Mixed Bag- Aunt Babe's Suede Purses

Babe was a dear friend of my mother's. Their friendship formed as neighbors settling into a newly built neighborhood in the 1950s, Northbrook East. They became such good friends that I started calling her Aunt Babe when I was growing up. She was tall, about six feet, and wore her bleach blond hair in a beehive. Like most women then, they would have their hair done once a week and managed to keep their style in place with copious amounts of VO5 hairspray. 

Her husband, Uncle Bert, worked at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. He had a connection and, as such, set Aunt Babe up in sales from her house. Her product was suede purses with tassels. It was the 1960s, so they appealed to those who tended toward hippie fashions. They came in two sizes: a pouch and a larger-scale bag. The color palette was dark blue, rose, tan, and deep brown. 

Aunt Babe asked me to start selling her bags to my friends in high school. I owned two and agreed that my friends would like them. She said she would pay me a 25 % commission and teach me about setting up a business. 

I learned about accounts payable and receivables. I learned to provide receipts and keep track of transactions. I had a small office where I set up shop in our basement. My parents bought a rack where I kept all my merchandise.  Sometimes, classmates would come to my house to see the samples and pick out a purse. When they ordered them, I often brought them to high school, presented them with their purchase, and collected the money.

I do not believe any teachers or administrators caught on or said anything about the transactions at school. Those activities needed to be sanctioned at my school. After successfully selling the bags to all my friends, I felt uncomfortable and eventually lost interest.

I wish I had learned more about cold calling and finding customers besides my friends. Though short-lived, this early experience in sales and running my own business taught me transferable skills I used in my career journey. 

'Communication—keeping my customers in the loop was vital so they did not need to track me down and ask about the status. I would not say I knew this when I started my purse business, but I realized its importance as I attained more customers. 

Ethical conduct - I do not think anyone told me to stop delivering purses at my school. Yet something inside told me to stop conducting business there. SINCE I had few channels for clients, that decision shut down my business, and I lost interest.

Self-confidence. I was shy, and I was and still am an introvert. Yet those early sales experiences helped me expand my self-awareness and confidence. Starting with my friend and branching out because of the word-of-mouth interest provided confidence. 

Finances: I learned about running a small business in high school. It was the beginning. Eventually, I participated in the ownership of several companies and earned my MBA. The seeds were planted in high school.

Going into business with Aunt Babe was a fun experience. She was a great mentor. She expected me to sell and frequently checked in with me.  

Thinking about how my early experiences informed my business life is fun. What are some of you that you remember?