Welcome to Beads Unlimited!
Welcome to our Blog! We're creating our beads blog to be a space to learn...about beads, about jewellery making, about beadweaving. We will be sharing tips and tricks, as well as other features we hope you will find inspiring. But first, let us tell you a little bit about us...
Rewind back to 1986
We first opened our modest premises, the Brighton Bead Shop, in March 1986, with the idea of supplying not just glass beads but a vast, cosmopolitan mix of jewellery-making supplies. It was an icy day notable for a three inch snow fall and we took less than £50. Over time our little shop became bursting with Brighton creatives of all ages, all with one thing in common, their love of beads! As it was an absolute pleasure to supply our growing customer base with everything they needed to create their projects... (did you know, the Beads Unlimited is older then three of our staff members ....5 including the dogs....)
As our shop got busier and busier, and our range of beads grew, we added our wholesale and mail order options into the mix and more room became a priority!
Our excess stock was kindly stored above a local pottery workshop, but in the summer of 1995, we expanded to a second shop across the road and a creepy storeroom just around the corner. This seemed like luxury for a while...
After several years, we outgrew this too! So in November 2001, we moved our mail order beads department to a spanking new warehouse in Hove.
All our beads, pendants, jewellery findings and threads now had the space they needed, and staff took on an air of serenity as our world-famous speedy service became even more efficient. Did someone say Hobby and Craft? An exciting change, Hobbycraft started selling out beads! A great place for beaders to discover the joys of beading....
It was with a very very heavy heart the Brighton Bead Shop closed it's doors, 30 years after first opening. But Beads Unlimited lived on! With an ever growing range of seed beads, semi precious beads, charms...we now have over 3,000 lines on our online store. You keep us busier then ever with your online orders!
As much as we loved our warehouse in Hove ( it was very handy for after work trips to the beach) the time came where we outgrew this space too, and we moved! If you think moving house it tricky, imagine moving 3,000+ lines of mutli-packs of beads. Seed beads may be small, but they are heavy! But the hard work was definitely worth it. We are now nestled in a lovely warehouse in the South Downs. It's the perfect place for our growing bead collection, it even has a beautiful nature reserve nearby for lunchtime walks and the odd picnic in celebration of birthdays.
Fast approaching 40...
How many beads have we sold since 1986?...a lot! Alongside our love of beads, we love to celebrate, we love to laugh, we love to play games, we love to dress up. There is always coffee, tea, snacks and a dog or two snoozing around for a cuddle. And of course 1,000s of beads to make something pretty!
You Inspire us!
Our biggest inspiration and motivation has to be....YOU! We love nothing more when you e-mail us, tag us, DM us photos of your beaded project! It's so fascinating to see your creativity, and the endless creative possibilities of what can be made with our beads. Keep your photos coming! We love to support our customer's jewellery making businesses, we love to feature them in our monthly newsletters, with link to their Etsy and Instagram.
Thank you Thank you Thank you!
If it wasn't for you, then we wouldn't be doing what we love to do, working with beads! Thank you for choosing to shop with us, it really is a joy to supply you with everything you need to get beading, and to see what you make! Thank you for all your orders over the years, and thank you for taking the time time to leave your reviews. We're always looking to do better and better! Are we missing something? If you have any idea of products you would like to see us stocking, any subjects you would like to see us blogging about...or any other feedback, then do drop us a message! Happy beading!
Free DEsigns
Do you not know what to make? Do you need some inspiration? Would you like to see which products work well together? Browse our collection of free stylish jewellery designs, offering step-by-step easy to follow illustrated instructions on how to create your own handmade beaded jewellery...
