 |
WINTER 2020 EVENTS in our Anchorage Store |
|
Alaska Bead Company
At ABC, we pride ourselves in being "The Beader's Bead Store." We carry a full selection of beading,
wirework, and metalsmithing items at all times so that our customers don't have to go to several stores
to find everything they need for one project. When we are out of a normally stocked item, we will
backorder it for our customers and then call them when the item is back in stock.
We specialize in Japanese and Czech Seed & Bugle Beads; Delicas; Various Glass Shapes (e.g. Tila Beads, Magatamas, Triangles, Cubes, Peanut Beads, Superduos and many other 2-Hole beads); Swarovski Crystals; Czech Pressed and Fire-Polished Beads; Semi-Precious Gemstones; Wire; Sheetmetal; Beading and Metalsmithing Tools, Books and Supplies; Charms; Bone Beads; Hairpipes, Dentalium Shells, Porcupine Quills; Findings & So Much More!
Each trimester, ABC offers over 40 classes that cover basic beading, off-loom bead weaving, wirework, loomwork, and more. Our classes are taught by Linda Myers, ABC's store manager, and many talented local guest artists.
To keep our customers stimulated we frequently put out "New Beads" on Saturdays, and feature trunk shows. But even with all this, ABC wouldn't be the store it is today without our wonderfully talented and friendly staff members who truly make Alaska Bead Company, "The Beader's Bead Store"!
The History of Alaska Bead Company
Alaska Bead Company got its start in 1993 when owners, Mark and Jonisue Minor moved from the
California Bay Area to Eagle River, Alaska for a more serene lifestyle. Once in Alaska, they stumbled
upon a small Anchorage findings and bead store going out of business that they quickly purchased.
Mark and Jonisue learned the business in the first year and then expanded into a 2000 square foot store
in early 1995 at which time they hired their Store Manager, Linda Myers, who is still managing the store
today and teaching a repertoire of over 75 beading, wirework, and metalsmithing classes.
In 2002, ABC doubled their size to over 4000 square feet and implemented a Point-of-Sale computer system to control their bar-coded inventory. In 2008, ABC launched their website and first webstore. In 2017, while the website that primarily featured all of ABC's classes stayed up and running, the webstore portion of the website was shut down due to the Point-of-Sale Software Manufacturer putting it's webstore software through end-of-life. As of this writing, ABC is working with a web consultant to design and implement a new webstore that should be up and running in the Summer of 2018.
|