PotomacBeads — Local services in Hagerstown

PotomacBeads is an amazing brand/online store. I have never been in a store, but I don't think they have brick and mortar stores anymore. I purchase everything form them online and make excessive use of their (over 1, 000+) tutorials =).

About tutorials: I just started bead weaving (followed by other jewelry-making like stringing and wire work) a year ago. I learned everything I needed to get to an intermediate level (quickly!) from PotomacBeads YouTube channel and website tutorials. Since then I have branched out quite a bit and can assess their content and delivery method with more experience.

Pros (tutorials): clear and short assume beginner knowledge so you can get started if you are new or practice fundamentals if you are seasoned creative use of non-traditional beads appealing aesthetic, they have great designers have extensive knowledge that comes through in their videos

Cons (tutorials): older tutorials don't have great camera work, often going out of frame but greatly improved in newer videos because they use a lot of different types of beads run the videos, you won't always have the items they use on hand

About the store: My favorite part of the store are their own brand of crystals. Especially since Swarovski stopped distributing to individual designers, PotomacBeads high-quality own-branded options are wonderful. They also have an extensive selection of unique Czech and ParPuca beads that really elevate designs.

Pros: efficient processing and quick shipping- they are the only store I purchase form online that consistently ship within 48 hours, usually within 24 hours Beautiful quality crystals at a great price. As the Preciosa company works to corner the market that Swarovski left wide open, their prices continue to increase. PB crystals often surpass their quality in my humble opinion and stay reasonably priced introduced their own brand of craftwire recently that I have really enjoyed using

Cons: things are often...

Potomac Beads has been my main online bead shop for over 3 years and that’s because of the quality merchandise they offer. I used to be an avid quilter and while I was using YouTube as my educational site, one day a video popped up with Allie from Potomac Beads demonstrating how to bead. I thought this would be a perfect hobby that was portable and small enough to do while traveling. Allie made beading very simple, and I was so impressed with all the products and patterns that Potomac Beads had to offer. I started my first year with the Basic Bead Box subscription and learned so much along with building my stash of jewelry-making supplies. After that first year, I had enough confidence to start picking my own supplies to create my very own beading designs. My love for beading has expanded to various styles and techniques, but I still use the YouTube videos that Allie puts out on a weekly basis. Potomac Beads is also one of my favorite gifts at Christmas time, as my loving husband regularly provides me with gift certificates. The customer service and products are top-notch, and I will always go to Potomac Beads for my jewelry supply needs. Thank you for your company and most of all the many endless videos that Allie and your team members put up on...

I have heard such great things about this store as an artist and designer who experiments with jewelry making. I am planning to make some personalized jewelry for my son for christmas and rather than buy stones to make my own beads or buy bulk beads online, I wanted to hand select each bead. This store is less than a block away from my job, and I often see people entering on my way to work. I callled to inquire about hours of operation and was told that they are not open at all to the public except for online sales. I am extremely disappointed and will more than likely not buy from their company at all due to the attitude of the employee I spoke with when I called. I know that this store was open to the public, and know many people who shopped there for the sole reason of being to hand select items for projects they were working on. It has a reputation of being pricey, but the high quality and selection make it well worth the trip. There are many bead outlets on ebay that sell genuine high quality products in bulk for outrageously low prices. I am sorry to hear that this formerly great place has switched to online only sales rather than building great personal relationships with would be high spending...