Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Younger Purpich.
Hi Beth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I literally had a dream about a handbag and woke up to sketch the idea. Without knowing anything about how to design, make or market a handbag I flew to NYC to meet with manufacturers and see if I could take my idea and turn it into an actual bag. Over the past 15 years I have learned so much and have hustled to get to the place where I am. Oh, and that handbag I had a dream about 15 years ago…was the Longhorn bag. It’s still my best selling product!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is always challenging to stay motivated as a creative entrepreneur because you have to motivate yourself and everyone around you. Business problems will happen and have happened. People have stolen money and products from me. My trusted manufacturer of five years even started copying my proprietary designs and making the same exact bag as me and put their own label on them.
They were trying to sell them at the Nutcracker Market in Houston and even went on social media to promote MY designs as their own. Being betrayed by people close to you in business and life is challenging but I was able to move forward with my business and find a new manufacturer. That’s just one of the many problems I have faced, but as long as you know other entrepreneurs are going through their own challenges it makes it less difficult going down your own road.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Creating the most coveted handbags is what I strive to do. People know me best for my iconic Original Longhorn bag design. People also know me as a designer for New York Fashion Week and also for my custom creations. Depending on where I am it is fun to be known for different things. My customer is the urban fashionista, professional career woman, stylish cowgirl, world traveler and more.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
My design process may be seen as backwards. It starts with the leather first. I design the shape of the bag based on the leather/hide sitting in front of me.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@elizabethpurpich.com
- Website: www.elizabethpurpich.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/elizabethpurpich
- Facebook: facebook.com/elizabethpurpichcollection
- Twitter: twitter.com/epurpich
Image Credits:
Todd Parker
STP Images
Tracy Ketcher
