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(Minneapolis, MN) When
it comes to quitting your day job and following a passion,
Sarah Reinbold and Barbara Mangold have it in the bag – a handbag that
is. A chance meeting at a local fabric store in 2004 led
to the formation of their incredibly successful design-your-own-handbag
business they call été.
And sew it
began… When Sarah, a former dietician and fabrics fanatic, met Barbara,
a former civil engineer and sewing enthusiast, they thought it would be fun
to start their own baby bag business. They offered a few different fabric
varieties for the inside and outside of the bags, but let their customers do
most of the designing. Then Sarah and Barbara would assemble the bag
and voilà!
Today, the company has increased their revenue three-fold in
the short while they have been in business and have added sales
reps as well as sewers to help with production (all stay-at-home
moms looking for a part-time career). été handbags
are available in more than a dozen shapes, sizes, and styles.
No two été handbags are alike.
You can buy one they’ve already created, or design your
own at their studio in South Minneapolis. They also coordinate
private soirées that women can host in their homes and
offices.
According to Emily Westphal, a frequent customer, “été bags
are a new take on fashion accessories. It’s a nice
departure from buying a bag that everyone has. And you
really can find that perfect bag because you designed
it.”
The fabrics include sophisticated stripes, fun floral patterns,
and wild animal prints. You can also choose the kind of handle
or strap that you’d
like. Zipper or magnetic closure? You make the call. And
the line is moderately priced with coin purses selling for
$12 and small clutches for $45. And
of course they still make the baby bags (for about $150)
that launched their business.
été handbags make great gifts, and Sarah and Barbara would
love to help you and your media audiences design your own creation today! |
