Let's be honest. When you get the invitation, your first impulse is to figure out what excuse you can give to not go. Tupperware, candles, kitchen products, make-up. At one time or another you've been invited to attend a party selling some product or another- at least women readers have.
Sometimes I'll go to support whichever friend is hosting. But we all know this usually leads to buying something. In one particular case, I bought a truckload of product and ended up signing up to host a party. That was actually a good decision.
Don't worry- I promise this isn't a sales pitch. While this isn't typical HopefulLeigh fare, I appreciate when a friend steps outside of their comfort zone for a new venture. Plus, I'm so intrigued by this idea, I can't help but share.
When my friend Caroline Lee announced she'd decided to sell LexiWynn handbags, I thought it was great for her and hoped I could evade any purse-related gatherings for awhile.
And y'all thought I was so sweet.
But then I looked at my beautiful yellow purse and its disintegrating leather. The purse I'd discovered at my favorite boutique in Geneva, IL and spent more than usual on the off chance that it would hold up better. Prior to that, I'd buy cheap purses and they'd last maybe a year. The yellow purse lasted two years.
I did not relish the thought of finding a new purse. Purses can almost be extensions of our personalities. Or maybe that's just one of my quirks.
You can just tell Caroline is a bit sassy
Because Caroline is my friend and because I needed a new purse, I looked into LexiWynn and liked the possibilities. A few weeks ago I designed my first purse.
(Full disclosure: LexiWynn has never heard of me and I received no perks or compensation for writing this.)
LexiWynn started as a cottage business and just kept on growing. The purses are Made in America- Illinois to be specific. You can read more about how the company started here.
Caroline had never sold any product before but she knew the owners well. They actually introduced her to Christ when she was a teenager and they've kept in touch all these years. She loved LexiWynn's products and wanted to support her friends. She'd also had a bad purse experience- spending a lot of money on a Big Label, only for it to fall apart. Knowing that LexiWynn purses were sturdier due to their multiple layers, Caroline felt selling LexiWynn was a win-win.
She's been learning and growing throughout this process- throwing parties, signing up for Twitter, figuring out how she can make this endeavor a successful one.
It certainly has the ingredients for success. There are plenty of options when it comes to designing a purse. The type of bag, the type of fabric, whether you want any upgrades.
There are clutches, hobos, messengers, beach bags, and more. I wanted a good tote bag. I went back and forth between two. It finally came down to the "put all my stuff in the purse and see how it holds up" test.
I decided on The Megan. I scoured the fabric options until I came up with a few possibilities. Then it was time to mix and match. But mostly envision myself in various outfits and how the purse would work with each. I like my purses to be versatile. I have clutches and a Kate Spade purse for nicer occasions so my every day purse needs to work for a wide range of activities.
My final picks were Turkish Medallion and Champagne. Then it was a matter of deciding which one would be the primary fabric. I guess you'll just have to wait to see the final result.
The purse party was different than other product parties. We were there to design our purses. It was interactive. It didn't take me long to make up my mind. In and out. Thank you, ma'am.
I spent more than usual on this purse but I've come to appreciate the concept of quality over quantity. LexiWynn purses are built to last, provided one takes care of it.
If you're interested, Caroline is available to help you design your purse either by email or by hosting a party. You can contact her at caroline (at) lexiwynn (dot) com with any questions or to get your purse started. Plus, Caroline is just plain awesome so you should get to know her anyway.
I'll post a picture of my purse on the HopefulLeigh Facebook page once it arrives. I can't wait!
Fun fact: Caroline is the twin sister of my former roommate Jen.
How do you feel about Tupperware Parties? What's the best excuse you've given to get out of one?
