Crafty Divas and Entrepreneurial Empresses

February 2004 Diva

Paige Davidson
of Cahoots Handbags

Can a girl ever have too many handbags? The answer is no - espceially once you picture the gems that this site has to offer.

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The Gallery
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The Interview
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The Basic Lowdown:

Girlposse.com: Who are you?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : My name is Paige Davidson, and I'm a 26 yr old artist who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas in Austin years ago. I recently started making handbags as another creative outlet to give me an occassional break from my paintings.

Girlposse.com: Where are you located?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : I'm located in a small town north of Dallas called Gainesville, Texas. I recently moved to Gainesville from Austin to occupy this really fabulous old warehouse that has been in my family for generations. I turned it into a really great lofty living space with my ideal painting studio and also a small gallery space.

Girlposse.com: What is your creation / business?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : Though I'm a painter at heart, Cahoots Handbags is my line of handbags. They're made mainly from vintage upholstery fabrics. Because of the limited quantities of fabrics available to me, the bags are all limited edition or one of a kind. They range from very sophisticated black moiree bags to funky bright carpet bags in unique shapes. Since Cahoots was born, they've been sold all over the country and were featured as an editors pick at Bust Magazine. They will be featured in YM magazine this April.

Girlposse.com: Where can people buy your stuff?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : My art is available at www.paigedavidson.com and at galleries such as the Farmers and Merchants Gallery of Pilot Point, Texas.

People can get our bags at www.cahootshandbags.com We also have an exclusive line of bags available at Krimson and Klover, a fabulous boutique in the Highland Park area of Dallas. (www.krimsonandklover.com)

Girlposse.com: Tell us something about yourself - your personality:
I'm obsessed with tacos, love to travel, hate birds, and would promise my firstborn child to someone who would in turn promise to send me a dry iced cooler full of vietnamese and indian food. Smalltown life may be VERY VERY profitable for my studio discipline, but my stomach misses the big city. I don't have a tv, but somehow I manage to get addicted to programs like the OC and bad reality shows. I think Ffriendster is great and long for the day when I get to my second page of friends. I like alone time a lot...unless I have no choice in the matter. I tend to be horribly giving and encouraging, to a fault, and wish that my friends would remember my birthday (which is FEBRUARY 9...so feel free to send me presents and e-love.) Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags :

The Nitty Gritty:

Girlposse.com: How long have you been doing this?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : Cahoots Handbags was born early in 2003. My mother, who is a master seamstress, and my sister signed on as fellow Cahoots Masterminds.

Girlposse.com: Beginning a business is a big step. How did this become a "business" vs. just a "hobby""?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : We started making bags for ourselves, and as we went out wearing them, people began commenting on them and asking how to purchase one for themselves. We then began doing trunkshows and I created our website, and the sales started rolling in.

Girlposse.com: Did you have previous business experience - or was the business end new to you?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : I have absolutely NO business experience. heh. I worked in a few fabulous boutiques before I got serious about my art career, so I suppose I did have some idea how a small business was run. I also got an idea what sort of products people were drawn to. It has definitely been a learning experience.

Girlposse.com: **(If new to the business end) Are there any resources you would recommend to future Entrepreneurial Empresses? (books, websites, etc.)
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : My biggest resource has been talking to other gals who have started similar small businesses. I've found that women in my position are very giving and interested in helping other women to succeed.

Girlposse.com: What is your opinion of Arts / Crafts shows as a place to sell? As a place to shop?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : The majority of the A/C shows that I've been to recently, both to shop and to sell, have not impressed me. A lot of the merchandise has been lower quality....(bird feeders made out of two liter bottles painted with craft paint.) I also think that many people who go to shows like that are looking for ideas of things to make themselves, so they aren't eager to buy. I've found that though our products are handmade, our products are not marketable at craft and trade shows. Our best market is in boutiques and online.

Girlposse.com: What was (is) your biggest obstacle in selling what you create?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : Keeping the website up to date is my biggest challenge. Our bags are usually one to three of a kind. After we sell out, which sometimes happens before I get the product listed on the site, I have to update the page. It is sometimes impossible to stay ahead.

Girlposse.com: Do you find it difficult coming up with original ideas?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : There are a lot of people making handbags and totes these days. Our bags, however, do seem to be different than the majority of bags being made. We like the fact that our bags aren't overly trendy. I've heard a number of people commenting on the "Jackie O-ness" of some of our designs which implies that they're classic and sophisticated. Those same people talk about the special "kick" our bags have. We make bags for everyone and pride ourselves in the high quality and uniqueness of our product. We make bags that we'd like to carry, and we try to keep things fresh.

Girlposse.com: Are there any plans to expand your product line?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : Always! We have a handful of new designs in the works right now. I need a new accessories bag and make-up pouch. You'll hopefully be seeing those (and other handbag designs) on our site in the near future.

Girlposse.com: What keeps you going on a bad day?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : Really great music, drinks in glass bottles, and knowing that at the end of the day I can soak in my tub with some really fabulous products from www.lush.com. I'm a total bath junkie.

Girlposse.com: Where are some of your favorite places to shop?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : I love Lush for bath products!!. They're all natural, wonderful quality, and smell divine. I also love Krimson and Klover in Dallas, all the fabulous boutiques on South Congress in Austin, vintage stores, and both Whole Foods and Central Market. In addition to being a bath junkie, I'm a sucker for good groceries.

Girlposse.com: What was the best piece of advice you've been given?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : My buddy Mary always tells me, "GO! GO! GO!" --I think that's about as true as it comes.

Girlposse.com: What advice would you give to a future Crafty Diva?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : "GO! GO! GO!" If you're excited and working hard and spending all your time doing what really inspires you, it's all gravy. People catch on to the excitement. Things fall into place if you're doing what you know you should be doing...and hard work just builds momentum. One thing leads to another that leads to another. I've learned not to close my eyes to opportunities.

Girlposse.com: Are they any other Crafty Divas or Entrepreneurial Empresses we should know about?
Paige Davidson of Cahoots Handbags : www.krimsonandklover.com --2 sisters started this amazing boutique less than a year ago and have been ALL over the magazines and papers. They were listed in January's Lucky Magazine as one of the top new boutiques in the country. They have the most fabulous weaver named Brooke who weaves the most beautiful scarves I've ever seen on antique looms in the back room of the boutique. (plus you can buy Cahoots there! heh)

~ 2004

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