Elegant Notions

DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME GOING THERE. THE OWNER IS RUDE (the man) AND HAS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS. Horrible experience!!!
I rather go to Hobby Lobby or Micheal’s. I found what i needed at Big Lots down the street from there.

When I checked in here I saw how many stars this place had, but I didn’t get it right away.
The inside is really well organized, and they have pretty decent prices. My Mom makes her own jewelry and often has to order things off the internet because she can’t find them in her price range or at all.
My Mom had so many things in her hands. She was very excited. Things that were $ 3.50 in this store are normally $ 15 online.
I liked the selections of large necklace pendants, the music playing was nice.
But like everyone else said, the guy working (who I am guessing is the owner) is a total jerk. I heard him basically berate another customer for asking for something he had never heard of, then telling her what she was probably looking for. The lady sort of laughed it off awkwardly and walked away.
I also felt like he was watching everything we were doing. Like my 60 year old mother is going to steal something?! Then we get to the register and y Mom tries making small talk or joking with him. He doesn’t say a word. He basically grabbed her credit card from her, swiped it and handed her the receipt. The end.
There are SO many jewelry stores in Houston, no one has to come here. That guy needs to learn that.

Ok so this store has a good location and ok selection of beads and other jewelry making stuff. Also has some other different items like blown glass hanging things and jewelry made by other artists. Despite the good, I still give this store 1 star because the owner is a complete A**hole. No lie. I have been in here multiple times with my mom when we were cruising 19^th street and he is rude every time. One time there were 2 elderly women in the store and he was playing loud weird music and the women mentioned how the music was a little too loud and they couldn’t hear each other speak. Without looking up from what he was doing he said «if you don’t like it then get out.» Me and my mother were so shocked. Another time my mother complimented him on something and asked a question about it (don’t remember exactly what), and he flatly said «do i look like i care?» Seriously… No wonder the place is pretty much empty the few times we went in. I’m surprised the store is still in business. So ya, there are many other much better bead shops in the area with great customer service, don’t support this dude!

Neat store, probably would have bought something, very poor customer service…

I’ve walked past the windows of this store many times. I always look at the strands of beads. Brass, Sea Glass, Jasper, and semiprecious stones I’ve never heard of, but are really pretty. I finally went in recently because I just had to feel how heavy the Sea Glass beads were. Basically would I cave under the weight of a twenty pound necklace. Good marketing ploy, yes? Dangle the shiny object in front of the shopper who loves color and texture. I thought it was brilliant until I walked inside.
Artsy bead stores should not have to work hard to sell their merchandise. It should be: look at pretty beads, buy pretty beads. They definitely should not be counteractive. This is what Elegant Notions falls victim to. They gear their ambiance towards the upper middle class hippies that love new ageisms. There was a time and place for 80s festival music and jam sessions, a bead store CD player twenty years later is not one of them.
Continuing on, the strands of beads aren’t arranged in an easily accessible manner. They cover large and tall tables. I don’t want to feel I need to hold on to my purse so that it doesn’t swing forward and either knock through many strands of beads or get snagged up. Also, some areas are not easy to maneuver through.
As if that wasn’t punishment enough, the guy working the counter was a bit of a weirdo. After all of the customers excepting me had left, he went into the back room for a bit. Upon returning, he turned the AC and music off (that part was kind of wonderful… the music was ear-​bleedingly horrid). Since he still had not acknowledged my presence, I didn’t ask if he was closing. I kept looking at beads. When it got unbearably hot, I left. The store closed at 6pm; it was just 4:35pm.
To be fair, they have a gigantic selection of beads; lots of variety. There is also a large section with jewelry odds, ends, and clasps. Merchandise alone, I would give this shop four and a half stars. But with the other bead shops in the world, is it worth enduring a place with neglectful customer service and bad music? (That’s a rhetorical question.)