Lets Go Bagz. Our Story
In Feb 2019, I had an idea for a water tote bag and I asked a sew so friend to make me one. Well, she made me 2 bags. Within 5 minutes, I ran into another friend who saw my new tote and exclaimed, "I Want That" I said $20 bucks and she asked for a discount, I quipped. You are already getting a discount they are $25. She opened up her wallet and handed me a $20 and I thought that was easy. And that's how our business was born.
Now what to call it? I was sitting on an OWL Chair (Google it) in my chiropractor's office and they said, "Let's Go Suzie" and I popped off of that chair like a rocket and exclaimed Let'sGo...That's It! What started out as a let's go to the farmers market and sell these bags on a Saturday has turned into a full-fledge start-up company with big goals and dreams.
Now, after being on Social Security Disability for 11 years, I had no idea I would return to the RN workforce, start a legitimate business, and then become a student at the University of Maine in the Innovation Engineering program. I would have thought I was out of my Bipolar Mind.
Our business was founded on the premise of creating a distinctive one of a kind product, with the thought of helping the environment and creating jobs in the Downeast area of Maine. Our bagz are made from recycled fabric and other material that would otherwise be dumped in a landfill.
We are hiring Mainers with disabilities such as my own and others that come for disadvantaged situations and folks with low-level felonies. We are in the planning stages of developing a training and manufacturing facility in Maine. And we are partnering up with other companies and non-profits to make our dream a reality.
87% of all fabric used for clothing ends up incinerated or in a landfill
The fashion industry is the world's second-largest polluter, trailing only to the petroleum industry. Imagine, the shirts and pants we are all wearing today could take over 200 years to decompose, and some not even at all, depending on the material.
Deconstructing Jeans
How your contribution will help us
1. Salaries for our seamstresses and marketing man.
2. Funds for our legal team of Rudman and Winchall
(LLC, Contracts, Patents and Trademarks)
3. Funds for marketing and promotion.
4. . An industrial serger and sewing machine
Products
Upcycled Dungareez Bagz
Blue Jeanz Water Wine Totez made from a pair of shorts.
Insulated 4 Pack Craft Beer Carrier
Recycled, Insulated Water or Wine Totez
Three Problems, One Bag
You care about our planet and you want to make to difference. You care more and more about where your goods are coming from. You are fashion conscious and are always looking for something new. While our bagz aren’t made from new material, they give buyers an environmentally friendly option that will still make a fashionable statement. Our bagz enables customers to carry their everyday objects wherever they go. Overall, we are bringing environmentalism, fashion, and convenience all together in every LetsGoBagz that we make.
Market Breakdown
In the United States, the tote bag industry generated 168 million dollars in revenue for 2018, according to IBIS World. Not to mention that its consumer annual growth rate is set to exceed 5% by 2023. Sea Bags, one of our direct competitors, based out of Portland, Maine generates 14.1 million in annual revenue. We have been in contact with over 25 businesses across four states and Canada who are interested in buying our bagz wholesale.
Right now we are looking to rent a building that will become our new headquarters and will be used as an office, manufacturing space and retail store. However, we need your help to make this happen.
Our Team
Suzie Milkowich, RN,
Founder and CEO (Chief Energy Officer)
Suzie Milkowich, RN Chief Energy Officer and Founder
Hi there, I’m Suzie Milkowich, RN and the founder and Chief Energy Officer at Let’s Go Bagz. I am an ambitious, resourceful, creative, intelligent and fun-loving woman. I am an innovator and visionary, who has a passion to bring smiles to others and help them see the value in themselves. I believe in the Law of Attraction, the power of positive thought, despite the hardships I have endured at times in my life. I have finally found the key to balancing my Bipolar disorder naturally with the help of some gifted healers. Through my journey I have regained my confidence and self-esteem, using this positive energy to create new ways to recycle clothing and fabrics, helping to reduce the waste ending up in landfills and turning these textiles into one of a kind designer totez, bagz, pursez, and ragz. I plan to educate and train Mainers with disabilities and low-level felonies, who have been down but are not out, and give them an opportunity to work a meaningful and unique career at Let’s Go Bagz.
Kelsey Allen, Marketing Coordinator
Kelsey is a new graduate from Stetson University with a degree in business management and marketing. He brings to the team, energy, ideas, fresh knowledge, commitment and has been with me every step of the way in getting our start-up off the ground.
Kudos to Kelsey. We are blessed to have Kelsey on our team
Research and Development
Sewing Department
Our Seamstress/Research and Development Team
Lori Martin comes to our team with over 35 years of sewing experience and worked at Supreme Slipper, using all types of Industrial Sewing Machines and is a valuable team member with her "I can make that" attitude. She is in charge of Water/Wine/Beer and Shopping Totez. Lori has suffered from depression, anxiety Chrohn's disease and colitis, which has prevented her from being employed outside of her home. Kudos to Lori
Trooper Aka Kristina Garland
I am from a small town in downeast maine and have a Bachelor's degree in environmental recreation and tourism management . in addition to sewing I like to draw, bike,hike and cross country ski. I am passionate about helping people experience that may be out of their comfort zone. This is where my Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guides license that I proudly have held for 9 years come into play. ( based out of Bar Harbor, Maine.
LetsgoBagz has provided me the platform to put my creativity to work using discarded denim jeans and keeping them out of landfills and upcycling them into clutchez and pursez. I am proudly part of a team that has genuine and positive members who inspire and support me in many ways.
We are blessed to have Trooper on our team.
Volunteers
Ansel Tenney is a 7th grader at The Bay School in Blue Hill. He loves fashion, sewing, and designing. He has been helpful on many levels with sorting, cutting and assisting as a design consultant. We are blessed to have him on our team.
Oh my, I am even learning to sew.
Ruth Bush
Is our Art Wizard put a nickel in her and out pops art!
Ruth Bush Fine Art, Product Design, Licensing Art
801 Mahoning S. Lehighton PA 18235 610-377-2600
Licensed Imagery on products at:
Sears, JC Penney, Burlington Coat Factory, Kohls,
Ross, TJ Maxx, Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Goods,
Home Sense, Michaels, Grand Canyon Railway,
Ballard’s catalog, Christmas Tree Shops, Overstock,
Art.com
We are blessed to have Ruth on our graphic team.