Reflecting on a Year of Growth, Community, and Creativity at Waterloo Bags

As this year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect and say thank you. To everyone who supported Waterloo Bags this past year, whether you were a customer, a friend, a collaborator, or a member of the local community, your support has meant more than you know. Starting a company from the ground up has been a whirlwind filled with lessons learned, unforgettable moments, growing pains, and exciting possibilities ahead.

Waterloo Bags is more than a purse company. It is a growing community of people who value creativity, connection, and the joy of designing something that reflects their personal style. This year helped shape who we are and where we are going.

What This Year Taught Me

This past year taught me countless lessons as a small business owner. One of the biggest surprises was how unpredictable and exciting customer style choices can be. Some guests gravitate toward neutral, classic colors, while others confidently choose bold and bright combinations. One of the best combinations that surprised me was a green and brown purse. You just never know what color combinations work well together. So far, we have not seen a bad combination. Every workshop reinforces that there is no right or wrong way to design a purse.

I was also genuinely surprised by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received. Customers consistently shared that Waterloo Bags felt like more than just buying a purse. It felt like an experience. That validation confirmed that the heart of the business lies in connection and creativity, not just the final product.

At the beginning of the year, Waterloo Bags started with a small amount of inventory and a few pop-up events. From there, we grew into vendor events, launched our online presence, and began planning for a permanent location. Although we are still just starting to grow, the growth has been both exciting and humbling, and it has laid the foundation for daily workshops and a welcoming retail space in the future.

Moments That Stood Out

Some moments from this year will stay with me forever. One of our most memorable events was the Mother and Daughter workshop at Sloan + Parker in Steiner Ranch. This event marked one of our first public launches and truly showcased what Waterloo Bags is all about.

Another highlight came during a two-day pop-up at Appenin Cabinets Austin. Watching a young guest design her purse, choose accessories, and react with pure excitement when she finished was one of my favorite moments of the year. Seeing that joy firsthand is exactly why Waterloo Bags exists.

There were also many firsts. One of the most meaningful was when a customer from the Mother and Daughter event requested another workshop so her friends could design purses for the upcoming school year. It was incredibly rewarding to see guests return and share the experience with others.

Right before the year ended, we received our first online order from our new website for individual purse parts so a customer could exchange components from a purse she received as a gift for the holiday. That moment marked an exciting step forward for our online offerings. Seeing customers customize their purse in different ways is truly what Waterloo Bags is all about.

Challenges and Growth

Not every moment this year was easy. One of the hardest challenges was hosting pop-ups where no one showed up. Those moments were discouraging and led me to question whether starting Waterloo Bags was the right decision.

What helped me push through those doubts were the unexpected wins. Sometimes an order would come in from a different event or a new customer would discover us out of the blue. Those moments reminded me why I started and encouraged me to keep going.

We adapted by changing how we advertised, shifting from pop-ups to vendor events, like Bowie High School Winter Wonderland 2025 event in support of their band and color guard, and making small adjustments to how we present the experience, such as how we arrange the materials. Experimenting and staying flexible became essential. This year taught me that growth often comes from continuous refinement and the willingness to try something new.

The Community Behind Waterloo Bags

One of the most rewarding aspects of Waterloo Bags has been watching people come together during workshops. Guests collaborate on color choices, discuss hardware options, and help each other bring their designs to life. Building together creates an atmosphere that is fun, relaxed, and genuinely exciting.

Connection and creativity quickly became the heart of the brand. When people design side by side, the experience becomes just as meaningful as the purse they take home. I am deeply grateful to the hosts, collaborators, and supporters who helped create these moments throughout the year.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we look ahead to 2026, there is so much to be excited about. We are working toward launching a new website where customers can build their own purses online. We are also preparing for a permanent location on South Congress in Austin, Texas, where guests can come to us for workshops and shopping.

With new customers, new styles, and more online orders on the horizon, the future feels incredibly promising. My hope is that every guest who attends a Waterloo Bags workshop feels welcomed, relaxed, and excited to create a purse that reflects their personal style.

Thank You for Being Part of the Journey

Thank you for being part of this journey and for supporting Waterloo Bags during this first year of growth. Whether you attended a workshop, followed along online, or shared our story with others, your support has helped shape what Waterloo Bags is becoming.

If you are interested in booking a workshop, attending an upcoming event, or simply continuing to follow along, we would love to have you as part of our community as we move into the new year.