From Venezuela to the U.S. to Italy: Genesis Warner’s Handbag Journey of Leisara

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<v Speaker 1>Hi and welcome to the Handbag Designer 101 podcast with your host, emily Boomenthal, handbag Designer Expert and Handbag Fairy Godmother, where we cover everything about handbags, from making, marketing, designing and talking to handbag designers and industry experts about what it takes to make a successful handbag.

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Handbag Designer 101 podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Hi, emily, how are you?

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you so much for having me on.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm so excited to have you.

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<v Speaker 1>We do go way back.

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<v Speaker 1>I've seen the iterations of your bags evolve and grow, just like you with your brand-le-sa-da.

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<v Speaker 1>And to those of you who ever look at your name, that says Genesis, but it's pronounced what's the correct way Hennessy, hennessy, right, which must have been confusing for you know most people, because most people don't get things right.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that's been something that I've been since a little girl, since I moved to the US.

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<v Speaker 1>That's kind of been like the going the first day of school is, oh, I'm Genesis and I'm like no, it's Hennessy.

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<v Speaker 1>And then we get into the whole conversation why is it Hennessy and not Genesis?

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<v Speaker 1>And yeah, that's just kind of been how it's always been for me.

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<v Speaker 1>So, and how old were you when you moved to the US and where's your family from?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so I moved to the US when I was five years old.

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<v Speaker 1>I am originally from Venezuela and my mom is Venezuelan.

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<v Speaker 1>My dad is American.

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<v Speaker 1>So my dad met my mom in Venezuela a few years before I was born and here after my fifth birthday.

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<v Speaker 1>So I've been in the States Well, not I've been, but where did your family move to?

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<v Speaker 1>So we moved to a small rural little town in central PA.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so it was a big difference, big, very big difference.

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<v Speaker 1>I was the only.

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<v Speaker 1>How many little Latin girls were running around there?

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<v Speaker 1>No, absolutely not Only one.

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<v Speaker 1>Wow.

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<v Speaker 1>So not only are you moving there, you don't speak English right.

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<v Speaker 1>So there was clearly, you know, no ESL class there for you.

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<v Speaker 1>So it was like did you have any siblings?

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<v Speaker 1>I did not.

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<v Speaker 1>So well, my dad, he was married previously and he had children in another marriage, but they were much older than I was, so I was pretty much raised as an only child, basically.

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<v Speaker 1>So you were the bonus baby of it all.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, basically, wow.

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<v Speaker 1>So did your mom speak English?

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<v Speaker 1>She did not.

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<v Speaker 1>That was one thing that I remember vividly is her struggling with the language and everything and me just learning at school with kids and TV, and you know how kids are, they're like sponges and pick it up super quickly.

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<v Speaker 1>So you learned English before her.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, yes, wow.

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<v Speaker 1>So you have a recollection of being the one who is actually almost translating for her and taking control?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, yeah, I guess I mean, I have some recollection of it, but it was.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, I'm 32 now, so it's been a few years, obviously.

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<v Speaker 1>But my mom now, like she, are they still in Pennsylvania?

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<v Speaker 1>No, no, so I am now in Florida after.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm sure we'll get to my hang of where I've lived, but we all live now in Florida near Sarasota.

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<v Speaker 1>So were they there before you moved back?

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, yeah, yeah, in 2019, they moved here.

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<v Speaker 1>So at least they're in a place where there are people already speaking Spanish.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, yeah, my mom has made friends and my grandma also lives with us.

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<v Speaker 1>Like I grew up with my grandma, that's how I was able to speak the Spanish and not know because, yeah, so they all live here.

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<v Speaker 1>And, yeah, wow, wow.

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<v Speaker 1>So you, can your dad speak currently, or is it still choppy?

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<v Speaker 1>Very, very, wait, you mean Spanish.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, yeah, no, he has a very strong accent, very, very.

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<v Speaker 1>He understands everything.

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<v Speaker 1>So you can get too much past him.

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<v Speaker 1>It works for you in Spanish.

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<v Speaker 1>You know all of these things of journeys, of what people go on.

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<v Speaker 1>It speaks to you know and I could be totally wrong, but it speaks to almost a parallel life of an entrepreneur that you throw yourself into something and you're almost doing it without even thinking about what could go wrong, because you've already been through this, even without even being aware.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, absolutely, and my parents themselves were entrepreneurs.

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<v Speaker 1>So I kind of saw this from a very young age of all, whether it was the wrist-taking, the moments, the highs where we all celebrated to you know, drastic changes.

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<v Speaker 1>And you're right, I think I have been kind of what's the word?

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<v Speaker 1>Conditioned, conditioned, exactly Conditioned to kind of see the world in a different, through a different lens, I guess, right, right.

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<v Speaker 1>So what did you study?

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<v Speaker 1>Did you study?

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<v Speaker 1>I studied business.

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<v Speaker 1>I never really considered myself creative, but I feel like we all have a sense of creativity within us.

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<v Speaker 1>It just takes a bit kind of spark that.

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<v Speaker 1>But I went to school for business.

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<v Speaker 1>I got my degree in business administration, business management, so I'll finish that while I was living overseas and why overseas?

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<v Speaker 1>What were you doing there, I know?

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<v Speaker 1>So I moved to Europe when I was a sophomore in college, like moved, what's that Move, moved, moved, moved.

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<v Speaker 1>It's my little love story, I guess, of life.

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<v Speaker 1>I met my husband while I was in college and he was two years older than me and he bought a very, very unique career opportunity to move overseas and we tried the long distance thing for a few months and it was not fun at all, and so I spoke to my parents and everything, and I pretty much decided to leave and just started like ciao yeah, ciao Arrivederci.

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<v Speaker 1>I was on my way to Europe and, yeah, my one condition for my dad was, like you better finish school, which I was like, yes, I will.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course, did you transfer schools?

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<v Speaker 1>No, so, luckily for me.

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<v Speaker 1>I always say that it was kind of like fate in a way.

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<v Speaker 1>So I went to school at Temple University in Philadelphia and their business school had just started their online program and this was before, like everything was online, so it was kind of new, I guess, in a safe, and so, because I had like my two years covered already, right, I was done Like I could do my other classes abroad, like remotely I guess, and so it just worked out perfectly where I went to.

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<v Speaker 1>What do you call them?

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<v Speaker 1>Advisor, academic advisor, and yeah, and I told her what my idea was and she said you know what we can do this.

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<v Speaker 1>There's going to be a few classes that you might have to take extra, but you can definitely get that.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that was kind of like my ticket to be like okay, let's, let's go.

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<v Speaker 1>So.

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<v Speaker 1>So, yeah, this one in 2012.

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<v Speaker 1>So, at what country did you pack up and move to?

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<v Speaker 1>I moved to Italy and we'd live there for one year.

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<v Speaker 1>Then we did Did you pack up and move and live with him?

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, so that was like they was a whole, like that's scandalous for a nice little nice, yeah, an as a whale and girl like I'm not married, I'm not, my education's not done and fray.

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<v Speaker 1>And what did he do?

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<v Speaker 1>He was an athlete, which was very risky.

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<v Speaker 1>I always consider it's funny that we talk about this because I was.

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<v Speaker 1>If you were to ask me like are you a risk taker?

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<v Speaker 1>I would have been like, oh my gosh, no, yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>Then I talk about this and I'm like, yeah, I get it.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, yeah, but you know, funnily enough, it's like this is exactly what your parents did, right, and that's really funny, because it was exactly what my mom and dad did and that was my biggest I don't want to say argument, because it didn't take much for me to convince them.

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<v Speaker 1>Right, I loved my husband.

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<v Speaker 1>That's never obvious.

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<v Speaker 1>So what?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, right, exactly.

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<v Speaker 1>So when it's, how is his English?

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<v Speaker 1>No, he speaks perfect English.

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<v Speaker 1>He grew up going to like English classes as a kid, so his English is perfect, all right, but yeah, so that was kind of like my negotiation leverage that I had there.

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<v Speaker 1>I was like you know what?

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<v Speaker 1>You guys did something similar a few years ago, and my dad can't argue that.

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<v Speaker 1>So nope, so you packed up, you moved to Italy, you're 20, you're taking classes.

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<v Speaker 1>Are you working or you're like, that's cute, I'm astute, so I wanted to.

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<v Speaker 1>Obviously, what you couldn't buy, right?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, for one, we needed to be married, because I was just his girlfriend.

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<v Speaker 1>I only be there for three months on, like a tourist visa, right, so, but my idea was not to stay for three months.

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<v Speaker 1>Our idea wasn't to stay three months.

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<v Speaker 1>Obviously, I didn't get up and leave just to be like all right, I'm going back to the US now, you know.

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<v Speaker 1>So, yeah, it was interesting.

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<v Speaker 1>I was not able to work, but I was a full-time student, basically.

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<v Speaker 1>The only thing was that my classes were at 2am in the morning.

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<v Speaker 1>That's a fine difference.

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<v Speaker 1>It was like I was doing a night shift.

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<v Speaker 1>I would sleep on the day, study in the afternoon, have class in the middle of the night and then do work, and like it was just.

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<v Speaker 1>I did this nuts for like four years because it prolonged my two years, right, right, right Time difference, everything.

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<v Speaker 1>So at this point, you prolonged it for four years, yes, without making money.

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<v Speaker 1>So you were living with him off his basketball salary, the two of you as like very young people being like it's us Now why, when I say he played basketball, it was not like a lot of people.

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<v Speaker 1>When I say that, they're like oh so you know, like NBA level?

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<v Speaker 1>No, like, that's not the case.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, we have a like for in Italy it was a good salary by two people, everything.

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<v Speaker 1>It was just one salary for one household.

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<v Speaker 1>And then, of course, we started our family.

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<v Speaker 1>That also was in the mix.

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<v Speaker 1>So it rewired.

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<v Speaker 1>By the time you had kids.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, okay.

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<v Speaker 1>So we ended up for a few reasons.

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<v Speaker 1>Obviously, we cared about each other a ton, but for me to stay overseas, I had to be married.

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<v Speaker 1>I couldn't, you know, I right, unless I want to be there illegally and whatever.

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<v Speaker 1>But, yeah, so we ended up getting married in 2013,.

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<v Speaker 1>A year later, and we started our family two years after that.

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<v Speaker 1>So I was you finished school, yes, oh no, I'm sorry, I did not finish school at the time.

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<v Speaker 1>I became a mom, my senior, like my last year.

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<v Speaker 1>So, pretend people, you were already 23, 24, because you extended it to extra year, so whatever.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that's also crazy young, by the way, nowadays.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh my gosh.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, when I think about it, I'm like I was 24 years old.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, proper child bride, child mom.

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<v Speaker 1>That's insane, oh my God.

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<v Speaker 1>So, yeah, well, I'm sorry, I was gonna say my life has not been cut like your conventional path at all.

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<v Speaker 1>Right, that makes sense, dude, I didn't even know what conventional means anymore, really, yeah, you know, it's like, look, I've got friends who've had day jobs since we graduated and I'm often scoffed saying, haha, look at you.

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<v Speaker 1>But meanwhile, you know, they have the safety, they security, they're making good money, they saved a lot, they've been able to.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, I don't know how happy they are, but 20 years in, it's a totally different life than that of an entrepreneur, let alone a handbag designer, let alone someone within fashion, right?

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<v Speaker 1>So you know they've had their ups and downs corporate internally, but in terms of what we deal with on a day to day, it's like, you know, feast or famine, or eat what you kill, or and as a brand I mean, nobody wants to.

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<v Speaker 1>We all want to take that next step, to have that tipping point moment to something bigger, right?

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<v Speaker 1>No, definitely, I completely agree with what you're saying on that.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, well, in terms of if you're a new mom with very little people and you've got this basketball playing husband and that kind of puts you in a very odd spot like what am I supposed to do?

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<v Speaker 1>How am I supposed to work?

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<v Speaker 1>Do I do job in Italy or do I start something on my own?

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<v Speaker 1>So how did you end up with a set up and how did that happen?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so for me, coming from a family, a Latin family, and the whole conventional like I had the opportunity.

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<v Speaker 1>Venezuela today is not what Venezuela was 30 years ago.

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<v Speaker 1>So coming to the US, I was kind of always like pictured to have that conventional life, you know, and I always saw myself kind of taking that path.

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<v Speaker 1>But life happens and that's the one thing that I always like when people ask me about this whole journey and everything.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm just like life kind of throws a ton of curveballs at you.

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<v Speaker 1>I need to figure it out, and so that's kind of what happened to me when I was overseas.

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<v Speaker 1>Before leaving, we had this plan, right, my husband is super plan driven, like he wants everything structured, and I'm kind of more like on the whim a little bit more.

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<v Speaker 1>But we did have a structure of like what I was going to do, what we were going to do and our plan for the next five years or whatever, and that kind of just went out the window whenever you get there and it's like you don't know the language, you don't have a visa, you're 21 years old, like it's not you know, and so that's kind of what happened to me.

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<v Speaker 1>So my security at the time was finishing school.

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<v Speaker 1>So that was kind of like my focus for those years and I loved it.

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<v Speaker 1>I got to experience the world at the same time finishing you know, my school.

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<v Speaker 1>But when schooling ended, I just had like this void.

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<v Speaker 1>I was like I'm a mom and I'm at home all the time, like I want to be able to also do something else.

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<v Speaker 1>Right, I looked into start like maybe working in a boutique, something right, right right, clothing, accessories, fashion, all that stuff.

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<v Speaker 1>But at the same time, my husband's career I always depended on what he was doing.

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<v Speaker 1>So which is so hard for someone who that grows up in this, like you know, no matter what anybody says to battle at family about it being male dominated in a cheese mode, it's the mashery arcade.

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<v Speaker 1>The mom runs the family.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, she's absolutely dead.

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<v Speaker 1>So it's like you're the neck.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, here's how that must've been really hard, yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>So that was the thing for me.

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<v Speaker 1>I was like, ok, I want to be able to kind of have my own thing, I want to be the stay-at-home mom for my kids, because obviously I love being able to do that and I know not everyone has that luxury, you know.

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<v Speaker 1>But when I actually it took me a little bit to kind of figure out how I was.

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<v Speaker 1>Like my timeline was I finished school.

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<v Speaker 1>I was already like Elena was already here for like two years when I finished school.

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<v Speaker 1>Actually, I finished school and I was pregnant with my second baby, so I turned in my thesis, I graduated everything, my son was born and there I was like, ok, I need to figure this out, I can't keep doing this.

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<v Speaker 1>So it was just kind of a weird turn of events kind of thing, I all of a sudden got really interested in the manufacturing side of handbags and I watched a documentary unexpectedly one night while I was there with my child and I was just like learning a bunch about this and I just randomly told my husband I was like I need like a creative outlet, I need a passion project, I need something that kind of keeps me busy.

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<v Speaker 1>And so that's how kind of how it all started.

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<v Speaker 1>As far as like the research, I did not speak Italian at the time.

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<v Speaker 1>I understood everything but I never got to the point where I felt comfortable speaking it.

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<v Speaker 1>So starting the brand and starting all this stuff kind of also gave me that push to speak and learn and everything.

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<v Speaker 1>So yeah, that's kind of how it all started, but the more I kind of like once I dove into it, buying your book was the first step I took.

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<v Speaker 1>I bought the handbag designer 101.

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<v Speaker 1>And that was kind of like the catalyst to this whole thing Because my god, I didn't even know it was possible.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, I hope the book helped.

00:16:27.024 --> 00:16:28.229
<v Speaker 1>No, it did.

00:16:28.229 --> 00:16:31.508
<v Speaker 1>It did because I knew nothing about handbags, fashion.

00:16:31.508 --> 00:16:39.149
<v Speaker 1>I knew nothing, sorry, like I knew what I learned from business school about, right, how to start something, management, that kind of stuff.

00:16:39.149 --> 00:16:45.770
<v Speaker 1>But as far as, like the creative side, it gave me a better picture of what I was kind of stepping into.

00:16:45.770 --> 00:16:54.227
<v Speaker 1>So I mean, the hook of the book was really how to start a handbag line when you know absolutely nothing about being a handbag designer or handbags.

00:16:54.568 --> 00:17:03.024
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that's what happened to me and I just kept detailed notes and then it turned into this like oh damn, maybe this should be a book.

00:17:03.024 --> 00:17:10.884
<v Speaker 1>And actually I didn't know that it wasn't until I met a woman in jury duty and it was grand jury duty and that's a month.

00:17:10.884 --> 00:17:27.519
<v Speaker 1>And I mean I know you've been out of the country, I know you're just back in the country, but you know, with jury duty it's a bunch of chuckle heads Like you're like this one's crazier than the next and you find the person who looks and behaves the least crazy and you're like we're going to be friends, I'm going to sit next to you and that's it.

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:39.415
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and she had a bunch of bridal magazines and you know wedding magazines are really heavy, so to carry them around it's like either you're getting married or you're not.

00:17:39.415 --> 00:17:40.730
<v Speaker 1>She didn't have a ring.

00:17:40.730 --> 00:17:42.571
<v Speaker 1>So I'm like, oh, she's industry.

00:17:42.865 --> 00:17:45.432
<v Speaker 1>So I went over to her and like, what's with the books?

00:17:45.432 --> 00:17:46.296
<v Speaker 1>And no ring.

00:17:46.296 --> 00:17:50.355
<v Speaker 1>And she's like, oh, one of my clients is writing a bridal book.

00:17:50.355 --> 00:17:53.653
<v Speaker 1>And I was like clients book, yeah.

00:17:53.653 --> 00:17:56.992
<v Speaker 1>So by the end she's like you know, you should write a book about this.

00:17:56.992 --> 00:18:01.555
<v Speaker 1>I'm like, ok, and that's the only to really have the book happened.

00:18:01.555 --> 00:18:10.470
<v Speaker 1>And I said, well, I already have it half written because I have a dossier of everything I've been doing, because I've made so many mistakes, not knowing a damn thing about any of this.

00:18:10.470 --> 00:18:14.224
<v Speaker 1>Yes, and it was like, ok, here's a pitfall after pitfall.

00:18:14.224 --> 00:18:26.515
<v Speaker 1>And I started teaching while I was finishing my MBA and I started having handbag designer clients while I was running my line and my line had, literally, was just still a zygote.

00:18:26.515 --> 00:18:38.630
<v Speaker 1>So it was kind of hilarious that here I am teaching students about fashion, marketing and PR when I've only been doing this for 10 minutes, and let alone now people are paying me to consult for them why I might as well have a book.

00:18:38.630 --> 00:18:53.169
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and it gives incredible credibility, even if it has been for just 10 minutes, according to my school, but a year's in the making If you ever wanted to start a handbag brand and you didn't know where to start, this is for you.

00:18:54.164 --> 00:18:59.009
<v Speaker 1>If you had dreams of becoming a handbag designer but aren't trained in design, this is for you.

00:18:59.009 --> 00:19:03.675
<v Speaker 1>If you have a handbag brand and need strategy and direction, this is for you.

00:19:03.675 --> 00:19:12.295
<v Speaker 1>I'm Emily Blumenthal, handbag designer expert and handbag fairy godmother, and this is the handbag designer one on one masterclass.

00:19:12.295 --> 00:19:28.464
<v Speaker 1>Over the next 10 classes, I will break down everything you need to know to make, manufacture and market a handbag brand, broken down to ensure that you will not only skip steps in the handbag building process, but also to save money to avoid the learning curve of costly mistakes.

00:19:28.464 --> 00:19:39.565
<v Speaker 1>For the past 20 years, I've been teaching at the top fashion universities in New York City, wrote the handbag designer Bible, founded the handbag awards and created the only handbag designer podcast.

00:19:39.565 --> 00:19:46.598
<v Speaker 1>I'm going to show you like I have countless brands to create in this in-depth course, from sketch to sample to sale.

00:19:47.040 --> 00:19:56.045
<v Speaker 1>Whether you're just starting out and don't even know where to start or begin, or if you've had a brand and need some strategic direction, the handbag designer one on one masterclass is just for you.

00:19:56.045 --> 00:19:59.884
<v Speaker 1>So let's get started and you'll be the creator of the next it bag.

00:19:59.884 --> 00:20:04.204
<v Speaker 1>Join me, emily Blumenthal, in the handbag designer one on one masterclass.

00:20:04.204 --> 00:20:16.980
<v Speaker 1>So be sure to sign up at Emily Blumenthalcom slash masterclass and type in the code on cast to get 10% off your masterclass today.

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:23.763
<v Speaker 1>Well, fun fact, the book didn't come out until the handbag awards was around out for like five or six years.

00:20:23.763 --> 00:20:28.353
<v Speaker 1>I mean the book was like a six year gestation period is like giving birth to an ostrich or something like that.

00:20:28.353 --> 00:20:40.724
<v Speaker 1>Well, yeah, I mean it took a lot of iterations and redoing, but in the end I think, much like anything launching a brand, you need some sort of street cred for people to take you seriously.

00:20:40.724 --> 00:20:44.452
<v Speaker 1>So, going back to you, you start this idea.

00:20:44.452 --> 00:20:46.416
<v Speaker 1>You see this documentary.

00:20:46.416 --> 00:20:50.523
<v Speaker 1>How would you turn key this into like have a first sample?

00:20:50.523 --> 00:20:51.005
<v Speaker 1>Now I'm doing this.

00:20:51.005 --> 00:21:01.325
<v Speaker 1>No, like, when I look back, it was a year of just research for me because it's should be right, and so for me it was okay.

00:21:01.325 --> 00:21:02.391
<v Speaker 1>Like, what possibility for one?

00:21:02.391 --> 00:21:06.365
<v Speaker 1>Yes, I'm in Italy, but like, is anything around me?

00:21:06.365 --> 00:21:08.723
<v Speaker 1>Are there companies or there are manufacturers?

00:21:08.723 --> 00:21:10.498
<v Speaker 1>Are the suppliers here near me?

00:21:10.498 --> 00:21:11.484
<v Speaker 1>Can I go see them?

00:21:11.484 --> 00:21:24.404
<v Speaker 1>And I, you know, and I had to talk to them, right, exactly, and so, like I know, linkedin is like really big right now, but at the time, linkedin was just kind of like a place to put like your resume and that, right, you just hadn't there.

00:21:24.404 --> 00:21:26.612
<v Speaker 1>So I think it's a great idea to have a little bit of a little bit of a.

00:21:27.484 --> 00:21:32.737
<v Speaker 1>I started reaching out to different manufacturers and suppliers and like are they?

00:21:32.737 --> 00:21:38.955
<v Speaker 1>Yes, in English, but then I would like try to Google translate, and Google translate wasn't, was busted.

00:21:38.955 --> 00:21:48.733
<v Speaker 1>It was busted back then, exactly, and so I reached out to a lady which, this is another thing is, there was a lot of trial and error to do you trust, to do you not trust.

00:21:48.733 --> 00:21:53.169
<v Speaker 1>Like I mean, I'm five, two and I look like I'm 14.

00:21:53.169 --> 00:21:58.125
<v Speaker 1>Half the time when I get on the calls with people, they'd be like who are you Like?

00:21:58.125 --> 00:21:59.269
<v Speaker 1>How's your?

00:21:59.269 --> 00:22:02.477
<v Speaker 1>Because Europe did video chats whereas America didn't.

00:22:02.477 --> 00:22:03.669
<v Speaker 1>So you were already ahead.

00:22:03.669 --> 00:22:05.609
<v Speaker 1>Yes, you were skype on people.

00:22:05.609 --> 00:22:06.970
<v Speaker 1>Yes, exactly.

00:22:06.970 --> 00:22:11.055
<v Speaker 1>So that was not a good contact to have in the long run.

00:22:11.055 --> 00:22:13.491
<v Speaker 1>We ran into some complications and whatnot.

00:22:13.632 --> 00:22:32.655
<v Speaker 1>But she was the one that kind of like gave me the ground, words fit, and kind of told me like you have to do this and you have to contact this person first and whatever, and one day, scrolling through Instagram, I run into a post by linear Pele which is like the trade show for Martin.

00:22:32.655 --> 00:22:33.884
<v Speaker 1>I don't know what you call them.

00:22:33.884 --> 00:22:36.554
<v Speaker 1>I always call them trade show, but I guess it's not a trade show.

00:22:36.554 --> 00:22:38.059
<v Speaker 1>It's a trade show in Italy.

00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:40.190
<v Speaker 1>It is, yeah, it's our people.

00:22:40.190 --> 00:22:41.555
<v Speaker 1>It's a trade show, yeah.

00:22:41.885 --> 00:22:50.325
<v Speaker 1>And so there I kind of got like my first wind of like OK, these are the suppliers, this is the materials and the trends and everything.

00:22:50.325 --> 00:22:52.105
<v Speaker 1>And I'm like, ok, I'm here.

00:22:52.105 --> 00:22:57.847
<v Speaker 1>So I picked up literally every brochure that I could find, and like any little piece of paper.

00:22:57.847 --> 00:23:01.096
<v Speaker 1>I got to the hotel room and I started like organizing.

00:23:01.096 --> 00:23:04.464
<v Speaker 1>I put into Google Translate, like what does this mean?

00:23:04.464 --> 00:23:11.751
<v Speaker 1>You know, it was like a hole, but it was so fun to me because for me at the time it wasn't like, oh, I'm starting a brand, I'm starting a business.

00:23:11.751 --> 00:23:13.403
<v Speaker 1>It was just, this is fun.

00:23:13.403 --> 00:23:15.164
<v Speaker 1>Like I got a babysitter for the day.

00:23:15.164 --> 00:23:18.955
<v Speaker 1>I'm going to take a train in Milan and I'm going to go do this, you know, oh my God.

00:23:18.955 --> 00:23:20.309
<v Speaker 1>And so, yeah.

00:23:20.349 --> 00:23:40.107
<v Speaker 1>So in one of the books, I ended up finding my first manufacturer and before I contacted them, I took a course on digital design with a girl from Argentina and she was great because I could speak Spanish and she could kind of like explain to me the process in a language that I understood, right, and yeah.

00:23:40.107 --> 00:23:46.805
<v Speaker 1>So I learned like the basics of design, like all the different elements and the names to all the different, like your book.

00:23:46.805 --> 00:23:57.345
<v Speaker 1>I had your book that had like all the Silhouette directory, exactly, and so it had the anatomy of the handbag, because you have to know how to speak to something, exactly, exactly.

00:23:57.345 --> 00:23:58.964
<v Speaker 1>So that was just it.

00:23:58.964 --> 00:24:03.325
<v Speaker 1>I just from an Instagram post going to the trade show I don't know, it was weird.

00:24:03.325 --> 00:24:09.403
<v Speaker 1>I don't want to say that it was luck, because I think we create our own look, obviously because I was looking in the right places.

00:24:09.423 --> 00:24:12.884
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, all the little pieces just kind of lined up over and over again.

00:24:12.884 --> 00:24:18.125
<v Speaker 1>I did call like a thousand, not only say a thousand, but I called a ton of manufacturers.

00:24:18.125 --> 00:24:49.589
<v Speaker 1>I got a bunch of nose, you know, and then the one that I reached out, they were eight hours away from where we lived and I took a train and presented myself because I was like, if I like, it's weird I know today a lot of business is done virtually because of everything that happened, but for me, virtually especially over there like people want to see you face to face, they believe they trust you, yeah, yeah, and I just kind of pitched it to the idea to the manufacturer and he's like you know what?

00:24:49.589 --> 00:24:57.775
<v Speaker 1>I normally don't do this, but I have three daughters and they all work here with me at the factory and I see that you're super passionate about this.

00:24:57.775 --> 00:25:00.032
<v Speaker 1>I'm going to give you a shot, kind of thing.

00:25:00.032 --> 00:25:20.894
<v Speaker 1>Isn't that wild that you've got to pitch yourself to a manufacturer that you're going to pay, right, I'm like I will pay you to do this and no, and over there it's very well, it's all about respect and you know, it's like you work for them and not the other way around, because they will not tolerate their time being wasted because otherwise you'll get bumped.

00:25:20.894 --> 00:25:27.476
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, exactly, and so for me, that was the thing that I had to learn very early on.

00:25:27.476 --> 00:25:33.405
<v Speaker 1>That really, there, and I was honestly, I didn't even negotiate, anything Like.

00:25:33.405 --> 00:25:39.935
<v Speaker 1>Looking back, I was like, wow, I probably could have gotten those samples for like 50 euros less than what I ended up paying them for.

00:25:39.935 --> 00:25:43.075
<v Speaker 1>But I just wanted my foot in the door somewhere, right?

00:25:43.075 --> 00:25:45.498
<v Speaker 1>So he gave me the pricing and everything.

00:25:45.498 --> 00:25:54.646
<v Speaker 1>And I talked to my husband because obviously I was not working at the time, right, and I was like, look, I want to do this 8, scannon, be a commitment from the both of us.

00:25:54.646 --> 00:26:09.871
<v Speaker 1>You know like, you're the one that's technically working out there and earning money, right, but I'm really passionate about this and we talked about it for a little bit and he was always super supportive and so that's kind of how it all started in a nutshell, because it was.

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:15.310
<v Speaker 1>It's so interesting because people always say you manifested that, you manifested that.

00:26:15.310 --> 00:26:26.530
<v Speaker 1>It's not that I'm averse to this construct of manifesting, but I think on the flip side it's bullshit, because when you're working 24, seven on something that's not manifesting, that's work.

00:26:26.530 --> 00:26:30.244
<v Speaker 1>Wow, you know that's work.

00:26:30.244 --> 00:26:32.189
<v Speaker 1>You know that's work.

00:26:32.189 --> 00:26:34.323
<v Speaker 1>I know All the site one.

00:26:34.323 --> 00:26:38.549
<v Speaker 1>It's like did your husband manifest being a basketball player?

00:26:38.549 --> 00:26:51.711
<v Speaker 1>Or did his mom take him to practices every day, you know, since he was six years old, and run around taking him places and bring him snacks and make sure he did his training and make?

00:26:51.711 --> 00:26:59.692
<v Speaker 1>I have to say this because this is Anytime I see an athlete I always ask you know, how involved was your mom in this process?

00:26:59.692 --> 00:27:02.204
<v Speaker 1>Oh for sure Someone needed to get you there.

00:27:02.204 --> 00:27:11.324
<v Speaker 1>So you know, this isn't manifesting, this is like you made it happen, because, number one, there wasn't an alternative and number two, like that's it.

00:27:11.324 --> 00:27:12.868
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that was it.

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:21.325
<v Speaker 1>And it's not that I'm against 100%, like saying against manifestation, but I think it's having the right mindset.

00:27:21.325 --> 00:27:33.608
<v Speaker 1>I think, obviously, of like be like, okay, this is what I want and I'm going to go after it, but it's like, oh, it just happened and like you know, because I thought about it one day and it just magically, yeah, yeah.

00:27:33.608 --> 00:27:37.907
<v Speaker 1>So you know, just to move ahead a little bit.

00:27:37.907 --> 00:27:40.808
<v Speaker 1>So your bags were beautifully made.

00:27:40.808 --> 00:27:48.467
<v Speaker 1>I loved the colors and you know it always had such a soft and thoughtful palette and I really liked your hardware.

00:27:48.467 --> 00:27:54.921
<v Speaker 1>Do you think that having your bags made in Italy, which is something most people aspire to?

00:27:54.921 --> 00:28:13.090
<v Speaker 1>You know your bags were on the expensive side, yeah, so that must have been challenging trying to get into mainstream, get people to understand and pay, because the consumer public of who your potential customer is it's very difficult to convince them that your product is worth the money and they should come back.

00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:17.049
<v Speaker 1>So how did you grapple with that in terms of brand evolution?

00:28:17.049 --> 00:28:33.151
<v Speaker 1>And it's not like I have that completely figured out because it's still a very ongoing process, and it happened where I changed kind of the brand story and the brand messaging to kind of fit the new person that I was marketing my products to.

00:28:33.151 --> 00:28:44.867
<v Speaker 1>So my first two silhouettes were a backpack and the mini backpack right, and packs are difficult when there was and it was all leather yes, that's very difficult, yeah, as you learned.

00:28:44.867 --> 00:28:46.463
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

00:28:46.463 --> 00:29:03.666
<v Speaker 1>And for me, I was so set on and that's the one thing looking back, I was like I was so focused on becoming this creative that I didn't really take the time to learn about the marketing, the sales, the distribution, like how do I get people to buy this product, kind of thing.

00:29:03.666 --> 00:29:08.270
<v Speaker 1>So it was all trial and error for years, basically.

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:14.531
<v Speaker 1>But I want to say that I wanted to be as true as possible to why I started this to begin with.

00:29:14.531 --> 00:29:23.067
<v Speaker 1>Italy for me, is a huge part of my story, my family story, the brand story, that for me it was more so.

00:29:23.067 --> 00:29:24.665
<v Speaker 1>I don't know if I wanted to.

00:29:24.665 --> 00:29:32.929
<v Speaker 1>I never really set out to be like, hey, I want to be the next IT bag, which I know that's what the awards and everything is kind of about.

00:29:32.929 --> 00:29:44.453
<v Speaker 1>But I just wanted to create something that was true, that the authentic made in Italy label, and try to price it in a range that wasn't $1,500 for a leather backpack.

00:29:44.453 --> 00:30:08.790
<v Speaker 1>I wanted it to be somewhere where it was more accessible in a way, but I learned the hard way that business-wise, margins and everything into consideration it's not a profitable model to create a completely made in Italy handbag all leather, great hardware, like you said and price it at a point where it's accessible for some, obviously.

00:30:08.790 --> 00:30:14.545
<v Speaker 1>But when it comes to the business side of things, it was very difficult and I struggle with that daily.

00:30:14.545 --> 00:30:23.487
<v Speaker 1>After the awards, I was able to do a partnership with Wolf and Badger, so the awards kind of gave me that window.

00:30:23.487 --> 00:30:30.351
<v Speaker 1>I guess it gave me credibility as a handbag designer, since I felt like I needed that confidence.

00:30:30.351 --> 00:30:38.240
<v Speaker 1>Exactly, I earned that kind of street cred with the awards that we were talking about earlier and that's the one thing For me.

00:30:38.520 --> 00:30:50.752
<v Speaker 1>After the pandemic, 2021, 2020 and 2021, really for the brand were great, but for me it was so tough dealing with everything at home then trying to grow this by myself.

00:30:50.752 --> 00:30:54.170
<v Speaker 1>I ended up taking two years away from the brand.

00:30:54.170 --> 00:31:03.069
<v Speaker 1>I put everything on hold and I was like I don't think I'm ready for this, I don't think I'm prepared enough, I need to take some time to continue researching on how to do this.

00:31:03.069 --> 00:31:14.531
<v Speaker 1>I ended up signing up for a master's in marketing while I was in Italy and then life happened again and I'm back here again, kind of trying to figure everything out again.

00:31:14.531 --> 00:31:18.148
<v Speaker 1>So I feel like it's always like this constant loop of up and down.

00:31:18.148 --> 00:31:25.326
<v Speaker 1>Right, you think you have things figured out and then you run into a wall and then you have to kind of do everything.

00:31:25.326 --> 00:31:29.888
<v Speaker 1>So for me, right now, I ended up getting a partner with the brand.

00:31:29.888 --> 00:31:34.150
<v Speaker 1>She had something, yeah, and so together we're kind of Was that hard?

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:36.065
<v Speaker 1>Was it hard to give up control?

00:31:36.065 --> 00:31:43.470
<v Speaker 1>Or were you like, oh, thank God, no, no, For me it was either I give up on it completely or I get help.

00:31:43.470 --> 00:31:46.205
<v Speaker 1>And that's where, for me, it was like I loved it.

00:31:46.205 --> 00:31:49.287
<v Speaker 1>It was a lot Like it was a lot of thinking.

00:31:49.287 --> 00:31:56.032
<v Speaker 1>Like you say, give up some of this control and bring someone in, or do I just stop?

00:31:56.032 --> 00:32:03.228
<v Speaker 1>And it's just kind of like this hobby that maybe I create bags for myself because I love handbags and the made in Italy thing and everything.

00:32:03.228 --> 00:32:04.865
<v Speaker 1>But that's where we're at right now.

00:32:04.865 --> 00:32:08.209
<v Speaker 1>So we're kind of in this relaunch of the brand right now.

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:11.950
<v Speaker 1>She has a background in marketing, which is super helpful for me.

00:32:11.950 --> 00:32:14.324
<v Speaker 1>How did you meet her and how did that happen?

00:32:14.324 --> 00:32:16.084
<v Speaker 1>That was all via LinkedIn.

00:32:16.084 --> 00:32:18.545
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, she is great.

00:32:18.545 --> 00:32:19.785
<v Speaker 1>Her name is Cassie Tucker.

00:32:19.785 --> 00:32:29.047
<v Speaker 1>She's been not only for, like, the building of the brand and business and everything, but just a great support system, and I think we kind of touched on that earlier.

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:37.565
<v Speaker 1>This process, or this journey, can be so lonely and I have to fucking spend isolating, isolating, oh my gosh.

00:32:37.565 --> 00:32:47.089
<v Speaker 1>And so I tried before trying to find someone that maybe I could collab with or something together, but being over there, it was nearly impossible, yeah.

00:32:47.089 --> 00:32:52.451
<v Speaker 1>And so when I found her, it was not only were we building our store, where is she from?

00:32:52.451 --> 00:32:53.583
<v Speaker 1>Who is her?

00:32:53.583 --> 00:32:56.247
<v Speaker 1>So she is from Florida.

00:32:56.247 --> 00:33:00.487
<v Speaker 1>She lived in New York, she worked for a marketing agency in New York.

00:33:00.487 --> 00:33:05.207
<v Speaker 1>She also moved around the country a good bet and so we kind of bonded on that.

00:33:05.207 --> 00:33:12.211
<v Speaker 1>So, yeah, so she is now like she's a big part of what Lays that Eyes is aspiring to become.

00:33:12.211 --> 00:33:16.596
<v Speaker 1>And, yeah, I wish I was at the point in my journey where I can be like.

00:33:16.596 --> 00:33:17.701
<v Speaker 1>This is what I did.

00:33:17.701 --> 00:33:26.510
<v Speaker 1>Now I'm successful and this is how other people can do it Right, but I'm still very much still in the growing phase and I'm still learning a ton daily.

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:32.191
<v Speaker 1>So well, I think you know, look to be a designer, to create a brand.

00:33:32.191 --> 00:33:41.503
<v Speaker 1>We all know what the market is, we know how saturated it is, we know what it takes and how challenging it is to create our own USP, our own unique selling point.

00:33:41.503 --> 00:34:05.580
<v Speaker 1>And, with the evolution of social media and this idea that you must be a brand with fans, I don't think there's anything to apologize, to say that this is taking time for me to get it right and to figure out how to make this work, because, at the end of the day, the goal of creating a brand is, yes, to make a beautiful product, make people happy, but it's to make money and get people to come back and buy the gap.

00:34:05.580 --> 00:34:13.673
<v Speaker 1>So if that takes you more time, then it takes you more time.

00:34:13.673 --> 00:34:15.144
<v Speaker 1>That's it.

00:34:15.144 --> 00:34:26.811
<v Speaker 1>And I think as a designer, I think especially as a woman and as a mom, and your accountability for your time and you, at the end of the day, evaluate like how successful was I, how much?

00:34:26.811 --> 00:34:32.164
<v Speaker 1>What did I bring in or what did I do, and to quantify your success per day, especially due to physical difficulties from many people.

00:34:32.224 --> 00:34:53.072
<v Speaker 1>If you're physically forcing your processes of when you're doing something like this, when the ROI isn't so tangible that you know, you have to measure everything in moments, like okay, so today I figured this out, now I'm moving this forward and here's how I'm doing this, and I think, as a result of that, I can do this, which could then create something that people will theoretically come back and buy.

00:34:53.072 --> 00:34:55.070
<v Speaker 1>I mean, are your bags still going to be made in Italy?

00:34:55.070 --> 00:34:57.449
<v Speaker 1>Yes, yeah, 100%.

00:34:57.449 --> 00:35:00.474
<v Speaker 1>That's the one thing that I won't sacrifice.

00:35:00.474 --> 00:35:04.976
<v Speaker 1>Is that because that's the one thing that I hold very dear?

00:35:04.976 --> 00:35:14.150
<v Speaker 1>Because then, like, if I manufacture outside of the country, it kind of loses for me the meaning of what I was creating, the DNA of your brand?

00:35:14.150 --> 00:35:18.989
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, because I always saw it as, like my connection still to Italy.

00:35:18.989 --> 00:35:34.768
<v Speaker 1>And so this day, like we're planning trips to go there, to go meet again with another manufacturer that after the backpacks were made, I ran into other issues and I had to find another manufacturer and this one is actually amazing and it's just.

00:35:35.128 --> 00:35:35.469
<v Speaker 1>I don't know.

00:35:35.469 --> 00:35:37.795
<v Speaker 1>I'm very loyal in that sense.

00:35:37.795 --> 00:35:38.496
<v Speaker 1>But that's it.

00:35:38.496 --> 00:35:40.407
<v Speaker 1>That's a female thing we have.

00:35:40.407 --> 00:35:42.594
<v Speaker 1>It takes a lot for us to leave.

00:35:42.594 --> 00:35:59.094
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I don't want to say anything, you know, relationship-wise, but by nature we are known to be very loyal to people who are nice to us and whether or not they're taking advantage of us or taking money or it's a bad deal, they are nice to us.

00:35:59.094 --> 00:36:19.534
<v Speaker 1>And if they are nice to us and they listen and they give us a few nuggets of education, maybe try it this way or that way, then you quantify it in your head like well, you know they're doing this for me and they're doing that for me, and that's experience that takes for you to be a lot more cutthroat, not even so much cutthroat, but be like no right costing me too much.

00:36:19.534 --> 00:36:25.570
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, this is, I'm creating a product that's too expensive because I lack scale.

00:36:25.570 --> 00:36:30.210
<v Speaker 1>It will probably never lower my prices because I came in as a freshman.

00:36:30.210 --> 00:36:37.112
<v Speaker 1>Now I'm a senior and they're still treating me like a freshman and I'm being charged as a freshman and that's very difficult for you to be like.

00:36:37.112 --> 00:36:41.592
<v Speaker 1>I have to break up with this person in order to evolve and grow my brand.

00:36:41.592 --> 00:36:48.969
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so for me there's that element of like emotional attachment to the made in Italy kind of storyline.

00:36:49.545 --> 00:36:54.952
<v Speaker 1>But the one thing that I've learned, too, in this process is just surrounding yourself with the right people.

00:36:54.952 --> 00:37:00.353
<v Speaker 1>Like you said, I am more so and I'm a cancer, so I'm very like nurture.

00:37:00.353 --> 00:37:02.711
<v Speaker 1>I'm like go with the signs again.

00:37:02.711 --> 00:37:05.713
<v Speaker 1>I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you're psyched.

00:37:05.713 --> 00:37:08.753
<v Speaker 1>No, I mean, it's like every third person brings it up.

00:37:08.753 --> 00:37:12.213
<v Speaker 1>I'm a cancer too, but you know, I guess that's a nurturer.

00:37:12.213 --> 00:37:18.333
<v Speaker 1>I don't know, I don't, I don't, I don't like I haven't gained that skill.

00:37:18.333 --> 00:37:26.748
<v Speaker 1>I want to say I don't, want to say I don't have because I haven't gained that skill yet, to the point because I have been screwed over and it hasn't right and I haven't.

00:37:26.748 --> 00:37:31.152
<v Speaker 1>And I have like taken out my anger, not on the person but like at home.

00:37:31.152 --> 00:37:33.172
<v Speaker 1>I get frustrated and I vent and everything.

00:37:33.172 --> 00:37:38.847
<v Speaker 1>But yeah, I have surrounded myself with people who maybe aren't so much like me, where they're more.

00:37:39.150 --> 00:37:47.231
<v Speaker 1>Okay, hennessy, like I will handle this part of maybe the negotiation process or whatever, and I was super lucky to have met.

00:37:47.231 --> 00:37:48.568
<v Speaker 1>Her name is Annalisa.

00:37:48.568 --> 00:38:02.431
<v Speaker 1>She used to have a boutique in Italy before COVID and everything, and she brought my bags into her store and she kind of helped me understand what it means to go retail instead of just direct to consumer from my website kind of thing.

00:38:02.431 --> 00:38:07.150
<v Speaker 1>And she is that business person where it's like look, they're charging you too much.

00:38:07.150 --> 00:38:10.514
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, you have to lay the groundwork.

00:38:10.514 --> 00:38:13.253
<v Speaker 1>If this doesn't work, then you move on to the next person.

00:38:13.253 --> 00:38:24.333
<v Speaker 1>So I'm starting to build that network of women, whether it's to grow from, like to learn from or have them directly be like look, I will go, I will talk to them and I'll get this figured out for you.

00:38:24.864 --> 00:38:27.634
<v Speaker 1>You know two points for us to wrap up.

00:38:27.634 --> 00:38:49.913
<v Speaker 1>One, the value of having a boutique owner who tells it like it is, because I think people underestimate the value of those retail connections, because they are the eyes and the ears of the consumer that will say people would buy this if, if this was a different color, if this was a different material, if this was significantly less expensive.

00:38:49.913 --> 00:38:54.329
<v Speaker 1>We need those people, and not only that, but they pay you upfront.

00:38:54.329 --> 00:39:04.969
<v Speaker 1>So this whole thing about getting into department stores people get all glitz and glam and, as I said to designers, where they're like oh, I almost got into Saks, I said, well, I almost went, got into Saks, but then I went and got sushi.

00:39:04.969 --> 00:39:09.172
<v Speaker 1>You know it's like you're either in or you're out and they see the value in these department stores.

00:39:09.172 --> 00:39:11.972
<v Speaker 1>They consider you based on traction, sales.

00:39:11.972 --> 00:39:14.833
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it's basically, it's 100%.

00:39:14.833 --> 00:39:19.675
<v Speaker 1>And two, the importance of having more than one manufacturer.

00:39:19.675 --> 00:39:29.791
<v Speaker 1>It's hedging your bets, like anything, because if one screws you then you're left with nothing and you need to have a few of them, one who could do this, one who could do that and then cross-pollinate the sampling.

00:39:29.791 --> 00:39:32.233
<v Speaker 1>So you know it just happens or that happens.

00:39:32.233 --> 00:39:33.188
<v Speaker 1>I've got backups.

00:39:33.704 --> 00:39:46.987
<v Speaker 1>So I think all this information has been so educational and I want to thank you so much for sharing your journey and truly, and to see I'm so taken with your process and your passion.

00:39:46.987 --> 00:39:50.934
<v Speaker 1>And you know people say passion but you know, like, does passion make you money?

00:39:50.934 --> 00:40:01.311
<v Speaker 1>Well, maybe not, but I think you needed to keep you going and you know I understand that you had to press pause, because sometimes we do have to press pause and we have to leave it sitting there.

00:40:01.311 --> 00:40:18.492
<v Speaker 1>And you know wine gets its taste and flavor over a number of years and I think you know you have to sometimes go on that path to look at it from all angles, after all the shit you've been through, to see it in a way like, okay, my life has changed and therefore that kind of back has changed.

00:40:18.492 --> 00:40:20.791
<v Speaker 1>Therefore, my customer may have changed too.

00:40:20.791 --> 00:40:28.708
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so if you could share us how we can follow and learn more about and with Lesada and get more information?

00:40:28.708 --> 00:40:35.478
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so our website is Lesada L E I S A R A dot com.

00:40:35.478 --> 00:40:39.655
<v Speaker 1>I am on Instagram, which is Lesada dot studio.

00:40:39.655 --> 00:40:41.471
<v Speaker 1>You can find Neil LinkedIn.

00:40:41.844 --> 00:40:45.695
<v Speaker 1>Even though I'm not an expert, my brand hasn't made it huge.

00:40:45.695 --> 00:40:46.246
<v Speaker 1>I'm not.

00:40:46.246 --> 00:40:50.110
<v Speaker 1>You know, beyonce isn't wearing my bag or anything, but not yet.

00:40:50.110 --> 00:40:51.027
<v Speaker 1>Not yet.

00:40:51.027 --> 00:40:55.275
<v Speaker 1>Who knows, you know, but I am a few steps ahead of someone who's just starting out.

00:40:55.364 --> 00:40:57.634
<v Speaker 1>So, even if it's hey, how did you do this part?

00:40:57.634 --> 00:40:59.632
<v Speaker 1>I am happy to lend a hand.

00:40:59.632 --> 00:41:05.688
<v Speaker 1>I share my experience with someone who was me so many years ago, so I get forward.

00:41:05.688 --> 00:41:09.014
<v Speaker 1>You're creating, or have created, this amazing community.

00:41:09.014 --> 00:41:16.215
<v Speaker 1>So, absolutely, If there's anything I can help with, if you see that I can be of help in any way, you know I'm here.

00:41:16.215 --> 00:41:18.833
<v Speaker 1>Thank you so much for having me on the show and just talking.

00:41:18.833 --> 00:41:29.413
<v Speaker 1>It's great to see you again and kind of see what you're up to, and thank you Well, tennessee, thank you for being part of the Handbag Designer 101 podcast and we cannot wait to see what you do next.

00:41:29.413 --> 00:41:33.356
<v Speaker 1>So follow her, learn more and let's keep in touch.

00:41:33.356 --> 00:41:34.248
<v Speaker 1>Thank you so much.

00:41:34.248 --> 00:41:37.485
<v Speaker 1>Thank you, okay, bye, bye.

00:41:37.485 --> 00:41:39.088
<v Speaker 1>Thanks for listening.

00:41:39.088 --> 00:41:44.494
<v Speaker 1>Don't forget to rate and review, and follow us on every single platform at Handbag Designer.

00:41:44.494 --> 00:41:45.356
<v Speaker 1>Thanks so much.

00:41:45.356 --> 00:41:46.387
<v Speaker 1>See you next time.