FAQs

Hi there! My name is Zaida, and I have been making jewelry (and had my shop) since August 2021! I am currently attending Northwestern University and study social policy. I took a hiatus from making jewelry, as school can get stressful. BUT, I love making jewelry, and am excited to get back into it! Thank you for taking the time to see what BeadWithBeanz is all about...

1. My grandma gave me the name beanz (I added the 'Z' for a swaggy effect, and to incorporate my first name) when I was an infant, and was the name she always called me. She gifted me a good amount of the beads I have today, and she was the one who really introduced the jewelry-making passion to me. So it just felt right to name my business after the nickname she gifted me. She passed during COVID, and I have been trying to make use of the beads she has collected over the years to both make sure that they do not go to waste and to use that money towards supporting myself through college AND to give back to organizations who facilitate change, which leads me to say...

2. As someone who has always been environmentally and socially conscious, I have made it my mission since the start of the business that I was going to make as little of an environmental impact as I could. If I were to abide by the capitalist nature of creating a small business, I knew I needed to make it as eco-conscious and as waste-free as possible. That is why (after many different ways of packing orders), I have made everything as eco-conscious I as could think of. I switched bubble mailers for small, cardboard boxes, I opted out of drawstring bags for glassine paper bags (which are recyclable and biodegradable), and I changed my packing tape to 100% biodegradable packing tape. Every choice is a step towards creating a business that I am proud of that not only incorporates my art, but also my values. 

3. In alignment with the second point, I have made it my mission to not only limit my business' environmental impacts, but to also give back socially. In the past, I have donated to Marine Mammal Care, Urgent Relief for Gaza's Children fund, & the National Immigrant Justice Center, and I aspire to donate to more organizations who strive to make the world a better place! If you have any organizations that you feel are good organizations to donate to, please feel free to reach out! The most beautiful thing about having a small business are the interactions with people who support my art, and the little community it builds. I am forever grateful for everyone who has invested in my craft and have given me many opportunities to share it with the world!