Totally new website!

Helen test drives the brand new website from Totally Beads

Totally Beads have been one of my favourite bead suppliers ever since I first started beading. They are one of the first stands I visit at all the major bead shows for their fantastic range of Chinese Crystal in every shape, size and colour imaginable, as well as their great value glass pearl strands. But Totally Beads are not just about supplying popular beads, they also have a huge range of stringing materials and always have some brand new products to get excited about.

When I heard that TB had launched a new website, I was surprised as I thought the old one was pretty good! However, the new site is slicker and much cleaner from the home page on, and the focus is really on inspiring you to try new products and techniques.

Weekly project inspiration

 As soon as you land on the site, you’ll notice the week’s hot projects. Click on one and you can find out more and order all the materials you need plus the downloadable instructions right there. (Note: you pay for the instructions as a separate item in your basket). 

Beyond the two featured projects, there are also many more tutorials available by selecting a category under the ‘Let’s make it’ link at the top of the home page. You can purchase a tutorial on its own or find one as part of a kit for all sorts of items and using a variety of TB products including their Wondertube.

Clear categories for quick navigation

And if you aren’t enthused by the latest project ideas, you are sure to be inspired by the products, all accessed via the home page and all under familiar product categories. 

Dreamy Druzy Beads

I am pleased to see that the crystal range is still substantial and am excited to see a great range of semi-precious beads too including some pretty amazing round and heart-shaped druzy beads in nine colours! Each category is further split into sub-categories making it really easy to find what you are looking for (or just browse around for things you aren’t!).

As an ex-editor of a beading magazine, there are two things that I ALWAYS look for on a jewellery-making website — an effective search engine and a new products category or link. 

I am pleased to say that the new Totally Beads site has both. A quick test of the search facility looking for ‘dark blue’ products brought back a completely relevant and far-reaching range of products, all laid out in an easy to view format with large photographs and brief descriptions. Bravo Totally Beads – search function = big tick!

The new products page accessed at the top of the home page will certainly be my first stop on future visits. At the moment, no products are listed in this category (the whole website is new after all!) but I am sure it will equally easy to navigate and as clear as the rest of the site! I am looking forward to seeing what new products appear there over the coming weeks.

If you are an existing online customer of Totally Beads you will almost certainly have taken advantage of their regular sales. The site has a Clearance category accessible from the home page which has all sorts of offers including a tempting £15 pounds of beads for a fiver and quarter kilo bead mixes.

So, while you are visiting the new website, don’t forget to check out the Bead Shows link to see when Totally Beads will be at a Craft Show near you. I love online shopping (and by the way TB offers free shipping on orders over £30) but you can’t beat seeing all the lovely beads in the flesh can you!

Visit www.totallybeads.co.uk and place an order!