Innovation!

As I was sitting here last night thinking about my website (which I am very proud of because I did most of it myself with the help of a template and lots of tech support), I was wondering what I could do to make it even more user-friendly.  And in a moment of pure inspiration, I realized that I could add three new categories that would accomplish just that!

The first one is already posted and I called it "Custom Creations".  I chose one fabulous necklace that in with just a few changes has been sold and resold so many times I have lost count.  But not everyone is ready to buy a necklace FULL of beads for $89, so I broke it down into component parts, starting with a simple 3 bead necklace and then working up to 5, then 9 and finally the whole, finished piece.   Besides giving some great design ideas and pricing suggestions for how to get started, these pieces are gorgeous with any number of beads on it.  Then you simply add more as budget allows!  And, many more design styles will be added to this category very soon.

The next one will debut early in January and it is what EVERYONE can relate to - WEEKLY SPECIALS!.  I promise to rotate at least 10 beads through this category every week with fabulous discounts.  Check back often to see what bargains you can snatch up.  But if you see something you love, don't wait because it won't stay in that category for long.

Last of all, I am going to place all the NEW beads when they arrive into this category for several weeks before incorporating them into the category where they belong.  That will save everyone some time when visiting the website so that they can zero on right away on items they have not previously seen.

End of Year Celebration Storewide Sale

In the spirit of ending this year with a bang as we usher in 2010 (I love the flow of these new numbers), I have put all of Beads and Dangles current inventory on sale through December 31, 2009.

Everyone looks for great discounts after the Christmas rush and I am always looking for ways to give back to those who have become a part of my life.   It's been an extraordinary year for Beads and Dangles and I am so grateful for all the support I have gotten from old friends, family, and even former CharmWorks customers.  Then there are the blessings of all the new friends I have made on the internet, many of whom are already repeat customers.

What better way to ring in the New Year by giving back to all of you with a whopping sale?  I hope you find some beads that you have been dreaming about adding to your necklace or bracelet.

All orders placed this week will ship either the day the order is received or at the very latest, the next business day.  The January Newsletter will be emailed during the first week of the new year and as before, will include a great promotion and discount coupon, but the Storewide Sale will end as 2009 does!  Take advantage of the great savings this week.

As we move forward into 2010, I envision bringing to you many new and innovative additions to the collection of Pandora style beads.  My goal of bringing you the best quality I can find while keeping the exceptional prices as low as possible is unwavering.  Top notch customer service will always come first!

Happy New Year and Happy Shopping!

New Beads Arriving this Week

I love the challenge of discovering new beads for Beads and Dangles.  It means long hours late at night connecting to wonderful and helpful newly-made friends on the other side of the world.    This past Thursday was no different as I explored and searched through websites to bring the gorgeous Pandora style beads to my customers.

I am focused right now on some deeper colors for the winter season and so far the biggest demand has been for beads in gold, turquoise, and black and white, especially in glass beads with 925 sterling silver cores. 

Here is a sampling of what will be available by Tuesday, December 22 at the latest.

SCG544



SCG425

                                                                                  

MB2874

SCG305

                                                                          

                                                                        

First the Kids, then back to Beading

Yes, it's 2:15 AM and as Bryant Gumbel once said, "Sleep is highly-overrated".  Although I would prefer to be sleeping right now, this is a good time to blog while I sip a cup of Nighty-Night tea and prepare to attempt sleep again shortly.

The visit with Jeff, Kris, and Brooke was too short and I missed them as soon as they left on Sunday.  Two year old Brooke is a charmer!  We had intended to have her model some of Beads and Dangles' best creations, but Brooke had her own agenda and this is the best I could get while she was occupied watching a DVD.  She definitely LOVES jewelry!

Speaking of jewelry, it's back to the business of Beads and Dangles.  Tomorrow (oops, I mean today), I will be at Made for Memories on Stickney Point Road in Sarasota doing a Trunk Show from 11 am to 1 pm.  This evening we have a special event for the Humane Society of Sarasota County and then tomorrow there will be a Trunk Show at Golden Tans on Lockwood Ridge Rd and University Parkway from 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm.  Hope to see you at one of these shows.

Good night!  Good morning!

From Bead Heaven to Grandma Ecstasy!

There is not too much that can take me away from the joy of my Pandora style beads business, but as I count down the hours until my son Jeff, daughter-in-law Kris, and my darling granddaughter Brooke arrive tomorrow, I know that there is so much to be grateful for in my life!

So today is spent tidying up the house and baby-proofing it just a bit, baking "healthier" cookies (I only use agave as a sweetener and whole grain flour), and making soup!

Here's the reason for the fuss:

Later on I will be packing up all my beads (19 boxes and each box has 20 compartments), bead making paraphernalia (which mostly just involves some beading trays and skewers to test the design before sliding it onto a bracelet or necklace chain), and my usual bright smile!  Off we will go to another Girls' Night Out Beading Party where 10-15 gals will be gathered to share some wine, lots of laughs and a touch of creativity.  Remember, with Beads and Dangles no beading experience is required).

Pictures from the event may appear in the next blog.  Check back soon to see what fun these parties can be!

New Beads Have Arrived

As promised a few days ago (how did it get to be Friday already?), here are pictures and brief descriptions of only some of the new arrivals this week for Beads and Dangles Pandora style beads.  There is lots more to see on the website.

Item #SCGW194

Gorgeous glass bead measuring 17 mm x 17 mm.  Perfect for a center bead.  This one is a very pale pink background.  Check out SCGW192 and SCGW193 to see the other two colored backgrounds.

Item #SCG645

Silver core glass bead with a single core stamped 925 (sterling) inside.  Black glass background with shades of pink.  These colors work in beautifully with all the metal beads, spacers and especially this pink silver foil glass bead, SCG171.

Item #SCG449

Swirls of baby blue, pale green and pink abound on this silver core glass bead.  It, too, is stamped 925 inside.  If you love these colors, this one's for you!

Item #SSB595

New to our Sterling Silver collection, this bead has not only style but the most exquisite detail.  It measures 8.5 mm x 13.5 mm and will look gorgeous on any bracelet or necklace.

This item is just a preview of what is yet to come!  Introducing our Swarovski crystal beads that come in an array of colors so magnificent, you won't know which to choose.  Studded with 90 genuine Swarovski crystals on a sterling silver single core, it will take your breath away.   They measure 7 mm x 12 mm.   Manufacturer's suggested retail is $40, but Beads and Dangles price will be a low $29.  Coming soon!!!

Remarkable Motivation Secret -- Hint, It’s Not Related to Money

Remarkable Motivation Secret -- Hint, It’s Not Related to Money

I hope you will take the time to read this article. I just did and it clearly resonates with me and my devotion to Beads and Dangles. I can't wait to wake up in the morning to get started. I linger each night in my office before heading to bed to do "just one more thing" to tweak the website, www.beadsanddangles.com, or brainstorm just one more idea. Then I slip into bed and pray for my brain to start shutting down while visions of new Pandora style beads and new creations of necklaces and bracelets dance through my head. Seven blissful hours of sleep later, I wake up and hit the ground running!

How much luckier can I be? How much happier can I be? Who could ask for more? I am truly blessed!

A new shipment arrived yesterday and I will get the word as soon as I can about some incredible beads with great design possibilities.  Meanwhile I am putting the finishing touches on the first email newsletter for Beads and Dangles.  It will go out to all my customers, friends and family in a few days.

Retirement? I tried it and it doesn't work for me.

As soon as I retired from my career in Business Administration in 2001, my husband and I took a trip to Italy.  On the magnificent Isle of Capri I was walking past the window of a jewelry store when something caught my eye.  I ventured in and discovered the new fashion sensation, the Italian Charm Bracelet.  I was hooked and knew I had to sell it in the US.  Although not the first to do so, I was on the cutting edge of this craze. With my business experience it was a logical progression for me to combine my passion for fashion and jewelry with my area of expertise.  I created my company “Charmworks” and ran with that for several years. 

I was introduced to Pandora Beads around 2004 and oh, how I wanted to carry that line.  But retirement was beckoning me again, so I decided to not spend literally tens of thousands of dollars on the Pandora inventory and instead turned to a really fun hobby of scrapbooking.  I love scrapbooking and have given away many more albums that I have kept, but it doesn't fire that passion I have to create and develop businesses and make people happy at the same time.  

Once again, it was traveling to foreign lands that led me to Beads and Dangles Pandora style beads.  A few years ago I had the good fortune to travel to Asia. There I met some incredibly talented people and saw firsthand the quality, detail and intricacy of their workmanship. Those gorgeous beaded bracelets in the style of top designers like Pandora, Biagi and Chamilia were beckoning to me and I created this new venture.  My formula is simple - provide something that makes people look good and feel good at a price that is so exceptional, it will make heads turn.  Then combine that with outstanding customer service so that everyone is happy!  

Welcome to Beads and Dangles

Welcome to Beads and Dangles. A world of sumptuous Enamel, Glass, and Metal beads that will make wearing jewelry your personal art form.  Choose from our hundreds of Beads and Dangles and create a unique necklace or bracelet for yourself or to give as a gift. Begin by choosing either a bracelet or necklace, and then select the beads that make you happy.   Our ingeniously devised clips will keep your Beads and Dangles in place until you decide to add new beads or re-arrange them with others from your collection.  It’s that simple.  It’s that much fun. Casual, Elegant, or full of Bling. You decide. And for once...... you can have it all!  Just the way you want it. Beads and Dangles’ Beads are in the style of the high fashion look created by Pandora, Trollbeads, Chamilia and Biagi, but without the expensive price tag! Indulge yourself.