Cool jewellery for little dudes has been seriously lacking until now!
The key to a successful business venture is to find a gap in the market, see if there’s a demand and go for it! That’s exactly what Annette Taylor did when she stumbled across the brilliant idea of jewellery for boys.
A bead business is born
It’s funny how the best ideas happen. Sometimes you slog away at a masterplan and nothing fruitful comes of it. Then, when you’re not looking, a casual remark will spawn the seeds of a great concept. The clever part is spotting the idea and acting upon it.
Mother of two small boys, Annette Taylor, took the bold step and did just that. She told me how Ben And Harry’s, her brand new jewellery business for boys, was born of frustration and burst into life.
How many high street shops, online stores and markets sell girls’ and ladies’ jewellery and accessories? I bet everyone can name one or two really big national companies that specialise in this area…. Now how many sell stuff for boys? Ok, so we know there are some menswear shops that sell accessories but they are always for men – never for the little ones. Having two small boys who just love to look cool and trendy, we started to realise just how difficult it was for us to find these things.
I was particularly frustrated one day after shopping with my husband and boys for accessories to go with their smart new outfits. We were heading off to a family get together and they wanted to look good. Well, we girls do too don’t we – and what a choice we have! In a rather disappointed mood on the way home I joked to them all that I should just make the accessories myself and that would make things much easier.
I used to make simple pieces of jewellery for my sister and nieces many moons ago and so I already knew the basics. How hard would it be to do it as a business? That’s how Ben and Harry’s was born.
Trial run for bead fun
- Bags of fun with funky keyrings!
Of course, starting a successful jewellery business isn’t all beading by the fireside and hoping for the best. Before your company can fly, standards have to be met and products have to be tested. Then there’s the marketing and advertising. Plus there’s the getting out there and flogging your wares.
The hardest thing to sell is something you’ve sweated over to produce yourself. Confidence is needed for the inevitable knockbacks. It can be all to easy to take it personally if someone doesn’t like what you do. Annette told me how she tackled some of these hurdles.
I started to look at the boys’ necklaces and bracelets that I could find and realised that they were put together in exactly the same way as mine – no difference at all. After researching the legalities of selling jewellery, talking to people like Business Link and Trading Standards and of course getting supplies from the wonderful Beads Unlimited, I started to put together some necklaces and bracelets.
My two young product testers took them out for test runs for a few weeks and reported back on wear and tear, the cool factor and general opinions from their friends at school and this is how we work. What I’ll do when they are too old to help I don’t know!
For the love of beads
- Ben and Harry’s – a family concern
Starting small but aiming big is another key to success. Steve Jobs spent years sweating it out in Silicon Valley in order for his beloved Apple Mac to become the glorious monster it is now. Okay, that’s an extreme example but the ethos is the same – come up with an idea, envisage a quality product, turn it into something beautiful and take it to the masses. Little acorns, mighty oaks and all that.
Annette’s company is in the early stages. The website is still being refined but is looking good already. Craft fairs are her main market at the moment but this isn’t to be sniffed at. Homespun artefacts are big business right now and the popularity of these hallowed events is growing. Who knows where it will all lead? Annette told me where Ben and Harry’s is now and her hopes for the future.
I’m selling more at craft and school fairs than online at the moment and am really, really looking forward to the Christmas markets. Thankfully I have a brilliant husband who handles the computer side of things (although he has now helped with the odd craft fair) and it’s becoming a real family business. What fun to be doing something creative and new. I love it!
Chic and unique bead style
- A welcome change from pink overload!
Annette’s designs are a welcome break from the pink overload, which seems to have swamped the market in recent years. The jewellery is simple yet eye-catching, fun but not too flouncy. Popular surf style necklaces, stylish bracelets and funky keyring bag charms are just some of the goodies on offer. Although the accessories are primarily for boys, I can see the not-so-girlie girls who are all pinked out loving the Ben and Harry’s style.
Affordable boy’s jewellery is a niche market with huge potential. It is exciting to watch this idea take off and see how it blossoms. When our high streets are turning into clone zones, it’s cheering to see more family run businesses coming alive and selling unique items.
Unusual beaders – we want you!
At Bead Barmy, we love to hear about wonderful ways with beads. Do you run an innovative bead related business? Or do you have a particularly unusual way of designing with beads? If you have something you think we might like, please email jo@beadsunlimited.co.uk with a few lines and you too could be featured on Bead Barmy. Our aim is to broadcast to the world just what can be achieved with the humble bead!
Posted by: JoBlogsIt
About time too! A friend of mine has a young son who was upset recently because he couldn’t find anything boyish enough. I made him some bag charms with his name on and some chunky aluminium beads (for school gym bag etc.) and he was really chuffed with them.
What a good idea, boys do seem to be more interested in fashion these days so should have their own bling!