myHERObag

Teaser...

2008-06-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

something in development.

New Ribbons.

2008-03-25T11:56:00.001-07:00

We're adding two new series of ribbons for Spring - the first is One and a Half inch Satin in six gorgeous colors, including those above - look for all six on the website in the next week.

The second set we'll be getting in eight, bright, perfect for Summer colors including Lime Juice and Sherbet - but you'll hear more about those in April when they arrive.

In the meantime we're adding some new light floral fabrics we'll preview over the next week on the blog and then look forward to them being available for ordering on the website.

And there's even more more extra special surprise in the form of a new - full sized bag coming Very Soon!!!

As promised...

2008-03-14T01:28:00.000-07:00

<-The interior -> The exterior - below

Almost ready to go on the website - just little alterations to perfect the templates this coming week so each seam and each pocket and each fold is Just Right!!!

It is a long process to make sure that each new item we add to the collection is designed for the utmost usefulness, beauty and longevity... I'm glad to finally be able to say that we have this little number nailed down.

I can't think of one single thing we could add, rearrange, or change to make it more effective or efficient - so now we send it out into the wild world and hope it leads a happy life...

if only we had a name for it...

that's coming soon too.

More - little things.

2008-03-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

Or at least - bigger than really little, but more little that big - things will be coming to a myHERObag website near you!!!

We're adding a still little, but larger than the other two, zippered case - a great size for keeping smaller items together inside of a suitcase or weekend bag while traveling.

And I'll have photos of the new wallet up just as soon as they're taken... by the end of the week at the latest - so look forward to that new addition as well.

How many cards do you carry around???

2008-03-06T21:37:00.000-08:00

Between my driver's license, credit card, debit card, store membership cards, library card, insurance card - I have more cards than I know what to do with - and more cards than I have slots in my wallet...

so, for all you other lovely ladies out there who need to carry around more cards than you can shake a stick at - we'll shortly be debuting a redesigned wallet by myHERObag.

For those who remember our previous one - our new redesign will have the same full sized tri-fold dimensions - but that's where the similarities end. Once you open it up, you'll see we started by doubled the number of card slots, then added a zippered pocket for change, enough places to slide in cash, receipts and a check book (or small calender) and finished it all off with a big magnetic snap - so you can stuff it full to bursting and know it will keep everything together, no problem!!!

And best yet - it can be monogrammed with your initials, embroidered with military insignia, or made with an old uniform or clothing item from a loved one. You'll have all the same options for personalization as our other, larger bags and accessories.

Hopefully I'll have a little sneak peak for you all early next week - when we finish up the final prototypes - and then look for it added to our ordering pages on the website soon after!!!

Little things.

2008-02-23T21:42:00.000-08:00

A little sneak peak... these will be available on the website soon.

College education for the children of fallen soldiers.

2008-01-03T18:17:00.000-08:00

The second organization myHERObag will donate to during 2008, under our 1% for America program is the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Their Mission Statement -

"The Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) was founded in 1980 to serve members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations community. A tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, SOWF is dedicated to providing free college scholarships and educational counseling to the children surviving Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations personnel who are killed in a training accident or operational mission."

Working since 1980-

"The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides free college scholarship grants for tuition, books, fees, room & board. Currently the foundation is committed to providing scholarships for more nearly 700 children. In 2006, SOWF provided a total of $1.5 million in scholarship grants, educational programs and financial counseling for its students at colleges and universities across the country."

We're pleased to be adding them in 2008 to our list of charities that we support, because they work to make our country stronger.

Christmas Delivery.

2007-12-18T12:27:00.001-08:00

The last few customers' bags guaranteed for Christmas Delivery went to the post office bright and early this morning (I have to admit, I just couldn't wait for the pick-up this afternoon, and drove them over myself).

Now we have a few friends, family and Design Specialists bags to finish up - but that's all details, really - now that all our customer orders are winging their way to their new owners.

This is probably the best moment of the year as it mingles both the feelings of accomplishment and contentment with finishing up another year, as well as the pure excitement of finally being able to focus exclusively on the New Year, the new bags, the new people who will discover myHERObag, or maybe join the team as Design Specialists, Workshop Hostesses, or one of our Shop Hands here at myHERObag HomeBase, that turn all your beautiful and meaningful designs into reality.

All of these things were bottled into the one moment as I walked away from the Post Office Counter the last time this morning, with the very last box out of my vehicle.

And I can't help but thank everyone who's made the last couple months of this year - and the first couple months of my ownership of myHERObag - such a resounding success!!! I can't count the number of times people have expressed their joy and excitement at finding they can now order myHERObags again - and I can't tell you how much it means to hear that. A lot of work has gone in to starting things back up, but it's all made worth while when I'm reminded of how much these bags continue to mean to our customers.

So - Thank you for 2007 - now let's make 2008 even better!!!

(Don't worry - I'll go back to highlighting our non-profit partnerships next post!!!)

Specially Adapted Homes for Wounded Soldiers

2007-12-12T15:16:00.000-08:00

Carrying a myHERObag shows your dedication to the men and women who put their lives on the line for our country. We believe that support shouldn't end with the product itself, but should be carried on by the company that makes it as well. To that end, the non-profit that receives the majority of our giving toward making America a better and stronger place, is Homes For Our Troops.

If you watch ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, you might already be familiar with this organization (so far they've teamed up to provide the families of three severely wounded servicemen homes they can truly live in). Homes For Our Troops was founded by a building contractor who kept hearing about wounded service members and wondered what happened when they returned home and tried to resume their lives. He went looking for a charity where he could donate his time and construction experience. When he found none, he founded his own, and Homes for Our Troops was born in 2004.

Since that time they're completed work on some eighteen homes, with another seventeen projects in progress, right now.

None have probably said it as well as their VP Kirt Rebello -
"I can't think of a better cause right now, than helping our wounded service men and women as they return from battle. Nobody deserves the "American Dream" of home ownership more than those who have fought and sacrificed to defend it."

So myHERObag is honored to continue giving to Homes For Our Troops, we hope you'll agree it is a cause that deserves our support.

You can learn more about what they're doing to improve the lives of severely disabled veterans and get involved at www.HomesForOurTroops.org

Giving.

2007-12-10T18:19:00.000-08:00

Tis the season, right???

I thought I might take a few minutes to discuss who myHERObag will be giving to this holiday season (and all through 2008). The company has an established history of donating to Homes for our Troops which we're proud to be continuing, but I'd also like to step things up a notch.

The causes myHERObag is dedicated to supporting, can be divided into three categories - Education, the Environment, and supporting America and those who fight to defend it.

Now we've joined an Organization called One Percent for the Planet who's members pledge to donate at least 1% of their gross sales (not profit, not after any deductions, 1% of every dollar that comes in the door) to environmental organizations.

While I can't find an organization which will certify the same for our other two causes - we're making the pledge -

1% for the Planet
1% for Education
1% for America

That's myHERObag's commitment to you, our customers, and to our community.

Everyone at myHERObag is given a wonderful gift when you put your faith in us to take your memories and turn them into truly memorable bags. We consider the company's donations to be one opportunity we have to say Thank You, for letting us into your lives.

Over the next week I'll be highlighting some of the non-profit organizations that have been chosen within each of these categories to receive our support over the coming year, starting with Homes for our Troops.

I can only hope the gifts you give this holiday season will bring you as much joy as myHERObag's brings us.

Guaranteed Delivery

2007-11-29T19:55:00.000-08:00

We've reached that point - Wednesday December 5th will be the last day to order a bag online and have it guaranteed for Christmas Delivery. We'll do what we can for bags ordered the 6th and 7th, after that no new orders will be processed until January of 2008.

myHERObag HomeBase will shut down production at 3pm Mountain Time December 21st for the holiday break, gearing back up on Monday morning January 7th, 2008. While production will be halted, Gift Certificates will still be available online and Customer Service will be reachable via e-mail and phone on non-holiday business days, as always, to take care of any and all inquiries.

We got that straightened out pretty quick!!!

2007-11-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

Gift Certificates can now be Purchased Online - for use in the WebStore!!!

And again - there's no cut off date to ensure holiday delivery. When you purchase them you can choose when to have your recipient receive the e-mail - today, two weeks from now, whenever you'd like - or you can print off the certificate and deliver it yourself (if you're lucky enough to be seeing that special someone in person).

My husband and I are finalizing holiday plans for exactly who we'll get to visit in person this year!!! And I'll have an update tomorrow on when the last ordering date for guaranteed Christmas delivery will be... but I'll warn you, it's going to be soon!!! After that myHERObag HomeBase here in Arizona will be shutting down for the holidays, not to make a new bag till January (but I'll have all those details tomorrow).

Gift Certificates!!!

2007-11-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone out there had a good, family and friend filled Thanksgiving. We're back in production mode at myHERObag HomeBase - and doing what we can to make your holiday shopping a little easier and that means Gift Certificates!!!

We're still working it all out - but you'll soon be able to buy gift certificates from the website (you can of course do it now by giving us a call - number is at the bottom of the website).

If you're thinking a bag would be perfect for that someone special, but you're not sure if your taste is necessarily theirs :) gift certificates are perfect. Plus we're in the process of cooking up some new styles to release in January and a Gift Certificate is a great way to let them choose from our expanded selection the moment it's available.

We can send out Certificates via the Postal Service - or if you're last minute shopping we can send Gift Certificates to your recipient in an e-mail right through the holidays!!!

Website

2007-11-12T10:10:00.001-08:00

The website it now fully up and running - ready for orders!!!

There's a few things here or there that we've been touching up - but functionally it's good to go!!!

Naming.

2007-10-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

Our newest handbag (see previous post) has now been christened Bristol, after America's Most Patriotic Town- Bristol, Rhode Island.

They have the distinction of hosting the oldest (and now biggest) Fourth of July Celebration in the country as well as residing along a beautiful stretch of coast on Narragansett Bay.

A New Bag???

2007-09-21T14:21:00.001-07:00

This is the first of Three new bags that will be joining the myHERObag line-up this fall.

It's a smaller purse with a zipper closure- and so new- it hasn't even been named...

Sneak Peak-

2007-08-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

New Fall and Winter fabrics have been arriving and I can't help but share a few-

Stripes anyone???

Welcome!!!

2007-07-10T14:48:00.001-07:00

Hello-

My name is Meredith Chenault- and I was previously the Production Manager at myHERObag until this last February when a reassignment necessitated myHERObag relocating.

As many of your may know- due to the time conflicts between business and family- and the obvious need to prioritize family first- the owners of myHERObag, LLC, made the difficult decision to close shop almost a month ago. When I heard, I immediately contacted Monica Mitzel (the owner) to see what I might be able to do.

I'm terribly excited to let you know that we've reached an agreement of sale- and starting September 1st you'll be able to once again order the personalized, high quality bags myHERObag has come to be known for.

I realize there have been a lot of changes with myHERObag in the past six months. I didn't buy the company to change things around once again- I bought it to provide a community I grew to know with a product they grew to love. We're delaying opening our new workshop until the 1st of September to ensure that from the first day we can provide you with a consistent and high quality product with impeccable service and 100% satisfaction- guaranteed.

I apologize for requiring your patience- I'm sure you can imagine, I of all people, am quite excited to get things up and running- but I won't offer you a product or service until I'm certain, without a shadow of a doubt, that it will meet all your expectations.

I'm honored to have this opportunity to again work with so many wonderful woman (and men) and create personalized items, that I know will be cherished for years to come.

Thank you to all those who have enjoyed myHERObag items in the past- and I invite newcomers and past customers alike to look here for the latest developments as we get things going- or turn to myHERObag.com come the end of September for full ordering options.

Yours-

Meredith

p.s. We are of course looking for those who want to become (or Re-become) a member of the myHERObag team and offer our items to those in their community. For information on becoming a Representative, having a Weekend Party or offering customizable items in your boutique or retail store- please contact me at Meredith at myHERObagl dot com.

The Fourth-

2007-07-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

Many people seem to look at the fourth as a day for picnics, fireworks and celebrating a historic anniversary- but, while it is about the past, it's also about the present- and the freedom and security we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America 231 years later - today.

There's no better way to celebrate this holiday than to thank those who allow us to continue celebrating it- Let's Say Thanks is an organization that allows you to do that- my sending your note of thanks to our service members around the globe.

Here's wishing our countrymen and women both here and abroad a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.

Hello All-

2007-07-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

Please stay posted for updates about the future of myHERObag- you'll know when I do.

Thank you.