• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Tutorials
  • Crafts
    • Jewellery Making
      • Everything jewellery
      • Beadwork
      • Wire jewellery
      • Book reviews
    • Feltmaking
    • Crochet
    • Knitting
    • Kid’s crafts
    • Book reviews
    • Other
  • Inspiration
    • Everything inspirational
    • Handmade showcase
    • Colours
    • Materials
    • Crafty Links
    • Start a Blog
  • Lifestyle
    • Tips
    • Recipes
  • About
    • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Disclaimer / Disclosure

Craftaholique

Embracing The Handmade Life | UK Craft Blog

You are here: Home / Jewellery making / Beadwork / Ever Wondered What It’s Like To Own A Bead Shop?

June 3, 2013

Ever Wondered What It’s Like To Own A Bead Shop?

Bead Monster Bead Shop, Otley, Leeds As a bead fanatic, I’m always on the look-out for great bead shops – both bricks and mortar shops and online suppliers.

Although beads can be more cost effective if purchased online, I am a huge believer in buying from a physical shop as you can touch and feel the beads and get lots of inspiration from the huge range of products available for viewing.

Aside from that, you can ask the staff for advice who are often passionate about beads and therefore know what they are talking about. It’s difficult to get the same experience when just buying online!

I’m sure there are many beaders out there, who like me, have often daydreamed about setting up a bead shop and how wonderful it might be to turn a hobby or passion into a business. The thought of being surrounded by beads every day sounds like heaven to me! Where to even start though?

Ann is the owner of Bead Monster: established in 1993 and based in Otley, it’s the oldest bead shop in Leeds and fairly local to me. Bead Monster also has an online presence. After bugging Ann on the phone last week, she kindly agreed to do an interview with me about how she set up her bead shop business!

 

Q: First things first – is owning a bead shop as wonderful as it seems?!

A: I’m very lucky to work at something I love. I’m surrounded all day by Swarovski crystal, Czech glass beads and Japanese rocaille beads – fantastic!

 

Q: What are the pros and cons of owning your own bead shop business?

A: It’s great being your own boss but it can be 7 days a week with very long hours. Sequin World, my online sequin shop, runs in parallel with Bead Monster so life is pretty full on.

 

Q: So when and how did Bead Monster come about?

A: I’ve made beadwork and bead jewellery since I was 4. Like many people, a hobby gradually became a business and I took the plunge to become self-employed. Bead Monster’s first trading day was the 7th of March 1993.

 

Q: Who are the people that make Bead Monster the place that it is?

A: The support of my long term customers and the enthusiasm of my newbies is vital.

 

Q: What makes Bead Monster different from other bead suppliers?

A: Bead Monster does not stock animal products. This is an ethical choice, so no horn, bone, leather, silk or real pearls, etc. The fair trade movement is a great inspiration.

 

Q: Roughly how much did it cost to set up a bead supply business in the early days?

A: I received support from the Enterprise Allowance Scheme in 1993 and this helped enormously.

 

Q: Where do you get inspiration from in terms of finding new beads and other products?

A: Press releases from suppliers and manufacturers, bead magazines and bead fairs all help plus mooching round the shops as much as possible – I call this research!

 

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring bead shop owners about starting out in business, what would it be?

A: Learn how to do your own accounts and how to build your own website so you are not reliant on other people to get it right – you can use the money you save to buy more beads.

 

Q: What are your plans for Bead Monster in the future?

A: I would like to increase the range that Bead Monster offers to people online and in the shop such as shaped rocaille beads and more Swarovski colours. Sequin World continues to grow too and there is a great deal of overlap between both strands of my business.

Bead Monster Bead SHop, Otley, Leeds

So what do you think? Is owning a bead shop something that you dream about or would / could consider seriously for the future? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks to Ann for giving up her time to do this interview. Next time you’re in Otley, be sure to visit the Bead Monster Bead Shop for a monster range of bead delights!

You can also find the Bead Monster Bead Shop online and don’t forget to check out Sequin World which specialises in sequins for beadwork, card making, jewellery, scrapbooking, textile and needlework crafts.

Related posts:

  • Points to consider when getting started in bead weaving
  • How to make earrings
  • Mastering beadwork by Carol Huber Cypher
Share this post!
  • save 
  • share 
  • tweet 
  • email 

Filed Under: Beadwork, Other Hayley Leave a Comment

Reader Interactions

Make Wire Jewellery: Wire Heart Component for Earrings or Pendants
Beaded Rings: A Couple Of Projects I Made

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Hayley! Thanks for visiting Craftaholique, my little corner of the internet where I blog about crafts, beading, handmade products and lots of other stuff relating to creativity. Stay a while and have a browse!

Connect

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Advert



Instagram

Work in progress! A new pattern I'm working on. Lo Work in progress! A new pattern I'm working on. Loving the metallic green colour. 😍 #beads #beadwork #peyote #bracelets #braceletpattern #peyotestitch #jewellerymaking #crafts #crafting
Hi all! It's been a very long time since I've post Hi all! It's been a very long time since I've posted here. I've been working on a new venture - surface pattern design. This is my first attempt at a seamless pattern. It's part of a collection I'm working on called 'Mum's Garden'. Mum loved hedgehogs, and they always frequented her garden to enjoy the food she put out for them. 😍 Honest opinions! What do you think? Could this work for wrapping paper, notebook covers, etc? Thanks for looking! #surfacepatterndesign #creativebusiness #creativeentrepreneur #graphicdesign #digitalart #hedgehogs #patterns #seamlesspattern
I finally finished this bead loom bracelet! Starte I finally finished this bead loom bracelet! Started it before the first lockdown... I think I lost my mojo for a while! So this is a flat piece of beadwork, which I then glued onto a cuff bracelet blank.
Started this loom beading project last May... Prou Started this loom beading project last May... Proud to say I finally finished it more than one year later! More photos coming soon! What's your longest ever project? #beads #beadwork #loombeading #crafts #crafting #craftblogger #crafty #longestprojectever
My latest beaded creation! Peyote with a twist. Lo My latest beaded creation! Peyote with a twist. Love the chunkiness of it and how it shimmers with the galvanised silver Miyuki Delica beads. #beads #beadwork #beadweavingpeyote #peyote #flatpeyotestitch #silver #beaded #beadedjewelryofinstagram #beadedring #beadedjewelry #miyukidelica #miyukipeyote #miyuki #miyukibeads #beading #crafts #crafting #craftblogger
My latest tubular peyote bracelet! It's made up of My latest tubular peyote bracelet! It's made up of hundreds of tiny Miyuki Delica beads in vibrant colours of metallic blue, silver, white and pink. The pattern is available in my Etsy shop, Craftaholique Designs. #beads #beadwork #beadweavingpeyote #tubularpeyotestitch #miyukipeyote #beading #beadingpattern #etsyshop #etsysellersofinstagram #etsyseller #etsyshopowner #bracelets #vibrant #tubularpeyote #beadaddict #beadaddiction #miyuki #miyukibeads
My finished bead embroidery - I've used it as an e My finished bead embroidery - I've used it as an embellishment for a beadwork storage case I've just made. I upcycled the case from an old padfolio / conference folder. Inside there's an integrated beading mat where I can do my beadwork - no more beads rolling away! I've posted a tutorial on my blog (link in bio).
My latest project... Bead embroidered flowers! I'm My latest project... Bead embroidered flowers! I'm making this as an embellishment for something. Will post the final project pic soon! #beadwork #beadembroidery #embroidery #embroiderydesign #embroideryart #embroidelicious #flowers #beads #beadedembroidery #beadedembellishment #crafts #crafting #keepcraftingcarryon #keepcraftalive #keepcraftingandcarryon #beaded #beadaddict #beadaddiction #embroideryhoop #craftblogger #crafty
Just finished this set of Miyuki Delica bracelets Just finished this set of Miyuki Delica bracelets in pretty colours of peach, white, pink and gold! I made the two diamond pattern bracelets using a bead loom. The single strand bracelet I just strung together. What do you think to my creation? #beads #beadwork #beadloom #beadloompattern #beadloomingbracelet #beadlooming #beadloombracelets #beadweaving #loombeading #loombead #beadingpattern #beadedjewelryofinstagram #beadaddict #beadaddiction #miyuki #miyukibeads #miyukidelica #crafts #crafting #craftblogger #crafty #bead #craftblogger #beadedbracelets #cuffbracelet #stackingbracelets
Though I've been beading for many years, this is t Though I've been beading for many years, this is the first time I've used a bead loom! It's pretty straightforward and quicker than peyote. #beading #beadloom #beadlooming #beadloomingbracelet #beadloomingnewbie #beadloombracelets #beadloompattern #beadwork #beadingpattern #miyuki #miyukibeads
I had tons of fun over the Easter weekend making t I had tons of fun over the Easter weekend making this rag rug sample with a kit from @raggedlife. This was part of an online workshop on rag rugging, with four other craft bloggers (hosted on Zoom by Elspeth at Ragged Life). It was brilliant! I'd highly recommend it. I've just posted about my experience on the blog - see link in bio.
Tomorrow, I'm taking part in an online rag rug wor Tomorrow, I'm taking part in an online rag rug workshop with @raggedlife! Can't wait, I've been wanting to try out rag rugging for ages. The class is being hosted on Zoom and will be fully interactive. Will post my project when I've done it!
Load More… Follow me on Instagram

Popular Posts

Popular Posts

Recent Posts

  • Craftaholique is being revived!
  • I’m back (with a new bead loom bracelet pattern)
  • Leaf Art Craft Project with Sharpie Pens
  • Chevron Tubular Peyote Bracelet Pattern
  • DIY Beadwork Storage Case (with Beading Mat)

Advert



Recent Comments

  • Hayley on BeadTool 4 Review – Make Your Own Beading Patterns
  • Susan Nicholas on BeadTool 4 Review – Make Your Own Beading Patterns
  • Heather on How I Salvaged My Tarnished Silver Pandora Bracelet
  • Hayley on DIY Beadwork Storage Case (with Beading Mat)
  • Hayley on How to Use Pinterest to Significantly Boost Your Etsy Sales

Looking for Something?

Footer

My favourite place to shop handmade!

Featured on Feedspot

Disclaimer

Craftaholique is a personal blog. The content you'll find here is for your entertainment purposes only. Craftaholique is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com. Read the full site disclaimer here.

Blogroll

  • Free Pretty Things For You
  • Golden Age Beads
  • Off The Beaded Path
  • The Graphics Fairy

© 2020 Craftaholique