Comments on: Beaded Book Thongs (Bookmarks) Made With Polymer Clay Dangle Beads

By: Cindy Lietz@Hammered Copper Hookmark

Cindy Lietz@Hammered Copper Hookmark — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:24:41 +0000

@Phaedrakat: Sorry Kat to not get around to answering this for you in so long. No, I didn’t get the chance to test out the name theory since I haven’t done any craft fairs for over a year now. Just too busy here on the blog. Got enough inventory to do one now though. I have found with the bookmarks, that the Hookmark style are the easiest to use, for me anyway. My guess is that they would also sell better at craft fairs than the book thongs anyways, but that would have to be tested to know for sure.

By: Phaedrakat

Phaedrakat — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:49:53 +0000

@Wendy: Thongs are extremely “visible” in America (in quite a few ways; actually, in TOO many ways sometimes ;-) But because of this, not too many people would be offended by the name. They probably don’t think of them as “dodgy” underwear, either. Lot’s of people think they’re “sexy” — and that sells…

Now, I haven’t heard of these book thongs, but that’s because I haven’t “gotten out much” over the past few years (recuperating from surgeries.) Still, I can see these sound WAY cooler than “bookmarks.” So, I think calling them this is a smart marketing tool! Plus, there’s the built-in joke (it helps you remember where to “crack” open your book.) So, I’d have to say I kinda like it! I’ll have to make some of these.

Cindy, did you ever do a test on these at a craft fair? Did the “book thongs” sell?

By: Wendy Hewson

Wendy Hewson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:55:38 +0000

Cindy,

I have just found this post by googling “Book-thongs”…

I have just taken over supplying these to all the British branches of ‘Books etc’…who are owned by Borders – when the UK Borders chain split from the US chain, their supply of these beaded bookmarks stopped, and so I agreed to step into the breach as it were.

The first thing I decided when I started was to change the name to ‘Bookbeads’ as I personally hate the term ‘bookthongs’ – sounds like very dodgy underwear, doesn’t it !!

So now they are called ‘Bookbeads’ in the Books etc shops, and for some reason our Borders branches don’t sell them – so I’m just waiting to be asked to supply them too…

By: Cindy Lietz@Selling Jewelry To Niche Markets

Cindy Lietz@Selling Jewelry To Niche Markets — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:33:13 +0000

You are probably right Lupe! I should probably stop being such a square! ;-)

It would be a fun test to have a bunch of beaded bookmarks on a table at a craft fair… some labeled bookmarks and some labeled book thongs and see which ones the customers are most interested in. Could very well be the book thongs. I will try it next fair I do!

By: Lupe Meter

Lupe Meter — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:23:12 +0000

I never heard of it called that. It’s catchy and sometimes I think the catchier the name, the more interested people will be in it. Bookmark after all is kinda boring…now a book thong…more interesting and great marketing idea. Thanks for sharing that. I think I will start calling them book thongs from now on. Thanks for sharing!

By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Color Recipes - Vintage Ornament

Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Color Recipes - Vintage Ornament — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:21:15 +0000

@Sarahwww: OMG! Bet those girls got a little more popular after that! ;-) Poor teacher!

@Amanda: Yeah probably! In Canada here it’s not too often a teacher splits the group up by who’s wearing flip flops! Rubber boots maybe, but not flips flops!

@Kelly: I bet you’re under 40! I also prefer the bookmark name though book thong may be more appropriate for certain types of books! ;-)

@Annie: LOL!

By: Anna Sabina

Anna Sabina — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:13:04 +0000

Who Knew !!! I did not. I imagine the are referred to as thongs in relation to thong underwear. You know how the little thin strip goes in the the crack.
I am not speaking from experience, I still wear grannie panties.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:41:58 +0000

Oh! I actually did know they are called that! Several years ago I saw them being sold at a local Borders, and they were labeled as ‘Book Thongs’. I prefer bookmark personally though!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:04:14 +0000

I’m sensing an Aussie association somewhere?

By: Sarahwww

Sarahwww — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:33:47 +0000

No, I didn’t know that either. I,too, have had to retrain my vocabulary! I read a hilarious post somewhere about a teacher looking for a fair way to select students to go to the front of the room and asked all those wearing thongs to participate. She realized her faux pas when students wearing various footwear went sheepishly to the front of the room. DOH!!