It is with great pride and joy that we mark the occasion of our sixty years in business. It has been an honor to serve the bead and craft marketplace through the decades and we enthusiastically look forward to what lies ahead. We are now a third generation, family operated company that extends sincere thanks to our current and past employees, suppliers and customers. Our business philosophy continues to place our customers first and we enjoy bringing the latest rends and products to the market.
The John Family Story
Our story begins when Fritz and Betty John moved to Canada from the Czech Republic in 1953. The business originated in the family home as a means of earning a living in their new country. The first products to be imported were pointed and cushion back stones that they hand set into brooches and sold as finished pieces. Then came Czech Seed Beads, continuing a tradition that began with Fritz’s parents who worked in those factories back home. With these products in place, sales continued from the family home until 1977. In that year, the company moved to their first commercial location on Spadina Avenue in Toronto’s Fashion District, where they would stay until 1983. In 1989 Fritz took a well-deserved retirement. Their son Mike, who had been an integral part of the business, became President and remains so to this day.
Increased sales and customer and product growth necessitated a move to an 11,000 square foot building in East Toronto that would be their home until 1993. Over the years the company developed a large inventory of core products that ensured customer orders were processed quickly with high fill rates. John Bead became known for its innovative product offerings, marketing promotions and sales programs.
More growth saw a relocation to a 30,000 square foot building followed by a 2003 move to the current location with over 100,000 square feet of showrooms, offices and warehouse space. John Bead is well positioned for the future and looks forward with enthusiasm to what lies ahead. Today over 7,000 new products are added annually and the company now manufactures its own Dazzle-It™ and Metal Complex™ brands. The company has its own in house design team developing products, packaging, displays and programs. Current product offerings include items for jewelry making, Native/ Aboriginal products, costume making supplies (Carnival, Figure Skating, Dance Costumes) and our basic line of craft and bead components.
Daniel John, Vice President, joined the business in 2007 and became the third generation to take up the challenge of innovation and excellence in the Bead and Craft Industry. Fritz John passed away in December of 2000. The company he founded, with his wife Betty, will continue to flourish as Canadian success story and an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere.
John Bead Corp
www.johnbead.com
