I decided to check this place out as I had a groupon for some beads (I wanted to incorporate beads in some stuff that I do and that seemed to be the kick in the pants to do so) but I am kind of shocked at the prices. I do some silver work and while I know everything is cheaper online, some of their stock was over 4 times what it costs elsewhere - I understand the need for margin, as you need that to keep the lights on. but that seems a bit excessive. I did pick up some nice agate and garnet seed beads as well as some czech glass beads - but I wish they had more of a selection on both stone and czech glass beads (for example, different sizes of seed beads, different shapes of czech glass, etc) read more

I love their inline offerings. Also, the service is un-paralleled.

I pick up 2-3 skills for the first 30 min. The instruction is really slow, approximately an hour total. Rest of the time (3 hrs), you need to buy their beads or bring your own to design your own necklace. If you buy their 45 dollars class deal, you will have 9 dollars to spend on beads, which it is enough to buy 2-3 big design beads, and then you need to spend 10-20 dollars for small solid beads (solid color) and more on a clamp etc. It is pricey. If you like to find sit down and play with beads for 4 hours, then try out this class. I strongly suggest you get it through Groupon.com instead of paying full price. read more

Vicki and all of her staff are very pleasant there. I created my wife a necklace to match a nice spring dress she had a few years back. Vicki took the time to teach me certain things and gave me pointers on impressing the Mrs. I recently went in and noticed that she has added on more employees and is doing way more bead classes. With all this they still keep their pleasant attitude and great customer service. This place is a must if you like to be creative and like to be treated right. read more

So glad to go in and get some supplies for projects I hope to complete. They limit the amount of people inside which is great. They are always so friendly and helpful. I look forward to taking classes on line. Please continue to support this local bead store. read more

I took one beginning class and it was fun! I learned more on the basics so I get the gist of how to make jewelry. The beads are also cute and there's always a different theme everytime I visit. read more

Too expensive, ut they were nice enough to fix a necklace of mine for free (it was an easy fix--literally took the lady 10 seconds).

Very Convenient off of Park Street. Moderate prices. Average selection. Helpful staff. My husband and I spent a long time in this store trying to make a necklace for Hazel. Which turned out quite expensive. However, the staff was very nice and helpful. As an avid beader I don't require that much help so the staff left us alone once they knew I knew what I was doing. I just need time to browse the selection. The store is very small so the selection is limited. But, for me I was able to find some good gemstones on sale. That is the thrill of beading, finding the good stones on sale. I wouldn't buy my findings here they are a little pricey. Chains were on the higher end too. At the time we were there they were having a trunk sale on beads in the back. They were about $20 per strand! - WOW. If you shopped here, beading can get quite expensive. But as visitors to Alameda and lovers of Park Street, we will stop in here to see if we can find any gemstones on sale. read more

I've always had a great experiences at this store. The owner, Vicki, is always helpful and pleasant to work with and makes sure any customer who asks for help receives assistance. There are times when it is very busy, so you have to be patient. Every time I visit I'm always asked if I need assistance and if I say no I'm left alone. But if I need help, they are always happy to help. I love the selection of beads - so much to choose from. I've taken a class and was very happy with the instruction and help given throughout the class. I love this shop, it's a place to dream and make dreams come true! read more

Terrific little bead shop in Alameda. Well stocked/organized with a variety of beads. Staff get an A+ for helpful attentiveness. Looking forward to trying some classes. read more

Came today during the Park Street Wine & Art Fair. Stopped in to get a choker adjusted. Jesse was simply amazing and customer focused. Mary jumps out from the back room and interjects. This is when things go very wrong. Mary is rude, condescending and completely removed from customer service. Jesse totally rocks!!! Mary needs a new job. read more

Very cute bead store with a decent amount of inventory for sale. I was happy with the customer service - attentive, but not pushy. Prices are a little high, but not too bad. I was very impressed with their inventory of items to begin your own soldering station. A 3 piece torch for only $75! I look forward to checking out some of their classes. read more

What a great place to seek out great beads and other finds to create jewerly with. You can also take jewelry making classes and buy jewelry made my local artists. Neat place, reminds me of the awesome bead stores in Berkeley but with more substance. I need to bring my sister here, she makes beautiful jewelry. The thing that really makes this place work...is that even if you are not a big bead fan you will love it. Check it out and buy your beads here! The service is first rate! Want to find something different this holiday season? Check this store out! read more

I've shopped at a few bay area stores. This is by far my favorite. I'm a huge fan of Vintaj and they carry the largest selection I've seen anywhere. After having visited my first time, the clerk recognized me at the BABE in Oakland some time later. They don't have a huge selection of findings outside of Vintaj, but I found a nice selection o semi-precious beads, crystals, various glass beads and tools. Don't miss this shop. read more

Very informative and friendly staff. Classes are fun and the small class size provide for great learning experience. The store has a great selection of beads and findings. I will continue to use this bead shop as my primary source especially the trunk sales they have every so often. They have a nice website with an online store and class calendar, check it out! Thanks Bead Inspirations! Erin T. read more

Bead Inspirations offers some of the best customer service I've ever encountered. I placed an online order, purchasing a number of items. Without realizing it, I placed two items in my shopping cart that were the same. Later that night I got an email from the assistant manager -- she was double checking that I meant to order two. I didn't mean to, so I very much appreciated the email. It's refreshing to know that they proactively check and process each order, rather than use some automated/electronic service. I wish I lived nearby so I could actually visit the store. I will definitely shop here (online) in the future. read more

You know, I feel a bit bad giving a bad review to this shop. The folks mean well. The website makes the place look huge and well stocked and the good reviews made me think I could find some good beads at good prices here. not the case. If you are rolling in cash and like to pay 10 to 50 times the worth of beads and beading supplies, go for it. Shocking, really. I'll stick to my fave, general bead. read more

Loved the basic stringing class with Donna - she is an excellent instructor. It's great that you can bring you own beads, if you want, or just shop at the adjacent shop (or both). It was great to be able to wander back and forth while designing my necklace so that as my design ideas evolved, I could find the supplies I needed or return those which were no longer needed. The store even offered a discount on any supply purchases. I will definitely return for a future class. read more

I'm not a pro-beader by any means; just stopped by the store looking for a few pieces and advice on how to make a necklace I had in mind. I found all the parts I was looking for. The associates were helpful, patient and friendly. They took the time to help me brainstorm with different pieces/styles and clearly explained how to use the parts I'd bought. Will be back! read more

I was looking for a particular jewelry part that was not available at big craft store. The store clark was very helpful on the phone and told me they have a couple of differend colors for the part. When I arrived the shop next day, she remembered our phone conversation and helped me right away. Did not have time to browse the store as much, but the place looked very organized and carrying various products. read more

I've ordered beads and stones online from Bead Inspirations and was able to visit this store once while visiting in the Bay Area - I love their selection of semiprecious stones suitable for designing cabochons! Fabulous list of classes - I wish I was local so I could take them! read more

Nice selection of beads wires and components. Lots of great inspirational pieces as examples. Even better are the classes available! I've watched tons of youtube and am self-taught for a lot of jewelry making but just ONE class (wire bezel/wrapping) and I picked up 3 pearls, gained insight in how another artist thinks about a project and the energy from the group has pushed me into a whole new crafting frenzy. I'm so glad I took a class!! read more

I love this place and wish I didn't live so far away. Classes are really fun. Vicki's great. Go there NOW.

First of all, I have not submitted a Yelp review in the past. I did look over the reviews and because there was a mixed response, I went for the wire wrap class on Dec. 8th anyway. I had seen the review from 10/5/2008 and I actually thought that was extreme and that Bead Inspirations would have taken any reviews seriously to listen to their attending students with any instructor they have and make changes where needed. My experience was so similar to Joanne I. What I found is that not much had changed from that review to my actual experience. 30 minutes of instruction, go out to spend at a the pricey bead store and then return to receive no additional instruction unless you ask. The instructor made it clear that she would be working on her projects for a Christmas selling/show the next day-so she was taking care of her own personal business the rest of the 3 hours-instruction. You had to ask for help and interrupt her personal time--which was uncomfortable for me. She actually said to the lady next to me to follow the instructions on the one page hand out when she asked for instructional help-which was also my same question (unbelievable and uninviting to ask any additional questions). My nature was to not want to bother her. Also, the 7 chairs of the 8 were taken and there was no room to move in the very small classroom. T I N Y. I will say the staff is friendly and the products they have are easy to find. I do view the classes as a vehicle to increase revenue for the store. I spent an extra $45.00 on my project and the lady next to me spent $100.00 extra above the cost of the class, so be prepared. I would have liked it when I booked over the phone if they had highlighted what I could bring with me should I have bead making supplies. The other classes I have taken elsewhere included bead making supplies and focused on much more instructional time. I could have asked, yet I did not. My project was not finished when I left. The instructor took no interest in what I worked on as she was busy on her own "stuff". She was pleasant yet perhaps I was still waiting for her inner teacher to show up and present herself. read more

Bead Inspirations is AWESOME! They are patient and very helpful. I saw them at the bead show in Concord today, they have so many Vintaj pieces that I went crazy. Hands down the best selection of Vintaj I have seen. I have only been to their store once, but they had a lot of beautiful beads in that little shop. They also have great inspirational ideas on their website, I check it out when I need creative help. read more

I love Bead Inspirations! I am a regular attendee of the Open Beading Studio but they also have a bunch of really cool classes. Vicki is extremely patient and nice when helping customers, and she has a true talent for making jewelry, so I highly recommend checking the place out. read more

I stopped by to check into materials for making earrings for the first time. I was larval. Jesse was very helpful in talking me through the different type of thing-um-a-bosthat pierced hanging earrings are assembled on; Winnie was helpful too. Lovely collection of beads to choose from. read more

Mary, a wonderful and very knowledgeable lady, was able help me when I was in a pretty urgent situation. My daughter is getting married in 3 days and I wanted to wear a necklace that had broken many years ago. I was feeling desperate. She told me that i could string it myself and bring it back in and she would put on the end pieces and complete it for me in just a few minutes. She made it so easy and just like that, took all the stress away. What a great experience. Thanks Mary! read more

Bead inspirations started spamming nextdoor despite the clear guidelines discouraging such commercial posting. If every Alameda business took bead inspirations approach nextdoor would be wall to wall ads. Nextdoor has sponsored posts for those businesses looking to advertise, which are thankfully limited. Something to consider. read more

I took a wrap bracelet class and the instructor was awesome. She was very generous with sharing her materials and gave helpful tips on how to streamline the process. The bracelet turned out beautiful. read more

I love taking classes at this shop! I took the Wire Bezel Cabochon class last week -- the instructor was great, the store had a huge selection of materials to choose from, and I left with 2 beautiful pendants I am really happy with!! This was a great way to spend a rainy Saturday. read more

A great source for classes and jewelry supplies. Easy to get to and reasonably priced. Thank you Vicki and your staff for personal attention when I need it!! Love the jewelry I've made and so does my family and friends who are recipients. Alma read more

i went in again recently and felt that they definitely deserve the full 5 stars for sure. yes, they are small but they are one of the cleanest, cutest, and nicest bead stores this side of the bay. sorry bead inspirations for not giving the credit you deserved the first time i wrote a review. this store has become my favorite bead shop to date. :) read more

Whenever someone can't find what they're looking for at Beverly's, I almost always send them here. They have a great (and very organized!) assortment of beads and findings. Also you buy only what you need--no need to get a pack of something when you only need one. Most (if not all, except for the bead strands) are sold by piece. read more

Yesterday I took a wire wrapping class at Bean Inspirations. The instructors spent 30 minutes teaching us one technique - how to make a wire loop that was wrapped with wire at the bottom. We were then told that we could go into the store and purchase materials to making earrings using this new technique. I spoke up and said that I had expected to learn more than one technique in the class. I was told that if I wanted to learn more, I would have to take another class. This class was supposed to last 3 hours - it actually lasted 30 minutes. I learned one technique. I have taken classes at both Baubles and Beads, and at BABE. I learned many techniques and paid about the same fee. This class was a rip off. I will never take another class at Bead Inspirations again. read more

This is a very nice store. There is a lot of stuff packed in to a relatively small space. I have been going here for a long time and have always found the staff to be very down-to-earth, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Some really great classes are offered. There's always something new to keep things interesting. Parking is not easy unless you go exploring on side streets (no parking meters!) , and it is always a pleasant walk to the shop. I am pleased to support this independent business. They are doing a great job. read more

Bead Inspirations is a great store. They have a very good selection of beads and findings. The staff is friendly and helpful. I have received alot of advice in fixing broken pieces of jewelry.Friday's they have a free night to work on projects there. That has been fun and made projects easy. read more

I have taken two classes at Bead Inspirations and really liked both of them. The instructor is great and the class was informative and fun. My only negative thought is that they seem to push products there. Even if you bring your own materials, there is a somewhat subtle push to have you buy stuff from the store. Otherwise, I really like the store and classes. read more

Great little shop with helpful staff and lots of inspiring designs. Check out their back room & trunk shows.

Took the class after driving by this store for years. I gained a deeper appreciation for the work of creating jewelry. I will try another class and see how much dexterity my fingers have to manage the tools and supplies, which was an eye opener for me - a bit tricky for this novice. Shop is small, chock full of a great variety of beads, jewelry kits, supplies, books. The owner, Vicki, is engaging, friendly, enthusiastic (as in has found her bliss!!), and very knowledgeable. read more