Bead World, Phoenix

At Bead World, internationally sourced beads fall in heavy ropes from their wall mounts. The sheer volume and the quality of these handpicked beads have earned the shop accolades from publications such as the Phoenix New Times, which gushed that the store carries “every conceivable type of bead”, including Swarovski crystals, semiprecious stones, and Czech glass beads in “refreshingly remarkable” quality. But you don’t have to be an expert to set foot in the store, since each month Bead World hosts 20 classes that furnish people with the space and tools they need to create their own jewelry. Each class comes with a 20% discount for a one-time purchase so that students can stock up on African trading beads, freshwater pearls, or children’s teeth recovered from fairies who lost their licenses. A portion of the two stores’ proceeds goes to local charities.