coffee bag totes

As many of you know, I spend the better part of every day working with entrepreneurs who are starting or running businesses.  Getting to see ideas put into action and (hopefully) turned into successful businesses is invigorating and something I’m really passionate about.  The vast majority of the companies I work with are technology-based or technology-enabled and are often looking to raise large amounts of venture capital to get off the ground. 

But recently I’ve been thinking more and more about entrepreneurship on a much smaller scale -  more specifically lifestyle businesses or hobby-ish start-ups which may or may not lead to huge financial outcomes but are often just as exciting as the next Internet start-up.  What’s most appealing about these sorts of ideas are that they don’t need much capital to get started, and because of the Internet, individuals can create awesome products and sell to a mass audience with ease.  

A great example of this is our wonderful friend Jennifer Walker who was a roommate of Tracy’s at UNC.  Jennifer is uber-talented in so many ways - she’s a Spanish-whiz and her “day job” is that of a Spanish teacher to elementary school kids in Richmond.  In her spare time, she has a talented eye for design and style, and has used this skill in staging homes prior to putting them on the real estate market.  The list goes on and on - she sews, designs, remodels - and somehow finds the time to be as thoughtful and caring a friend you will ever find.  

Jennifer recently started making unique canvas tote bags.  These bags feature a burlap outer layer and all the bags were originally for coffee beans.  Jennifer lines the totes with awesome cotton fabrics which provide a sweet design contrast which juxtaposes perfectly with the rough exterior.  The initial response has been a big hit and I have no doubt that Jennifer will continue to see large demand for her online sales through Etsy.com and her blog.  If you like the look of the totes, you should check out her site and place an order. 

Keep up the entrepreneurial spirit Jennifer!  You’re inspiring this start-up guy to think of his big idea!