How to Shop at a Bead Show!

Going to a bead show is a lot of fun, but it's also a lot of work. Your senses will be over-whelmed with color, light, and noise. Not to mention that the lights the vendors use to highlight their product is high wattage and can be very warm to stand under or near while looking at merchandise.

So, after shopping at several large bead shows in the Bay Area I have compiled some tips and advice about how to keep the event fun and productive.

Supplies:

• Bottle of water
• Food or snacks to keep the energy going (some shows provide a concession stand that sells snack foods and drinks.)
• Note pad and pen or pencil
• Calculator
• Wish List of beads, materials, and tools you need or want to look at
• Comfortable shoulder bag or some other type of bag to hold all your goodies
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Bring cash and/or checkbook and/or a credit card (some vendors only accept cash, or their credit machines might be down; some vendors don’t accept personal checks). Personally, I bring both cash and a credit card.
• Don’t forget any discounted admission tickets or a copy of your resale license, if you have one

*Before you go to the show write down a wish list of items that you want or need. Organize the list into items you absolutely need, Items you’d like to have, and Items you don’t need right now but want to get an idea on price or whatever. A bead show is usually very crowded and the number of vendors in attendance can run into the hundreds. You don’t want to waste your time walking around without having any idea of why you are there. It can be very over-whelming. Consequently, you don’t want to start buying things right away only to find a better deal at a vendor on the other side of the room!

*Get an idea of what the prices look like from competing vendors by “walking the room” first. For example, if you need Swarovski crystals, walk around the show and take notes on the various prices you see. Write the booth number or name down so you can come back to the booth with the best prices. The first hour or two I’m at a bead show is spent walking the room and taking notes on prices per quantity. Once I know where all the good prices are for the things I need on my list, then I go shopping:

• I find a place to sit down and look over my list. I use my calculator to figure out how much it’s going to cost me to get everything I want. I make adjustments on my wish list based on the amount of money I budgeted to spend.

*When you buy something from a vendor ask for a business card and keep that card with the items you purchased. When you get home and start to use these items, use the business card to keep track of notes for this vendor, both positive and negative, so that the next time you go to a show or buy on-line you can seek out these same vendors, or avoid them!

Have fun!!