In the summer of 2004, Kate and Abby Greer started their company with the little room they had left on some credit cards and the free space found in their parent’s basement. “Room on a credit card” can mean many things to many people. For the Greer sisters, it added up to about $800—plus a few bucks found in the pocket of an old jacket.

The rent-free location and the sewing machine already in Abby’s possession allowed them to spend the majority of their investment on fabric and findings. Paying themselves wasn’t even a consideration at that point. The time between the initial thought and the creation of the company was almost instantaneous.

A fast start
Kate Greer describes it this way: “The opportunity to launch a custom handbag outfit came about quite unexpectedly. Abby was making purses for her own use and I, as a proud older sister, emailed pictures of her creations to some friends. Before we knew it, orders starting piling in. In three weeks the company was registered and we were off to the races.”

The company sells custom-made handbags that are ordered using a unique system that allows shoppers to select the style, strap length and exterior and interior fabric to create the ideal purse for their needs. This wasn’t the sisters’ first idea.

“We tossed around a number of ideas…really bad ideas that thankfully we did not follow through with. Making wedding dresses in the basement was one winner,” explains Greer. The sisters even had a unique name for it: Basement Brides.

Sister-shared success
Although the purse venture seemed to find them, the women were always interested in starting up a sister-shared enterprise. “Mainly because nobody else would put up with us!” Greer laughs. As relationships between sisters can be as unique as a custom-made handbag, one may wonder if the Greer girls drove each other crazy at the get-go.

“In our early days we didn’t have much of an appreciation for the inherent, but very different, skill sets we each possess. Once we identified our strengths and what role they could play in the development of the company, we began to forgive each other’s weaknesses,” says Greer. It’s a strategy that women can apply to non-relatives too.

Kate holds a degree in Environmental Management and Abby earned a degree in Textile, Clothing and Design from Brescia. Both sisters feel that the lessons learned, however diverse, share common pillars for success:

• Determination
• Integrity
• Respect for others
• Belief in yourself

Another lesson learned is the importance of adaptability. “Our business is largely based on creativity and you can’t plan that. You just have to be prepared to harness that inspiration when it surfaces and funnel it into a productive (and profitable) capacity,” adds Greer.

The company continues to promote itself with purse parties. These are fun events women in the London/Toronto/Hamilton corridor can host where friends can try out and touch purse styles and fabric swatches before they order their own handbag of happiness.