Mother-daughter duo with Houston roots create JJ Oliver handbag company

HOUSTON — Throughout Ladies’s Historical past Month, KHOU 11 Information is highlighting younger entrepreneurs from Houston who’re blazing their very own path.

That checklist contains Houstonian Jamie Scholhamer, who was working as an engineer two years in the past when she determined to go away her job and observe her longtime ardour.

“I all the time cherished vogue and design,” Scholhamer mentioned.

So, Scholhamer started designing purses. Her mom, Jodi Oliver, who had been stitching Scholhamer’s creations into actuality for years, joined her.

“We by no means discovered a bag that we cherished,” Oliver mentioned. “There was all the time one thing flawed … it both appeared good and didn’t operate, or it appeared horrible and sort-of functioned.”

The 2 started working with Oliver reducing patterns and stitching prototypes whereas Scholhamer sketched and sourced leather-based and {hardware}.

Scholhamer additionally started cold-calling producers.

“Reaching out to individuals and chilly calling is troublesome. It takes perseverance and a number of time simply making an attempt to get individuals to name you again,” Scholhamer mentioned.

A producer in New York lastly did name again however their purses have been solely in manufacturing for a couple of weeks when the pandemic hit. Nonetheless, the duo didn’t cease working.

“We used the time to determine the main points – we designed packaging and product playing cards,” Oliver mentioned.

Manufacturing resumed six months later and that’s when the 2 noticed the fruits of their labor.

Scholhamer designed every bag with a signature flounce and so they each collaborated on the main points of every purse: a fifth “foot” to maintain purse bottoms clear, giant and small zipper compartments and a zipper closure on each bag.

Each mentioned the small enterprise neighborhood in Houston has been an enormous assist as they work to create a brand new basic.

“Everyone has been so sort and forthcoming with recommendation and also you simply by no means know who you’re going to satisfy,” Oliver mentioned. “Simply maintain your community open.”