By Sandra J. Paluzzi
The Bead Peddler®

Several billion dollars worth of beads change hands every year.  Yet most bead businesses are family owned and operated.  In fact, there is still a lot of room in the industry for the cottage artisan to make a living.

Many skilled lampworkers in North America make a living selling their beads on ebay.  Typically they work out of their studio - a room in their home.  The amount of space required to torch beads can easily fit into anyone's spare bedroom.  A close friend works out of a shed she put in her backyard.   

There are also artisans here in the states who have grown their businesses to the point where they hire others to help work the glass.  Again, the original artisan typically is still on the flame.  I have never heard of a company in teh states where the owner did not know all of their employees by first name.

The situation is not that different in India.  There you have large manufacturers.  But the factories are not what we typically think of as factories.  The factory employees market the beads.  They also supply the artisans with glass and orders.  The artisans will then go back to their village to make the beads on a communal kiln.  At times, whole villages will join forces to make one type of bead over and over.    In the Czech Republic, the women are just starting to leave their homes and go into the manufacturing plant to make their lampworked beads.   There are of course exceptions to the rule - Swarovski, for one, represents beading done by a large company in a standard manufacturing plant.  But the majority of glass beads are made by smaller places.   I used to think that it was because of the skill required by the artisans that the bead business remained dominated by small businesses.

However, the same holds true for businesses that specialize in selling beads.  Yes, you can find some beads for sale at Walmart, Jo-Anne's Fabrics, Michaels and A.C. Moore.  But these stores contain a relatively small selection geared to the general public.  Most dedicated beaders are not content with the wares offered by these giants.  Instead, they buy most of their beads from local bead stores and national mail order companies.  Even the largest of these companies are typically family owned and operated. 

Possibly because of the make up of most bead businesses, there seems to be a sense of community among beaders.  In today's day and age, it is nice to know the woman who made your beads by her first name.  It is nice to receive emails directly from the owner of a mail order bead company.  It reminds me of my youth - of a by gone time when everyone knew everyone.   There certainly is a neighborly feel among beaders - a willingness to share sources and to help each other.  While beading is a solitary endeavor, it tends to be centered in a global village.