Local woman works for company that gives profits to tsunami survivors

Local woman works for company that gives profits to tsunami survivors

By Jimmy Tomlin
jtomlin@hpe.com

JAMESTOWN - The handbags Joyce Darr sells are appealing enough on their own, but when potential customers hear the story behind the product, the sale is pretty much in the bag.

Darr, of Jamestown, is North Carolina's sole Laga consultant - and one of only a few on the East Coast - for Laga Designs International, a California company whose handbag, travel bag and beaded purse sales benefit people in Indonesia who were devastated by the 2004 tsunami.

"Everyone who has seen these bags loves them," Darr says, "and when people hear the story behind the bags, that really helps make the sale."

The Story, in fact, was what persuaded Darr to begin selling the high-fashion bags about three weeks ago.

"The thing that appealed to me most was that this helps rebuild someone's life from the tsunami that hit in Indonesia," she says. "Roy describes it as a business with a mission."

Roy is Laga Designs International co-founder Roy van Broekhuizen, of Irvine, Calif. A native of Indonesia, he returned to that country 10 days after the tsunami to lead a mission trip; the devastation he encountered prompted him to launch Laga Designs International ("laga(k)" is Acehnese for "beautiful").

"It was the worst thing I've ever seen - so much death, and the smell of death," van Broekhuizen recalls. "It totally changed my life and my wife's life. She was really touched by the people there."

Before the couple left Indonesia, van Broekhuizen's wife, Louise, became intrigued with some fashionable handbags she discovered that were handmade by local artisans. She brought them back to California, where she hosted a home party and sold some $2,000 worth of the bags, and the business quickly grew from there.

According to van Broekhuizen, the company now has about 50 consultants nationwide - most of them on the West Coast - as well as about 250 retail outlets and a wholesale division.

"We've probably sold about 5,000 to 6,000 bags of all sizes," van Broekhuizen says. "We're a small business, with under $1 million in revenues, but we may reach that within a year. And all net profits go back to the people of Indonesia - my wife and I don't get paid at all."

Van Broekhuizen says the handbags have been handed down from generation to generation in Indonesia, but Laga Designs International
is the first company to bring them to the United States.

"The story behind the bags is really an enhancement," he says. "Women, especially, love to help other women, and this is a great way not just to buy a bag, but also to help a woman in Indonesia who gets empowered by doing something productive. This helps give her a new life."

In Indonesia, the number of women making bags for Laga has grown from a dozen when the company started in 2006 to about 150 today.

The handbags and travel bags range from $24.95 up to about $399, depending on size, Darr says.

According to Darr, selling the handbags has been a blessing.

"I had been praying about finding a ministry of some kind," she says, "and every time I did, a phrase kept coming to me from Roy's Web site: "If you're going to carry a handbag anyway, why not carry one that helps rebuild lives?' So I look at this as a ministry that's helping change people's lives.”
Joyce Darr can be reached at 336-987-5274 in NC

Laga handbags CEO to speak at 2008 Live & Invest Overseas Conference October 3-5 - Long Beach, California

Dear Friends:

I have been invited to speak at this amazing conference where a number of experts on how to invest, live and retire overseas will share their experiences, knowledge, and skills. I will be sharing the Laga handbags story and how we took samples of handmade bags made by tsunami survivors of Indonesia 2 years ago and made it into a $ 1 million business in 2 years. My actual presentation will be on Sunday October 5, 2008 from 10:05am to 10:30am.

It will be held at the Hilton hotel, 2 World Trade Center, Long Beach, CA 90831
(562) 983-3400

You can read about the entire 3 day conference here,

http://www1.internationalliving.com/events/los08/w_sov.htm

Day-by-Day Snapshot
2008 Live & Invest Overseas Conference
Long Beach, California

Thursday, October 2, 2008 — Courtesy pre-event check-in from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. featuring an optional networking cocktail (cash bar).

Friday, October 3, 2008 — Event officially begins with check-in from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

The first day is a “who’s who” of International Living and investing. We’ll focus on the current opportunities and strategies to retire early. You’ll hear from people who’ve made the move themselves and get their advice and hard-earned insights.
We’ll end the day with a networking cocktail reception.

Saturday, October 4, 2008 — Today we’ll cover the top six places in the world we’re recommending right now. The “Pockets of Prosperity” you need to know about.

Our experts will give you the details about the current situation in Mexico’s Yucatan, the top opportunities in Panama, coastal Ecuador, Brazil’s north coast, Uruguay, and Italy’s “deep south” hill towns and coastlines.

Mid-afternoon, we’ll break into smaller groups to brief you more closely about the areas that interest you most. This will also be your chance to get all your questions answered personally.

In addition to our top six “Pockets of Prosperity,” we’ve also found possibilities for profit and prosperity in other countries as well. In each, a unique situation has created a special opportunity. It might not be right for everyone. But we’d be negligent if we didn’t at least bring them to your attention. (It might turn out, in fact, that you find there exactly what you’re looking for.)

So during this afternoon, you’ll have the option of attending workshops about these special locales as well. We’ll cover Nicaragua, Argentina, France, Romania, Costa Rica, Belize, and Morocco… to name just a few.

Sunday, October 5, 2008 — This is when we get into the nuts and bolts of moving, retiring, or doing business overseas. You’ll hear from our experts on topics like: health care strategies, how to save a fortune on premiums and still get the top treatments abroad… tax strategies… title insurance… managing health risks… step-by-step practicalities of making a move… international tax planning… and much more.

In the afternoon, we’ll once again break into smaller groups so you can get the details about the topics that interest you most.

We’ll wrap up with a farewell cocktail reception from 6:00 to 7:00pm.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Roy van Broekhuizen

Co-Founder & CEO Laga Designs International, Inc.

Laga handbags are made by tsunami survivors of Indonesia.

Dana Point woman sells Laga handbags to help tsunami victims

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Dana Point woman sells handbags to help tsunami victims

By CHRIS DAINES

Staff Writer

Less than three months ago, Vivian Vanderwerd took her handbags and put them on display at the Dana Point farmers market.

Vanderwerd, who also has spent time acting the past five years she has lived in Dana Point, liked the attractive bags and the noble cause behind Laga Designs International Inc. and decided she should sell them.

Q. What are Laga handbags all about?

A. They help and are made by survivors of the 2004 tsunami in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Roy van Broekhuizen's business is based here in Irvine. The bags are being featured in many magazines. In fact, a bridal magazine has picked them as one of the top 10 gifts to give a bride – other than probably a prenup.

Q. How do they help?

A. Well, you are going to buy a bag anyway; may as well buy one that helps. They help rebuild the lives of people who lost homes and families. Many women had no source of income after the tsunami. Their families were decimated. If you are going to purchase a bag, do something that will help rebuild some lives. It really is the gift that gives back. It is so great that you can put food on someone's plate by buying a purse, giving them something necessary while enjoying something luxurious yourself.

Q. How long have you been selling Laga bags?

A. I've been selling them for about nine months. They are all made by hand. Smaller purses take about a day and a half to make, while larger ones can take about a month. They are finished inside and out. But the cool part, these bags are made on a treadle ... you know, one of those old-fashioned Singer machines. They are made free-form of terrific quality.

Q. How has the farmers market helped business?

A. I get a lot of traffic and a lot of exposure. When people learn about the product, see the cause and the quality of the work, they are more willing to purchase the bag. It's not an impulse item. Putting up a booth at the farmers market catches people's attention.

Q. What helped you make the initial decision to sell these bags?

A. I like purses. I had sensory overload when I saw them. I bought one to see the reaction I would get. I never sold stuff before. People were like "Where'd you get that?" I have had people buy the bag off of my shoulder and I took my possessions home in a plastic bag. I was at Augustino's having dinner and there was a woman who really liked the purse and said she wanted it. So I sold it to her.

For more information on Laga handbags, call Vanderwerd at 949-939-1879 or visit www.laga-handbags.com.

Contact the writer: 949-492-5135 or cdaines@ocregister.com