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Red Panda Beads $25 Shopping Spree Giveaway

Betsy never intentionally set out to sell beads. She was and still is at heart, a bead work artisan. She got into beading after trying her hand with cross stitch embroidery years ago. Her epiphany came when she decided to make a beaded picture of Mickey and Minnie Mouse for her then boss who liked collecting such things.  She created it on her bead loom using 6 panels in all.


The project lead her from ordinary seed beads to the highly uniform Japanese Miyuki Delica beads. Needless to say, she fell for these beads. They are more expensive than ordinary seed beads but as you can see from a picture of one of her projects in progress, you cannot beat Japanese beads for quality. If you are curious (as I am) how they make Delicas, check out the Miyuki page here.


When she started to buy more beads, she realized that she could make it into a business. She called it Red Panda Beads after a real red panda she saw in a zoo. She recently adopted a red panda in the wild and hopes to help save the red panda too. This adorable creature is listed as vulnerable, the stage before it is endangered.


A bead supply business was quite an undertaking considering Betsy had a full time 40+ hour a week job at the time. She worked at her bead business in the evenings and weekends. As her business grew and grew, she was having to get up at 4.30 am to get her packages ready for mailing and worked until late at night. Since last October, she started to make more at her business than her full time job. That meant by April this year, she made the decision to quit her day job and focus on growing her bead business. That is quite a bold move.  Now one of her goals is to hire her hubby as "Operations Officer"!

Her business is now over three years old. As Betsy works really hard at her business, space became an issue so her seldom used living room was turned into her new business office, bead packaging and storage area. If you've ever wondered what it takes to organize this sort of business, then check out her blog post about her new office. It's fortunate beads are small!


Want to win some top quality beads? Betsy has kindly sponsored this $25 shopping spree at her online store.  To enter, all you have to do is write a comment below.  Email subscribers need to click on the post title to get back to the blog post.  Extra entries if you become or are my blog /Twitter/Facebook Page follower.  Make sure to let me know in the comment.

The contest closes at 6 pm EST Monday August 9.  I will select the winner randomly and announce it in a blog post. The winner will be given instructions on how to get her shopping spree credit.  Good luck!!

Even if you don't win, Betsy has other ways to let you win beads. Betsy told me, "Every Wednesday, I host a Weekly Trivia Contest, the first person to correctly guess the answer in an hour wins a $10 store credit. I encourage customers to submit trivia questions, if I use one, and the answer is not guessed with the hour, then the submitter of the question wins the $10 credit." She has other incentives so be sure to check out her Facebook page or register for her newsletter. One more thing, US buyers get free shipping!

Want to meet her in person? She will be at the BeadFest in Valley Forge later in August. She won't have a booth but she'll love to meet her customers in person!

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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips 

48 comments:

  1. You've written a very nice article about Betsy. She does have a very nice store and excellent customer service.

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  2. Thanks so much for sharing Red Panda & Betsy's story! It's so nice to get such a personal looks at a successful business!

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  3. Greetings, and a happy Good Morning! I'm responding to your Giveaway offer, and have Liked you on my FB page.
    This looks like it's going to be one of my favorite websites/blogs. :-)

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  4. Hard work isn't the only reason for Betsy's success. She has outstanding customer service!

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  5. Thank you so much for sharing Betsy's story and having the contest on this website, I love the idea of adopting an animal and what inspiration to be able to name a business about something your treasure and turn a great hobby/craft into that business, Betsy is very talented in her field of beading and I was simply amazed at her bead work. Thanks again for sharing her story with us all.

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  6. Very nice story. I am following her blog site on Facebook, and her work is beautiful. I am new to beading, it started out with a chainmaille kit I bought and from there it sort of went crazy. I now have a room full of stuff I am working on. I finally took the plunge yesterday and bought some beading needles so now no excuses. The small beads are scary to me, but I will give it a shot..
    Thanks for highlighting an incrediable artist.

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  7. I love to hear about people who followed something they loved and turned it into something that let them NOT 'keep their day job'! I love to make and sell jewellery, but if I depended on it to feed my family... well, we'd be pretty darn hungry by now. That's awesome Betsy! As soon as I post this I'm off to visit her site. I believe I have before, but didn't realize the significance of the name. That is just about the sweetest looking animal ever. Thanks for this interesting post, Pearl! And a chance to win BEEEADS makes it even better! Oh, and to anyone NEW HERE... You absolutely MUST MUST MUST become a 'follower' ... and you will surely be a fan of Pearl. This blog is freakin' AMAZING - and all done by ONE WOMAN! ...Or should I say, A ONE-WOMAN-WONDER!!!

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  8. This kind of story behind a business is what makes a business special. I often wished I knew the story behind a business I felt was out of the ordinay, and Pearl, you have done an amazing job at presenting Red Panda Beads. I love all of it and particularly the photo of her office with all the thin drawers...my dream...

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  9. Hi Pearl, thanks for hosting another giveaway! I am a follower of yours. Nice story!

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  10. I admire anyone who can juggle all the demands of a retail bead business, now I'm off to check out her store!

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  11. Can't wait to meet Betsy at BeadFest Philly!

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  12. I thought I posted a comment, but it must not have worked. I would love to win a gift certificate. It is so good to read about people who are able to quit their "day jobs" to do something they love!

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  13. Thanks for the opportunity to get some great beads.

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  14. Thank you for sharing the Red Panda Beads story. I like hearing about people that succeed in something they love. I am a follower of yours on Facebook as well.

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  15. The Red Panda has a great selection of beads.

    melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. Thank you for sharing this story. It's great that Betsy was able to "quit her day job"!

    I'm a follower of your blog.

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  17. Thanks for sharing Betsy's story, it's an inspiration to all of us beaders out there. Her site is enticing me to try my hand at working with seed beads whether I win the shopping spree or not.

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  18. Inspiration is what I need.
    After 5 back surgeries left me sidelines from two professions, I have turned to creativity to save my sanity! I make focals and large beads for people to use in their jewelry - but it is not as profitable as full pieces - so I make them - or try!
    I need as many ideas as I can get for my workspace - I live in a teeny tiny condo and I need all the ideas that I can get! Thanks for the photo!

    TBGJ is THE BEST blog on the subject out there! Keep it up!

    Lori Schneider

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  19. Excellent article. Betsey has been great in helping grow my business, by going out of her way to ship to me overnight, etc. Good going, keep growing!

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  20. Great story! It's just wonderful that she's able to make a living doing something she loves. I follow your blog and follow you on facebook and twitter!

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  21. I've gotten beads from her at eBay! I think it's wonderful that she has been able to turn a hobby she loves into a business that is so successful!!
    I recognize that triangle - looks like it's from the Shaped Beadwork book! I love those designs!
    Kudos to Betsy!

    I follow your blog on google friends connect- Joanne Schultz .
    i follow on twitter - js22222222 .
    I'm a fan on facebook-Joanne Schultz. http://www.facebook.com/js2222


    Thanks for the giveaway!
    email in blogger profile.

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  22. Wow - Mickey Mouse is just amazing!
    I follow your blog.
    I follow you on twitter - bsw529
    I follow you on facebook - barbara wright

    Email address in blogger profile

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  23. I really enjoyed the article. It was very nicely written and highly informative. I am just starting to think about working with beads. I love having the chance to win some!

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  24. I envy you guys how you managed to make a successful business doing job you love, starting it as a hobby. Wish i'll get there one day :(

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  25. Gorgeous! I would love to have a piece of her art.

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  26. Inspiring! I've thought more than once about selling beads rather than jewelry online.

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  27. Oh, I follow your blog, it comes to my email, Joan@LTDBeads.com.

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  28. Thank you for hosting this giveaway. I'm very excited.
    acg@gaggle.net

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  29. Hi ,
    I love accessories
    I am Email subscriber
    sh.11175@yahoo.com

    I am a follower shaima812
    Blog about it
    http://adgiveaway.blogspot.com/2010/08/red-panda-beads-25-shopping-spree.html

    Twitter @ shaimapassion

    Facebook Page follower Dana Ali

    sh.11175@yahoo.com

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  30. Thanks for this lovely giveaway :)

    Kate1485 at hotmail.com

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  31. I'm following via Google (Jasmine1485)

    Kate1485 at hotmail.com

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  32. I'm following you on Twitter (@NTFancy)

    Kate1485 at hotmail.com

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  33. Nice Giveaway! Would be the perfect prize fpor my mom, she works a lot with beads.
    s.lam(at)gmx(dot)net

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  34. Thanks for the great look at Betsy's bead life, very interesting.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    --Liza

    ejm6x (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  35. What a great success story!! I love reading about those. It really inspires me!!

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  36. thats so cool thanks for the chance to win!!
    mmgreenpeppers@yahoo.com

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  37. Oh, thanks for sharing your story! I love the japanese miuyki delicas too, they have many tasty colors.

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  38. Thanks for this great giveaway!

    I'm a follower!

    allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

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  39. I really enjoyed reading your story. Thanks for the great giveaway!
    wakechick25(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  40. I'm a new follower on your blog :)
    wakechick25(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  41. I want to win!
    lusizova (at) Gmail.com

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  42. Follow via GFC
    Lyudmila
    lusizova (at) gmail.com

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  43. Love beading! I'm a beginner, though

    sswpss at yahoo dot com

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  44. enter me
    rinei.martiani@gmail.com

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  45. I love Betsy's story!! It's similar to many that I've heard... how we NEVER set out to sell then all of a sudden... well here we are! As for me (and I know many of you) it's not about how much $$ we make (though $$$$$ is NICEEEEE) its about sharing our craft, our joy, our love, and our passion. Most importantly making someone else smile!

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  46. Its great that Betsy's work is doing something she loves and that she is creating awareness about the Red Panda.

    dhesh at webmail dot co dot za

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  47. I hope I win!

    queen-of-pain(AT)yandex(DOT)com

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  48. I have been purchasing beads from Betsy at Red Panda Beads and she is very aware of her customers and treats us with a personal touch. I am very glad that her business is successful and I will continue to make purchases from her. Thanks for the Giveaway offer, Betsy, and best of luck for a lasting and fruitful business. ps hope I win !!!!

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