Beads in San Francisco

I was recently in San Francisco and visited All Season Trading Company (888 Brannan Street). The store is in a large wholesaler's mart (so remember to bring your resale license and/or any other proofs that you are a business).

The building is quite impressive, with dozens and dozens of jewelry and import stores under one roof. It takes a while to find your way around. there are even some restaurants to sit down in if you get tired from shopping.

All Season is a smallish store stuffed with cheap plastic containers full of semi-precious beads, findings, carved jade pendants and much more. Prices are very good, and I found some things I had not been able to locate elsewhere. Give it a try when you are in the Bay area.

Cyberbeader
http://www.lovebeadsunlimited.com

Bead Stores - Offline and Online

I was recently in Seattle and visited a bead store in the downtown area. What a disappointment! While the prices were reasonable, the store looked dingy, had a confusing layout and poorly labeled items. It also did not make good use available space. That experience made me long for my favorite local store, Nomadic Notions right here in Austin. It offers a huge range of beads and findings, is well organized, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly.
There is something to be said for looking at and handling the actual merchandise, but price and selection also make a good argument for mail-order and internet stores. My copy of the hefty Fire Mountain Gems catalog is well-thumbed by now, and the company's website offers an enormous wealth of everything a beader needs.
Of course eBay also has been a great source of beads and particularly of findings for me. My favorite sellers are Buzzinbeads and Value Beads.
Finally, jewelry has to be displayed properly when you photograph it, and I found Gems on Display to be a good source for display busts and easels - if they could only offer necklace displays in more colors!

So, let me know your favorite sources of beading supplies!

Cyberbeader
http://www.lovebeadsunlimited.com