2.17.2012

INDIVIDUALISTIC STYLE: BELLA BAG'S FOUNDER & THE CHICEST BAG LADY EVER!


INDIVIDUALISTIC STYLE: CASEY CONNERS 

Each week I feature someone who stands tall and is always distinct from the rest. 
There are those who set out to do this intentionally,
 and then there are those who just... 

ARE.

This week's personal style post has a special place in my heart. 
Throughout life there are people that you could spend decades with, but never truly connect with, and then there are those that only cross your path for a short stint, but that you resonate with right away. 
Casey Conners, Director and Founder of Bella Bag, the second largest online seller of authentic, pre-owned luxury handbags and accessories, was just that for me.


Of course, at the time, she was simply Casey to me. I met her while we were both in our early 20's and living in sunny Florida. She was one of the most polite, well-spoken, and sharply dressed people I had ever met! Having not ventured too far from North Carolina at that point, this little lady (straight from the heart of New York City) was foreign territory to me, yet there was something so familiar about her. 
It turned out to be a slight smirk and hint of sarcasm, 
in addition to all of the poise and sophistication she possessed. 


Smirks and sarcasm, though, I relate to!



She is one of those people you just know will go on to do great things, 
you just aren't sure exactly what. There is 


a fire, a passion, an eye, and an ability to influence others 


that are all tell-tale signs of great success to come. She had these traits and more.
 I would say that she has certainly gone on to achieve that success in many areas, but most notably with the remarkable success she has had as an entrepreneur. 
It doesn't look like she is slowing down anytime soon either.


This little go-getter has taken her company, Bella Bag, from a one-person start-up to a global shopping leader boasting the world’s second largest private handbag collection. They have clients in more than 30 countries and a significant portion of limited-edition and discontinued pieces readily available for sale.


Bella Bag brings in more than a quarter million visitors to the site each year and is a leader in customer service and authenticity and is practically a household name. 


Casey is now one of the leading Internet entrepreneurs under age 30 in the Atlanta area, and quite an inspiration to me!



When I meet with clients the first thing we do is go through a questionnaire, 
which is meant to help me get to know their personality, passions, uniqueness and quirks. 

This is by far my favorite part in the whole process. I love to learn about 
people, what drives them and what has made them who they are. 

I probably could have guessed Casey's answers ten years ago, but I was dying to know what they might have evolved into today. This is what I found out:



What gives you passion and inspires you in life?
"What gives me passion and inspires me is my family....brian (my fiancé), and my puppy!"




Give me three words that describe your personal style.

simple, classic, soft



What experiences have most shaped who you are?
"The experiences that have most shaped me have been my work at Bella Bag and the struggles and challenges to make a small business and a big dream become a reality-working hard each day on one project to make sure it happens, even when I'm sick and tired of it or bored, keeping my eye on the prize.


Bella Bag keeps me going everyday, and I try to stay focused on the creative and fun parts and not get too bogged down by the administrative pieces of it and the little chores, sometimes its easy to get lost in the daily grind and forget the big picture.I also just simply adore the bags. Watching new bags coming in and out everyday and getting to use them when possible isn't such a bad perk of the job either!"




However, when I think of Casey, I will always fondly remember our drives in the Florida sunshine in our SUPER cute & BRIGHT sundresses belting out (with not so much poise) Fleetwood Mac songs and laughing until we cried.

Now you know where to go when you need a good bag lady!

-Stephanie

1 comment:

  1. NIce article. It makes me want to spend time with Ms. Connors!

    ReplyDelete