Interview with Karen Diepenbroek owner, and Lindsey Diepenbroek, manager
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: Our love for natural gemstones. Once we learned in the early 1990s that there were gemstone beads and they could be made into jewelry and used in other wonderful applications, we were sold. Karen started her own online jewelry store long before Etsy and Amazon. As a high school student at the time, Lindsey found herself digging through Karen’s jewelry-making stock, itching to do the same. After a few years, we had the idea to share our love for this craft and gemstones by opening a store.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: A business like this comes with a lot of technical questions and inquiries. We are always available to all of our customers with that help, whether it is for repair, design, terminology and application. Our store has a warm, welcoming and personal atmosphere. For a small business, we carry many items to assist in many craft projects, like beading jewelry, applique, mosaic and doll embellishments, fly tying, home decor and finished pieces. Not to mention we have a strong backbone in repair work. We also have very beneficial rewards program for our customers.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: Being surrounded by what we love. Meeting a variety of people who share the same interest or want to learn of them. Also, meeting others who have taught us a lot over the years as well. We are proud to be a successful small business for almost 15 years now. Not to mention it’s a strong mother-daughter duo.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Keeping up with the current trends and ideas and being ready to supply and teach our customers how to achieve their design concept. Also, keeping our prices competitive with online sales.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: We are a strong mother-daughter duo that has successfully made it through a major economic dip and we are still going strong. We believe in what is now considered old- fashioned sales — coming to a store where you can see, touch and feel and have face-to-face communication about what we are all about and what we can do to help you achieve your goal. Let It Bead is a friendly place with great music and an adorable small herd of pups. We may be small, but we’re mighty.
Profile
Business: Let It Bead
Address: 821 Englewood Parkway, Englewood
Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Founded: 2002
Contact: 303-788-1466,
Employees: 2
