Summerland business owner Karen Griggs has launched a unique business that has attracted attention from people across the Okanagan.
Keith Lacey photo
Karen Griggs has turned her love of art, jewelry and people into a unique small business that is attracting a lot of attention and support from people and businesses across the South Okanagan.
Griggs’ innovative marketing business is called Bead Trails and the concept is to encourage participants to collect distinctive bead charms that are being displayed and sold at various businesses and organizations across the region.
Griggs’ business also provides a brochure containing six maps for enthusiastic bead collectors to follow. Participating businesses can be identified by the Bead Trails quail displayed in the window.
“I came up with the idea one day just sitting alone and wondering how I could turn my love of art and jewelry into something that would be appealing to other people,” said Griggs, who lived most of her life in England, but emigrated to Canada and the South Okanagan back in 2006.
“The whole idea is to encourage people to visit various businesses and locations across one of the most beautiful parts of this country and pick up a little memento to remind them of their trip.
“The idea has just taken off and now we have more than 100 businesses on board who are displaying and selling the beads. It has just taken off … to the point where I really can’t believe how successful this has become in such a short period of time.” The beads sell for less than $5 apiece.
Griggs, 49, has been an artist and jewelry maker for many years, dating back to growing up in England.
She became involved in the artistic community in Summerland when she moved there back in 2006 and acted as the artist-in-residence at the Summerland Art Gallery for a couple of years before launching this business.
Bead Trails was launched in Summerland in the spring of 2010 with a handful of businesses jumping on board to display and sell beads, said Griggs.
“At first I was concentrating on the wineries because I got some work being commissioned to design jewelry for local wineries,” she said. “I came up with the idea of making distinctive beads that would help promote their business,” she said. “Wineries are still my biggest customers, but we’ve expanded into all kinds of businesses, including tourist centres, art galleries, souvenir shops and retail outlets.”
After starting out in Summerland, her business expanded into Penticton, Naramata and Okanagan Falls in 2011.
Osoyoos and Oliver were added this year.
“Visitors to the area buy a bracelet and follow one or more of the maps to purchase modestly priced signature beads from the participating bead stations,” said Griggs. “The Osoyoos trail includes the Osoyoos Visitor Centre, the Desert Centre, Osoyoos Model Railroad, Osoyoos Art Gallery, one local restaurant, four retail stores, three wineries, two resorts and an artist’s studio.
“Participants take great care in choosing the bead to best represent their business or organization. As an example, Adega on 45th winery has an arched cellar door charm to represent their business.” Bead Trails regularly features each bead station on its Facebook page and will soon be launching a website, said Griggs.
“I knew that I had hit on an idea that would be a win-win situation for everyone involved, but it’s all going better than I could ever have hoped for,” she said. “We have people who have collected beads from dozens of the businesses that are involved.
“It’s a great way to see businesses and locations across the South Okanagan and have a little fun in the process. We’re getting calls from business owners virtually every day that want to join and take part in this. It’s been very exciting.”
Griggs’ business venture was recognized when she received the Tourism and Hospitality Excellence Award at the 2010 Summerland Business and Community Awards.
Maps and bracelets are now available at more than 100 bead stations between Summerland and Osoyoos, including every visitor information centre in the South Okanagan.
Ulla Pedersen, co-owner of the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad, said “bead trailers” from near and far have visited and all of them are enthusiastic about Griggs’ business.
“One mother and daughter team bought bracelets from us and one of them lived in Mexico,” she said. “They would not wait to follow the Bead Trail here in Osoyoos and have fun collecting the beads so the mother could have lasting wonderful memories of her holiday spent with her daughter here in town. They thought the concept was just so unique.”
Griggs said she could never have imagined this business being so successful and popular in less than three years.
“We are not just selling beads, but we are providing a fun way for residents and visitors to explore the area and discover the great artists, businesses and organizations that exist here in the South Okanagan,” she said.
Griggs and her two full-time employees create the beads at her studio that is located in the Summerland Visitor Information Centre, where bead trailers can choose from a wide variety of charms. Signature beads can only be purchased at the participating stations.
Keith Lacey
Special to the Chronicle
