Posted: Saturday, December 19, 2009 9:55 am
By SARA GIBONEY Hub Staff Writer 0 comments
KEARNEY — They’re fighting poverty one bead at a time.
Two women volunteer their time creating one-of-a-kind jewelry to support programs that help people in need.
Karen Lueck, executive director of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska and a jewelry maker, had an idea to make and sell jewelry to help raise discretionary money to supplement funding shortfalls the agency faced.
In August 2004, Lueck and Kyla Martin, Mid-Nebraska’s administration/development director, took the idea to the board of directors. The board offered the women $7,500 seed money, and Beads in a Box was born.
Lueck, already an avid beader, taught Martin. Martin now credits the success of the business to the women’s addictive personalities.
“It was originally to be an Internet business, and we found out right away that it would take a lot of time to make that work,” Martin said.
Martin and Lueck eventually began selling the jewelry at craft shows, boutiques, and booths at conventions and conferences locally and across the country.
Beads in a Box features handmade necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins, polymer creations, silver clay creations, bridal jewelry and special orders.
“Our handmade pieces just keep getting better and better,” Martin said.
The handmade heirloom pieces are guaranteed for life.
Funds raised from jewelry sales help programs such as Compassionate Connections, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Child Abuse and Resource Education, Every Woman Matters, the
Mid-Nebraska Food Bank and the immunization program.“It’s important for us to constantly look at new funding avenues, because funding dries up,” Martin said. “We’re always having to think outside of the box — think of things that other people aren’t doing and be creative and flexible. Those funds need to be there for those programs.”
Beads in a Box is well-known among Community Action organizations across the country. The pair have sold their jewelry at booths at conferences for Head Start and other organizations in Omaha, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Chicago and other cities.
“We’re Kearney’s best kept secret,” Martin said.
The women expanded the business 1½ years ago and began purchasing pre-made wholesale jewelry and selling it under the name Something for Everyone.
They took the new line to the Community Action National Conference in Chicago last year to test its sales. Within 2½ days, $10,000 worth of jewelry had been sold.
Martin said their Something For Everyone line offers a lower-priced option for their customers.
“Beads in a Box heirloom pieces tend to be pricier, and we were worried about the downturn in the economy. We knew our regular customers would want to purchase something from us, but we were concerned about the economy,” Martin said.
Martin said the business doubled its sales in 2009 compared with 2008.
Prices of the Something for Everyone line range between $5 to $48, and prices of jewelry from the Beads in a Box line ranges from $20 to $300.
“Our main goal is to have something for everyone. Style, color, price range,” Martin said.
In August, Beads in a Box hired its first employee, Janice Cash. She works on the Web sites and completes other administrative tasks.
Because it doesn’t have a storefront, many customers make appointments to visit the bead room located at the Community Action office. Jewelry also is sold at Community Action and Grow Nebraska events, the Holiday Splendor Craft Show and the Signs of Spring Craft Show.
Jewelry can also be purchased at www.sfejewelry.com and www.beadsinabox.com.
e-mail to:
sara.giboney@kearneyhub.com
Find Beads in a Box jewelry at
- The Great Platte River Road Archway gift shop
- Holiday Inn gift shop in Kearney
- Les Cheveux Salon and Spa in Kearney
- Grow Nebraska Kearney and Grand Island stores
- My Fair Lady Fashions in Holdrege
- From Nebraska Gift Shop in Lincoln
- Sassy’s Consignment in Lincoln
- Minden Coffee House
- Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn near Minden
- Accents Etc. in McCook
- On the Go Hair and Tanning Salon in Ogallala
- C’Zars Salon and Spa in Hastings
