Decisions decisions decisions... where to find a manufacturer for my bag in Small Business Startup Journal - The Journey To Starting My Own Brand of Travel Clothing and Handbags

Ok, So I tried my last round of manufacturer hunting in Australia. After several more phone calls, research and repetitive conversations regarding manufacturing of handbags in Australia with leatherworkers and leather manufacturing companies, I have come to the acceptance that there is just not the facilities to make handbags for a company on a large manufacturing scale.

The closest things to handmade Australian handbags in this country are small businesses that make in house only for their own label.

So, with that final bitter pill swallowed I was left to change my path. Europe is where I will have to have my bags made. I was researching countries like Bulgari, Romania, Poland etc as they were listed as some of the lowest cost places to manufacture, but looking for a handbag manufacturer there is not as easy as it sounds. So I stumbled on an manufacturer in Italy.

Italy was and has always been an obvious choice, but I was hesitant as I know it is not cheap.

That being said, it would be a great marketing and a fantastic selling point to point out the quality of my bag being made in Italy. Italy has a worldwide reputation of quality, so perhaps I should embrace this direction.

Something else I now have to be mindful of as I start my new job and change direction of finding a new manufacturer is my product launch date.
I find dates (even if rough) really help in my planning and motivation.

Last year I had a launch date for this year, however with covid not going away anytime soon and my previous manufacturer ghosting me, I have had to change tactics and make my expectations more realistic.

My work contract finishes in August 2022. I need to think tactically, will I renew a full time work contract, would I look for a part time work contact and focus on my business. Would I put off launching my bag business for another year and wait until mid 2023. Do I drum up P.R and market my product before people are officially back in business with traveling or wait until things are like they were before covid.

My gut tells me to launch my product in the second half of 2022, after my contract ends.

I think for now, this is what I will aim for.

xxx Miss J