Turn Upcycling Designer Bags Into A Profitable Business

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Moore, the creative force behind Clutches and Moore, as she shares her inspiring entrepreneurial journey. From a casual FaceTime call that sparked her passion for refurbishing bags to establishing a unique brand focused on craftsmanship over brand names, Jennifer’s story is a testament to creativity and perseverance in the world of fashion. Key Highlights:

• The Birth of Clutch and Moore: Jennifer recounts the moment that ignited her entrepreneurial spirit and the process of turning a hobby into a thriving brand.
• Craftsmanship Over Brand Names: A deep dive into the significance of quality craftsmanship, with Jennifer sharing insights on sourcing and refurbishing designer bags like Coach and Elliot Luca.
• Social Media Impact: Jennifer discusses her presence on Instagram @clutches_more, and her potential plans to expand into refurbishing services.
• Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Encouragement to embrace trial and error, start early, and find joy in the entrepreneurial journey. Jennifer stresses the importance of reassessing one’s pursuits if they cease to be enjoyable.
• Understanding Luxury: A discussion on the Birkin Kelly bag and its exclusivity, exploring the history and craftsmanship that underpin luxury items and encouraging a deeper appreciation for their value.

Inspiration & Education: Jennifer draws inspiration from various media and aims to educate her audience about handbags and their history, fostering a community that values personal growth and understanding the true worth of luxury items. Listen In: Join us for an insightful conversation that encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to find their passion, understand the value of craftsmanship, and appreciate the unique stories behind luxury handbags. Tune in to learn how Jennifer Moore is reshaping perceptions of designer bags and making her mark in the fashion industry! We want to hear from you! If this episode inspired you in anyway take a screen shot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @designersplantsandcoffee and @clutches_moore

[00:00:00.210] – Zahiyya

Welcome to the Designers Plants & Coffee podcast, where we discuss how to succeed as a designer while staying true to yourself, finding peace in the process, and making money doing what we love. Subscribe on YouTube and wherever you get your podcast.  

[00:00:12.430] – Naima

We have the fabulous Jennifer Moore, of Clutches & More, joining us today. Jennifer, let’s start this off by you telling us how you started your brand, Clutches & More.  

[00:00:23.860] – Jennifer

I was playing in my closet one day, and I was on FaceTime with a friend, similar to us right now, just chatting it And she just looked at me and said, Jen, what are you doing? What do you mean? I was sitting there cleaning a bag or refer to doing something to it. And that’s how it started.  

[00:00:38.570] – Naima

Every bag is a designer bag. Tell us about that.  

[00:00:41.380] – Jennifer

I enjoy studying the history behind bags and What made this brand design a handbag? Someone had to manufacture it. This is just my philosophy. I don’t believe the name is just what makes it a designer. Someone had to actually put the pieces together. I tell everyone that when they say, Oh, where did you get that bag? I was like, Oh, my designer made it for me. Luxury is what you make it.  

[00:01:02.220] – Zahiyya

So how do you go about finding a bag?  

[00:01:03.970] – Jennifer

I actually source from everywhere. Some are from my own personal collection, some are from friends, some are from places that I research and study. I do one and done, if you will. I don’t do a whole collection of pieces. So the bag that you get is yours. You may find out in the world that someone may have something similar, maybe a similar color, but I don’t do a whole assortment of the same style or brand of bag.  

[00:01:29.440] – Zahiyya

I mean, once you find the bag, do you personalize it at all?  

[00:01:32.410] – Jennifer

I don’t do that. So I do several. I’ll tell you that some of my favorite brands are Coach, B. M. M. M. M. It totally ranges. Rebecca Menko. So I don’t necessarily brand them myself. I do refurbish them. I do clean them up. I do make them look new. I do make them presentable. And I tell people all the time, I’m not going to provide you with anything that I wouldn’t provide myself.  

[00:01:59.730] – Zahiyya

Where do you sell your bags?  

[00:02:00.880] – Jennifer

Right now, I’m online, and I do pop-ups.  

[00:02:03.120] – Zahiyya

Okay, and where can people find you online?  

[00:02:05.200] – Jennifer

It’s my Instagram, clutches_more. But if you follow my personal page, morelove0515.  

[00:02:12.060] – Zahiyya

If somebody had a bag and they want you to refurbish it, do you offer that service as well, or do you just do the ones that you find?  

[00:02:19.730] – Jennifer

So that is actually a service that I’m looking into starting. I don’t do it necessarily for the public, just yet. I do it for my friends.  

[00:02:25.460] – Zahiyya

If you can go back when you started, what would you tell yourself?  

[00:02:28.860] – Jennifer

I would say, do it. What Why would you take you so long? You know what I mean? Because sometimes people say, well, do things scared, but I don’t think you necessarily have to be scared. I think you just have to do it. Everything is about trial and area, and then you have fun with it. The same friend that asked me, what are you doing? Was the same friend that told me that, Jen, if it no longer is fun for you, then you may want to reconsider it.  

[00:02:47.800] – Zahiyya

So someone wanted to do the same thing that you’re doing, how would you tell them to get started?  

[00:02:51.710] – Jennifer

What is it that you want to do? Is this a business or is it a hobby? Is this something that you really want to invest in?  

[00:02:57.380] – Speaker 5

You talked about your back history. So are there any movies or books that you particularly love?  

[00:03:03.890] – Jennifer

Movies in particular? I do like the Double Wears product. I actually have that on repeat sometimes. I do like watching Emily in Paris. And then I actually go back sometimes and watch the shows that we grew up on, a different world.  

[00:03:17.430] – Speaker 5

I wanted to find out what your style is.  

[00:03:19.660] – Jennifer

I love Pinterest. Pinterest is a big space for me to just see not just what the magazines and the fashion are doing, but to also see where people are just placing themselves. If I see a handbag, I’ll try to Google lens it and find the locale of where that person was, not to be weird or anything, but just to say, okay, wow, you were styling this bag. This is where you were when you were rocking it. So to me, again, that’s a part of the story.  

[00:03:44.840] – Zahiyya

Now that you’re doing reclaimed bags and stuff like that, do you plan on expanding? I mean, what’s next for you?  

[00:03:50.930] – Jennifer

I do want to figure out how to really, in a sense, educate people about the handbags themselves and the brands. And that just, okay, this is… Yeah, some people say, oh, it’s just another bag. And that’s why I get it. Handbags are not everybody’s forte, right? But if it is your forte, let’s help you learn a little bit more about what’s your pain.  

[00:04:08.820] – Zahiyya

Have you ever thought about designing your own bags?  

[00:04:12.040] – Jennifer

Yes, I definitely had. And I’m like, How So could that happen? And I know it can. I just have to really sit and put myself into it.  

[00:04:20.970] – Naima

Somebody was asking, what is the big deal about a Birkin Kelly bag? And I was like, well, people really don’t know where that bag came from. And Why it’s such an exclusive bag?  

[00:04:31.920] – Zahiyya

What’s the history behind it?  

[00:04:33.100] – Naima

The Kelly bag was created for Grace Kelly, and it was supposed to be an exclusive for Grace Kelly. And it’s a authentic crocodile bag, and it has 14 karat gold accents, and it’s handcrafted, and it takes about 18 months to make one of these bags. And that’s where the price tag comes in, because they start retail, they start at about $20,000, which is why I always crack up when people think they can get a prom dress for $250, like a custom anything for $200. So I’m like, That’s not happening. Do you know how to cut lace?  

[00:05:10.490] – Jennifer

It’s interesting that you say that, though, because one of the things that I wanted to go back to one of the questions that was asked, it was like, what made you start this and what made you want to stay with it and tell your younger self? I would also tell my younger self, too, that everybody has a value link. It’s something I had to learn. And it’s actually something I started to read about because I’m like, well, why is it that people don’t understand what I’m charged? To your point, I’m charging this price, and they’re like, trying to wheel a deal. And I’m like, yes, I know it’s a second-hand bag. I know that it may not be brand new, but it’s new to you. And if you really knew the value of this bag, would you ask me that?  

[00:05:47.320] – Zahiyya

And people have to appreciate it in order to pay for it. I am Zahia from Region Design Lab, and Cover Me Chic.  

[00:05:54.420] – Speaker 5

Along with, I’m LaTisha Winston of Keeping You In Stitches, and…  

[00:05:58.350] – Naima

Hima Dozer from Feel It’s Threads, and our special guest, Jennifer Moore from Clutches & More. And we’ll see you all next time.