How To Start A Bead Making Business
Introduction to How To Start A Bead Making Business
Bead making is the process of using pieces of beads to make beads products for a different class of wears and functions. For instance, making necklaces, wristlets earring beads or native wear, etc.
Bead making business has provided a great opportunity for the womenfolk today. It has taken over various aspects of the fashion and is now being used in place of gold, silver, leather, fabric and other fashion related materials. And besides, bead making is profitable. The demand for beads product is growing, consequent upon the beauty and aesthetic it has been able to provide.
To go into the business of beads making, you only need to be creative and be passionate about making beads. Nevertheless, it has also enhanced the creativity of the educated elite in crafting new styles and designs with the results that beads making business is being taken to the next level.
In the days gone by, beads were used more often than not for making a necklace, bracelet, and waist chain but today it has gone beyond door blinds decoration, traditional attire, matching bags, hats – this is creativity at work.
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Why people prefer beads:
- Durability: Beads are very durable material; they last longer than leather and fabric materials which makes people go for it.
- Water Resistance:Beads are waterproof, can’t be penetrated by water even when completely soaked. This means that it can be washed and dried up within minutes.
- Good Appearance: The beauty of beads is that they have a different colour combination which is why it is preferred above other decorating commodities such as fabric, leather, etc. Their colour combinations make them attractive.
- Shapes: Beads are of different shapes and sizes which make them fit into various designs of attire, necklace or bangles. Their shapes range from square, triangle, polygons, oval to fish, circular shape, etc.
Beads Making Business
Beads making business requires the ability to mix different sizes, colours and shapes to give the final product attractive and beautifying look are all that is required to be good at beads making. It boils down to being creative.
Before you venture into the beads making, beauty should be your watchword. Women love beautiful things and since beads are mainly worm by women, you should carve your niche from the women folks, not everything though.
Bead making business is invariably profitable if you have the innate ability for craftsmanship. With training to blend with your ability, you have launched a career for yourself. Many people must cherish your works before you hope to earn huge profits. Many beads producing people are earning money considered disproportionate to their efforts; this is because of the added beauty beads have brought to the fashion world.
The demand for beads accessories in the developing economy such as Nigeria has risen sharply because of traditional marriages, child dedication and church activities. Also in this age of tradition, traditional rulers and their Queens use beads for beautification. Even Nollywood decorate their stars with beads that make them extraordinarily beautiful.
Factors To Consider Before You Start A Bead Making Business
Capital
Capital is one of the important factors when planning for beads business but since you can start beads business with as little as ₦20,000, capital is no longer considered a determining factor. So, with as little as ₦20,000, you can begin your beads business but it has to be at a very low scale. However, you may be eligible for government funding in due course.
Location
Your location in beads making business doesn’t matter so far you can deliver the right products at the end of the day. What is important is your ability to use the right blend of beads to capture the hearts of your potential niche.
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Skills
The skill required in beads making is creativity coupled with training in beads making. And with the ability to apply marketing tactics to push your finished products, you will go places with your bid business.
Qualities You Need To Possess As A Bead Maker
- Be creative at your work.
- Deliver consistent work.
- Be there for your customers.
- Price your products competitively
- Seek professional advice where necessary.
Know The Needs Of Your Target Market
You have to define your market and be ready to serve them. You must be aware of what attracts them and what they consider beautiful. So do your research to find out. Informal contact with your target market will give you a clue about the needs you are planning to serve.
What You Need To Put In Place Before You Start Bead Making Business
You must know exactly what you need to learn to be a master in this field and go for it. It may be a direct training with experts or just skills acquisition programme. Attend seminars, workshops or any skill acquisition programme, but bear in mind the very knowledge you want to acquire.
When the training is completed and you are ready to go into business, the following items are the materials you need to obtain to start work on beads making:
- Beads
- Headpins
- Bead stops
- Beading wire
- Eye pin
- Crimps
- Crimp covers
- Ruler
- Clasp
- Crimping cutters
- Round nose pliers
Be wary of the various colour combinations that you buy and how you are going to blend them to produce the desired effect.
Learn from the work of others but don’t copy their works. Make yours stand out in your unique way but within the confines of “splendour”. The public will beat its path to your place.
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How To Sell Your Beads
You don’t have to be a marketing guru to craft ways to sell your finished products. I invite you to consider the following:
Start with a particular product line to make your name and attract people in that line. People will gradually begin to know you in that aspect of beading. You can begin with bangle and make attractive samples of bangles. After that area has been explored, you go to another area, say, necklace and develop eye-catching and enticing samples until you can capture the hearts of most bead lovers.
Begin to create a network of customers from your connections and make efforts to expand it so that your current customers can refer your business to others. If possible, provide some incentives for these efforts such as free samples, 5% for subsequent purchase, and so on.
Visit schools, supermarkets, high street shops, government offices (civil servants) with your best samples and sell your products most creatively. Leave samples with them where necessary as well as contact information such as your call card, should they decide to invite you again.
Be A Model Of Your Business
Always be ready to market yourself to the public by the way you dress. Be sure that your mood of dressing captures the events and the occasions. By so doing, people will get to know you or at least ask some questions about your business. You get orders to make beads from people when your dressing goes with the right combination of beads.
Also, you can collaborate as an affiliate with online stores such as Jumia or Konga. You can display your products on their platforms and hope to make sales. Registration with them is free. The good thing about using them is that you have the control panel to enable you to advertise your products.
If you are not on social media, this is the time to open an account with them. Open a business page account with Facebook and Instagram and use the platforms to advertise and sell your products.
If your products are of good quality and the market has accepted it, it won’t be a bad idea to partner with online stores in the US like Amazon, eBay or Ali express for online display of your product. Since you can attest to your products as being of a high standard, orders for your products will surely come; it is up to you to execute them on time.
Fashion designers and marketers shouldn’t be left out because you can make beads products such as the ones listed below and market them through these fashion outlets.. You can also get a good number of referrals as time passes-by.
Beads Products:
Flower vase, necklace, bracelet, belt, jewellery, hat, purse, bangle, ring, native wear, native wear, footwears, table-cover, beads embroidery, and door blind
Final Word:
- As a bead weaver, your goal should be to give customers maximum satisfaction, so strictly follow the customer’s specific instructions when crafting their work.
- Watch the trend in the industry and put up positive changes in design beyond the average industry trend.
- Aim to provide good quality, before, during and after-sales service all the same time.
- Market your products based on what the public can afford after taking all your direct and indirect costs, including your fair profit into account.
- Aim to break-even at least in the first year of operation and make a profit in the second year.
- Don’t lower your quality standard because of making quick money.
- Deal with customer complaints swiftly and make sure no customer question is left unanswered.
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Conclusion:
Beads making is an interesting business because it is fun and/or is business. You must have an innate ability, and with some training to succeed. Beads business is not only for the mass market, but it is also custom made and many people would prefer theirs to be made to fit their specific requirements. So be creative; don’t just make beads for general consumption, do make it for specific uses too.
