A Better Place to Bead

A Better Place to Bead is a nice little bead shop with a very helpful staff. It is owned by two sisters, who purchased the shop from the previous owners in 2005. Since it opened approximately 12 years ago, it has had three different sets of owners. The employees are very nice and willing to show patrons easy methods and techniques to create personalized jewelry. The store has a decent-sized table with all the necessary tools to make jewelry with. They also have a very wide assortment of beads for purchase. One can buy temporarily-strung pearls for $2.99 and up or strands of seed beads for less than $2. There is a hefty selection of strands of semi-precious gemstones that range in price from inexpensive to ridiculous. The shop also sells all of the accessories needed to make keychains, earrings and a large variety other crafts. It's also a good place to make hand-made gifts or cheap costume jewelry. They give customers a discount card which is good for $5 in free merchandise when a purchase reaches $50.

Classes are offered Tuesday nights from 6 to 9 p.m. for those who wish to learn basic techniques of jewelrymaking or how to make specific types of jewelry. Classes cost $10 per person (non-refundable unless the class is canceled), and it's recommended that one sign up in advance, as sessions tend to fill up quickly. The basic beading class,and the wire wrapping class include all the wires and findings, you just pay for your beads.

ABPB hosts birthday parties. It's $40 to reserve the table and one associate will help you for an hora and a half. With a $20.00 deposit in advance you can schedule your party at anytime from Monday to FRIDAY. SATURDAYS FROM 11:00amTO 12:30pm ONLY. The birthday party package deal includes two packets of size 6's or 8's E beads, memory wire for a necklace, matching elastic bracelet, and one charm of the store's extensive charm board.

Don't leave the store without checking out their 30% off weekly specials and bargain corner.

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The classes are a lot of fun and free except for the cost of materials! —GreenThing

The staff are very helpful and if you don't know how to finish your bracelet/necklace, they will help you add the clasp. This is great for inept people like me! —CalamityJanie

2008-02-28 10:58:02   Great products, great customer service! The staff is very friendly and will help you if you have any questions about techniques. —MWilson

2009-04-16 16:23:06   The beads here are incredibly overpriced if you're looking for elastic string or pony beads. I'd recommend Wal-Mart before this place, unless you want to pay about ten times (literally) what you would otherwise. —CCorinne

2009-04-16 17:11:58   I have not been there in quite some time, but I think the point of going to a place like this is largely that you pay only for the beads you use and therefore have to get much less. Besides that they have to keep someone there all day which means they have to make at the bare minimum enough to pay that person's salary. It's unfair to say that the beads are more expensive here than at Wal-Mart in the same way as it is to say not to shop at grocery stores because meat, etc. is cheaper at Costco. —MasonMurray

2009-04-22 15:42:57   If you'd read my post, Mason, you'd see that I wasn't commenting on their single beads, but on the ones they sold IN BULK, along with their bulk string.

So yes, I'm saying that if you want to buy a larger quantity of cheap beads, go to a different store. I think this information is just as important as your appreciation for the store. —CCorinne

2009-05-25 11:58:38   My biggest problem with this place is that if you forget your discount card (which gives you $10 off after spending $50) they refuse to give you another one, so you can combine them (most other store I have been to will do this for you). When I asked them if I could just have them put my purchase on a new one (I had just spent over $20) they said "No we want to save paper". How rude! It's one little tiny square, don't say that if you just are trying to save money. It left me peeved. Other than that, the selection of beads is nice, and it's very helpful how you can buy them individually. —KristenM