A few weeks ago one of our Adelaide customers emailed me with this fantastic story. Elizabeth is a trade client of our sister company Beads N Crystals. Every Sunday she sets up her market stall to sell her own unique jewellery designs and her 8 year old daughter comes along to help mum. Though most of the time she spends playing games on mum’s iPhone.

• “I decided to buy your water beads market mix kit and I set up a card table beside mine so my daughter Lily would have something more constructive to do. She spent the whole day talking and laughing with other children and by the end of the day she told me she has almost no water beads left. Actually she sold every packet except for the black and a couple of yellows.
  
  After counting up all the cash in my box I realised I had sold only $137 worth of jewellery and Lily had sold $142 worth of water beads!”
  

Now, most little girls would probably take the money and buy toys or clothes, but to Elizabeth’s shock, her daughter said “Mum can I buy more water beads for next week’s market?”

Elizabeth told her daughter that she needed to pay her back the $59.50 for the cost of the Mini Market Mix and postage, and the remaining money she could spend on more stock. She made the wise decision to buy 10 packets of each of her favourite 6 colours. Definitely no black or yellow.

When I read Elizabeth’s email, I remembered a show I saw on TV a while back. Apparently many of the world’s most famous entrepreneurs recall their first little business as a child. Something like walking the neighbour’s dog for loose change or selling lemonade. Who knows, Lily might become the CEO of her own successful enterprise in the not too distant future!

You can now choose from 3 package sizes before adding to cart.

This makes it easier to order the most appropriate quantity without clicking through pages and pages of products. Simply choose from the 3 package size options before adding to cart. Tell us what you think.

We've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about water beads.

Water Bead FAQ’s

Q. How long do they last?
A. They will last years in the sealed packet. Once you’ve soaked and expanded the beads they will need to be soaked again every 2 or 3 weeks to keep their size and they can last 2 to 3 years.

Q. What happens if they get dusty?
A. This won’t happen because you will actually be cleaning them every time you re-soak them.

Q: Do they smell?
A: No they come unscented. Just add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil after you’ve drained the excess water. They’ll fragrance the house for weeks!

Q: Can I put them in a fish tank or pond?
A: We don’t recommend this. We’ve heard horror stories of fish that hate them so much they jump out of the bowl! Some fish will try to eat them and may ingest so much that their delicate digestive system clogs up causing death!

Q: Will they shrink right back down to the original size?
A: Not quite. They will shrink down but they will be a little bigger. If you let them dry out and rehydrate they won’t last as long as they would if you keep them hydrated.

Q: Can I stick fresh flowers in them?
A: Yes you certainly can! You may find they get a little smelly or mouldy as the flowers die, so it’s best to admire them with the flowers and tip hem in the compost with the flowers when they die.

Q: Are they toxic or dangerous?
A: They are non-toxic and safe, but always take care with young children as they may present a choking hazard.

Q: What happens if someone (or a pet) eats them?
A: They’re certainly not hygienic and shouldn’t be eaten. If a fully hydrated bead is accidentally eaten, drink plenty of water. The polymer will partially break down in stomach acid and pass through. You can add a few drops of essential oil so no one is tempted to eat another one!

Q: Do I leave water in the bottom?
A: If you’re putting fresh flowers in the bowl, then yes. But if you’re using them as a decoration or centrepiece, drain and discard all the excess water.

Q: What happens if I soak them too long or put them in too much water?
A: The beads will only expand to their maximum size. It doesn’t matter how much water you use really. You could tip one packet in a pool but you’d have trouble finding them!

Q: Can I put them in a swimming pool or bath?
A: No! Definitely No! They will clog up the pool filter! In a bath, they will need to be fished out before you pull the plug unless you want a plumber’s bill. We have had people use them in small inflatable pools and that’s ok!

We've just received a new shipment of water beads and this time, we've added 4 new colours! Orange, Clear, Gold and Black bring our Regular Water Beads range to 11 Colours in total!

Great News! Wholesale Water Beads Australia is now on Facebook! If you love us you really need to Like us on Facebook! We'll be posting Water Bead sales tips, practical uses, specials and new products regularly!  Click here and Like us today!

Welcome to our new online store for wholesale water beads. You no longer need to call, email or visit us to place an order! All of our products are now available right here with full bulk pricing options. Feel free to call us or leave a comment with your feedback and suggestions!