The South End Open Market A Shopping Experience Like No Other   read>>

Filled with colorful boutiques and exotic restaurants, Newton Centre stands out as one of the most exclusive areas in the Boston area. A shopper’s paradise, stores range from Jasmine Sola to National Jean Co. One store stands out from the rest. It’s Bead & Pearl, an upscale beads, jewelry, and home accessories boutique.

Deep inside Newton Centre, Bead & Pearl is hidden in the Piccadilly Square building. While the business is small, it should not be overlooked. Walking into the store, you notice that the white walls give off a pristine feeling. “The atmosphere is fun, laid-back, exotic, and intriguing,” notes president and founder Kinga Zielinska. It’s both charming and homey. Distinguishing it from other boutiques are the exquisite beads and decadent gems that pop out from every angle. Between the eighteen-karat gold pieces and the vintage beads on display, Bead & Pearl has something for everyone.

The store offers an array of beads, including Swarovski crystals, unique beads that come in all shapes and colors, vintage beads, silver beads and charms, semiprecious beads, chez beads, and gold and silver pieces. Besides carrying one-of-a-kind jewelry from international designers, the store offers an exclusive line of tote bags from Chilewhich, a company that works with woven vinyl. The home décor angle is also fully covered, as it carries pillows, rugs, wall décor, home accents, lighting, and kitchen accessories.

Zielinska and a few close friends founded the boutique in 2005. “The boutique started with my love for cultures and adventure. I always wanted to start my own business and the more I learned about beads, the more intrigued I became. Beads, culture, and fashion are the perfect fit,” Zielinska comments. “The idea was to create an environment where people are transformed into another world, a place where people can come in and experience something different and something unique. We’ve done a great job at creating this feel for our customers; everyone who walks through our doors automatically loves it!”

With a background in finance and international business, Zielinska found her products by searching the globe. She traveled through Asia all the way to Europe, selecting only the loveliest pieces for her store. “My career path was essential to understanding how to start up and how to run a small business. Designing and fashion have always been a passion of mine and I’ve been making jewelry for many years,” Zielinska says. The pieces tell stories of the designers who made them. The store also offers classes on making some of the pieces, using the beads and other gems.

Finding the right location is an important part of a business. Zielinska found hers a different way: “The location found me. I was looking for a location for many months until this one came on my radar, and when I saw it I fell in love with it. I really like Newton Centre and plan to expand the store here. Eventually, we would love to open another location or possibly a franchise. We are working on expanding with more locations.”

While the store is becoming more of a success, the entrepreneur in Zielinska is still wracking her mind for ideas on branching out in the present location. “The goal is to expand the current location and upgrade with more tables, many more beads, and a bigger home décor selection,” Zielinska remarks on the future of Bead & Pearl.

Locating so many beautiful pieces in one place is rare, but thanks to Zielinska, it’s possible. Take advantage of the store and stop by. Create something beautiful or pick up a unique piece. One piece of jewelry will make you stand out. Bead & Pearl is located in the Piccadilly Square building in Newton Centre, 1280 Centre Street. For more information, please visit www.BeadandPearl.com or call 617-558-3577.