anna william

"anna william is owned by four women (a mother, Keek, her two daughters - Erin and Rani, and her daughter-in-law, Kristen). The name `anna william` comes from the names of Erin and Rani`s first born children."

SP: Can you tell our readers a little about your background?

aw: anna william offers custom, one-of-a-kind handbags at our Newburyport and Cambridge Massachusetts locations as well as throughout the country via our home party consultants. We also offer ready-made handbags through our e-boutique and anna william retail locations.

Expression of your creativity is what our company is all about. Each anna william handbag is uniquely crafted and hand-made especially for you!

SP:What type of products does anna william offer?

aw: We offer handbags, totes, cosmetic bags, accessories (belts, key fobs) and a baby line.

SP: Did you need to obtain any patents to develop your product?

aw: Yes, we did.

SP: In the beginning, what was the biggest obstacle standing between you and your dream to make anna william a reality?

aw: Our biggest obstacle was maintaining a healthy balance between work and family.

SP: What were your start-up costs?

aw: Our biggest start-up cost was purchasing fabric/inventory and machinery to manufacture our handbags.

SP: How did you fund the cost to start this business?

aw: Partner investments.

SP: What was the thought process behind the design of your current line of handbags?

aw: We wanted a line of handbags that would suit various ages. We started out with 6 different styles ranging in size and we now offer 22 different styles. We offer a versatile collection of fabrics, including novelty prints, wovens, upholstery fabrics, and silks.

After mixing and matching our fabrics, you will walk away with a feeling of sophistication and style. We are always changing our fabrics and introducing new styles to meet the needs of our fashion-conscious customers!

SP: Can you talk a little bit about the anna william handbag parties?

aw: anna william handbags can be created during regular store hours, at evening handbag parties located at our stores, or in your home at a convenient time for you and your friends. To throw a handbag party all you need is five or more girlfriends and a penchant for having a good time. Parties are perfect for birthday celebrations, wedding festivities or simply a fun girls night out!

SP: What strategy do you implement to select your retail locations?

aw: We are all New Englanders and have all spent time in MA. Therefore, we have opened our two store locations in MA.

SP: Do you have any plans to expand your retail locations?

aw: Our focus right now is to grow our national home handbag consultant program and our online e-boutique.

SP: Do you do more business via your retail outlets or online?

aw: Retail Outlets.

SP: Do you have a manufacturer for your handbags? If so, how did you establish this relationship?

aw: We have our own design studio located in MA. All anna william handbags are hand tailored with the highest quality standards and attention to detail. Each custom handbag is individually cut, stitched and inspected at anna william`s design studio to ensure our> customer is 100% satisfied with their creation.

SP: Do you have any partners in your business? If so, how do you maintain a healthy partnership and manage personalities?

aw: We have 4 partners in our business. Unique, one-of-a-kind handbags are the moniker of our "family affair", created as a collaboration between two sisters, our sister-in-law, and our mom!We had always wanted to open a store on the East Coast and the timing seemed perfect: we each had a desire for a different career and we wanted to do something that would appeal to the fun side of women like us!

Although each of us brings something unique to the business, be it design or customer service or business savvy, it was our shared love of pretty handbags and obsession with fine fabrics that inspired us to open anna william.

SP: Do you have any paid employees?

aw: All of our employees are paid through anna william LLC.

SP: What kind of business did you form? (S-Corporation, LLC, etc.)

aw: LLC

SP: What is your projected revenue for the year?

aw: Confidential

SP: What words of wisdom do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

aw: Do your research - talk with you local Chamber of Commerce and understand what it takes to open a business, determine your competition and survey potential customers to make sure there is a need or a want for your products and/or services. Take a risk!