There’s a scene in one of my favorite movies, Casablanca, where, Ilse Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman, is in the marketplace. The vendors have their goods displayed on tables under wide tents, flapping in the gentle breeze. Ilse is absentmindedly looking at a lace tablecloth. The merchant picks up the lace tablecloth along with a price card, and announces a price. Rick, (Humphrey Bogart) approaches and begins a conversation with Ilse. The merchant announces a “Special Price for friends of Rick,” which is significantly lower than the original price. Ilse and Rick discuss her visit to Rick’s apartment the previous evening. Hearing this, the merchant announces a further price discount for “Special Friends of Rick’s.”

I was reminded of this scene when I visited a large local craft store recently. Naturally, I was drawn to the ‘bead’ section. There I found some of the very items that we carry in our store. The big difference was the posted price for these items. The regular prices shown were significantly higher than the everyday prices at our store. But, not to worry, large signs proclaimed 20 to 40% discounts on these items. The only problem was that the “discounted” prices at the large craft store were still higher than the everyday prices in our shop.

It is an old technique in retailing to mark a price up, before marking it down. Psychologically, the buyer believes they have scored a bargain. The business sells a product at the price they need to continue in business. Something similar operates when you feel good about buying gas at $3.99 .9, rather than $4 a gallon.

At BDC, we try to price our items as fairly as we can to cover our costs, pay our employees, and generate a small profit. We don’t always have the lowest price on every item. But then, every shop in the bead business may price things differently because they face different costs for their overhead, volume discounts, etc. Our goal is to provide you with the best possible beading products and components, at the fairest, most consistent price. We believe that is the best way to earn your trust, and your business, long term.

In the movie, Ilse does not end up buying the tablecloth, even at the deeply discounted price she was offered, because price was not what was on her mind.

The lesson, then, is that ultimately price is not always the determining factor in a customer’s buying decision. There are many other considerations when making a purchasing decision.

Most importantly, the customer always makes the final decision about whether or not the price and the product are an appropriate fit to their individual needs.

Meeting both of these needs is our business.

Is Beading an Art ?

 Being so close to so many neat beads, in a wild variety of colors makes me look at the world differently than I did in the past.  The ‘picture’ on the left of our home page and under the photo of the shop, is a real photo, taken by yours truly.  It stimulated a question in my mind about whether beading is an art, or is it something else, like a fun hobby.

The image is composed of seemingly random colors, which is what caught my eye, and made me grab my camera.

But is it ‘art’ ?  I don’t know. 

This could start a debate that could go on forever. 

You say ‘tomato’; I say ‘red fruit’. 

Anyway, the point is that I found it unusual and interesting.

As a method of stimulating the conversation, however, I’m putting up a $25 Gift Certificate to BDC, for the first person who correctly identifies what the source of the image.  (Based on the time-stamp of the email.)

Send your thoughts to, headpin@beadsatdusticreek.com

The winner will be announced on Saturday, June 8^th.  And you need not be present to win.

The judge’s decision will be final.

Good Luck.

“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.”

Mark Twain

 “Weather forecast for tonight: Dark.”

George Carlin

 Well, the sunshine in the middle of May teased us for a week or two with the false promise that summer was just around the corner.  Then we promptly fell back into the rainy season.  This is what you have to expect if your mantra is “Change.” 

We know that not all change is good, or even comfortable.  Intuitively we recognize that things work best when there is a dependable consistency and stability in our lives.  I want the lights to go on every time I flip the switch.  I want the refrigerator to keep my milk from going sour.  I expect the brakes on my car to stop us every time.  I expect the wrinkles to fall out of my permanent press tops and pants.  I want my toast golden brown, every time.  You get the idea.

At BDC, we strive to provide a consistent, positive, welcoming, and supportive experience for you, our customers.  Yes, new products arrive, and we occasionally have to say goodbye to some old standbys.  But over these last almost eight years you’ve come to expect an honest, straight forward approach to business from us, just as we look for those same qualities in the companies that we deal with. So, some things just shouldn’t change, and we won’t change them.

Yes, Ralph Waldo Emerson said,

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”

However, Ralph did not rule out a deliberate and thoughtful consistency.  All of which is to say, we’re not Luddites.  But then, you already knew that.  So you know that you can always come to get your color fix from BDC.

Or, well, maybe you do agree with Oscar Wilde,

“Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”

Personally, I reject the “unimaginative” label.  But frankly, I don’t worry too much what the weather is doing in the spring.  I’m not a weather-guesser, and I don’t play one on TV.  But like that other forecaster, Bob Dylan, once said, “You don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind blows.”  What I do know is that it’s the Sunshine wakes up our wonderful Northwest plants, and the Rain gives them the drink they need.  Result?  The flowers that are the inspiration for the colors in our beads. 

What could be better than that?  It’s all good.

Happy Beading,

Dusti