Red Garnet Beads & buttons offers variety

By M.L. Dehm

SCBJ Freelance Writer

It’s not often that an executive leaves a successful career to start again in something entirely different and unrelated. But there was no doubt in the mind of Jenene Szuch that success would follow when she made her move. She was right.

Szuch, then Janene Gibbs, was executive director of the Business and Technology Center at Edmonds Community College. But as her 39th birthday approached, she realized that it was now or never to achieve a life-long dream of owning her own business. The question was, what business should she open?

“I looked at different businesses,” Szuch said. “Because I was a beader, I noticed there were no bead stores in Snohomish County.”

She thought a new store would fill a gap for a growing hobby market. Beading, a centuries old craft, had gained significantly in popularity and was getting a lot of press. The growing market had created increased demand for beads and buttons, particularly European crystals, hand blown glass and natural products such as carved bone.

Szuch took the plunge and opened Red Garnet Beads &Buttons on Sept. 14, 2004. Being an experienced beader, she had an advantage over craft stores that simply stock a few beading products. She had inventory, knew her product well and also knew a good way to set up displays to appeal to customers. Most products at Red Garnet Beads &Buttons are stocked in specially designed display tables. These have tops that have been separated into hundreds of open compartments containing a rainbow of beads, reasding for assembling. Glittering strings of finished beadwork also hang from the walls. Ever ything that Szuch offers is easily accessible and clearly displayed for the customer.

These types of displays help to inspire creativity, she said. It’s far different from a hobby store where products are often sealed in plastic bags. Szuch also keeps the widest possible variety of products in stock and is always on the lookout for more. Beads from all over the world are available as well as a large number made locally in Washington State. Some of the beads are synthetic while others are glass, stone, or other natural materials.

Customers that come in to shop have ample work space to sit down and plan their projects in detail. A staff member is always available to answer questions. In fact, Szuch sets up events so beaders can come in and socialize with each other as they work on their projects.

“Every month we have a beaders night out when everyone brings their projects and beads,” Szuch said. “It’s really important to build a sense of community. There are a lot of people dealing with a lot of difficult (economic and employment) things right now and this is somewhere they can get away from that.”

So far, Szuch has felt only a little impact from the downturn in the economy. While beading isn’t recession-proof, it’s definitely recession-resistant.

“The beauty of beading is that it is affordable and you can spend as much or as little as you want and still feel that you’re within your budget,” Szuch said. Szuch also carries a wide variety of buttons, both vintage and new, that can be used on clothing or in jewelry creations.

For those who love beaded jewelry but don’t have the time to create it, she also sells finished products from local artisans. More information about Red Garnet Beads &Buttons, products, classes or special events, is available at the store, 22002 64th Avenue West, Suite A, in Mountlake Terrace or by calling 425640-5441. She also has Web site information online at www.red-garnet.com.