Turning an idea into a creative business with Emily Blumenthal
For the first time in PTKA history, I'm interviewing a Handbag Fairy Godmother - Emily Blumenthal! Not only did she patent a handbag silhouette, write a book, teach at FIT, and start a handbag awards event... she's still growing and evolving even now. Emily's journey is a wild ride filled with hustle, pivots, and ‘figure it out as you go’ moments that'll make you feel right at home if you're an entrepreneur or just love a good success story.
Can't-Miss Moments:
- Things to do in your 20s: a handy checklist courtesy of Emily, including such classics as "date a DJ" and "launch a handbag line"... Check and check!
- "That’s the worst idea ever!” Emily shares how she handled not-so-helpful feedback from her family as she embraced her calling to design handbags...
- Stroke of genius: the thing Emily did as she was figuring things out the hard way that turned into major leverage (and street cred) later on...
- Who expects to meet a literary agent while on jury duty? Emily shares a serendipitous moment that led to her first book deal and the birth of the Handbag Awards...
- The weird mental dividing line Emily had, even after successfully creating and patenting her handbag silhouette (this is something that holds a lot of entrepreneurs back)...
Emily's bio:
Emily Blumenthal, celebrated as the "Handbag Fairy Godmother" by the New York Times, is a dynamic presence in the handbag industry. As the author of "Handbag Designer 101" and a multifaceted figure encompassing roles as a professor, mentor, designer, and the founder of the Independent Handbag Designer Awards, she has made an indelible impact on the handbag industry with aspiring designers and handbag brands alike. Emily's dedication also extends to kidpreneurship, empowering children of all ages to embrace their inner "Savvy Suzanna." She resides happily in New York City's Lower East Side with her husband and three children.
Resources and links:
Let's collab:
Let's connect:
If you dig the show and want to help bring more episodes to the world, consider buying a coffee for the production team!