Saturday, July 17, 2010

A Look Inside Red Panda

When Red Panda Beads started selling beads just over 3 years ago, it started out really small.  Over the months the business grew and after a year, we realized that we needed dedicated bead space.  LOL!  So after evaluating, we decided to convert our living room into my bead office.  We never really used our living room anyway, so it is a much better use of the space.  We began by clearing out the furniture and tearing up the carpet.  We installed hard wood floor (much harder task that we thought it would be).

Here is a shot of my office.  It is much deeper than it appears in this photo.


Once you step into my office, to the immediate right is a book case.



When not in use, looms are stored in the center section of the book case.....



Here is a view of my desk top ~ this is where I blog.....  And when answering emails, this is where I'm sitting....



To the right of the desk is the L shaped measuring/packing station.  This quality desk was made in Canada.....



In the center of my office is a work table.  This is a good set up to photograph all the Red Panda Beads products.....



The table is also handy for bead projects....




Here is one of the Bead Smith Bead Mat Trays, these things are great.... I don't know how I ever survived without these......

To the left of my computer desk is a cork board with handy info.  Above that is a photo of my great, great, grandfather.



Here's a close up view of the measuring scale set up.....



All the various baggies are pre-labeled and waiting to be filled with carefully measured beads......



We also purchased specialty bead cabinets from Canada.  They work great to store all the Red Panda bead inventory.


Two of my son's prints decorate one wall....


And a treasured oil painting that has been in the family for decades is on the other wall....


And of course the photo that inspired Red Panda Beads.....

One pressing business concern persisted for months.....


When the office was new, Chewie was investigating everything and my husband put in him in the chair for fun - now he thinks the chair is his!

But I'm happy to report he has finally adjusted to life in his bed.....


He sleeps at the foot of the book case.

I hope you have enjoyed this peek into the world of Red Panda.  Now when you order beads, you'll know where the cabinets came from that store the beads, the scale that was used to measure the beads and the computer that was used to print the mailing label!



Happy Beading!

Betsy

5 comments:

  1. I enjoyed the pictures of your business office and packaging area! So organised!

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  2. Its all got to go somewhere! LOL
    This was wonderful to read and puts a nice personal touch to our favorite bead store :-)
    Thanks for sharing your home with us. LOL

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  3. Your office and work space is enviable! It is nice to see that you have taken a small space and made it functional for both creating and selling. Those cabinets seem to make it all work! Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Wow - that certainly is impressive for a not very big space. Now, if you could only help all of us who buy your beads figure out our own storage problems:-)

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  5. I love your facebook - they say "like" but I really think it's too cool for just "like" - I am confined in the area we live for my "creative space" as a jewelry artist as well as a multi-media artist - you have inspired me to look at space differently - not what it is, but what it could be... thanks for the inspirtation! NHJulsJewels

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