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Meet Elke Bergeron

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Elke Bergeron.

Elke, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
By Elke started out above my garage where I created bags & accessories for craft fairs. I worked part-time while my kids were at school. Eventually, we moved out of the house & into a small studio. We added “open studio” events, trunk shows & by appointment shopping and a small online shop.

After three years in the studio, we moved into a small retail space that could also accommodate a studio where we could make the product on site just off Pearl Street. Using this business model, 1 1/2 years later, we moved around the corner & are currently in a larger & more visible space on Pearl Street. Our small team has grown since the beginning but with years of making bags under our belts, the product just keeps improving with practice.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The process has been relatively smooth as I’ve made it a priority to grow very slowly & try to not bite off more than I can handle even when it’s very tempting. The hardest part for me is fighting the fact that we probably should grow a bit & hire on more people but I really enjoy working with a small group which can put me in situations where I have to cover more bases & fill many shoes at once. But that’s just part of being a small business owner.

Please tell us more about your business, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
We are a handmade handbag & accessories company in Boulder. We specialize in using beautiful quality leathers & special vintage materials to make one of a kind & limited edition styles. Our company is unique as we have a very different business model than most shops. We physically make everything that’s available in the store, right there at the shop. Customers come in & hear the sewing machine & see us hammering away. We only have the one location & the selection of bags is continuously changing day to day depending on what we choose to make. We also have the bags available in our online shop. Customers have the ability to take current styles, adapt the colors & details so it works for them & they are able to be part of the process.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is the fact that I have a business that I love to do. I’m a chronic maker so this definitely fills the need to create something on a daily basis. As long as my hands are busy, I’m happy. I never thought that by making bags it would open doors to meeting so many amazing people from my community & make connections that wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t stepped out & opened a shop.

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