Pleated Bag Collection To Sew & Sell | Free Patterns

If you’re thinking about sewing to sell, bags and purses might be a good category to explore. There are so many patterns and designs, making bags a good category for most skill levels.

This collection of products could work into an existing product line, if you’re already selling bags. Or, it could be the start of your product line.

The pleated collection has a:

• Clutch
• Triangle pouch
• Zipper pouch
• Sunglasses case

Once you get the hang of the pattern, you could add to this collection and offer more sizes in the pouches, or sew a tote bag with the pleated top panel.

The zipper pouch and sunglasses case fit inside the clutch, so they’re a great item to sell as a bundle, or to suggest to craft show shoppers.

As a business, you want products that work together to:

• Increase your UPT (units per transaction) – if you only sell clutch purses, a customer at a craft show can only buy one item from you. Very few people will buy two clutches in one transaction. But if you sell other items that work well with the clutch, they’re more likely to buy multiple items, so you make more money.
• Repeat customers – when you have a few items in your product line, it gives customers a reason to return and buy from you again. Some customers will buy more than one clutch purse in a year, but most won’t. So, having other items they can come back and buy will increase your sales.
• Add more interest – at a craft show, variety does tend to attract shoppers. You just have to be sure you don’t have too much variety, or it can harm your sales. Having more than one type of product displayed in your space will attract more shoppers and keep them there longer, browsing.

The triangle pouch is a good item for a shopper who likes the design of the pleated bags, but might not need a new purse. The triangle pouch can be used for makeup, toiletries, pens and pencils, etc. So it’s a versatile item.

Make sure you offer each product in a bundle in matching or coordinating fabrics/prints/colors.

This not only creates a matching set that looks great together in a craft show display or in an online shop. But it also helps shoppers connect the dots.

If you see two different styles of bags (e.g. a clutch and a zipper pouch) in two different colors/prints/fabrics, you may not immediately think of pairing them together.

But when they match, you immediately think of using them together. And are more likely to buy them together.

Product #1 – Pleated Clutch Purse

A clutch bag is a good item to start a product line with, as it’s a popular bag style. You can also take this bag and add D-rings at the top of each side and add a strap with clasps to turn it into a shoulder bag or crossbody bag.

In this collection, the clutch bag will be the most expensive item (and act as a core product). The price of your clutch bag will depend on the cost of your materials, your desired hourly wage (e.g. do you want to be paid $15/hour or $20/hour?) and how long it takes you to sew a bag. I used vinyl for my bags. If you use a cotton canvas, your material costs will likely be lower. Whereas, if you use leather or suede, your costs will be higher.

 

Product #2 – Pleated Triangle Pouch

This bag is too big to fit inside the clutch, but is a versatile bag for organizing smaller items. A customer may buy this bag if they love the pleated style but don’t need a clutch bag; this acts as an entry-level product.

This bag should be priced slightly lower than the clutch bag. For example, if I price my vinyl clutch bag at $50, my vinyl triangle pouch may be $40 or $35 (depending on cost of materials and time). This lower price point makes it a little more affordable, perfect for an entry-level product.

 

Product #3 – Pleated Zipper Pouch

This zipper pouch make a great add-on item to the clutch, because it fits inside the clutch and can be used to organize the contents of the bag. It also makes a great purchase on its own, because it can be used to hold a variety of items.

The price of the zipper pouch should be lower than the triangle pouch, making it a great add-on or entry-level product in the line. If my clutch is $50, and my triangle pouch is $40, my zipper pouch might be around $20 – $25. Again, if you use a canvas material for your collection, it would lower the prices of your items.

 

Product #4 – Pleated Sunglasses Case

The sunglasses case is another great add-on item to the clutch bag because it matches the clutch and fits inside it. It’s also another great entry-level product because it’s the lowest price point in the collection and can be purchased on its own for protecting glasses or sunglasses in any bag or purse.

If my clutch is $50, my triangle pouch is $40, and my zipper pouch is $20, I might sell my sunglasses case at $15.

 

Important selling points for this collection

• Matching or coordinating – to help shoppers picture using the products together, make sure they match or coordinate.
• Bundling – pay attention to sales stats and which items your shoppers tend to buy together. The clutch bag, zipper pouch, and sunglasses case would make a great bundle during gift-giving holidays. I would discount the bundle slightly to help shoppers see the value in buying all 3 items and to encourage more sales.
• Options – if this product collection is popular with your market, you may expand upon it and offer it in different colors or materials. For example, I might create all four bags in a pink, white, and grey.

 

Display

Here are a few points to keep in mind when displaying your products at a craft show, or even online.

Color

When displaying these products at a craft show, a good place to start is with color. Color can make a big statement, grab a shopper’s attention, and draw them in.

Keep this in mind when choosing fabrics for your bags. Many makers want to have several color (and/or print) options available, to appeal to more people. But displaying a pink clutch next to a red clutch, and a blue clutch will look disjointed. On the other hand, if the bag is only offered is soft, feminine colors (e.g. soft pink, soft blue, soft grey), the bags will look cohesive together and be more visually impactful.

The same applies in an online shop; too many colours/prints can feel overwhelming to a shopper and lead to decision fatigue (i.e. should I buy this one or that one?).

Fixtures

Choose fixtures that allow you to add height to your display and make it easy for people to shop. If you have all your products on one level, shoppers must move products to get to other products.

Stacking crates or placing a shorter shelf (e.g. a children’s bookshelf) will give you different levels to sort and display your products.

There are several types of fixtures that will help you prop up your bags.

For a clutch bag, sunglasses case, and zipper pouch, which don’t stand on their own, fixtures such as these ones will make them easier for shoppers to see at a craft show, and add visual interest and height to your display. You can also make your own risers out of foamcore. Here’s a DIY article explaining how.

Props

Show a few of your products in action so shoppers immediately understand their purpose (e.g. they know a case is for sunglasses because there are sunglasses next to it) and can imagine themselves using them.

You may want to display a set of products (e.g. a clutch, sunglasses case, and zipper pouch) with a couple of items your target market might use in the bags/cases.

You can buy a couple of pairs of sunglasses from the dollar store to show them in the sunglasses case.

Or, you can photograph the bags/cases in use, then enlarge a photo, print it, and display it in your booth.