Just a few short years ago, I never dreamed I would open a bead store. In fact, I was rounding out a 24 year career at a large corporation, working long hours, getting stressed out and looking forward to retirement (a few years down the road of course!) Well, as corporate-America downsized, so went my job. And so went the long hours and the stress too! I took some time off, traveled with my husband and got caught up in the bead craze as we visited bead stores while RV-ing around the country. (what a life!)
Well, when push came to shove (i.e. the mortgage needed to get paid) I started sending out resumes to corporate-America (again). Boy, did that depress me!
Then I saw a little miracle happening…. A shabby old building in a wonderful area near my home called Tatnuck Square was being renovated into small storefronts. What a great place for a business! What a great place for a Bead Store! After all, Worcester didn’t have a bead store, if you can believe that! When I approached the building owner he asked me what kind of store I was interested in opening (he was very picky about that!) When I said a ‘Bead Store’ he said ‘a what?’. I said ‘a Bead Store’.
He pointed his finger into the palm of his hand and said ‘beads? You mean those little things?’ I nodded. He smiled. (I think I detected a chuckle under that smile). And we went our separate ways.
My husband and I did some homework and 2 weeks later I approached ‘Al’ again. “I’m Diane. Do you remember me?” “Beads” he said. And then he smiled and said “If you want it, it’s yours.” I heard later that the wife and a niece convinced him that beads were very hot. Anyway, with a lot of hard work, some great advice and support from ABC Direct of Tucson we opened 3 months later! Our Worcester neighbors have embraced us. New beaders are being born weekly. Experienced beaders travel long and far to find us. ‘Al’ gets his rent check each month. We still work very long hours! And, yes, there’s still stress… only it’s ‘happy’ stress!
It’s a Bead-a-ful Life!
Please stop by and say "HI" when you’re in the Tatnuck neighborhood.
Diane & Chris