I've been to several bead stores in the Toronto area and elsewhere, so I wanted to check out this store while I happened to be in Barrie for the weekend. Great place with the best classroom I've seen in any bead store! The selection was excellent and extensive, carrying beads I haven't found elsewhere; the premises were bright and airy; prices were very reasonable; and the staff was welcoming, friendly, and helpful. I only regret I didn't have more time to spend in the store. If it were closer to where I live, guaranteed I would be a regular visitor.
thanks Ellen for the lovely review. We appreciate it- and hope to see you in store again should you be in the area! We do have our on-line shopping site as well (although only a smidge of what we have in store is on line... but continuing to add to it daily!). Thanks again!
Thanks for your review- albeit negative- it is appreciated. Children don't always take direction- and we need to be more sensitve to those who stand out in their actions. We regret having to ask your child to re-direct a third time- As you were there to witness her behaviour the right thing to do should have been for our staff to ask you to step in; rather than for us to repeatedly ask the child directly to behave accordingly. A learning we will move forward with. Thank you very much for the feedback- as we have learned with it. We wish you only good experiences and positive moments going forward. Please understand that we are truly sorry that your daughter did not walk away with the positive experience at the party that her friends left with, and again thank you for the learning. I appreciate that you no longer wish to visit the store- but my understanding is that your daughter quite enjoyed the crafts- so if you as a parent feel she would benefit from a treat following this experience- please contact us and we can mail a complementary "Bead Bag" (which includes beads and tools for all the crafts done at the birthday parties; bookmark, bracelet, necklace and earrings) to her - so she can continue pursuing her creative endeavors. Again, we are sincerly sorry that you were not pleased with our staff - and we will strive to learn from this experience.
Please explain to me how touching beads in a bead store is inappropriate behaviour for a child? Did the children break anything? Did they run around? Did they use bad language? Did they fight or cause damage? I think the answer you'll find is NO! Were little girls drawn to shiny beads and think they are beautiful, well I guess they're guilty as charged there - geez, what horrible little creatures! What a pathetic response and a poorly run business. This by the way is coming from someone who witnessed a child being treated very poorly for no valid reason whatsoever - I hope that Lisa feels very proud of herself that she can bully a small child. What goes around, comes around. Congratulations.
Again, I thank you for the time you are taking to adress this situation. It is a reflection of the strength of character you possess that you took the time to reflect on your intial post- delete and re-write it. I took pause as to whether I should "hide" the initial comments (as I can do that) or publish them for all to read. I embrace the feedback both negative and positive but with our shop being a family shop and children potentially reading the reviews I took pause. With strengh of character and anti-bullying in the forefront of issues with children- I applaud you for deleting the derogatory words and personal attacks on our staffs physical self in your comment stream. It is strength of character to re-visit actions and behaviors and improve on them. Kudos to you and I admire that. Not that it was in doubt- but this exemplifies that you are a good example for your child to live by. Strength of character. Well done. You ask about the touching of beads- and I am appreciative that you have touched on this subject., as this is something we are very proud of in store. We have several autistic children who come into the shop with their parents to do just that- touch the beads. With proper supervision by their parents the children can move freely about the store touching and feeling the beads. It is a very calming sensory activity to them and we embrace it. A wonderful thing that came from opening the store is to see how the beads and such can raise the spirits of so many. We had not that long ago one of our customers going through a very difficult illness- her best friend passing and she battling cancer. She would come in to the shop- not to shop- but to just walk about and feel the beads and put herself into a "beter place". To share these events cannot be described in words. I can go on and on- but truly want to thank you for your strength of character - appreciate that you are a great example to your child on self reflection and moving forward in a positive manner. We take away a great learning in that we will direct behaviour modification (within reason of course) to the parents. Our staff will be much better versed going forward on asking parents to take control of situations as you know your child better than anyone else can and are no doubt directing them in the best way you know how. We have also learned that we must make it clearer to the children in the party room that although they can use all the beads in the room- they cannot take home beads following the party. It is difficult for some children to understand as they are allowed "free reign" in the party room- using as much as they like. We have had on several occasions parents calling us and on one occasion coming back in as their childs bag was filled with loose beads which led to pause for the parent as to why they would have extra beads on their person without having purchased any. If we gave away all the product after the party as well- I'm sure you would appreciate that we would not be able to provide the parties any longer! Again, as my understanding that your daughter enjoyed the crafts- please do not hesitate to send us your mailing adress and we can mail off a "bead bag" to her. And Thank You so much for the dialogue.
You are assuming that this childs intent was to STEAL beads???? Is that what you were told??? How ridiculous!! Please don't patronize me with all this "kudos to you" crap - I'm an excellent mother, one who has NEVER been treated this was EVER.... This child was drawn to the pearls because she has some of her own and wanted to show her cousin. You have a problem with your staff, one who very loudly expressed that she was glad she was NOT the owner of this store. This staff member is obviously fabricating the truth, perhaps to save her job (or integrity), but she is a horrible person. Anyone who treats people in that manner will eventualy get what they deserve. That is why I re-wrote the post - why bring myself down to her level? I'm so much better than that! And btw, I'm not interested in your "bead bag", I can afford to purchase good quality product for my children. I think all the children at that party deserve a FORMAL apology from Lisa, as she was rude to the entire group, not just this one over the top incident.
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I've been to several bead stores in the Toronto area and elsewhere, so I wanted to check out this store while I happened to be in Barrie for the weekend. Great place with the best classroom I've seen in any bead store! The selection was excellent and extensive, carrying beads I haven't found elsewhere; the premises were bright and airy; prices were very reasonable; and the staff was welcoming, friendly, and helpful. I only regret I didn't have more time to spend in the store. If it were closer to where I live, guaranteed I would be a regular visitor. 
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