Bead Road Trip to Shipwreck Beads
Imagine a building the size of your local Wal-mart, but instead of being filled with towels and toasters, this store is filled with beads and tons of other jewelry making supplies. That's how Janet Wickell, About.com's Guide to Quilting, described her experience at Shipwreck Beads' brick and mortar store located in Washington state. Janet is also a lover of beads and jewelry, so she was nice enough to take some pictures and give us a virtual tour of the place. Thank you, Janet!
Here's what she told me about her trip:
There are sidewalks leading up to and along two sides of this building -- all filled with loads of beads. Outside, a customer told me that there are more in layers below, that the beads sunk during the first attempt and had to be added again.
At the front of the store there is a large room filled with gemstone bead strands on sale -- all laid out on tables. There's also a separate room devoted to books.
Items are mostly organized by material type, but some things are displayed in a couple of places. I've never seen so many findings. They're mostly stored in organizer-type drawers and sorted by material. Some things are sorted by type, like butterfly items, cat items, etc.
Their new catalog came in the morning we were there, so I brought one home with me (it almost brought my suitcase over the 50 pound mark).
They were busy, but very organized. When you walk in, you pick up a little push cart outfitted with trays and a necklace tree. So you can keep everything pretty well organized as you walk the aisles. There were always people checking out, but that group was organized too so the backups were minimal. There were also quite a few people in the aisles to answer questions, a very well-run place.
Comments
Thank you! I saw their website and I always wanted to go there. I’m so glad someone wrote an article about the store. It looks like I must get a catalog.
I’ve ordered from them, very fast and great products. I would love to visit, but I believe it would be very hard getting me out of there! Thanks for the article and pictures.
I’m glad you like it! Thanks mainly to Janet, luck for us she doesn’t just quilt but is a bead lover too.
I am a FAN of Shipwreck beads. I Love to go there. I am in the midst of a project, I need just one or two beads to match. I take my project there, in a zip-loc baggie. I show it to one of the workers, and they take me right to what I was looking for. So, yes, any color, shape, size is there. I Love it. Christmas time is great too. I give gift cards for there, and the recipients can choose whatever they want,, trust me, a Latte is needed before we get started. I Love living in Washington!
Thank you for the great write up about our store.
We love that you love it as much as we do.
Next time you stop by please introduce yourself and I’ll buy you a coffee.
Lisa Vincent
Owner/VP
Let’s not to forget to mention to other good things about Shipwreck… Their cafe makes to-die-for sandwiches, and they hold lots of classes upstairs, especially the metal clay by Ruth… my fav!
I’m going to have to put this on my list of places to visit. I’d love to experience the bead shopping, classes and cafe.
WOW!!! Too bad I live soooo far away here in Louisiana. I could spend an eternity in there!
In July my daughter & I were in our former home state & went to Shipwreck Beads. (about 15 miles south of where we used to live) Oh my! We are tempted to move back so we can go there more often! She is leaving for WA today with my wish list in hand! Love that store. & the little cafe.
my husband drives a truck told me about shipwrecks ive been there several times and can say they have the best prices around on all there beading and jewelry making supplies if they dont have it it might not exist love the staff very helpful and if you get hungry they even have a bistro to grab a meal and keep shopping if you can go there do it you wont be sorry
I’ve been a fan of Shipwreck for ages now. They have THE best mixes of India beads and rocailles in so many sizes. The thing I buy most from them is the Czech fire-polished beads….I think they have the largest selection I’ve seen at awesome prices. I’ve always been very hapy with the quality and service. I haven’t yet won one of their gift cards (they give away a $250 one every week) but I keep my fingers and toes crossed. I would love to visit the store in person….one day.
If that was me walking in there I would think I died and went to heaven. I imagine to be just like that.
My husband took me to Shipwreck Beads last week. I am a beginner so it was overwhelming! In a good way ofcourse! I got the big catalogue, I am in middle of marking everything I am going to get and will return this weekend there to shop! Can’t wait!