Behind the Seams with summer intern Stephanie Flint

Hi! I'm Stephanie, a senior at Butler University and the Human Resources intern in the Fort Wayne office. As long as I can remember, I have enjoyed collecting Vera Bradley, and I am extremely excited about this summer. Check back to follow what's happening behind the seams at Vera Bradley!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Everyone has a Vera Bradley story to share

Throughout my summer as an intern with Vera Bradley, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet quite a few dedicated Vera Bradley fans. At my sister’s wedding, I bonded with a few ladies over the gorgeous new fall colors, and at the store opening in Cleveland at Beachwood Place Mall, some families shared their Outlet Sale stories with me. It seems that everywhere I go, I meet someone who has some connection to the brand, which has made for some very fun conversations. Many of the women whom I have met have shared their special memories or significance associated with their Vera Bradley, whether they carried the bag with them to work every day, or they received it as a birthday gift. To them, their Vera Bradley is more than a cotton-quilted bag in a fun, colorful print, it is representative of a cherished memory.

As I have been reflecting on my amazing summer here at Vera Bradley, I have started thinking about my own Vera Bradley story. I was first introduced to the brand when I went to college. Everyone, and I mean everyone, at Butler University carries Vera Bradley, which makes for a very colorful campus! It is so popular that they even sell it at our campus bookstore (making it even easier for us to always have something in one of the newest prints). I started off small, buying just a Zip ID Case and Wristlet in Kensington. Before I knew it, I was hooked. Next up … a Messenger Bag in Blue Rhapsody. I’ve carried it almost daily ever since, and it has been the perfect bag to take to class and to the library—it fits my laptop, binders and books. My collection has continued to grow, with Large Duffels, a Vera, a few Totes, and my newest favorite, the Clutch Wallet. I’m sure that having an internship here at Vera Bradley has nothing to do with how many new things I have gotten in the last few months …

This bag will always hold a special place in my heart ... and in my closet.

What’s your Vera Bradley story? Or what was your very first bag? Comment and share with us!

10 comments:

  1. I remember a few years ago when it was my sisters birthday. My mom, sister, and I all went to a store where they sold Veras. I hated them! I was like, whj would pay $15 for a coin purse? About 1 or 2 years later, near Christmas, (my sisters collection was growing) I looked at the Vera website. I saw the Mailbag in Imperial Toile, and I liked it!! I have been hooked since. :)

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  2. i got my first vera bag in 7th or 8th grade (i'm about to graduate college now) when my mom let me skip school to go to the outlet sale in fort wayne!

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  3. I bought a zip id case in Puccini, but it wasn't until one of my friends got the Vera in Make Me Blush that I really looked into VB. I bought my Vera in Bali Gold a couple of months later. I had one a work prize at my school, and I used the money to buy the bag. Then I won a fellowship at the same honor's banquet. I've carried my bag through 7 states in a year and a half. :)

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  4. I got my first bag on the first day I started student teaching! 6 years and many bags later, I still carry Vera with me to work each morning!

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  5. I am absolutely in love with all things Vera Bradley. I was a store associate in New York during my junior and senior year in college. I got my first bags my sophomore year of high school - Messenger and Large Duffel in Houndstooth Brown! Ever since then I've been hooked. I'm holding out until Winter 2011 for those new colors to make my next big purchase!

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  6. When I was 18 and too cool to like what my mom liked, I sat back and teased her about her old lady bag she had purchased in a NJ shore boutique. The year was 1988 and Vera was unknown. So I became hooked early and still treasure my retired bags. I hate when you find something special and then all of a sudden it becomes a trend and everyone has your favorite thing. It's fun to see how the patterns changed to engulf the younger generation. When my m passed I only got a few things but I
    Snagged the entire Vera crate. Thanks mom!

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  7. My husband was born and raised in Bermuda so the first bag I ever bought was in "Bermuda Pink." Then came "Bermuda Blue" and I haven't looked back since. My daughter and I share and love all things Vera and have traveled from South Carolina to the Outlet sale in Fort Wayne and the Colorful Day event in Charlotee. We just signed-up for the Chicago trip and can't wait to spend this special time together! We can't wait! See you in October!!!

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  8. I got hooked on VB when I was in 7th grade. I got a tote in daisy daisy for a birthday gift, and was stuck on Vera Bradley. Then as that bag got worn down after so much use and over-stuffing, I started looking again and found the Saddle Up bag to be just what I needed, and recently got that in Sittin in a Tree for my birthday. Now I'm hoping to get a cosmetic bag, a large duffel, and an Alice in some of the gorgeous new patterns either when I save up enough money or for Christmas.

    I love everything Vera Bradley!

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  9. My first Vera was given to me by my cousin up north when I was 15. It was a tote in Botanica. I will never find another Vera that has such a powerful place in my heart. I'm 17 now, and I have rolling luggage, numerous totes, Veras, etc... along with notebooks, pens, pencils, and ribbon boards.

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  10. my first piece was in new hope (jan. 2004- jan. 2007).
    i used it in kindergarten, but it got ruined when a boy named ricardo spilled finger paint on it. :(

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