Business Q&A: Beads 'N Stitches

Do you see the jewelry you wear as an expression of who you are as a person? Do you wish you could tap into your creative side and put together your own lovely sparkly stuff but have no idea how to go about doing so?

Well, look no further. Beads ‘N Stitches of Merrick offers you the opportunity to design your own custom jewelry from scratch under the careful guidance of professionals. Manager Amanda Olson spoke to Patch about her family’s successful business of helping Merokeans get in touch with their inner artist.

Tell us about what you do at Beads ‘N Stitches.

It’s basically a do-it-yourself jewelry store. Anyone can walk in and if they have an idea for something they’d like to make, we can either put it together for them, or, if they are interested in learning how to make it themselves, we’d be able to teach them. So, if you want something made for you, if you want to make it yourself, if you need something repaired. We do a little of everything.

How long have you been at your current location?

This location opened about a year and a half ago. We were in Bellmore Village previously, so we’ve been open about ten years or so. We eventually expanded the Bellmore location by knocking down the wall into the neighboring store and eventually we moved it to Merrick.

We did have good, regular clientele in Bellmore, but moving to Merrick on Merrick Road gave us the opportunity to be on a more centrally-located area with a lot of traffic. It was just time for a new store, a new look, and it’s turned out very well.

We also have a second, larger store in Hicksville.

Tell us about the history of Beads ‘N Stitches.

It was an idea of my mother's. She had been a beader almost all her life and on the craft show circuit when my sister and I were younger. She finally had the idea that she wanted a bead store – there weren’t many at the time on Long Island – where you could actually sit and do your work. So, she basically built it because she wanted everything that she needed at one time to be around her.

We opened in 2002 and it was just after 9/11. A lot of people came in, and just wanted so sit and relax and take their minds off things and be creative, and the business kind of exploded.

What kind of materials do you offer for customers to work with?

We mainly carry stones, crystals, chains and glass beads. We do have a large selection of everything except plastic beads or inexpensive metals. We have some higher-end stuff here.

What do you like about owning and operating a business in the Merrick area?

The clientele, for sure. We get a lot of kids and a lot of the moms who are interested in this. The area is nice. The plaza that we’re in is very mom-oriented and it turned out to be a really great move.