Shipwreck Beads Insider Tour (Lacey, Washington)

Video #580: Roadtrip #3-04 (WA): If you thought that the front of this store was big, just wait until you see behind the scenes!

Topics Covered In This Video:

• On location at Shipwreck Beads in Lacey, Washington.
• Our tour guide and host was Kelsy Vincent, Social Media Coordinator.
• Besides orchestrating the company’s social media activities, Kelsy also does event planning (like the Artisan Market) and manages their blog too.
• The overall facility is huge… over 80,000 square feet of warehouse, production, shipping, offices and showroom space.
• They host large events such as the Summer Artisan Market (outside) and the Winter Artisan Market (inside), where local jewelry designers and artisans sell jewelry and crafts. A local radio station broadcasts from the events. Plus they coordinate food drives and other charity fundraisers in an effort to give back to the community.
• The Shipwreck Company has been part of the Olympia Community for over 30 years.
• It started as a nautical themed gift store in the 70’s, and then Glen Vincent (son of original founders and now CEO), recognized that the beads were selling best.
• Glen and his siblings banded together and purchased the company from their parents and began what is now called Shipwreck Beads.
• Back in the early days, Glen Vincent and long time friend Douglas Bolling (now General Manager), partnered and focused on selling seed beads at Native American Rendezvous’ and sold beads out of their van… lived in Teepees and grew the business into what it is today.
• A rare opportunity to see into the facilities huge warehouse area.
• Four years ago, Shipwreck bought out a MidWest company called Prairies Edge, along with their very large stock (14 semi truck loads) of Vintage Glass beads from Italy and France.
• Their inventory of vintage beads date back to the 1800’s, with some of the colors no longer in production because the secret formulas died with their creators.
• We tour the production area… receiving, processing, packaging, pricing, shipping, invoicing… etc.
• Classroom area where students can learn a wide variety of beading and jewelry making techniques.
• They have a collection of craft books, both vintage and new. Macrame from the 70’s seems to be making a comeback :-)
• World’s Largest Strand of Beads… over 1 mile long… in Guinness Book of World Records.
• A visit to the Galley… coffee and sandwich stand inside the showroom. Great for hungry and restless shoppers.
• Tour of the Retail Showroom… The Treasure Cove (where the high end gemstones, pearls, Swarovski and tools are kept).
• Looking out over the Showroom Floor… 30 aisles of beads, findings, tools. Sorted by Aisles and Sections. For example, Premo Polymer Clay is in Aisle 6 Section Q… information that is also listed on their website. This system makes it easy for both customers, and the order pickers, to find stuff quickly and easily.
• You can visit Shipwreck Beads in person at their Lacey Washington location. It is a great destination for all beaders! Or visit them online (link is below the video).
• After this wonderful tour, I headed out to do some shopping. I’ll show you what I ended up purchasing in an upcoming video… so stay tuned for that!

• Related Resource: Shipwreck Beads Main Website
• Related Resource: Shipwreck Beads Blog – Loose Ends
• Related Video: Rings & Things Behind The Scenes Video Tour

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