Tea & Chat with From Rags to Bags
Tell us about your business. When, why and how did it come about? What was the first item you made and was it for a special occasion?
My crafting came to an abrupt end in 1998 when I had an operation on my thumb to remove cancer in the nail bed. The operation left me with nerve damage which meant the end of my thumb was numb. I found it too hard holding a needle or making jewellery, so I stopped completely for years.
However, in 2006, I had to have half of my thumb amputated as the cancer had returned for a third time. Whilst I was at home recovering from surgery, I sat thinking about fabric handbags which I have always loved. I decided that instead of buying them on the High Street, I could easily make my own. I then realised I probably didn’t need any more and could perhaps sell them instead. I mulled over names and settled on From Rags To Bags as it was a play on words with “from rags to riches”, the “rag trade” and also summed up the fact that I wanted to incorporate recycled textiles into my bags.
It was a while before I could actually try and make anything, so the first thing I did was order business cards and labels to sew into my bags. When I finally made my first bag it was a pale blue corduroy tote bag with three fabric flowers appliqued down the front. The corduroy was recycled from a skirt and vintage buttons were used in the middle of the flowers. The lining and flowers were recycled fabric from shirts. Looking back at the photos, it wasn’t the most accomplished bag but it was a start. I also discovered that despite only having half a thumb, I could actually hold a sewing needle again which was far more important.
Describe your product range
I currently make handbags and homewares, which include door stops, peg bags, cushions and lavender bags. I also make the occasional pin cushion and plan to make a few more gift items this year.
Where do you make your products (home, studio etc.)?
I make all of my items at home. I am lucky enough to have a room to myself where I keep all of my finished products and supplies. I sometimes work there at my desk but I also sew at my kitchen table as I can spread out. I also prefer the kitchen in the summer as I can look out into the garden with the French doors wide open.
Is this your full-time job, or do you have other employment?
I am actually self-employed as a bookkeeper for a number of different businesses. It provides me with financial security and also a mental balance between my artistic and logical sides. I tend to sew at the weekends plus one day in the week but often sew at lunchtimes and when I get home in the evenings as well.
Where do you draw inspiration from for your designs and product range?
My greatest inspiration is fabric. I have always loved fabrics, the colours, patterns and texture are all equally important to me. I am always feeling fabrics, if they don’t feel right in my hand then I won’t use them. Whenever I see a fabric, I instantly like or dismiss it based on the colour and design too. As soon as I see a fabric, if I like the pattern and weight, I know exactly what I will use it for.
Where do you source your materials?
I try not to buy too much new fabric but often can’t resist a pattern and am always head first in the remnant bin at my local fabric shops. I am constantly on the look out for fabric and buy remnants, clothing and vintage textiles from charity shops, car boot sales, local auctions, antique shops and online. I also get given a lot of fabric by family and friends. Having said that I also have a large stash of fabrics that I have collected over the years. I started buying remnants in my mid teens as I worked in the linens and soft furnishings section of a department store. I couldn’t resist the velvet remnants and still have a large box full.
What do your friends and family think of your business and products? Do you take ideas from them as well??
Whenever I make anything new I show it to my long suffering husband. His stock response is “Oh that’s nice.” To be honest though handbags and flowery peg bags probably aren’t really his area of expertise. I don’t tend to ask anyone else what they think although my friends often leave positive comments on Facebook when a new photo appears.
Is your business ‘just you’, or have you got a team of helpers that you can call on?
My business is very much just me. I am quite literally a Jack of all Trades, designer, producer, manager, PR guru, web designer, bookkeeper and office junior. I do sometimes ask my husband to post a parcel for me though.
Have you made good friends and contacts within the wider crafting community? Do you attend craft fairs? Where can we see you over the coming months?
I have made one friend, Michele, who lives in Portland, USA. We met on Facebook as she is a fellow handbag designer/maker, although more recently she has branched out into knitting.
I don’t tend to go to craft fairs. Having done them for about five years in my twenties, I know what they entail. Making enough stock, packing it into the car, driving to the venue, setting up, sitting for a few hours during the event and then packing up and going home again takes quite a lot of effort and time. Craft fairs can be unpredictable and very dependent on time of year, location and advertising. Sometimes foot fall can be low and takings lower.
With the internet, I would rather list my items across several selling platforms, such as WowThankYou, knowing that they are on sale 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I get sales to the USA when I am asleep! I would rather spend my time sewing and promoting online rather than sat in a draughty hall somewhere for a few hours hoping to get a sale.
Over the coming months, I plan to make more handbags as they tend to get a bit neglected as I am always so busy restocking the door stops and peg bags which sell very well. I also have a list of new ideas to try out, so hopefully I will make some time for a few of those too.
How is business?
I can quite honestly say that business is very good. Year on year since I started From Rags To Bags, sales have increased. Hopefully that trend will continue. Who knows, I may have to teach my husband how to use a sewing machine to keep up with demand!
How do you promote your work? Is it purely online, or do you attend shows/exhibitions, stock stores/galleries etc?
The majority of my promotion is online via social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I also have a blog, my website and I sell on several online platforms including WowThankYou. I don’t attend shows or exhibitions but do supply lavender bags to a local shop.
Have you had any famous customers? If yes, can you tell us more?
I have had sales to a television presenter and a singer but I won’t say what or to who.
Where would you like your business to be 5 years from now?
Five years from now I would like to still be sewing as that’s what I love doing. Hopefully, I will be in a position to a little less of the day job. Maybe only working a couple of days a week bookkeeping and the rest of the time sewing. I would also like to dabble with designing my own fabrics too.
What has been your business highlight so far?
Every sale is a highlight to be honest. Whenever I log onto my emails and find a sale notification I am excited. I am genuinely pleased that people not only want to spend their hard earned cash on something I have made but also want to place it in their home. I have had sales to a television presenter and a singer but I won’t say what or to who.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to set up a business similar to your own?
Make things you love and that make you happy. If you love them, then hopefully someone else will too.