be very difficult and
frustrating. Last but
not least, supporting locally owned
small businesses of
any type is always a
good thing for your
community.
Q. 18. In what ways do you involve your
shop in your local community?
We often work with ladies who independently
teach free beginner beading classes at their individual community’s clubhouse. We can help them
with project selection and assist their students
with shopping for supplies ahead of time.
Q. 19. Do you offer any video instruction to
online customers or for your in-store classes
or training opportunities?
No, not at this time.
Q. 20. What are the top reasons bead enthusiasts and jewelry making hobbiests should
make your store their headquarters, rather
than one of the big box stores?
For starters, box stores simply don’t carry most
of the bead types necessary for bead-weaving
projects. We have a huge selection of Japanese
seed beads and unique Czech glass beads in
all the latest styles. As far as the merchandise
box stores do carry, you’ll find that our pricing is
extremely competitive, and our class pricing is
actually much better. In a local bead shop you’ll
always work with staff who know about beading, but in a box store that deals with so many
various types of crafts, finding a person who is
knowledgeable about beading specifically can
12| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com
Q. 21. Are you
currently operating
an online shop like
Etsy or RitzyFaire?
If not, do you plan
to take advantage
of this possibility
to build on your
existing following?
The online shop that we are currently building
will run directly on our own website. What we
are most excited about is that it will not just be
a standard online store, but instead a personal
shopping service for people who are not in our
area and can’t come to our physical store.
Q. 22. After speaking with you and looking
extensively at your bead store, I can see that
you are an bead enthusiast/entrepreneur with
a naturally friendly networking approach.
Please share with our readers your number
one business development and network strategy for building Laura’s Beads.
It’s simple – give people a great experience,
fresh and new, each and every week. Not only
will they come back, but they will talk about you
positively to other people and your business will
grow naturally.
Thank you so much Laura for sharing your
shop with all of our RitzyToo readers.
And from RitzyToo, all the best, as you continue to share your passion and happiness
with your fellow beader enthusiasts!