RitzyToo! April-May 2015 | Page 9

It was a crazy time, but I had a lot of support from my family, friends and local beaders. Q. 5. Do you have any words of wisdom for bead enthusiasts who are thinking about opening their own bead shop? I’ve learned, first-hand, what I think anyone who owns their own business will tell you – it really becomes your whole life. You have to be willing to dedicate a very high level of time and energy. Beaders will say to me, “How wonderful to be able to bead for a living!” However, very little of my time is spent actually beading at the shop. The behind-the-scenes logistics of running the business takes most of my time. Purchasing, pricing and packaging, marketing, designing, scheduling and hosting classes. As well as circles, paperwork, and maintaining the space – these are the things that typically take up my days. it fun. Don’t be just a store, be a gathering pl X