Lisa Henderson and Sandra Masters started their handbag company with designer Susan Guillen (who lives in Birmingham) in 2004 with two goals. By the end of that first year, they wanted to have sold $200,000 worth of merchandise and have 50 reps nationwide. 

Instead, by the end of the year, they had 400 reps who had sold over $1,000,000. “We knew we had a niche,” say both Lisa and Sandra in unison. A modest understatement.

American Express released a business report earlier this year which states that of all female-owned businesses in the U.S., only 3% make it over $1,000,000 in sales. B’s purses is in that small percentage.

So, what is this success all about?  “We are the sassy, chic version of the traditional Tupperware party only we offer textiles and designs for women to create their own styles of bags,” says Lisa, “and we decided to go nationwide from day one.” 

Which means women in areas all over the country were allowed to be B’s reps and Lisa and Sandra say ladies were fighting over who would be the first in their town to be the rep. B’s will set up any rep with their own space on the web site, and provide a starter kit of information and graphics to advertise in their local markets.  It is basically like running your own business with the support of Lisa and Sandra who have everything made in Kentucky, have all of the tech design and support based here and use only local resources.

B’s was just inducted into the High Impact Recognition group of Greater Louisville Inc and their company web site won a Horizon Interactive Award in 2007. The pair say that they love telling people in L.A. and New York (two of their biggest markets) that their company is based in Louisville.  “The world of fashion is so hip and chic and we are glad to be ambassadors from Louisville,” say Lisa and Sandra again almost in unison, “because people start to think that Louisville must be hip and chic as well.”