Where to Buy Beads for Jewelry Making

Are you an aspiring beader, or you've already gotten into it but are seeking out places where you can find beads? I've been doing this for quite some time now, so I've amassed some resources for places to purchase beads from. My top six places to buy seed beads are:

1. Amazon: As with anything on Amazon, be sure to closely read reviews for any beads you are considering before making a purchase. While I have found some beads that have been good for making beaded jewelry, there are some out there with colors that can scratch off. Many of the beads that I have found on Amazon, especially the ones that come with assorted colors in a case, are not uniform in size, so they won't be suitable for all projects.

2. Aura Crystals: This retailer is tied for my top place to get beads from (with Michaels being the other favorite). The difference between Aura Crystals and Michaels is that while I can see the beads in person at Michaels, there isn't as big a selection. Aura Crystals has a huge selection of colors and sizes for all of my fringe earrings projects, and their beads are coded so that you can find the same color in various sizes. One drawback is that oftentimes the specific beads I am looking for are sold out, but they typically eventually get restocked.

3. eBay: If you know what you're looking for in regards to bead sizes and colors, eBay can be a great resource. As with Amazon, pay attention to the seller's rating and customer reviews.

4. Etsy: Etsy isn't just a place to buy handmade goods, but it's also a great place to find the supplies you need to make those goods as well! If you're going to shop for beads or any other jewelry-making supplies on Etsy, be prepared to spend hours scouring shops, but once you establish a few shops you like to buy from, you're set!

5. Fire Mountain Gems: As far as online bead suppliers go, Fire Mountain Gems is probably the most well known. They have a huge selection of beads and other supplies, and offer a wholesale program as well.

6. Michaels: Michaels has a good selection of basic bead colors and does sales often, but their inventory can be hit or miss. (I sometimes end up going to two or three locations in one day to find the beads I need.) I recommend joining their rewards program that lets you earn vouchers for $5 or more off of your purchase, and the app always has at least one coupon that you can use.

I hope this list is helpful, and happy beading!

What Should We do When Other Business Owners Ask for Proprietary Information?

Alright, bear with me on this one. This post is not meant as an attack or an accusation, but rather for a twofold purpose: 1. As an educational post that my fellow makers can share with newer small biz owners who genuinely don't know better, and 2. As an opportunity to open up a discussion on how to have the uncomfortable conversations when we feel the line is being crossed by those reaching out to us to ask for information about our business.

Being a business owner, especially one who is a "maker," is a forever growing and learning experience. The processes that we utilize today are all informed by lessons we have learned and experiences we have had up to this point. As such, every business owner's experience is unique, and their brand and products are uniquely molded by these experiences. Unless a business is outright trying to copy another, no two should be alike because they have all gone through different things to get where they are.

If you've been running your brand for any length of time, you've probably received inquiries that, to put it simply, are uncomfortable. I, for example, have been asked where I source my shipping envelopes and beads from, how I design my graphics, and how I developed my social media strategy. All of these are things I figured out on my own through research and trial and error, and that process is part of what makes my brand what it is.

So, the question is ... how do we respond to these inquiries? I never want to come off as rude, snobby, or unhelpful, but the fact of the matter is, everything that I have learned, all of the products I have sourced, and all of the processes that I use are essentially proprietary to my business and I protect them to keep my brand as unique as possible. My response is usually to *kindly* tell the person inquiring to do some research on the subject, and I may even mention that that is how I learned to run my own business. 90% of the time the response I receive is unenthusiastic but polite, and in the rare occasion that the person asking keeps pushing or is rude, I feel fully within my rights to cut off communication.

I do want to clarify that I don't believe in not helping fellow small business owners at all. I've been in constant contact with fellow makers recently about events that we know about so that we can all try to get out in front of shoppers as much as possible. I've shared a hack I learned for buying and printing postage at a discount from home. I've talked about what platform I use to sell my products and why I left my previous platform. None of these things have any influence on my branding, and I am more than happy to share information for the betterment of my fellow small business owners. I have been supported in this way too.

What about my fellow small biz owners, how do you handle situations where you are asked for proprietary knowledge that you do not choose to share?

Tips for Vending at a Craft Fair: Part III

So far my tips for being a vendor at a craft fair or makers' market have been about setup, booth displays, and interacting with customers and other business owners. For my final installment of this series I will talk about the best part: having fun!

I'm the last person to tell anyone to just relax and enjoy themselves at an event, my default setting is anxious. But over the years I have found ways to make being at markets more fun, and when you're having fun, you make a better impression on those around you. So here's a couple suggestions for how to do that:

Christmas in July at Southern Swells Brewing Co.:

1. Dress for the event's theme or season: If you've seen me at a themed or seasonal event, you've probably seen me dressed to match the occasion. Whether it is a Christmas in July market and I'm wearing reindeer antlers with a tank top, or a Halloween market on a Jags game day and I'm wearing beaded Jags earrings and cat ears, I love choosing an outfit and accessories to accompany whatever event I'm doing. This makes you seem more approachable, too, so it's a win-win!

Boo & Brew 5k at Ancient City Brewing Co.:

2. Accessorize your booth for the occasion: I don't go too crazy with buying accessories for my booth, but I do keep some props on hand so that I can be on theme or in season. During the winter I use snowflake garlands and ornaments, in February I add a garland of hearts, during Halloween I add spooky decorations. Before going out and spending a bunch of money on booth accessories, take a look at what you already have on hand, you likely already have items that you can use.

3. Do try to relax and enjoy yourself: Yes, setup can be stressful and tiring, and worrying about making sales can be a distraction. But once you're settled in and ready to vend at your event, try to enjoy it. Have genuine conversations with shoppers, meet your fellow vendors, if you're at a restaurant, bar, or brewery, try the fare at that establishment. Markets are also social events for me, so I try to let myself enjoy the full experience.

All in all, being successful at craft fairs and other events is just a matter of experience, trial and error, and confidence in yourself. Don't be hard on yourself if you're not perfect the first time, and let yourself enjoy it and be flexible! 

Tips for Vending at a Craft Fair: Part II

The first part of this blog essentially covered setup for markets. That includes having your own tables and tent, investing in a wagon, and being flexible about your booth displays and arrangement evolving and changing often. For part 2, I'm going to cover an aspect that I personally had a hard time with (and sometimes still do) thanks to my introverted and socially anxious ways: human interactions.

1. Interacting with shoppers: As much as most of us dislike "salespeople," the fact of the matter is that we are essentially salespeople when we are vending at an event. Everyone has a different approach when it comes to interacting with shoppers, and how you choose to present yourself and sell your products is up to you. My two cents, however, is that aggressiveness is off putting.

A shopper at my booth at the Jacksonville Beach Art Walk in 2019:

I have done many events where some of the vendors are overly eager when you approach their booth -- even to fellow vendors -- and use tactics that almost feel as if they are trying to trick or guilt you into making a purchase. I've noticed that MLM consultants are especially guilty of this, and I gotta say, I absolutely despise it. I hang out at my beaded boho jewelry booth during events, I greet shoppers who stop by, and if a conversation happens out of something they say to me or something I observe about them, great, but I don't try to push a sale onto them. Letting genuine interactions happen and getting to know people can go a lot further for developing relationships and creating brand followers than pushing for the hard sale.

2. Interacting with fellow vendors: Aside from a couple of bad eggs over my 5 plus years of doing events, every other vendor I have interacted with at markets has been friendly and eager to make a connection. Many of the fellow business owners I have met at events have become actual friends, and having a network of fellow vendors is incredibly valuable. It was tough for me at first to get out of my shell and be outgoing and social when it came to meeting my fellow business owners, but pushing through that comfort zone has benefitted me time and time again.

Hanging out with Michelle (Lumi Bean) and Lacey (BEYOU) at a market:

Whether it's having someone to help out during setup, watch your booth while you run to the bathroom, provide tips for running your business or seeking out other events, and more, I can't stress enough how important it is to meet the other vendors at your markets.

This particular aspect of tips for fellow craft fair vendors can be touchy, I know, and I suspect that there are some who will disagree with me. But my main takeaway here, and what I have found to be effective, is to not force things and to be friendly. Take the simple, gentle approach with your human interactions at makers' markets and popups!

I've still got some more tips to share, so stay tuned for part 3!

Tips for Vending at a Craft Fair: Part I

904 Pop-Up in Jacksonville Beach, Oct. 30th, 2022

By Love Designs has existed since 2010, but it wasn't until 2015 that I did my first in-person event. I didn't feel remotely prepared for it, I showed up with my small Ikea dining room table, a T-bar for necklaces, and the earrings rack I used in my bedroom for my own earrings. I'm embarrassed even thinking about the pieces I was offering at the time or the way I was displaying them, but doing that event served as a catalyst for me to keep going.

Over the years I have built up my inventory and refined my market setup into something that I am very proud of. It does, however, still change as my tastes and ideas do. Check out my market display when I first started compared to a version of it from this year:

 
2015 Market Setup:

2022 Market Setup:



Doing craft fairs and markets is a fun way to sell products in person and network with other makers, and I am constantly learning while doing events. Here are some tips for doing craft fairs that I have picked up over the years:

1. Have your own equipment: Invest in your own tables, tent, and chairs so that you are always prepared for any market. Some markets provide these things, but most do not, so it is best to just always be ready to provide them on your own.

2. Get a wagon: I did markets for a few years without a wagon before realizing I should invest in one, and it has been a game changer! Mine is a recreational one from Academy Sports with durable wheels, making it great for rolling over anything from sidewalks to grass or sand.

3. Be flexible with your market setup: You're not going to figure out the perfect way to display your products right away. Heck, you probably will never establish a permanent way to display your items. As your inventory changes, your display needs will too. Be flexible about it and don't be afraid to change things up from event to event. Today my products mostly include beaded fringe earrings, so my displays need to accommodate that, but before I mostly had necklaces, so my displays had to mostly be busts or necklace stands.

This is just the beginning of what I have to share as far as my maker's market vendor tips go, but for the sake I've brevity I'll stop here and continue with a part 2 later. Do you have questions or tips you would like to see included? Let me know in the comments or on social media!