Handbago - The Online Community and Catalogue for Handbag Enthusiasts.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010 by Lydia Parafianowicz
When Sophie’s owner, Kristina Moreno, was on the hunt for a dog carrier for her new puppy last year, she was frustrated by having to search hundreds of websites to find the perfect bag.
“My partner at the time asked if there wasn’t one single site I could visit to see all the bags in world,” Kristina recalls. “So my now husband, Brian Meert, was the one who actually came up with the original idea for Handbago in June 2009. Which is funny because he’s no more of a fashionista than he is a woman!”
Kristina says she and Brian developed a database that would combine designer sites with online stores, featuring new and sale items together. In August 2009, they added social networking to their plan – an editorial blog about All Things Handbag. Customers can rate and review bags, so anyone researching a purchase can read about the bags’ performance in the real world before buying.
“I hope to create a one-stop shop for all those selling and purchasing handbags,” Kristina explains. “It’s a site for both the fashion-obsessed and those looking for a practical bag to buy, like dog carriers, laptop cases, wallets and couture bags.”
Kristina adds that she also hopes to help promote lesser-known designers who need extra help getting a new business off the ground.
“We loved the idea of working directly with the designer,” Kristina says. “There are so many handbag designers out there wanting more promotional options for their companies, we have been very excited about the relationships that we are building.”
In just under one year, the website has grown incredibly rapidly. Kristina says they hope to launch an online shop in the coming months, so customers can buy directly through the website.
“Handbago has grown in both size and idea, and we're taking the handbag database idea to a whole new level,” Kristina explains. “The fashion community has always been protective of their smoke filled mirrors, I want to de-fog those mirrors and bring everyone together. I want an interactive site that gives the consumer the ability to see what is out there in the world of handbags and what is available to them, not just what I deem important or trendy.”
Kristina says she owes much of her success to her supportive team at Handbago, plus the relationships she has built with designers, publicists and editors. She also dedicates countless hours to improving her business.
Outside of work, enjoys hosting dinner parties with friends, practicing interior design, and of course spending time with her little pooch Sophie who started it all.
Shop the website yourself, at www.handbago.com or read their handbag blog
www.handbago.com/blog.
