Hicksville resident Cathy Dempsey has been a beader for years. She’s taught classes, formed groups and met friends for life through the hobby. However, when Dempsey and the group were suddenly left without a place to gather, she and friend Helena Marksohn—who she met through beading—took matters into their own hands.
“I always dreamed about doing something with beading after I retired,” said Dempsey. “I was thinking about a bead-mobile where I could park in different places and give lessons, but I didn’t really think I could.” However, when a great space came up in Hicksville earlier in the year, Dempsey and Marksohn jumped at the chance to make it their new beading headquarters. And thus, BEad Happy was born.
“People really needed a place to come and bead and we really wanted to make a home for a community of beaders,” she said, explaining that beading in a group is almost essential to the hobby. “You get to see what other people are doing and they may see things a bit differently than you do. We really fuel each others’ inspiration.”
“We wanted a place where beaders as passionate as we were could come, bead with other beaders and share ideas and inspire each other,” added Marksohn.
In fact, her fellow beaders were so excited that she and Marksohn decided to open a place that they pushed them to open early so they would be able to come and bead.
“It just snowballed and we ended up opening it really fast. We didn’t even have things on the walls, we barely had any product and they would come and sit and bead,” said Dempsey, noting that the store soft-opened in August to accommodate the group.
Just off of celebrating its Grand Opening on Nov. 22, BEad Happy has really become a community center for those immersed in beading—and those who are looking to pick up something new. Besides an array of product, there is a place for groups to meet and on Wednesdays beginners can come in for a lesson. Additionally, beaders can bring their own beads and come just for the relaxation and to be part of the group.
“I don’t really mind if they bring their own things because those things will run out and when they are done, hopefully we will become their new supplier,” said Dempsey.
Another positive for the duo—the response from the community has been outstanding.
“Although we did have a small following already, we didn’t even have to advertise,” said Dempsey. “We have only been open, really, about three months and we already have 450 people on our e-mail list. It has really been great. It’s just, like, everyone seems to know another beader.”
Still fine-tuning inventory and coming up with new ideas for fun beading events, Dempsey said that leaving retirement was worth it and she is so glad that she took the chance on the new business.
“You really do learn from other people,” said Dempsey. “It’s great therapy and we are so excited that we could create a wonderful place for people. They get out of the house and they are here all the time. The store is very welcoming and we just did this for the love of beading.”
BEad Happy is located at 988 S. Broadway in Hicksville. To find out more, call 516-938-2323 or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BEadHAPPYLLC.
