Rebekah Scott makes bags for real women

Rebekah Scott is just like any mom, if your mom just happens to be the Martha Stewart of the Midwest.

In between all the giggles, tears and spelling tests that being a mom to four kids under the age of nine entails, Scott designs and sells her own purses, hundreds of them.

Rebekah Scott Designs is an online retail business based out of Scott’s home in Valley Springs, SD. But though the shop doesn’t have a physical storefront, it’s not limited to a computer screen. With 22 employees and counting, Rebekah Scott Designs sells bags, wallets and accessories to over 20 boutiques and stores in South Dakota and Minnesota, in addition to hosting trunk shows across the Midwest.

Photo courtesy of Rebekah Scott Designs

Although she’s been in business for 12 years now, Scott said she began designing at a young age, four years-old, to be exact.

“I used to use a stapler gun and Kleenex,” Scott said. “I sewed with my mom, and when she realized that I was actually serious about design she bought me my own sewing machine.”

Discouraged by the lack of designers in the Midwest, Scott decided to pursue broadcasting in college, while still designing on the side. It was a lack of extra cash one Christmas that made her give designing a second look.

“I was trying to come up with Christmas presents for my friends in college, and decided to whip some purses up,” she said. “My friends loved them and then I started getting orders for more purses. I thought if I could get up to speed on my orders I might actually be able to make this work as a business.”

Photo courtesy of Rebekah Scott Designs

Scott’s is a classic rags to riches story: sewing till 2 a.m. some nights to make ends meet, the burgeoning entrepreneur said she even had to cut up her own curtains to fill an order in the early days of the business. Things are a little different now.

“I had a goal to be a stay-at-home mom, and raise my kids at home while still being able to do what I love,” Scott said. “I wake up in the morning and can’t wait to design. I never dread a Monday because I know I’m where I’m most happy, at home with my kids.”

Photo courtesy of Rebekah Scott Designs

Scott said what makes Rebekah Scott Designs’ bags and accessories unique is that homemade aspect, everything is custom-made down to the last stitch.

“Our two main goals are custom and guaranteed quality,” Scott said. “Custom because we make it to what you like, so there’s not 30 of the same purse running around. And guaranteed quality because if anything happens to it we’ll fix it—the bag will last longer than your love for it will.”

Photo courtesy of Rebekah Scott Designs

For Scott, her business is all about making life easy for working moms. Each bag is functional and washable—contributing to the business’ vision of expressing women’s opinions while making them feel confident in what they have picked out.

“I hope that by buying our bags these women know that their opinion counts,” Scott said. “It’s validating.”

Photo courtesy of Rebekah Scott Designs

At the end of a busy day filled with kids, dancing and a whole lot of creativity, Scott said she tries to always remember what’s important.

“None of this is possible without God,” she said. “I have to give credit where credit is due, and that’s the true vision and mission of both my family and this business.”