WAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! As you can read from the title of this post, I just found out that my nearest Trollbeads dealer is “discontinuing” Trollbeads, and I use quotation marks because they can still order beads, however with a condition attached. From now on a customer must commit to buying the bead, that means if I order a glass bead and I don’t like it because I received a variation of this bead or it looks completely different than what it does online, I’m stuck. I mean what is the point then? I might as well just order the same bead online and take my chances, at least this way I feel more comfortable returning it. I am very saddened as this is the only place that carries Trollbeads, the next place is more than two hours away. That means I will no longer be able to visit and take live shots or hand pick my beads.
I know this is what most of you do already, and I know that some online retailers are kind enough to take photos of the beads they have in order for customers to place their orders, but I’ve been spoiled having one so close by! And so close to the spring release! I had a huge list of the ones I wanted to look up close, and now my hopes have been dashed on the cruel, hard, cold truth of reality!
All drama aside I just want to mention one more thing. As I was talking to the shop girl, (and helping myself to A LOT of beads as they are liquidating their stock) she was telling me the reason they had to discontinue TB was because TB wanted them to sign a contract obligating them to buy a certain amount of TB product, in other words, Trollbeads wanted this jewelry store to buy a certain dollar amount, and the jewelry store just couldn’t commit to such a high number. I wonder how much it was, I mean for a jewelry store to say a certain number is too high? This worries me, as in the past two years there have been a lot of shops or dealers who either discontinued Trollbeads on their own or were forced to discontinue for whatever reasons. Add that to the fact that Trollbeads hardly advertises or markets themselves, I’m starting to worry for the future of the company.
A couple of days ago I also received an email from Trollbeads to take a survey, and in doing the survey I noticed the one key factor and that is that they might finally be catching onto the fact that they need to start selling themselves more. I mean not everyone knows about Trollbeads but everyone has heard of Pandora at this point. As I called the other Trollbeads shop two hours away, the shop owner confirmed that she made an investment with Trollbeads (read between the lines here, as in TB made her sign the contract) but that she wasn’t worried because her shop did very well with Trollbeads.
And so it is with a heavy heart that from this point on I will not be able to offer any more live shots of any new collection that Trollbeads may unveil from here on in. I may be able to do it from time to time but it will be a rarity. As for ordering new Trollbeads I might have to call around to see who offers different photographs of each bead so I can choose the one I like the best. The only good thing that came from this is that of course I went nuts and bought way too many beads again, I mean at 50% off how can you not? Stay tuned for future posts where I will showcase my haul. What do you think is going on with Trollbeads? Have you noticed the same things I have?
well, you’ve been spoiled so far 😉
The nearest TB store is 2.5 hours away. there is no Ohm store around. I have a Pandora store close-by, but very limited in terms of rings, and without the Disney and rose gold collections 🙁
I suppose TB’s new policy is a way for them to insure bigger sales, but I doubt this is going to work. I think advertisement at a bigger level would be more useful than pressuring small resellers (those who help creating a network and a presence!)
Yes! I have been very spoiled! It was nice to have one relatively close by. I agree with you, it would be better to advertise, I wish they would, I worry for the future of the company.
I only buy jewelry in person, I enjoy to browse through the showcase to see & try. Jewelry is not cheap or a urgent item for me, I take my time to buy when is promotion, GWP, discounted retired item. I don’t like to buy anything by impulse on line ( except book ) then I have to spend postage to send it back if I don’t like it. I spend the most bead budget in Pandora Moment then Thomas Sabo Karma line. I have one Link of London bracelet with some charm on but I am not crazy about this brand. I have Trollbead 2015 Lucky bracelet with other beads. There will be Valentine event for Trollbead on 11th to 14th Feb, I would like to see the new release but have to drive one hour.
That sucks!! It must be a really high price point they’re making retailers buy. I’m so sorry 🙁
I know! I wonder how much it was? I know a lot of retailers have closed down Trollbeads, I wonder if this was the reason.
Oh, that’s too bad! How very disappointing! I don’t have a store anywhere close to me and so have always been insanely excited to go to a Trollbeads store. I feel your pain!
Thank you! As an example I ordered a glass bead during the collector’s dream sale and wasn’t thrilled with what I received. I kept it anyway bc I was too lazy to return.
Oh no, that’s terrible. I must admit I am extremely spoiled because I live 10 minutes WALK from both Trollbeads and Pandora. I literally pass them every day on my way from work. Well, it has other downsides … it is quite difficult not to stop by and buy something 😀 And they don’t sell my favorite X Jewellery so I still have to get that online, but at least silver does not vary as glass and stones do.
But omg, I can’t wait to see your haul. 50% off … great reason to go nuts and buy too many 🙂
Wow you are lucky!! That is awesome, I think I would just live there between the two stores LOL. And yes I can’t wait to film, I’m a little behind on my posts, still working on getting last posts out!
Aww 🙁 I was really bummed when my favourite dealer closed in 2014. It wasn’t the closest (about 40 minutes away) but they were so great to deal with. Now my next closest dealer is closing too (and I, too, have been going a bit nuts with the sales! Oops!) Both stores were closing entirely, not just dropping TB, but it’s still sad to lose a place where you can see beads in person. I have one very tiny dealer left near me, but I don’t know if she will expand her selection after the other store completely closes or not. Although I can’t see her being able to commit to a large stock, so maybe she will just clear out her inventory too.
I honestly can’t figure out what TB is doing, but I certainly am more willing to buy when I can see it in person! I don’t mind ordering silvers online, but I really hate ordering glass online.
Yes totally agree with you on ordering silvers online, not so much glass. It seems a lot of TB stores are either dropping TB or closing down entirely. It’s like an epidemic.
Hi, we don’t have Trollbeads concept stores as far as I know in Australia, but I do know of a jeweller who carries them. I am more into Pandora as they have the largest retail presence here (by large I mean HUGE), and I have then discovered other bead brands through lovely blogs such as this. I do have the trollbeads fantasy owl pendant which I love. I did notice recently I have not been able to access the Trollbeads official australian website & store, which was working prior to xmas. Looks like the site has been taken down? A couple of years ago Chamilia also stopped their Australia/Asia distribution, but they do maintain an Australian web shop. Pandora pretty much has a monopoly in Australia and they sell mainly in their own concept stores with only some independent jewellers also carrying Pandora.
Thanks for the compliment! Wow I knew Pandora had a huge presence in Australia but I didn’t realize it was bordering on a monopoly. Also I wonder why Trollbeads closed down the site, I mean just because Pandora has a stronger presence doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to shop Trollbeads. That is very strange!
I guess Trollbead don’t have the market there.
Hi, I’m from Hong Kong. As you mention Trollbeads were asking dealers for “investing” in the beads, I recalled that it was long (~1yr) since the local Trollbeads stores (all owned by a dealer called Pop 3) held their last uniques selling event…not sure if it was related to that “investment” thing. (They still have plenty of regular beads and some limited edition, e.g. Mother’s rose, in store whenever a new collection releases or in latter case, some random months throughout the year. Probably also related to “buying certain amount of beads”?)
Just like the other places Pandora put a lot of effort in promoting their brand in HK, but it looks like they still have to work hard to monopolize the market; Links of London and Thomas Sabo established much earlier while Trollbeads has a fair amount of dedicated customers. Not bad for a tiny city 🙂
That’s good to hear, I don’t think pandora should monopolize anything, I hope that is not the case. I for one am also a dedicated customer to other brands other than Pandora.
Toronto only has one silver level Trollbead dealer left inside a small gift shop one hour driving for me. I went there twice in 2015 summer to see bead in person. Pandora has more than 10 concept store here, many jewelry shops carry it, Pandora has the biggest share bead or charm market here. Thomas Sabo is the 2nd has 5 concept store since 2015, many jewelry shop carry it also. 3 link of London shops inside Holt Refrew ( high end department ). 3 Tiffany jewelry shop. Tous from Spain closed the only concept store last summer. You can tell which brand is the most popular from the number of facebook member, Tiffany has 11 millions, Pandora has 4.3 million, Thomas Sabo has 1.1 million, Trollbead has only 0.6 million and so.
Wow! I didn’t realize Trollbeads had that little followers!
I don’t like to say bad thing to any brand but customer will tell what they like. We can check the number of the followers on facebook then we will know the answer. Alex & Ani has 1.2 million, Chamilia has 0.12 million, Elfbeaf has 0.013 million….etc. Charm business is saturated with big competition, not even court the less famous brand sell only on line without paying the overhead. For me, as a customer, I like to have as much as possible to choose. I just pick something I am treasure to own as a jewelry with good workmanship & value.
I completely agree!