Why we do what we do

Thanks for taking the time to visit!Here is our philosophical views on burning topics such asWhy beaded lanyards? Our Beads, Third World Opportunitiesand Security & Safety ID issues today. Why Beaded Lanyards? We strongly believe that professionals who need to wear their ID at work can do so with a well-made, stylish id badge holder. Companies use many different ways for employees to wear ID badges, but rarely can individuals wear something they like or have a choice in wearing. Lanyards are typically a sort of ID necklace made of ball chain, cord, fabric or a shoelace type material. We have decided that a beaded lanyard can be a fashion accessory, and that our best way to provide the greatest range of products is through beaded lanyards. Some need to wear their ID badges on retractable badge reels so that they can easily “swipe” them at security checkpoints. For this we have come up with retractable badge reels so that style is not sacrificed for functionality. So whether you are shopping for beaded lanyards, id badge holders or fashion forward retractable badge reels, we might be the place for you. Please check out the rest of our site here at beadedlanyards.com to learn more about how we make our'>http://www.boojeebeads.com/">our style="font-family:Verdana;"> and where you can find them.Our BeadsThe beads that we use for our badge holders come from all over the world. We shop at bead shows all over the world in places like Asia, Africa and South America. Here is one of our exciting stories on how we discovered beads that are in our amazing collection of beaded lanyards.

• While shopping at the NYC bead show we stumbled upon an amazing gentleman from Peru. Actually, we were lured there by a small quartet of musicians from his country who were playing a beautiful haunting song right across the aisle! This gentleman had a fantastic array of beads that we thought were perfect for our beaded badge holders and retractable badge reels. Especially attractive were small handmade ribbons we use for our breast cancer awareness lanyards, in the perfect colors to honor the fight against various forms of this disease.

We did run into a problem though as language barriers prevented us from being able to communicate easily with this gentleman and our needs when making our badge holders. One of our quick thinking associates called our home office, where one of our staff has a husband from Columbia who speaks fluent Spanish. A conference call began, multi lingual conversations began, and the rest is well…history. Through kindness, quick thinking and a willingness to stretch ourselves a little bit, we are able to provide you with terrific cancer awareness beaded lanyards that are unique in every way. Click'>http://boojeebeads.com/Product_Details.asp?pid=100036&id=16&cnt=8¤t=2&sid=25">Click here if you would like to see this wonderful product. Third World OpportunitiesWe understand how lucky we are to be able to live in such a wonderful country and as two professional women, be able to provide opportunities for people in other parts of the world. In order to achieve our mission of producing id badge holders that can help put food on other people’s tables too, we have build coalitions with individuals in South Africa and Asia.Our VP of creative tells the story of traveling in South Africa with a young woman who represented home based industries in small villages. She was not only impressed with the terrific craftsmanship of the handmade filo clay beads done by these villagers, but the pride they took in being able to support themselves economically. Who knew that our beaded badge holders would mean that some children born to HIV+ parents would be able to sleep better at night because they had full tummies? Our travels to Asia brought us around to other different challenging realities. As a true middle class is growing rapidly in China, manufacturing of all kinds is also. We promised ourselves, and in turn you, our supporters, that our beaded lanyards would be made by individuals that were paid a fare wage for their work, treated well and had comfortable work environments. Lanyards as a political tool is not our first intent, but that is the reality in a global economy. Thanks for your interest, and our support. It is truly a pleasure to bring you our fabulous line of id accessories from lanyards, beaded lanyards our new pink ribbon jewelry and the retractable badge reels and eyeglass leashes that have made us famous!

Happy Holidays....I think :)

So what an interesting time of year. Now remember, the point of the blog is to share with you the harrowing adventure of leading a beaded lanyard empire while raising kids ages 3, 4 and 6! this is not a BLOG for the weak of heart.....and this week is no example. We hired our new national sales manager-- we have had her in Fl getting trained on all of our products and all week have been talking to bankers who want to help us take our company to the next level-- in addition to all that, I have been working on the first grade christmas party because i am a room mother at my sons school. So one call is to a :" Joe Smith of International Financial Corp Inc" some fancy pants banker who wants to invest in our company, the next minute I am on the phone confirming with some other mother that she is going to be sending in some Snowman cups, plates and napkins for the first grade party. Sometimes my life makes me laugh out loud.
And sometimes, it makes me really want to cry. I missed my sons xmas performance this evening. It is has been a very busy time of year...Our website has been selling beaded lanyards liek crazy, and we have been working on a lot of new lanyards for spring as well as some new pink ribbon jewelry that will be great. Somehow in the rush i confused the start time of his class concert. We arrived after it was already done. He is an unbelievable person. When i tell him his mom made a really bad mistake, he tells me that everybody makes mistakes sometimes and that it is ok because i am a great mom and he is lucky to have me.
I am humbled by the words of a 6 year old. So I am yet again reminded of the most important things in life. Unconditional Love. Humility. Forgiviness. It is incredible what you contine to learn from your kids
Peace out, and happy beaded lanyard to you

So many people have asked...BooJee Beads? What is that? Well, our website tells you that Big Mac didn't mean anything in the 1950's, So hold on to your hats. But because so many of you have asked who our beaded lanyard are named after, I have decided to introduce you to "BooJee" of BooJeeBeadsDrumRoll Please..... The photo above is my little boojee !So when you the gift of a beaded lanyard to yourself, or as a teacher gift, or a nurse gift and they scream with delight saying BooJee BeadS!!! You will smile knowing where the name came from.Who is better than you?

Whats it all about Alfie?

So last night I had a 69th birthday party for my father. My Dad is an an awesome guy who runs our internet fufillment center. He has packed quite a few beaded lanyards and nurse gifts in his day that is for sure!Last night was really an important milestone for me....for so many years I was moved by my bosses in corporate america and I haven't lived in the same city as them for years. One of the many reasons i decided to start my own business was the goal to be able to control where I lived for the first time in so many years. Living in FL was a priority and so was living by my parents (who have a winter home here)So I would be lying if i didnt tell you that starting this business has had its share of sacrifices. My last life of limos, corner offices, steady paychecks and pools of admins seems so very long ago.I never regret having started our business, But there are days when i miss the perksBut all that gets wiped away pretty fast when you see your 3 year old son (BooJee!) kiss his grandfather and say "Happy Birthday Papaw-- I Love You"So when you get your perfectly packed beaded lanyard or great teacher gift in that cool purple envelope, I need to tell you that my father, John Edward Harringon has been packing every order since we started. He was a former CEO himself. Now, his greatest joy is helping his children create the future they have always dreamed of. I always wanted to be like my Dad- a sucessful business person and a person who loves unconditionally. Does it get any better than that? Regrets? To hell with them. I am the luckiest woman alive

Here's to a new journey

Well, I have been asked by so many "what is it LIKE to run your own company?" that we have decided to share with you a bit of the good, the difficult of our experiences. Hang on, and enjoy the ride!!