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Succeeding Against Economic Odds

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    Jesse B. Mayer says she is determined to keep her designer bag collection manufactured in the U.S.

  • Duration 11:02
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Go to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania right now where we have Jesse -- the owner and designer of the Jesse being collection joining us -- Jesse.

Hi listening to you -- you are small business you aren't on the entire of them made in America label.

Just yeah back on segment is -- -- Rogers.

How is it for you to get financing to make your hand -- -- accessories and open up shops and stuff like that.

So far I'm okay I'm doing okay.

I I.

But so far we're OK OK that's good winning when you say it has tightened up fit with the bank lending what exactly does that.

-- jumping through little more -- Two to get the line of credits and loans and things than than it was when I started in 2003 it was a little easier.

And then -- some -- three -- you're very passionate about keeping your business says the US need late Friday.

Yes absolutely I feel very important about the maintenance in America label.

So much so that -- turning away some Chinese factories and wanna do business with the -- And you say well let's create more jobs particularly highly skilled young workers here in the US that they can fill my orders.

And I think you need to stay right here yes that right.

-- -- -- I I just prefer to keep it here in the US keep the jobs here keeping you know be a part of -- a small business but it's gotta start somewhere.

And I feel it's important I wanna pay fair wages I want to respect the people who are putting.

My my name my label on the product for me.

And -- I I just I feel that that's important I do get I've had many challenges with manufacturing.

Men and getting a good relationship with -- contractor to help produce my line.

But.

In through those challenges I receive solicitations from Chinese factories almost daily.

Eager for my business and it's.

It's been it.

Been.

It's very tempting.

Because of their coming to me and but I -- I've held strong and time.

Determined to keep it made America thinking that let let's take a look at some of your products we have some images that we have some and that that you I -- to tell -- about.

-- that just to be collection is a unique line of fashion accessories and a handbags.

I focus on just a few -- classic silhouettes.

Such as a -- I guess you.

I have them here at Citi line now -- like yellow easily print on it.

Yes yes.

Thanks that's the clutch handbag.

And that is something the silhouette that I keep every season and I just.

I just introduce new beautiful fabrics and mainly natural fibers and and and things like that I also offered two bags of various science and within Bermuda -- you have to think positive -- -- -- The -- back here have a sample here is this styles.

And that's when and a little about it and it went to Bermuda on that joking.

That's three -- periods of very nostalgic piece of calm and I'm bringing it back.

It's a product actually continually sell out.

And so finding that manufacturing helped -- to.

Grow with -- -- -- with me he has a small business has been.

A challenge but one I think that's I found one now I'm very hopeful for it new bags new -- should be coming out for this -- shortly.

OK great other I'm -- this dial that that the cover interchanges you can remove it and reverse split -- -- little -- -- where the coverage change.

Now just just I don't need -- bag and the wooden handles made in Pennsylvania handmade as well it's really nice quality.

Hey Jesse.

Wanna live chat.

One of the viewers named Maria he says I love my day CD collection I haven't plus I'll -- -- -- that.

Bank and then Charles Reid says he likes the old mentality of businesses saving their own money to invest in applying from banks but he -- it's hard to save money.

If the government is taxing small businesses out yes week.

OK yeah pace of the index that -- was -- -- it yes you like them on.

This look -- -- -- -- for and then -- go about getting it.

Sure I retail.

That handle -- the wooden handle.

Is a separate piece then this reversible cover.

And that retails for sixty dollars and hand and the cut.

Just -- handle but again it's handmade it's really beautiful quality of maple.

And a brass hinges and it's it's it's a terrible piece the covers are about 3435.

Dollars and -- -- -- -- looks in one.

You can reverse them and and -- new ones are coming out scene super.

You get like -- and -- yes.

Yeah less than that yes that's not and where we find besides your own web -- Think at where we find events.

Sure.

We primarily sell -- our website but we also sell through.

And then some small boutiques as well.

Thanks so yeah -- -- I was reading some of the notes I have -- on what you said he's -- did feel a little bit of a downturn in sales when the economy have a little bit of the downturn is accurate.

That's correct.

In the past few years there's definitely be a bit less demand placed on.

Some of my bags and and -- as far as manufacturing goes I was able to as a small business I was able to down shift.

Rather quickly and instead of taken to factory level I went the cottage industry group.

And I knew a lot of -- to us said the -- sorry.

I I know a lot of talented -- stresses.

Who work from their homes.

And they were looking for work.

Pounds I took it even more local than just in America to -- local and supported them and -- giving them my business and they helped me out a great deal by keeping alive fresh with new items.

-- did a great job.

Yeah you've been around for eight years so you obviously went through them tightest races we've lived before 2010.

DEC down from an -- -- adjusted.

I'd say the most recent two years now I was -- continually growing.

Bit by bit and done so.

It's just that the pretty much the past two years I have but now have been now it's some it's definitely changing I can feel it I ever -- that demands increase and so therefore I had to.

-- go back to factory level and and and get -- made.

How -- do you say your business has gone on average -- It's -- -- about 20% actually really.

-- and most of your bag retails for around.

-- -- they -- big varies between forty dollars to.

To less than a hundred -- And this is another style that's coming out it's that the basket.

Until it.

Really need it's handmade.

In Pennsylvania man down.

Can get your money -- -- demand stuff but that's coming on the website on FaceBook we have a FaceBook page suggested the collection if you like us you can.

See when all the new stuff is coming it's coming very soon from my son.

And I -- you know I had here here's part because hearing in now he weddings are gains.

Yet.

That also -- that I should say that that actually.

That also indicates market and people look continue to get married despite economic downturns that's when deployed I think means something I yeah.

-- -- We'll talk -- that back but the custom I also offers -- custom designing clutches for brides bridal parties and that also sustain my business throughout the past eight years yeah -- meantime being rough clever idea for attacking colored dress that they want eleven to the -- Where right.

Yes yes I guess it's a really great gift I work with its of one of a kind item -- work with the brighter she can let me run with that as a designer idea that often.

And and I haven't had.

One unsatisfied right yes I love -- it's a great idea honestly is I got married about.

Eight months ago and I was searching for and -- my -- would say yeah.

I had bad for the girls things are fine but that didn't she really is a little bit different getting know about -- -- That's pretty it's a shame I -- that Saddam out of love have been a part of that I've really enjoyed getting them and and I I sometimes -- make them unique for each girl from or each person.

Personalize them on the inside the outside whatever the -- reading materials instead of just that frankly you.

Rhinestones.

Sent metals are you I'm -- -- that.

I actually have not -- steered away from my -- Just my design aesthetic I guess.

So so far I haven't done that yet but I mostly -- -- silks.

Bridal parties -- actually try and steer the bride away from -- -- -- -- -- if possible because I think it's great to be able to be used it again and again bang but with something special -- you know embroidered on the inside from.

Her special day.

Something which you can always use it again and advocate -- yes OK I have some questions for -- that come from our live chat.

I mean if you're gonna anchoring -- that -- can you read it wants you know what do you think about you.

Unions.

That's -- political question yeah -- I know you're talking politics before.

I'm not a posted them.

I think no I mean I want every you know.

Perhaps that they adulterous second -- everything to be fair as possible are you and balance -- also are you paying your workers a living wage.

Oh absolutely absolutely it's a challenge.

To maintain this quality this American equality it is that's not hard to maintain.

It's it's staying competitive with pricing because of the costs involved but it's one I feel.

I I I feel made America labels important but I think my target customer also.

Supports it -- I wouldn't be here.

Jesse thank you so much in debt he -- they Moneyline it was great to have you lines and -- nobody.

These and other chat.

Writer and McCain says you probably pay more in taxes as a small business and it -- block -- like General Electric and I think that is probably.

Coming on -- -- thinking thank you aren't as an okay take care but I.

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