Opening a bead store?

I don't know the first thing about Hawaii,but I do know about good business. In our town of 40.000 (The Netherlands) there are two shops selling beads. One of them has workshops and that is the base of her succes. The other one doesn't sell halve of what she does. She does have a real store front, but would be quit succesfull as well without it, because of the workshops. You could start in a barn or garage with workshops (either by yourself or somebody else)and a small stock of good quality beads. That could be the start. A website could be a good way of staying the main supplier for those who did workshops. If it is not your only income it is worth giving a try.

Bart

By the way, I think the money in this world is in trade, not in making jewelry. That is China's market.

In message , bartje m writes

Are those the ones you took me to Bart? I still have not used all of the beads, I fondle them often and think of the day DH and I spent with you. Shirley

No, these were in Amsterdam. The town I live in is much smaller, and nicer. Did Steve smoke all his cigars? Maybe time to come to Amsterdam again...

Hugs,

Bart

Yes he smoked them and enjoyed them, I do not think he has any more since then. Will have to think about Amsterdam a bit later. Hugs Shirley and 3 X as you do in NL.

Thanks Bart,

Hawaii is a bit different from The Netherlands in that it's all islands and there are about 130,000 people on this one, and to get to another one you have to get on a plane. In The Netherlands I can see people coming even from other countries (as long as they speak Dutch) for good classes or workshops because you can get there by car (I know about gas prices in Europe ... (I'm German)), whereas here we're pretty limited to the local area. But, I see what you're saying - including what you're saying in your other post about the money being in the trading.

A small stock would limit me to a small variety because I can only see buying e.g. Swarovski crystals in factory packs, gemstones in several strands per type and size and lots of the same findings, but not a big selections (I'll probably start with what I'm most likely to use myself (no you people who may read this who have helped me in the past, there won't be a whole lot of memory wire, though the LBS on the other side of the island undersells even Walmart hands down).

My other income is a 40+ hour per week high tech job which is reasonably quiet at this time (though I should be doing some major development work where I have some decisions to make on how to structure (software) things), but can expand to the point that we can see it on our electricity bill (yes, ouch) - compared to the hours per year estimates we get from the UK I worked 2 months extra in 2006 (no overtime pay, in case anybody wonders).

Part of my motivation is to pass on the price breaks that I can get on-line locally. Eva Anderson (I may actually take a glass bead making class from her - no, Kalera, if you read this, ways away from setting up a studio) emailed me back, saying she was serious about Hilo needing a bead store.

Currently feeling like saying "watch this space" - but probably rather watch for hilobeads or HiloBeads on line, quite possibly on googlepages for starts. So far I haven't ordered anything (not sure what volume to go, to be honest), so for the near future it will be only Job's Tears and un-drilled Royal Poinciana seeds and maybe some sea glass (+ whatever is on my current web pages).

Thanks for the reassurance, Maren, so far still at Palms, Etc.: Tropical Plant Seeds - Hand-made Jewelry - Plants & Lilikoi

Maren, I'd go with the advice of "do what you love." I think it's a good idea to start with a market stall, that way you don't have to worry about paying a large rent, getting fixtures, dealing with inspections prior to opening, etc. You'll need some publicity - maybe a local paper would be interested in doing an article about your new business. The Chamber of Commerce might be a place to start. If you are interested in teaching, check out your local libraries and adult schools - some of them will pay you for teaching plus you can charge for supplies, hand outs, let your students know about your store, etc. I'm excited for your new adventure!! NJ has a number of bead stores, most of them appear to be doing well. We have heavy competition from Michael's and AC Moore, but they don't carry the variety, especially in high end beads, that the smaller stores do.

Patti

Maren -- I can give you my experience from reselling beads and jewelry, online and at shows. It goes like this:

1) Pricing in a bead store vs. online is DRASTICALLY different. Ebay and the internet have changed the way people buy beads. A lot of the beads available on Ebay are priced, initially, at wholesale. Those selling retail at auction sell a LOT less. In addition, those with online websites appear, to me, to sell at a significant discount to any LBS I have ever encountered in the US. LBS seem to use a 300% mark up (3 x what they paid) wheras I can buy beads online, especially at Ebay, at prices I can't find anywhere else. I can't imagine how they are doing it. I have bought beads the past few years at what seems to be NO mark-up, online, without using my reseller's license. Check out the pricing online and see if you can buy less than that, and then mark UP to that price. I don't know how they do it. Seriously.

So, pay attention to the pricing. LBS = 3 x. Online, much less. A world of difference between the two. I have no clue about flea markets. I've never been to one.

2) The reason I wasn't able to make it, full-time, reselling beads and jewelry is simple -- I didn't charge enough, and never got ahead. When 9/11 hit, I was done. Those two months of not being able to sell anything was too much for me. The entire economy changed, and I wasn't prepared to have no retail income, at all. When the world is falling apart people don't buy jewelry, LOL. I have continued to sell my jewelry -- at whatever price I choose -- since then, but only because I have had other income. Other income allows me to do what I want. If you start relying completely on your jewelry and bead sales, you need a good back-up plan for the months when sales are slow. Retail analysis should tell you when this is. As suggested before, holding classes would take care of those slow months with additional income (plus sales of supplies). Careful planning is key.

3) So, my advice is to do what I didn't do. Write up a business plan and run it past your local chamber, small business section, whomever does those things. There are, at least in the states, lots of local and state resources to help determine if a business plan is viable or not.

4) If you plan to just take your hobby and expand into a business, which is what it sounds like, then do not buy anything you don't want to get stuck with. LOL. that is exactly what it sounds like you plan to do, but stick to it. It is my rule for making finished jewelry. I do not make anything I wouldn't keep for myself. That way, if I end up keeping it for myself, I am not displeased. And, I never get to keep it, LOL. In addition to being a good jewelry designer, I am a good CONSUMER -- what I like IS what other people like, at least some people, and thank the Gods for that!!!

Going away now -- Becki

Start Small and get what you like in case it doesnt work And Remember you can also have a etsy store and sell to your beading buddies teaching helps to get folks in the door! Classes with them buying your supplies can be done at your library if they have a room for that check around darling And GOOD LUCK to us both i going to start also selling supplies on line on my etsy store! Stuff I have to much of mostly and stuff I brought and cant use when I was in the gallery since I have all kinds of beads and material from that venture !

If you are looking for good prices to start a store... go to the Huge Tucson Az show coming up this February... it is the largest bead show in the States and you will find great prices and be able to network and have them as a supplier!

Do you have a link to that show?

bartje

Bartje -- you are SO from the UK (as we would say over here!) LOL. Tucson is the center of the jewelry world in February. There are a number of bead shows that run. Here is a link to one overview of them:

Becki

No, the Netherlands.

OK, thats way to much show for any mortal. Or any credit card.

Bartje

Exactly. LOL. Sorry for getting your country confused. If you live here, you know about this show!!!

Becki

Hi Becki,

If you think the UK is small compared to the US: imagine a country like The Netherlands being like the smalles seed bead you have ever seen. Our Capital has not even 800.000 inhabitants (127 nationalities) So probably the show gets more visitars then we have inhabitans in our Capital!

Bartje

In some ways this would be an advantage, really, for you, as the distances travelled would be smaller and you'd have a better chance of picking up customers from the whole of the Netherlands.

I hope you do decide to do it, I think that it's great to see beads become more easily accessible. Sometimes there's no substitute for being able to go into a shop and hold the beads in your hands.

-Su

Maren -- Got your email; no need to respond to me, my dear. Just wanted to give you the benefit of my experience. You can take it or leave it.

Becki

I think it's great, and I wanted to let you know that I read it and I'm thinking about it, because getting the inside scoop from somebody with your amount of experience is exactly why I posted this in the first place. I've been a tad busy, not only with redesigning the front page of the website, which is at

now (but also with work, dehydrating fruit, picking wild passion fruit (not much time for that this week), some kid related issues, and whatever else). And I'm about to go and meet with Eva, who planted the idea in my head.

I never make New Years resolutions , but this happened on New Years Day.

Maren Palms, Etc.: Tropical Plant Seeds - Hand-made Jewelry - Plants & Lilikoi

and now also HiloBeads