How I Built My Business: Pretty Pokets

I spent 10 wonderful years as a hardware engineer at Intel. In 2014, I took those years of work at Intel and mentored a young girl's team for Tech Challenge.

During the mentoring process I rediscovered my passion for the design process, technology, and functional design. I felt my creativity reignited. It was also around the time I struggled with being a new mom on the go. I lived in the vibrant Bay Area and motherhood didn't slow me down, but my diaper bags did! I wanted to be able to easily carry around all of my baby gear in a practical and discreet, elegant bag (moms like to be stylish, too!), but I couldn't find one that fit my needs. Many classic diaper bags are very bulky to carry and wanting to easily carry your child with you was impossible.

It was a no-brainer: I decided to make my own diaper bag that was both practical and functional but also stylish and elegant. I envisioned a sleek bag that fit all the baby essentials that still looked like a beautiful, designer handbag. I used my engineering and design skills to make my own diaper bag just in time for my second child.

Once I had an Idea, I sat down with a pen and paper. I started writing down whatever Ideas I started getting. I started sending out emails to my friends, to be moms. Wherever I went, I had one question. How should your ideal diaper bag look?I received tons of inputs. Anywhere I went the problem went with me. Your best ideas to support your view will come from most unusual places or people. So I did not hesitate to ask.Another thing I did was to send questions via a simple email or Google Forms or Survey Monkey.

Initial Sketch of Pretty Pokets

It was super fun to collect the inputs and also have some fun while collecting most valuable data for my idea. Once I gathered some data, I then brainstormed the ideas. Then I started looking up online and on YouTube on how to draw Handbags.

Finally, I came up with a bag design. It was the most pristine and accomplished moment in my life. I sat there and admired.....Huh...My baby. I know I know! does not make any sense. But the above model lead to the creation of the actual physical model which I sold!

Once I got my prototype done, I reached out to whoever possible to get my Prototype done. Only thoughts that were playing in my mind were I have to to bring my idea into the world and make it a reality. I started talking to small sewing shops and apparel makers in the mall. I got a lot of leads but none could work on my prototype. You don't need a high quality material or a material that is difficult to make your sample. You just need a sample which you could show to your manufactures who actually make your final product. I finally found someone on Yelp. The prototype was awful but it made all the difference.

First physical prototype helped me make a second prototype with few changes. I added some major and some minor features here and there. Finally the second ptototype started looking like a bag!

To test the market I launched my first official product(brand name Vimaneaa) with unique diaper dispenser feature on Amazon. One style, a diaper bag tote, in 6 colors. I sold 45 bags out of 60 bags. It did prove to me that there is a need and I can go ahead and produce more.

But the product still had some quality issues and it was not yet the product that I envisioned.

I finally in 2017, I found a manufacturer who could build a quality product for me to sell. I also rebranded the company as Pretty Pokets.

Through out the years I kept refining the products, adding minor details to make the product to be something that every women would want. I went from designing diaper bags to laptop bags, backpack, wallets and more.