We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jernisha Hayes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jernisha , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
“Aspire to inspire” will be the legacy I plan to build. I want to be able to encourage others that even the impossible could be possible. By doing this, I will lead by example and strive to be a business owner of success.You have to use your imagination to create the actual vision you are seeking. Fashion is one of many ways I’ve learned how to express my own uniqueness. I imagine my brand to be remembered for its value and authenticity. (Leather goods that are worth keeping and cherished) My bags are art-pieces and just like art my designs will be timeless, so I don’t believe they will be forgotten. Creating handbags has broaden my visibility. A high-quality handbag is a worthwhile investment.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Founded in 2020 St. Louis, Missouri. “The Bag Bar” is an upcoming women-owned American luxury brand known for its stylish, genuine leather handbags. If you’re struggling to find that perfect purse, you can bet other people are too. I decided to pursue my dreams in becoming a handbag designer because they are fashion statements. Growing up as a pre-teen I use to carry cute little purses filled with nothing but lipglosses. The older I got I realized a handbag was almost just as important as a car. Typically bags are used for wallets, pens, receipts, mascara, hair pins, lotion, portable combs or brushes, body spray, keys and more lipgloss. Basically handbags are a woman’s traveling treasure chest. If a woman lose or misplace her purse please understand, It’s serious! According to studies the average woman owns at least 9 bags but according to my closet I’ve exalted that number years ago. I took a leap on faith and decided instead of saving money to purchase high end designer bags, I could invest that money and create my very own. I didn’t realize I shared so much interest and passion into purses until I found myself working on this project in the wee hours of the morning. After doing a lot of research and locating trustworthy vendors, I was ready to startup my business.The first year I sold handbags was remarkable. Eventually, I was determined to create a label, a brand like no other.The Bag Bar is now formally known for its genuine leather, vibrant colors and embroidered logo on every bag. My services provide your chic and edgy styled totes to mini and large bucket bags or cross-body’s.Fine craftsmanship is a leading quality of luxury handbags. As my brand upgrades, it also expands. I’m so grateful for how far The Bag Bar has came and yet to come. From the smallest details such as the stitching, attention to detail is very apparent and important.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
The Bag Bar current vendor and wholesale manufacture is located in Italy. Working with a manufacture that’s right for your needs can be crucial. It’s important to choose a vendor who knows how to provide a style and design that you love and makes you feel confident. Although The Bag Bar is evolving the ultimate goal is to stabilize my own manufacture and create designs from scratch. After long nights of researching, my first vendor was with a company in China. Most bags were cute, fun, trending and reasonable but it wasn’t enough, it wasn’t my brand. I desired a recognizable brand. As easy as it is to spot a Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Gucci bag I wanted that same impact for myself. Along the way I have learned that its not easy or cheap to manufacture a handbag, or that will be your end results. Quality over quantity
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
In any organization, company or place of business satisfying the client/customer is almost always the number one rule. There is nothing more that I enjoy about being a business owner than seeing a satisfied customer wearing one of my handbags. I believe this plays a huge percentage on how I built my brand reputation. Happy customers are more than likely to spread the word or shop again. People appreciate, creativity and consistency. I try to promote and network at least 3-4 times a week. Promotion most of the time is free on social media, passing out business cards, actively posting and even by word of mouth. You have to know the ins and outs of the fashion industry, find your lane and accelerate. I like to stand firm in my craft and allow my brand to speak for itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebagbar.net
- Instagram: thebagbarr
- Facebook: The Bag Bar