Beading Parties - Setting up your own bead party business

Recently several of our ladies have asked about how to set up a Bead Party. Please bear in mind that I'm no expert. I've do bead parties and here are my 'words of wisdom' (yeah right), but it may get you started on your own little business. I'm quite happy for everyone to tell me I'm wrong and give me their bead party method.

You already have the skills to make jewellery all you need to do is pass it on.

To help get you started we've put together 2 Bead Party Starter Kits follow the link to the webshop.

Beading Parties - a quick how to.

The venue

You can do this at your house, the benefit is you won't forget anything. The downside is you will end up cleaning all day and then you have to organise a supper/afternoon tea or whatever which can be tricky to do while you're running around helping. You will also find everyone spying your best beads and wanting them - so hide them well.

Go to their house - my preference. Have a hostess and she'll organise a group of her friends to come to her house. The hostess will provide tables, chairs etc, and a supper. I always provide a gift or depending on sales, 10% of the sales in beads, or they get their jewellery they make for free. You can decide how you want to do this part.

Hire a hall. If you're going big make sure you have a good venue with a kitchen, toilets, tables and chairs. You can't do this by yourself.

Getting customers

The easiest way is by word of mouth. If you have friends who have admired your jewellery then that's where you start. Once you get a couple of parties under your belt it will just flow from there.

The Demo

I always do a tigertail bracelet demo, because it's quick. Probably the most important part is showing your group how to crimp on a clasp. It's worth doing it several times so that everyone is comfortable with doing it for themselves, believe me when I say you don't want to spend your night attaching clasps. If everyone does their own you will find that most people will make 2 or more things. Try to stay away from anything too complicated with a new group. Attaching 100 beads with pins to a chain is NOT what you want to try to teach newbie's. If you are charging by the bead then you want them buying lots of beads so when you do your demo don't make something with four beads!

General rules

Good lighting is essential if it's a night party.
Limit it to a specific time - my parties always went for 3-4 hours because everyone was having so much fun. Be firm, 2 hours is plenty. If you limit it to 2 hours you'll get more bookings because they have only got a taste and want more.
Don't be afraid to charge good money because although you are there for 2 hours you have probably spent 2 hours getting your kit ready and another 30 minutes putting it away, plus your travel time.
If it's the first time you have worked with this group don't start with a necklace because they will be all night choosing beads, I know this from experience. Start with earrings or a bracelet, they are quick and once everyone has the hang of it they'll whip up a necklace in no time.
The size of the group is important. You will do a demo and then spend the rest of the night running around helping people, 10-12 is about all I can cope with. Youdon't want too few people either r you won't make any money, 6 minimum.
I use large tackle boxes to carry my beads, sorted into colours, and separated out into fancy, lustre and plain. The ladies choose their beads and I price them so they have a starting point. They will almost always change beads and then I'll just re-price the jewellery at the end.

Charging - making a profit. Don't be embarrassed about making a profit!

You got it, they want it and they will pay for it. PLEASE, get away from the 'hobby' mentality, let's get serious . You do everyone including yourself a disservice when you do something like this for the cost of the beads and you undervalue your skill and talent not to mention undervaluing everyone else's talents!

Charge an entry fee so that you at least cover some of your time - $5 or $10 per person - hostess is free.
Encourage people to buy beads to take home to make more jewellery - these can be good add on sales.
There are several ways you can charge, I give them the wire and crimps and charge for the beads and clasps, but then I have thousands of beads to sell. If you do it this way then you need to have a selection of 10 cent beads all the way through to what ever you want to charge for the more special ones. Many of the beads I sell on the website for $1 - $2 you can charge up to $4- $5 for.
You can charge by the pieces of jewellery they make or you can sell them a 'kit' of preselected beads and charge for that.
If you are charging by the earrings, or bracelet or necklace then it is in your best interests to ensure that you have a selection that is not costing you a fortune, unless you have built that into the price. Remember that many woman will happily pay $50 - $100 for a necklace from a shop, you mightn't be able to charge that amount but don't be shy if they are using expensive beads - think profit.
Alternatively you can charge for the package - your skills as an instructor and they take home the jewellery they make.
Let your hostess know that most people spend $?? or more and they will take home with their own unique hand made jewellery. Of course it depends on the group you are dealing with, you can say more but I'd never say less than $30 or your group will arrive with $10 each and you'll work your butt off for $100 (less the cost of the beads). If your hostess is saying that $30 is going to be too much for their friends then you probably have the wrong group - move on to the next. This will give everyone a starting point - expect everyone to bring more.
You can do children's parties (I never have but many people do) - $15 per child, but don't work with young children there is too much risk of beads being swallowed, you want girls/boys who 10 years or older. Although I've never done a kids party I would hesitate to do this without a mother (or father) being present. Generally this type of party is for stretchy bracelets. You make less money but it's easier to teach and you can be out in 90 minutes.

You are not selling beads - that's my job :-)

As a rule of thumb you want to walk out the door with over $250 for an adults party - although I did have a lady tell me that if I wasn't making $600 I was doing it wrong - I think I do it wrong. I believe that if you think that you're doing well at $100 then that's probably what you will make, if you have the attitude that the sky is the limit, then it probably is.

Good luck !