| Beijo » Handbagista

Jan 01

Beijo handbags started with the cry “Beijo Mommy, Beijo!”

Beijo handbags owner and sole designer, Susan Hadley, used to hear these words from her second son, Kyle, when he was just a toddler.

Susan dreamed of a way to make money without being away from her kids. With a loan from her father, she began designing handbags. The name of her company, Beijo, is Portuguese for “kiss” and based on what Susan would hear from her son. Now, Beijo handbags are getting kissed all over the place. Women quite simply love them. The Beijo handbags are born of a childs simple demands

Hailing out of California, Susan just started her business in August 2002. She knew she was on to a good thing when she sold over 400 handbags in three days when she launched her business.

Susan’s handbags fit a great niche because they’re not leather, but they’re still high-class and tres modern. Susan makes her bags out of polyvinyl which makes for super easy care. Her trademark pearlescent finish comes in all different colors including brights and pastels.

You won’t find these darlings in your department store.

No way. Uh-uh. I know, I wasted many hours and days scouring to find one before I found out where you can get them from.

Susan decided that she would only sell her handbags via home parties and trade shows. This is because she wanted to empower her sales representatives to have the same kind of lifestyle she envisioned for herself, one where you could work out of your home and still be there for your kids when necessary.

(She practices what she preaches, too. She recently cancelled her appearance at a trade school so that she could be there for her son’s first day of school.)

She’s still the sole designer, working out of her home in Florida.

Luckily for the mall-inclined, you might now be able to find a Beijo handbag at your favorite boutique. Susan had decided to sell her handbags at select boutiques (hopefully one near you) around the world. Seriously, to find out where to buy one, contact a sales representative through Susan’s Beijo website.

Beijo handbags have a definitive look with their shiny finishes and strong black straps, silver colored trim, and bottom “landing gear” feet.

Their simple lines evoke a modern playful quality but are still very business like or good for a Sunday brunch. The handbags’ generous sizing shows that they were designed by a woman for another woman. You’ll find plenty of room to stuff all of your must-haves inside.

You’ll also find this season’s handbags in bright red, pinks, mint green, lavender, black and white. Besides handbags, you can buy Beijo backpacks, totes, briefcases and small purse accessories.

If lucky old you gets to attend a Beijo house party (apart from inviting mew too!!) you can pick up a handbag for $69. Totes and backpacks will cost $79. At trade parties, expect to pay $10 more for the pleasure of owning a genuine Beijo. It’s hard to say what you’ll pay at a boutique store; they’re allowed to set their own prices for the handbags.

Big name celebrities have been heard toting Susan’s wares (anybody heard of Oprah?). If you’re lucky enough to come across any Beijo handbags, you’d better bag one before somebody else does!

Beijo Handbag