WI Bags About Us business start up history and meet the owners

How did we get into this business?

My wife laughed when I asked her if she would help me sell bags at the local flea market. It seems a friend of mine had recently returned from a buying trip to the Pacific Rim where he had run into a deal on several different types of large travel/sport bags that were over-productions. He rented a couple of tables at the flea market and the bags were selling quite well. He asked if I could help when he was not there.

My wife cried, "I am not a salesperson!", when I ran the idea of selling at a flea market by her. I assured her that I would take care of selling and talking to customers. I needed her help in setting up, spell for breaks and to pack up. The idea of free admission to the flea market and the chance to shop until she dropped was too much to resist. The next thing you know we were selling bags in the spring of 1991.

We enjoyed the experience and spelled our friends at flea markets and a couple of county fairs. My friend watched his hobby business grow. "Maybe you two could find a few shows," he said. If Barb and I bought bags from him he could get a better price based on volume and we could enjoy selling at our own shows. So early in 1992 Independent Sales was born.

I think we did around 5 shows that year and if you have time and like a good story, ask Barb to tell you about our first show on our own. Now Barb runs Independent Sales and yes, you can call Barb a bag lady and she would not be offended. I am still employed full-time in Milwaukee. I do several shows myself a year and help Barb with the larger shows. We enjoy the people, the travel, the people, the adventure of it all, and did I say we like the people?

Since we are nearing retirement age, this is the kind of business that could pay for our travel and adventures, (with a little extra for us). Of course we need this business to show a profit, but since we have low overhead and Barb can pinch a penny with the best, our reasonable mark up on quality bags and luggage means savings to our customer. So shop and stop to say "Hi!" if you see us in person at a show. (Did I say we like people?)

Chuck and Barb Templeton

About Us
How did we get into this business? My wife laughed when I asked her if she would help me sell bags at the local flea market. It seems a friend of mine had recently returned from a buying trip to the Pacific Rim where he had run into a deal on several different types of large travel/sport bags that were over-productions. He rented a couple of tables at the flea market and the bags were selling quite well. He asked if I could help when he was not there. My wife cried, "I am not a salesperson!", when I ran the idea of selling at a flea market by her. I assured her that I would take care of selling and talking to customers. I needed her help in setting up, spell for breaks and to pack up. The idea of free admission to the flea market and the chance to shop until she dropped was too much to resist. The next thing you know we were selling bags in the spring of 1991. We enjoyed the experience and spelled our friends at flea markets and a couple of county fairs. My friend watched his hobby business grow. "Maybe you two could find a few shows," he said. If Barb and I bought bags from him he could get a better price based on volume and we could enjoy selling at our own shows. So early in 1992 Independent Sales was born. I think we did around 5 shows that year and if you have time and like a good story, ask Barb to tell you about our first show on our own. Now Barb runs Independent Sales and yes, you can call Barb a bag lady and she would not be offended. I am still employed full-time in Milwaukee. I do several shows myself a year and help Barb with the larger shows. We enjoy the people, the travel, the people, the adventure of it all, and did I say we like the people? Since we are nearing retirement age, this is the kind of business that could pay for our travel and adventures, (with a little extra for us). Of course we need this business to show a profit, but since we have low overhead and Barb can pinch a penny with the best, our reasonable mark up on quality bags and luggage means savings to our customer. So shop and stop to say "Hi!" if you see us in person at a show. (Did I say we like people?) Chuck and Barb Templeton
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