And/Or fill in with the kind of beading that appeals to you.  Seed beading is extremely popular right now....  But maybe trade beads are more interesting to you, and you think that while beaders can buy seed beads at big box craft stores, maybe no one else in your area can offer trade beads.  

Is vintage jewelry styles big in your area?  Maybe you'll carry more vintage beads and filigree findings, filling in with Swarovski crystals and Czech pressed glass beads.

Is beginner and kid beadcrafts intriguing?  Maybe you'll carry more entry-level type stock like beads from India and China, low end stuff but fun and colorful.  Kits?  Classes?  Parties???

Think about pre-opening publicity.  Send some press releases off to the bead magazines, your area & regional newspapers & such ASKING your audience what they'd like to see.  It could even be a contest, with the best essay receiving a $100 gift certificate to be redeemed during your Grand Opening.  You will hopefully get your potential customers to tell you what they'd like to see.

hope this helps SOMEHOW!!!
Luann

[Hotglass]

Checking- having trouble posting

[Hotglass]

Russ,
I tried to send a reply but I couldn't get it to go through.I pm'd Luann and I just wanted to tell you thanks for all the help!
Beverly
I have some other questions I'll post now.

[pugdog]

Quote

IMHO, since you already make lampworked beads, it would make sense to sell beads that would complement them.  That is, customers buy your lampworked beads and create designs with them as focal points.  So you decide what colorways you design with and buy "supporting beads" in those colors, too.  You can add jewelry-making supplies and tools so that people can make earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. using your beads, and the appropriate findings.

That is a great suggestion, and would give your shop some unique identity.  

It also gives a place to start --- eg: stocking the parts, supplies, and accent beads to go with your own creations -- and to encourage people to buy your beads, and to seek you out.

Artists that make components for beading, have a great "hook" for setting up a shop, or a table.  People can either buy your parts (and the go withs) or they can buy finished "original" works.

We are in Pittsburgh, a big glass city, but can't get any local glass.  People always tell us they make it, or their friend is looking for an outlet, but no one ever brings it in.  We get most of ours from "out west" or "down south."  

I've thought of working in glass, for just the reasons above, but the proverbial "straw that broke the poor dog's back" comes immediately to mind.  

Sometimes, the best marketing, or business "hook" is right under your nose, but you don't notice it because it's not "special" to you.

The hot color for this season is pink ... particularly deep and hot pink colors.  I personally like the fiber optic beads in pink.  

I suggest you carry some of the standards .. crackle glass perhaps in 4 mm and 6mm sizes, variety of colors.

Good luck.

[grandmotherwind]

Hi.A really good thing to do is to look at ebay in the catagories you are interested in and just see what people are buying!

grandmotherwind

http://grandmotherwind.com


http://www.stores.ebay.com/grandmotherwindsworkshop

[Luann Udell]

Another excellent site to see what's hot is this forum:

The Switchboards

A lot of new jewelry designers, a great forum for exchanging sources and tips, and an excellent peek at what's new in so many ways...  New ideas in marketing, display, audience, selling, design, etc.