Folks occasionally ask if we are ever going to expand the bead portion of Ephemerala. As it stands, we have a rather small selection of beads in various stones, shapes, and sizes, but it's really a hodgepodge. I sometimes think of expanding the bead line to compete with other online bead stores out there, but ultimately it seems to be a losing battle even before it starts. There are plenty of comprehensive beads stores to be found online. Stores that methodically provide each size, shape, and stone you might need. Rather than the Ephemerala standard of "If I happen to find it cheap, we'll carry it," these stores make sure that you find exactly what you are looking for.

Ephemerala is about chip beads, yes. We provide chips in stones that most folks haven't even heard of. We are definitely your one stop chip company. In this one regard, we out-class every bead store out there. NOBODY has the chip variety that we do. But the rest of Ephemerala is about gemmy stuff (and even some non-gemmy stuff). I love finding new mineral items to offer, as well as world art, incense, educational toys, and many other interesting items. To devote web space (and dungeon space) to a larger variety of beads would give us less opportunity to focus on the non-bead items, while still failing to compete with the bigger bead stores.

So when we are asked if we plan to get a better variety of beads, I have to say no. And since beads are such a slow seller for us, when we sell out of any one type, we generally do not replace it. "Ephemerala" means "changing things," so we sell what beads we have on hand, but have no plans to make this particular aspect of the business a large priority.