Today we’d like to introduce you to Phil Fischman.
Hi Phil, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love affair with crystals and beads began as a child. My first spiritual experience occurred when spirit spoke to me on a playground (age 6 1/2), and I was guided to begin digging in the dirt for crystals days later. They’ve been my guides and inspiration ever since! I’ve traveled and collected, studied and attained Gemological credentials. I’m still in love with, and learning more about, our beautiful planet earth and her magical crystals! When I was enjoying a weekend at the Jersey Shore (Seaside Heights to be exact) with my parents when I was 15, I walked into a small bead shop to buy some seed beads & string up a shell to give to my sister as a gift. I saw my first OLD trade bead – a 7 layer Chevron bead made in Italy around 1500 and traded into Africa. The bead blew my mind! It instantly expanded my consciousness, letting in history and art and centuries of lore!!! I walked outside, turned to the shop and said out loud “Wouldn’t it be neat to own a little bead store, in a little beach town, a few blocks from the ocean…wouldn’t that be neat” I walked away with a smile. Lived my life joyfully until….decades later I walked into a little bead store, a few blocks from the ocean….in a little beach town. That was Encinitas. The lovely little shop was going to close. Inspired by the coincidence, I went home, spoke to my wife…and decided to invest ALL our money into buying the shop from the lovely couple. That was 30 years ago…our shop is now recognized nationally and internationally as one of the finest in the world. Our secret is LOVE! Every bead and crystal is acquired with the same original intention…is it special enough and beautiful enough to give to our family and those we love the most! We LVOE sharing our joy & passion with you! During the pandemic we relocated our shop from Encinitas to Vista where we now thrive.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
HA! Sure…owning and operating a small business is always a smooth road! 🙂 To begin with we invested EVERYTHING we had to buy our small business….we used our savings, borrowed against our home (I promised my wife I wouldn’t lose our house!) and borrowed from my Dad. It was worth it!!! Next of course is the hard work and long hours doing what you love….. The passion and joy is the driving force behind Beads, Crystals and More….so doing what we so love is the easy part! Along the way our landlord kind of sucked….there was a banking collapse and a pandemic that shut everything down…. LOL, did I mention periodic episodes dealing with lovely young people we worked with, but who sometimes didn’t show up or other issues…. All in all…just the normal bumps in the road that come with living and loving and thriving in a small business in America! I LOVE my life! We’re grateful every day!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Crystals have always been a special and spiritual revelation to me. As a child I heard spirit speak to me on a playground when I was around 6 years old. I discovered crystals while digging in my backyard in NJ days later, and I’ve never stopped communing with them. Children are especially drawn to connect with our planet in this way. I often gift children with a small stone to carry in their pocket. These crystals, described by Nicolas Tesla as “living beings”, possess a beauty and energy that’s profoundly moving and inspiring. They’ve been my guides and inspiration since childhood. My artistic side has led me to use these crystals in jewelry and sculptures. I’ve created one-of-a-kind gifts for truly special people including Magic Johnson and Secretary of State Colin Powell, as well as Grammy and Academy Award winning artists and Hall of Fame athletes.
Beads were my 2nd profound artistic & spiritual revelation! I walked into my first bead shop when I was 15. At a little bead store in Seaside Heights NJ I saw my first old bead – a rare, green, 7 layer Chevron bead made in Venice and traded into Africa around 1500AD. This old bead spoke to my soul, in a language my mind was not yet educated about…it spoke of tribes & travel, of history and cultures, of ceremony and traditions…. That one bead opened a portal, and led me to begin decades of travel, visiting with traders and artists, attending shows and studying. Beads are actually our oldest art form as humans! Beads have been used by virtually every tribe and country in the world for 100,000 years! Beads represent our earliest connection and efforts at adorning ourselves, first with shells and wood, then leading to working with stone, metal and glass as our skills and technology expanded. . I became a bead historian, attending lectures with luminaries including Lois Sherr Dubin, author of “The History of Beads”. I’ve spoken before audiences at the world renowned GIA – the Gemological Institute of America, the San Diego African and Pacific Arts Council and other venues, sharing my knowledge and passion.
I’m GRATEFUL for the opportunity to do what I love and share with others. We give back to support our community by donating to various causes and groups to support their good work. We created over 600 blue & yellow bracelets, raising $25,000 dollars which we donated to World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders to help victims of war in Ukraine. https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/zevely-zone/bracelets-not-bombs-small-vista-bead-shop-making-a-big-difference/509-3a6a31f2-8fb5-4fb9-9c8f-24c53b9563a7
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Be open. Be hungry to learn. Ask for what you want in life and pre prepared to get it (and go after it!) Life happens one breath, one thought and one action at a time. We add to our experiences, like one bead added to another…soon we have a beautiful, colorful chain linking each person we meet and each experience together! Don’t be discouraged…. What can you do today to take one small (or giant) step towards your goals? Think big! When I was developing a communications project I wanted feedback from people I respected….so I called leaders in many fields and they graciously gave me their time and expert input. Ask and you shall receive….
Pricing:
- pennies to priceless!
- beads from a nickel to thousands
- crystals from a dollar to thousands
- always the best quality
- unique & special
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beadscrystalsandmore.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beadscrystalsandmore
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beadscrystalsandmore/ and https://www.facebook.com/phil.fischman/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiufIzAbaNY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO0CY8UM46Y
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/beads-crystals-and-more-vista?osq=Beads%2C+Crystals+%26+More
