We recently connected with Kristi Bermel and have shared our conversation below.

Kristi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

My business started as me just posting (really simple) handbags to my personal Facebook page, and people started asking to buy them. It was an unexpected adventure that I grabbed, and haven’t looked back.

Kristi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Kristi, I am a single mom of 3 amazing kids. I started my business almost 13 years ago, as a small hobby that quickly grew into a full time job.

My business got started kind of randomly, I would make handbags, and post them on my Facebook page, as a way to watch them continually get better, until one day people were offering to purchase them from me.

I create handbags, wallets, clutches and embroidered items. I love to create custom items for my clients. I love that my job is to bring their vision to life with my craft and skill.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

My business started as sort of a side hustle, and quickly turned into a full time business. When I started sewing handbags, I didn’t have any intention on selling them, I made them in my spare time, and when I could have my two kids in daycare. After I started posting them online, people were offering to buy them.

I started selling the handbags, but had people asking for children’s clothing, in 2012 I shifted my business from handbags to children’s clothing..

The next shift happened after I got pregnant with my 3rd child, it was finally a girl after 2 boys, I was so excited to be able to dress her in the clothing I made, well, until she got a little older and hated the feel of handmade clothing. So the final shift happened in 2015, I went back to handbags, but decided I was going to be the best I could be. I found amazing suppliers to vinyl and faux leather, and my business is now top of the line, beautiful handbags.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The biggest pivot happened in 2020 when the Covid 19 pandemic hit. I had 3 kids, my youngest has just started kindergarten and I thought I could finally work my business full time. Covid hit in March, and suddenly I wasn’t even able to work 20 hours a week because I had to shift my role to being a teacher.

I would be helping my kids out during their school day, and I would work from 9pm-3am, and get up at 6 am to do it all over again.

It was a trying time, but my kids learned so much about resilience in that year, and they also learned that if you want something bad enough, with hard work you can make it possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.PaisleyLaneMN.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/PaisleyLaneMN
• Facebook: Facebook.com/pickapursebykristi