How to join the bag business, create a successful company in such a market segment in which there is a sufficient number of proposals for every taste, and successfully win your niche in this field?

Elena Protko knows the answers to these questions - a woman who was not afraid of "business sharks" and decided to enter the bag market with her unique creative ideas.

What does Elena do

Elena's main area of ​​work is the manufacture of custom-made bags. Although she tries not to refuse customers and is always happy to take on the manufacture of both bags and wallets, clutches, cosmetic cases, belts, various cases and cases that cannot be found in the store.

Everything is non-standard, original and practically unique. Instead of cheap leatherette materials - leather, fur and their original varieties - the skin of an ostrich, crocodile or snake scales, instead of bored newfangled, but no longer interesting models, the willingness to listen and hear the Customer, making all the wildest dreams and fantasies come true.

Elena started her way to business many years ago. In the late 90s - early 2000s, Elena helped her brother and worked in a workshop that specialized in sewing leather goods. All the attributes of the biker movement - trousers and vests, jackets and gloves - had to be created from scratch, with interest approaching the requests of each client.

It was in this workshop that Elena received her first skills in working with leather. Then she began to make bags - the first bags came out from under the needle of a sewing machine and went to customers along with jackets and pants.

After a while, Elena was noticed and invited to work in a company that was engaged in individual tailoring of bags. Elena was entrusted with both work with individual orders of clients and work on the design of bags. At this point, Elena realized that the bag is a versatile accessory that can emphasize the individuality and beauty of every woman.

Two years ago, in 2012, Elena decided to enter the single player market and left the company. Clients followed the foreman, so Elena did not have an urgent need to study the market in detail, select new clients and invite them to her company. All the developments, for almost a decade and a half of work in the field of sewing accessories, Elena brought in her head and in her hands.

Elena says: “I just did what my soul asked, and besides, from the experience of my past works, I realized that there is a certain layer of men and women who will not be satisfied with the assortment and quality that is on the market”. It was these factors that pushed the businesswoman to start her own business.

About starting costs when starting a business

At first, Elena registered as an individual entrepreneur. The next step was to find a room for work, rent it and re-equip it as a sewing workshop (purchase of the necessary equipment, purchase of materials and hand tools, repair and equipment of the room). The cost of this stage work was approximately 2000-2500 dollars.

Elena was able to receive a gratuitous subsidy of $ 1,000 from the state to start her own business. To receive these additional funds from the state, Elena submitted a business plan and a feasibility study for the project. The businesswoman prepared the documents on her own, because Elena is an engineer-economist at BSUIR by education.

After about a year, this business began to bring not only pleasure from work, but also income.

How it works

With all his desires, ideas and best practices, the client comes directly to the master. The master listens to the client, discusses with him the color and shape, texture and functionality of the thing, the client can tell the master about any of the most unusual or original ideas. A master cannot 100% promise a repetition of the client's imagination, but he can always offer several options for sewing a bag and implementing the customer's idea.

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Those who have been working with Elena for several years trust the master so much that they can place an order directly by phone.
Elena uses leather mainly from domestic (Belarusian) suppliers, and they bring it from Turkey and China, she buys especially original or exotic materials in Moscow and China.

With an average order complexity, Elena spends 2-3 days for one client. Of course, it all depends on the complexity of the pattern of the product, and on the number of original jewelry and design ideas. The most common clutch can be made in 12-14 hours, but you can spend all 4 days on a bag with many pockets and details.

Since this business is the main source of income for Elena, she has to work 8-12 hours a day. Of course, the foreman is not strictly tied to the work schedule and can make herself one scheduled day off in the middle of the week, but in most cases Elena works on Sundays.

Naturally, among the admirers of Elena's talent there are both men and women. Men do not stop at purses and bags and ask the master for covers for weapons, for sports equipment, invent covers for diaries, etc. Elena notes that sometimes men come up with much more interesting ideas than women.

The average cost of a bag from Elena Protko ranges from $ 150 to $ 250. This price includes both profit (at the level of 15-25%), and raw materials, materials, insurance, taxes, rent and wages.

Elena says about the difficulties in her work: “Problems rarely arise. At some point, there may not be suitable leather or accessories at hand. Sometimes the client cannot decide on the style or cut for a long time. But all these questions are temporary. If there is a need to wait for the necessary material, then clients always show understanding. "

About working with clients

Elena is confident that she remains afloat because she offers her customers an exclusive, interesting product that cannot be obtained anywhere. A huge variety of models, exclusivity and a desire to listen to the client - these are the factors that make Elena the favorite of clients.

Most firms engaged in "individual" tailoring can please their customers with only a few basic models, in which they change color, accessories, etc. Elena, on the other hand, treats customers with attention and listens to everyone, wanting to make an interesting project.