Palm Beach Bag
Courtney Chmil, creator of Palm Beach Bag, is a cool girl. And it’s not because she is an alum of my beloved Fairfield University or that she’s bright and extremely well-spoken for her mere 25-year-old self–it’s because she has an unexpected side job. Ask anyone what they do “on the side,” and you are sure to gain a glimpse into the soul of the person for here lurks the closet artist, writer, photographer or even triathlon athlete.
A native of Garden City, New York, Courtney is one of four siblings who spent much of her childhood playing sports. She earned a scholarship to play lacrosse at Fairfield where she majored in communications. However, she soon realized the world of TV production was not for her after a stint as a production assistant for ESPN’s SportsCenter. Courtney quickly switched career paths and landed (on both feet) at one of New York City’s leading financial services firm where she’s worked for the past three years.
One might not expect a busy young woman like Courtney to have the time for a side job, let alone one in fashion accessories. She denies she has real talent for design or crafting, but her product line contradicts this. Her family’s annual trip to Palm Beach a year ago sparked the idea for Palm Beach Bag in her razor-sharp brain. She noticed many beachgoers carrying beautiful monogrammed straw bags and inquired about them just to be dismayed at their extraordinarily high cost. Courtney immediately thought she could make a similar bag herself for a better price point, so the young lady with no experience in design went to work mastering the art of painting on a straw canvas. Her family and friends admired her work and requested bags by the dozens. After having success among her inner circle, Courtney decided to feature and market her bags broadly. This past April, Palm Beach Bag burst onto the social media scene with its own Instagram account and fifty orders quickly rolled in. After all, the straw bag is the quintessential summer accessory whether a handbag, a tote or a clutch. Add a beautiful monogram in your favorite colors and the personalization takes the warm-weather must-have to the next level.
When I inquire if she could foresee Palm Beach Bag take off and one day become a booming business, Courtney quickly dismisses the possibility as she absolutely loves her job in finance and has no plans to switch career paths again. But when pressed, she admits she has thought about offering clear bags for ease through those security lines that now seem to be everywhere and possibly partnering with colleges to create her customs bags replete with their logos. While this cool girl might not anticipate a robust future for Palm Beach Bag, let’s just say I wouldn’t bet against her.
Treat yourself
All Palm Beach Bags are customized and retail for $105.
Order Palm Beach Bags through DM on Instragram https://www.instagram.com/palmbeachbag/ or by emailing palmbeachbag@gmail.com
