...In Other Bead News...

Outrageous Bead Prices: Are Retailers Gouging Customers?

I'm incredibly frustrated for retail bead buyers after seeing a recent Instagram promotion from a large online and brick-and-mortar bead store. They're advertising a 40%-50% off sale on Miyuki Delica and Rocaille Round seed beads. The picture above showcases Miyuki 6-94517 Picasso Brown Tan (Matte/Frosted)—a beautiful color, and a perfect match for Pantone's Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse!

But here's the kicker: I started comparing prices after the advertised 40%-50% discount, and they were still significantly higher than what most bead retailers are selling the exact same beads and approximate quantities 

Unbelievable Markups

The markups are so alarming that I called my suppliers to see if I was missing some important information, and so far, none of my wholesale suppliers are marking their Miyuki products up to have to be resold at such inflated prices.  Most suppliers don’t even increase their prices yearly; one even told me that they just increased prices after a few years of no price increases!.

The Math Doesn't Add Up

Yes, many factors influence pricing, including color and finish. And yes, Miyuki is a top-quality brand. But these prices are so far off the charts. I checked multiple listings, comparing them to my own supplier costs, and the pattern is consistent: outrageous markups.

Two Possible Scenarios (and One Big Concern)

This situation brings two thoughts to mind. Remember when gas prices go up, and we immediately see the increase at the pump, even before the new, more expensive fuel arrives? The rationale is that retailers need to recoup the cost of the next delivery.

All beads are imported, primarily from Japan and the Czech Republic. We've dealt with tariff issues before, but strangely, due to the way beads are manufactured, tariffs don't seem to have a noticeable impact on prices.

So, perhaps these particular resellers, supplier knows something we don't. Maybe they're anticipating a massive increase in import costs and are preemptively raising prices based on inside information.

However, I have a much bigger concern. What if this is simply a supplier inflating prices because they can, knowing that many customers are unaware of true costs?  What if other resellers, and suppliers start following this trend and increase their prices to the point of pricing out those that would love to create with these beautiful Miyuki beads?  

Taking Action

I saw this promotion today, Tuesday, February 11th. I'll be calling my suppliers immediately to get their insights and understand what's happening.

But I must say, if this is simply a case of price gouging, I'm going to accelerate my plans to offer bead pre-orders (Here is where you can get more information about pre-ordering). I don't currently have the storage space for a large inventory, but with pre-ordering, beads will come in and go right back out.

A Call to Action

While browsing my supplier's Miyuki Delica bead mix section, I saw some amazing color combinations that I know bead artists and jewelry designers would love. But they shouldn't have to pay inflated prices for a single tube when they could get three for the same price. I'm committed to finding a way to make these beads more accessible and affordable.

2/8/2025

Check this section for several 2025 beaded jewelry trend predictions.

January 2025: It's back!  Not long after starting my bead business over twenty years ago, there was a very popular styled bracelet called the Cha-Cha. There's actually a blank Cha-Cha bracelet. (I should probably list the ones I have left). Besides the movement of the beads on the bracelet, they were extremely fun to make.  more details here

Managing bead scarcity and your stash: After 20 years in the bead business, I recommend buying as many popular beads as you can. Bead scarcity is increasing due to the closure of physical stores, fewer online suppliers, and changes in manufacturing processes. Don't wait to reorder!