Your customers may need beads for everything from adding sparkle to paper or clothing projects to creating handmade jewelry. Ensure you stock a variety of styles to facilitate the projects of beginning, intermediate and advanced crafters.

Bead styles run the gamut from hole-free microbeads and plastic pony beads to high-end, authentic gemstones. Whether your clients want to make sophisticated bead bracelets to sell at boutiques or simply want jumbo beads on hand to keep their kids busy on a rainy day, ensure each request is met by:

1. Offering tiny seed beads to accessorize cards, scrapbook pages, clothing and other craft projects.

2. Selling shaped and specialty beads in diverse styles and materials for artistic jewelry-making endeavors.

3. Displaying colorful pony beads and larger wood beads for kids’ crafts like key chains, cards and simple necklaces.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stock microbeads and seed beads to add glitz to customers' projects

Although they have no holes, crafters can adhere clear micro glass beads to card stock, fabric and home decor with adhesives for a shimmering, textured finish. They can also affix small seed beads as accents or string them as part of intricate jewelry projects. Have small scoops and baggies available if you'll be selling these styles by weight instead of in clear tubes.

I recommend: RainbowTurtle offers clear and colored microbeads by the pound or in 1.4-ounce packets. Get size 6 through size 15 seed beads in a rainbow of colors through FusionBeads.com. Click on the photos to obtain quantity discount prices. Find wholesale seed and bugle beads in different colors and finishes through Fire Mountain Gems and Beads.

Supply artistic and high-end glass, metal and gemstone beads for jewelry making

When creating bracelets, necklaces and earrings, customers will look for styles beyond basic seed beads. Find offerings in glass, metal, wood and clay to accommodate their artistic projects. Keep a small but diverse inventory on hand until you determine the most popular colors, materials and sizes.

I recommend: Artbeads.com stocks styles like pearl, pewter, sterling and shell beads at wholesale prices. Click on the photos for more information on the specific colors and sizes for each style of bead. Find gemstone, coral and turquoise beads at quantity discounts through BHbeads.com. Pay discounted prices for Swarovski crystal beads, Czech faceted beads and other styles at GSPN Crystal.

Carry inexpensive plastic and wood beads for simple kids' crafts

When parents and teachers work on beading projects with their kids, they need a bead size and design that's easy for little fingers to handle. Assist these young crafters by stocking larger pony and wood beads that they can glue, string and count.

I recommend: Find plastic pony beads in different colors, shapes, sizes and finishes at Munro Wholesale Crafts. Click the link to place an order for a specific style or a convenient variety pack. CraftHobbyWholesale.com offers colorful wood beads for kids’ jewelry making and stringing projects, along with string and thread to accompany them. Order pony and wood beads through Brandine Crafts. The site also sells sports-themed and alphabet beads that kids and adults will enjoy using in jewelry projects.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find a wholesale bead seller that will accept your orders and expedite the shipment so you can fill customers' special or last-minute requests. This way, you won't have a surplus of specialty beads to deal with but can still satisfy clients eager to begin their next project.