Handbags have been called a woman’s best friend. Large or small, every possible necessity can be found buried in one and toted around when out and about. Where there are women who enjoy a variety of bags, there is money to be made.
When visiting Handbag Heaven, the first thing you’ll notice is the price. There are no $200 or $500 Lois Vuitton price tags. Instead there are $20 or $80 price tags and handbags that look fashionable.
So what does it take to enter the handbag business? We asked the co-founders, Randy and Angie, about their business and what we can look forward to seeing from them in the near future.
What was the inspiration for Handbag Heaven?
The inspiration for Handbag Heaven was actually our customers! We have owned SunglassWarehouse.com since 2005 and since that time we have had repeated requests from customers to open a similar site based on handbags. After thorough research and consideration, we decided to launch an online store specializing in handbags in the $25 – $80 range.
How many different handbags do you currently have listed on your website?
We currently offer around 300 different styles of handbags and wallets. We have a large clearance section right now, but also carry a variety of trendy and classic styles. We will begin adding our spring collection to the site in the upcoming weeks.
I know you’re only a few months old but have you noticed any positive changes since your launch?
We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from our customers since we opened, and have been very pleased with the number of customers that have purchased more than one time, or have sent friends and family our way.
What goals do you have for Handbag Heaven before it reaches its 1 year anniversary?
Our goal for year one is to become the ultimate leader in the discount handbag market. We will continue to strive to provide excellent customer service and an overall great customer experience.
What separates your business and product from the competition?
We pride ourselves on offering superior customer service and lightning fast shipping. All orders that are ordered by 2:00 EST are shipped the very same day. All returns are processed within 48 hours and do not require extra paperwork or a lot of time and energy. We also take note of our customers’ requests and try to source bags that meet their needs.
Since it was announced that the US is currently in a Recession, has that had any effect on your sales? Have they dropped any or are you still noticing a steady stream of sales?
Our 2008 holiday season was on par with our expected goals. We really feel that the discount fashion arena is a good place to be during the Recession since more people will be looking to spend less money to get what they want.
Are there any plans for starting another business in the future?
There is always a plan for more! Right now we are researching a few fashion related areas and hope to launch 1-2 new online stores sometime this year.
What previous experience did you (or the founder/ceo) have before launching Handbag Heaven?
My husband and I own several other online stores that specialize in discount fashion accessories. The first store we purchased was SunglassWarehouse.com, which focuses on affordable and fashionable sunglasses for men, women and children. Since that time we have added SilverTreats.com, FashionShades.com and HandbagHeaven.com to our portfolio. We have a few additional non-fashion related online stores, but plan to stick to the fashion industry in the future.
How long did it take to build the business from idea to launch?
We started planning for the handbag site in July of 2008 and purchased our initial round of handbags in August. The site was officially launched on October 15, 2008. However, we were able to shorten the planning and implementation stages for Handbag Heaven since we already had a full staff in place.
Do you have any bit of advice for other entrepreneurs thinking about starting their own online business?
There is an infinite number of ways to be successful online. However, every person that is considering a career in any business should make sure they have a solid plan in place that includes a realistic budget and thorough market research. For entrepreneurs looking to start out online, the most important thing to have at least a basic understanding of search engine marketing.