Frequently Asked Questions
Company Information
- When was Bagolitas founded?
- In the Spring of 2005 from a chair recovering project gone bad. See the Story.
- What does Bagolitas mean?
- When Janice started the company, she made up the name Bagolitas. In the time since naming the bags Bagolitas, we in the Studio associate Bagolitas with spunky, colorful, unique, and fabulous handbags and accessories that will absolutely REDEFINE YOU!
- Our Mission
- Help women to redefine themselves through career opportunities or the handbags that they carry.
- Our Key Business Principles
- At BAGOLITAS, we pride ourselves on our key business principles:
- Treat everyone, especially customers, consultants, vendors, and employees, with kindness and respect
- Provide a great product and outstanding customer service for a fair price
- Create an environment where everyone in the Bagolitas family has fun, feels the joy of redefining themselves, and help customers do the same
- Build a company that has the financial and cultural foundation to flourish for many years to come
- Re-invest a significant portion of our profits in local and national charitable efforts to better our communities and make a difference in the lives of people around the country
About the Line
- What makes Bagolitas unique?
- Janice has an art degree and an eye for pairing fabric and fringe. In combination with our high quality product, super customer service, the people behind the product, and what weare doing for women across America, well, the sky’s the limit!
- Standard Collection Bags
- 16 personalities or fabric combinations make up our season line which changes each Spring and Fall. All Standard Collection personalities are created by Janice, our founder. Read more about how we got started.
- Specialty Bags
- An ever changing collection of bags consisting of our holiday bags and occasion bags. The fabric combinations for these bags change periodically.
- Fundraising Bags
- Bagolitas is committed to giving back to local and national charitable organizations. For each of our fundraising bags we are donating 15% of the proceeds to the designated charity. Read more about Bagolitas Fundraising.
- Limited Edition Bags
- These unique bags are limited in quantity and are currently available through our Limited Edition (LE) Blog, www.bagolitasblog.typepad.com. They are so one-of-a-kind that we usually only get anywhere between one and five bags per combination. All Limited Edition combinations are hand-selected and paired by Janice, our founder.
- Boutique Collection
- From aprons and paint smocks to kitchen essentials and beach bags, the Boutique collection line offers great gifts for that hard-to-buy-for person on your list. All Boutique personalities are created by Janice, our founder. Read more about how we got started.
- Apparel
- We currently offer the basic black t-shirt with our Bagolitas logo. We will be adding new merchandise soon so keep checking back! (link)
- Colors and tones of fabric online
- We have made every effort to display accurate colors in the photographs on this website, however, due to the numerous variations in the settings of your monitor, we cannot guarantee that the colors that you view on your screen are exact colors of the items.
- A note about our handcrafted items
- Our products are hand-cut, hand-sewn, and hand-inspected to ensure the utmost in quality and care. This means that each item is unique, and may have slight variations from piece to piece. Please accept this as one of the beautiful features of owning one of our products.
- Logo Placement
- Our signature black label adorns each and every Bagolitas product. In our custom section (available through a Consultant) you have the option of choosing either the My Bagolita or Booster! by Bagolita label.
- Using your own fabric for custom bags
- To ensure the utmost in quality, durability and design, we only use and warrant those fabrics which we have carefully selected and currently offer through our Consultants. We update our assortment seasonally and offer a wide variety of colors, textures, and patterns to fit all different styles and personalities and to make certain that each custom designed Bagolita is truly a one-of-a-kind!
Care Instructions
- Handbags
- We use a variety of decorative and upholstery weight fabrics for our products. There is no general rule regarding cleaning. Here are some helpful tips to care for your product:
- Maintenance: we strongly recommend spraying fabrics with a protective spray to keep your bag looking clean and new. The ladies in the Studio choose to use Scotch-Gard.™
- Spot Cleaning: Blot stains using a clean cloth or paper towel, do not rub. Soaking excess liquid from spills or during cleaning can help limit spots left after it dries. Most fabrics are upholstery weight and may be spot treated with mild soap and water. Be sure to always use cold water because hot water can encourage fading and shrinking. It is best to test a small area of the fabric in an inconspicuous place to insure a good outcome. There are many stain removers and spot treatment products on the market today; some products we have had good results with: Tide-to-Go, Stain Eraser by Evercare, and Oxiclean. Please follow the directions of the product you choose. After cleaning allow piece to air dry.
- Overall Cleaning: Machine washing is not recommended. Many dry cleaners will be able to handle overall cleaning.
- Bagolitas cannot be responsible for damage to merchandise due to overuse, machine washing or dry cleaning.
- Boutique Products
- Most of our boutique products can be washed in your washing machine in cold water. We recommend line drying to avoid damage to any trim or coating.
- Wearing issues
- Any issues regarding the wear of the materials used on your item should be directed to gottaquestion@bagolitas.com. We make every effort to address unique circumstances with thoughtfulness and efficiency.
Repairs
- General Repairs
- For minor repairs, such as snap pulls, or tears in the fabric, we will try to repair the item for no charge. †For bigger problems, a fee may be incurred. †Please contact gottaquestion@bagolitas.com for more information.
- Handle Repair
- If the handles on your bag become detached, we will try to repair them as a general repair. †However, we are not able to replace the handles on your bag.
- Snap Issues
- If the snap on your bag comes loose, please contact gottaquestion@bagolitas.com for more information on getting it repaired.
Selling Bagolitas!
- Are Bagolitas sold in retail stores?
- Bagolitas are sold exclusively through our website and Independent Bagolitas Consultants. We feel that it’s not just about buying a handbag, Bagolitas is an experience and an opportunity. We believe it can’t be conveyed the same way if our products are sold in retail outlets.
- Who can sell Bagolitas Products?
- Just about anyone - we're looking for the right combination of an entrepreneurial spirit and the love of our product. If you are interested in knowing more about being part of the Bagolitas family, please visit Join our Team on the website. Here you will also be able to fill out our online questionnaire.
- What if I have no sales experience?
- Some of our most successful consultants have never sold a thing before - we find that with the right training, mentoring and dedication, nearly anyone can be successful!
How to Order
- Catalog
- To request our current product catalog, please email gottaquestion@bagolitas.com to have one shipped to you or to view the catalog online click the following link:
- Shopping at the Studio
- We love to spend time with our customers, but we are not set up for shoppers in our warehouse. If you hoped to stop by, please contact one of our local Consultants who carry our products and they will be able to work with you one-on-one. There are a limited number of times each year that we do open our doors to customers. If you'd like to receive notifications of these events, please visit our website and click on the link to join our email list.
- Ordering Through Consultants
- Our Consultants are more than happy to help you through your shopping experience. Some have products for you to take home that day, you can custom build your own one-of-a-kind MyBagolita, or place orders. If you are not interested in hosting an Open House, our consultants are happy to set up a personal shopping date with you.
- How do I give my Consultant credit for online orders?
- The easiest way is to include her name when you type in the website address: www.bagolitas.com/firstnamelastname. You can also enter their name in Step 1 of the checkout process under Additional Information where there is a question regarding your Consultant.
- How long will it take to receive my Bagolitas item?
- In stock products usually ship within 2-3 days of receipt of the order. Custom handbags and items that are out of stock could take up to 6 weeks.
- Methods of Payment
- You may use credit cards for online orders. All of our Consultants accept cash and checks and some accept credit cards.
- Gift Certificates
- Currently we are only able to offer gift certificate purchase and redemption through our consultants. It’s at the top of our list and we are working hard to offer them online!
- Rush Orders
- Bagolitas can offer rush delivery for our products for an additional charge over our regular shipping charges. Please email us at gottaquestion@bagolitas.com to find out how.
Returns/Exchanges
We want you to be happy with your Bagolitas products. If for some reason you are not completely happy with your purchase, please contact us at gottaquestion@bagolitas.com within 30 days of your order and we will arrange for an exchange. The shipping and handling fee is not refundable.
- Please email us at gottaquestion@bagolitas.com before returning items, state your order information and the reason for the return.
- Merchandise must be in the original condition and shipped in packaging similar to how it was received. Used items will not be accepted. Once we receive your package, we process the exchange.
- Delivery & shipping for your gift
- Most orders are shipped via USPS Priority Mail. Please note that custom and out-of-stock orders may take up to six weeks for delivery.
Donations
- Donation Requests
- Thank you for thinking of Bagolitas as a potential contributor to your cause. We are proud to support organizations that make a difference for women, children, and medical advancements. Due to the high volume of requests we receive, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to fulfill your request. There is no preference shown to a new or revisiting organization.
- Please contact gottaquestion@bagolitas.com for consideration and include your organization’s information and donation Submission Form.
- Bidder's Bag
- Bagolitas is committed to giving back to local communities. To accommodate requests for a donated bag, we've designed the Bidder's Bag. Let the BIDDING begin!
Couldn't find the answer? Email gottaquestion@bagolitas.com and a Customer Care Representative will assist you within 1 business day.