Today we’d like to introduce you to Anita Dike’.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, creating has always been something I have been drawn to. For as long as I can remember I’ve had a knack for it, whether it be with words and writing, or little trinkets, or butters and essential oils, or beads, or seashells, or stones, or different shades and textures of yarn, I’ve known that there is a piece of me that will forever remain restless unless I am creating something.
I started The Bee Stop in 2017. I had already graduated from college and still hadn’t managed to use my degree. That year was an insanely transformative year for me as it was the year I really began to walk down a path of growing as a woman and stepping into my power as a creator, in all aspects of my life.
There were three things I’ve always known that what I wanted to do with my life, owning my own successful business, creating something and uplifting women. With that knowledge however, I could never put my finger on what that would look like, or even how I would get started.
Why I chose waist beads as my first little business venture is really just happenstance. I saw someone wearing one that I loved and decided to go buy some beads and make one. I proudly showed my little creation off on snapchat and a friend enthusiastically asked if she could buy one from me. Her question sparked something within me and I immediately began working on designs. I found a local bead shop and bought every single pack of beads that caught my eye, then went home and a flood of ideas came to me.
Beading quickly became my meditation and my therapy. I could sit at my little desk for hours just beading and listening to affirmations, or audio books, or in total silent meditation.
Once I felt I had a good enough selection of waist beads for an actual shop I took to Etsy and opened my shop. Of course, this process wasn’t as simple as worded, I had my fears went back and forth with the idea, spent weeks overthinking EVERYTHING, but ultimately, I opened my shop. It felt like the entire Universe was backing me up, I quickly began receiving orders. I remember writing a goal down that I would be happy if I sold at least five waist beads that year. I sold over 200 from June 2017 when I opened, to the end of December 2017.
I must admit I did not advertise my shop on my own social media pages after opening it, as apart of me didn’t want to be disappointed if friends and family did not support. So I created a totally new page and followed random women whom I felt would be interested in my product. I was amazed at how supportive total and complete strangers were of my business.
As if I needed the extra affirmation that I was heading down the right path, I began receiving messages from women who purchased my beads about how beautiful they felt with them on. They told me how wearing their waist beads inspired a new kind of love and appreciation within them for their bodies. With every message I received, a great sense of appreciation filled my heart. Here I was, inadvertently, doing exactly what I’ve always said I’d want to do with my life, create, own my own business and uplift woman.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Alot of the struggles I’ve faced with being an entrepreneur have mostly been internal struggles. I’ve faced a lot of issues dealing with worthiness and living up to the expectations of my parents.
Moments where I’ve really battled with the worthiness issue the most came when It was time to price my items. I initially undervalued myself for fear that if I charged what my product and time was actually worth no one would purchase my creations. While I do still have some work to do in that department, my confidence and my sense of self worth has increased drastically with time.
Another struggle has been making tough decisions. I’ve always been pretty indecisive and when it comes to owning a business, there are decisions that need to be made or problems that need to be solved that I can’t turn to anyone but myself. When faced with a tough decision these days I’ve learned how extraordinarily important it is to trust myself and also trust that I’m never alone. My life teaches me constantly that no matter what things always seem to work out.
Overall, I can say that things have been pretty smooth. I feel as if something much greater than me has been holding my hand along the way. Small issues that have cropped up always seemed to do so with people who were truly gem. These moments really helped shape me in to the business woman that I am and have helped me learn a lot of the ins and outs of entrepreneurship.
My greatest fear about opening my shop was that I wasn’t ready. But through this experience, I’ve learned how supported I am by the powers that be. I’m never given more than I am ready for and if a change needs to be made, it first crops up as a very minor issue when if I am in tune, I make the changes necessary. If I am not, it crops up as a bigger issue which leaves me no choice.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Bee Stop – what should we know?
The Bee Stop is a jewelry shop and I currently create waist beads. Waist beads are a piece of jewelry worn around the waist, they have significant history and meaning in many African cultures.
For women, our womb area is such a powerful and creative part of our bodies. Our womb is our creative center and where we create and bring into the world new life. But even in times where we are not creating a new human we are always creating newness in our lives. So to me, waist beads symbolically brings our focus back to our womb area. It’s a gentle reminder of our power.
Many of the pieces I create are made with an intention in mind, I use various gemstones and colors that coordinate with that intention. For example, my piece “Love Her” is made with Rose Quartz, Rhodonite, Rhodocrasite, Moon Stone, etc. and includes heart-shaped charms. All of these gemstones have a very loving and feminine energy and my intention behind this particular piece is to create a sense of self-love for the wearer or the reminder to Love Her-self.
What really sets my shop apart is that I put a lot of love into every package I send out, from the hand cut love notes and affirmation cards that comes with every waist bead purchased, to the little box and paper shred, and the cute little pink butterfly bags, and made with love charms included with each piece. My goal is for my customers to feel as if they are receiving a gift whenever they receive a package from my shop.
Something else that I feel really sets me apart from others is my playful and colorful variety of designs. I love mixing different stones and textures and beads together to create truly unique pieces. I feel as if my waist beads definitely step outside of the box in terms of what you’ll typically find.
I currently have over 80 different designs (and counting) posted on my Etsy shop. All of my pieces are custom made. My customers get to select the length they would like their beads to be and once the order is placed I get to work creating it, especially for them.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I am thankful to my friend Camille as she is the person who expressed interest in purchasing waist beads from me after I posted the first set I had made for myself on snapchat. If she hadn’t asked that very simple question, I’m not sure I would have ever thought to sell them. She definitely planted the seed. I am thankful for my mom for being my very first sale on Etsy. And for my sisters Lesley and Makeba and my best friend Tamica and my friend Myeisha as all of these women were very encouraging and supportive as well, especially just starting out.
I am so thankful for every single last person who has purchased from my shop. As each and every one of them and their messages thanking me for my creation are all truly the real MVPs. For all of their recommendations to their friends and family, to their Instagram story posts raving about their beads, to the amazing reviews they leave on my shop page. I literally would not be where I am if it weren’t for all of these wonderful people.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/thebeestop
- Email: jazzybee445@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thebeestop
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
