Xclusiv Bags
You BAG LOVING WOMAN you! What would you say if I tell you that it is possible to design your own perfect handbag or bag, customised and branded with your own chosen name on it?
You can even choose your own fabric. Dream come true right? Especially when you are, like me, just as obsessed about the quality and workmanship of the interior of the bag as about the exterior of the bag.
So, a few months ago I stumbled upon Babs Van der Merwe in pursuit of my perfect “Dance Student” bag. You cannot believe how difficult it was to find a place that can give you a professional looking customised bag without breaking the bank. Since I shared this beautiful designer bag with family, friends and students, I realized that there is a shared desire amongst women in the market for a place like Xclusiv Bags.
We all know women love handbags but if you buy one there is always something missing, always something you would add or subtract from it. Xclusiv Bags would open the door for you and send you straight down the rabbit hole into the wonderful world where your imaginary baggie lives. That one you always dreamed of but could not find. The one created in your mind, but you just could not bring to life.
During hard lockdown (2020). Martha (Babsie) Van der Merwe age (66) from the West Rand felt like she needed to do something with her time. She made a few bags and everyone that saw them was so excited about the bags that she decided to take it further.
She learned of ladies who lost their jobs due to Covid when their boss had to close his doors, so she employed two seamstresses. Babsie started with scraps of fabric, sold those bags and then bought more fabric until she could afford an industrial sewing machine.
Xclusiv Bags has 4 seamstresses now and are looking at expanding to feed the spontaneous market created by word of mouth. If you need a special baggie, you can contact Babsie on 0833771475.
Did you have a specific customer in mind when you started?
“No, I just wanted to make one of a kind hand painted bags but when I started listening to what people want, the orders took me by surprise.”
What advice would you give people that want to start something new in South Africa?
*Be patient, magic will happen in due time.
*Don’t let your original idea hold you back. Listen and let the customer guide your direction.
*Start small.
*Do not ask too much for a prototype. People need to feel and see a finished product before they place a large order.
*Sometimes freebies or an added little bonus to the product can be bread on the water.”
According to Babsie`s friends, she is the most generous person they know. She believes that you should be good to at least 1 person per day and they testify that she lives by that.
Not many people live by their mottos and surely this admiral attribute can only spell future success for Xclusiv Bags. The bag lovers of the world are waving flags at you, they want you to arrive. You go girl!