How many of you just hate lugging around tons of diabetes junk, only to find yourself rifling through the black hole of your bag, looking for your glucose meter or spare insulin pen? Jen Dorn, a 34-year-old type 1 diabetic for the last 20 years, sympathizes. After lugging around her own medical-looking pack for years, she finally decided to pursue her dream to create a line of stylish but functional handbags and messenger bags for people with diabetes.
Jen, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, launched her company, aDorn Designs, 10 years ago now (wow!) and has become quite a popular provider in the diabetes community. A few years ago, Amy test drove one of the messenger bags while traveling around Amsterdam, and liked it very much.
Today, Jen joins us for our “Small But Mighty” ongoing series on mom-and-pop-style PWD-run businesses — to chat about following her instincts to create her own D-business. Be sure to read through to the end of this post, where you’ll have the opportunity to win one of her bags!
DM) Where did you come up with the idea for aDorn?
JD) I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 13 years old, and I always carried around a big pack of diabetes supplies. It was like a big first aid kid, and people would ask me what it was for. I thought, ‘why isn’t there something more fashionable for people with diabetes to carry?’
I graduated from college with a degree in business, and then moved to Costa Rica for a while, and then came back to the States to work in marketing and business. Finally, I was like, ‘It’s now or never. I’ve had this idea and have a business degree. I have experience as a type 1. I know what people want and need.’
What were some of the key features for your first design?
I wanted it to be stylish, but not gaudy. It needed to be somewhat conservative, but also have a stylish flair to it. That’s what I was looking for. It’s hard to find something that you like that is the right size, but have some style and also good functionality. It really needed to be able to match everything you wear. At first I had red handbags, but it’s hard for a lot of people to want a red bag, and also to use a red bag with everything. This needed to be something that you want to carry everyday.
How did you get aDorn off the ground?
It was truly one of those things that when you’re doing the right thing, everything falls into place and happens. I strongly believe that when you’re doing the wrong thing, bad things will happen.
I knew some people in business through school, so I started networking and asking where to start. No one had done purse manufacturing per se, but people told me what they did for their business, what resources they used, and what they though I needed. Finally, I laid out what I thought I needed: manufacturing, branding, graphic design.
One of my friends who I went to business school with was stoked on the idea, and was willing to loan me the money to start aDorn. If you don’t have money, you can’t start a business. She believed in me, and (the money) was mine if I wanted it. It was amazing.
What was the process like for creating your first bag?
A friend and I went to New York City to the Fashion District to talk to people to figure out how we could do this. We talked to people who manufacture bags, and got some
- aDorn handbag
contacts, but nothing concrete. At the time, I was working full time at Wells Fargo, and I found out that my boss’s cousin did manufacturing in China. That was exactly what I needed. His cousin said, ‘I can help you, I just need a prototype or design.’ I picked out several different purses that I liked, and identified different pieces of the bags that I liked. Then I worked with a seamstress to make a sample. I also worked with a graphic designer to make drawings with measurements.
It was very trying to work with China because of the language barrier, the time barrier, and the distance. It took a year to get the first sample. So I spent the year networking while I worked full-time.
There are a lot of companies making diabetes bags and purses these days. How did you go about spreading the word about aDorn?
My friend’s brother is a graphic designer and he worked with me to make a logo and business card. Then I started joining some diabetes support groups, which was such a blessing, both personally and also for my business. I eventually moved to San Francisco and it really opened up my eyes to the community, because I was pretty sheltered. It really connected me to people who also live with this disease. So that was really neat and another gift that aDorn had given me.
When I finally got my samples, I went to an AADE (American Association of Diabetes Educators) conference and met a ton of people there. I was just constantly networking and getting more involved in the D-world. When my website went live, I sent a note to all my contacts via email. I also hired an intern who had PR experience, so she worked for free doing some PR work.
I started meeting more people, like Amy (of DiabetesMine) and Scott King, who was editor of Diabetes Health magazine at the time, and the folks from CWD and TuDiabetes — basically everyone who runs diabetes organization! We all support each other in a lot of ways, which is amazing. I was also written up in some magazines, like Diabetes Self-Management and Diabetic Living.
- aDorn Messenger bag
People love having everything in one spot, that it’s stylish, that it’s not a big bulky case. They love being prepared, but without it looking like a diabetes bag. They love that they can remove the clutch as well, which is really a key piece. Both the messenger bag and handbag have a clutch (supplies pack insert) that’s removable; you can take out this clutch portion and put it in another bag if you like.
I really appreciate the people who say thank you and that I made their day. I’ve been in business for 10 years now, which is hard to believe, and it still makes my day when someone says they really like the product. Those are the days that keep me going!
Is aDorn your full-time gig now?
No, it’s definitely not something that supports me. But it does support itself. I don’t take a salary. This isn’t something that is making my living. I do it to help people and to give them a tool that helps them organize their life and diabetes in a somewhat stylish way.
What are your plans for aDorn?
I would just love to achieve flourishing sales so that I can create new products. Something for children specifically, and then a new clutch that is even more compact. With a handbag, everyone wants something different. Some people carry the bare minimum, others carry the whole medicine cabinet. I can’t make everyone happy, so I need to make the majority of people happy.
What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs?
My words of wisdom are to let go of fear. It just stands in your way and is an illusion. Fear is the biggest obstacle for starting a business or overcoming a hurdles. Just stay positive and have a vision. Manifest your vision by letting go of fear and letting it happen. Also, put things into perspective. Remember, Bill Gates and Donald Trump had to start somewhere too.
D’Mine Discount
Jen’s Messenger Bag regularly costs $89.95 and the Handbag costs $69.95. For DiabetesMine readers, Jen has generously offered a 35% off discount code! Just use DM35 at checkout.
A DMProducts Giveaway
What’s more, we’re excited to expand our giveaways to include diabetes products! We are giving away three free bags from aDorn this week, so you have an even better chance to win! Winners can choose between the Messenger Bag and the Handbag.
As always, entering for your chance to win is as easy as leaving a comment.
Here’s what to do:
1. Post your comment below and include the codeword “DMProducts” somewhere in the comment (beginning, end, in parenthesis, in bold, whatever). That will let us know that you would like to be entered in the giveaway. You can still leave a comment without entering, but if you want to be considered to win the contest, please remember to include “DMProducts.”
2. This week, you have until Friday, Mar. 9, at 5pm PST to enter. A valid email address is required to win.
3. The winner will be chosen using Random.org.
4. The winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter on Monday, Mar. 12, so make sure you’re following us! We like to feature our winners in upcoming blog posts, too.
The contest is open to anyone, anywhere. Best of luck to all our diabetes-supply-schlepping friends!
)
DMProducts
DMProducts I hope the messenger bag come in red Cheers Aussie Bob Team Captain for Team Red / Silicon Valley !!
I’d love to win one of these bags to use for my daughter’s supplies! Please enter me in the giveaway. (DMProducts)
DMProducts | Very cool and inspirational idea. It’s tough to carry all those supplies around.
As an inspiring entrepreneur, thank you for the advice! DMProducts
Those DMProducts messenger bags look very nice.
Seth
Great Story and looks like great products as well, for those who have to manage the day to day challenges of the disease! DMProducts
(DMProducts) Great interview! Thanks for creating such beautiful and useful bags, Jen!
(DMProducts) i would love to win one of these for my daughter as she is always having trouble finding her testing supplies in her bag she has now this would be awesome for her
(DMProducts) you betcha!
DMProducts! Would love a bag for my partner, who has T1D. He commutes on public transit and could use something to hold all of his supplies.
DMProducts! That bag looks like it would be a great help to me carrying all my supplies. It would be pretty awesome.
I would love to win one of these fabulous DMProducts Bags! My daughter was diagnosed on 12/6/11and March 12 is her 5th birthday… that would be an awesome birthday present for her
These DMProducts aDorn bags are adorable! I’d love a little handbag to carry all my acroutrements in. I recently started using a continuous glucose monitor, and on top of all my insulin and pump supplies I”m weighted down wherever I go!
I’m always looking for something to put my supplies in when I travel. these DMProducts look just the thing. I can’t believe I haven’t heard of them sooner!
Would love to win one of your bags “DMProducts.” would make it easier to travel with all my diabetic meds
DMProducts! I would so love to have one of these bags!
These DMProducts bags look like they would be great for traveling! Good job!
Finally some bags with style! DMProducts
DMProducts bags make accessing all your supplies easy with no fuss
“DMProducts”
Business travel, Vacation, Search and rescue go kit. Any number of uses.
Guess I will have to wait to buy after give away.
“DMProducts” are awesome! I’ve only been a T1 for 2 yrs. so I don’t have any cute bags to carry my stuff yet, but would LOVE one! Thanks for making them cool!
It’s not just the style and functionality of the bags, but Jen’s commitment to give to the D community through her work at aDorn that I find awe inspiring and inspirational. My T1D daughter agrees, and really looks to Jen as a role model for how she wants to lead her life with D in the mix. Thanks for all you do!! (and yes, dd would love to win a handbag – they really are nice. DMProducts)
My boyfriend is constantly on me about my supplies and the mess they create in my bag… He’d love DMProducts!
I’ve been Type ! for 45 years. I was like most of us, 13 years old. This Bag is wonderful!! I never have seen a bag that could handle everything I need…pump supplies, CGM supplies, extra syringes, insulin, testing supplies, etc. and be fashionable. YES, there are 58 year old Type 1 diabetics (45 yrs) who are very busy and want fashion, too. Thanks! <3
(DMPRODUCTS)…I forgot to include that I would like to be included in the give away!!! I’ve been Type 1 for 45 years. I was like most of us, 13 years old. This Bag is wonderful!!! I never have seen a bag that could handle everything i need…pump supplies, CGM supplies, extra syringes, insulin, testing supplies, glucose tabs, etc. and be fashionable, too. YES, there are Type 1 Diabetics (45 years) who are very busy and want fashion, too. Thanks!!
DMProducts, would love to try the handbag out, it looks classy!
Have often thought of trying to design my own bag for all a diabetic might need. I look forward to trying out DMProducts!!!
DMProducts very cool
wow.. a cool bag..
Ive been looking for something like this..
I hope ‘DMProducts’ can make that happen..
hello from Snowy Saskatchewan..
DMProducts! These bags look awesome!
Great ideas from DMproducts!
Great story, great product ! I hope to win one! DMPRODUCTS! We all have to lug around so
much stuff, now we can look good doing it!
DMProducts. DMProducts. DMProducts.
I have only heard good reports in regards to these products. I hope I win for my daughter who would truly benefit from this.
DMProducts. Thanks for the entry!
I am always inspired by the success stories of PWD. Thanks Jen, for “letting go of the fear” and creating DMProducts. The messenger bag would be great for my T1d daughter to carry to class in college.
I Love Adorn Bags and DMProducts..
DMProducts – These bags look great.
DMProducts is a great idea, I like the messenger bag for travel. I for see it easy for security to riffle through
“DMProducts”
DMProducts
Great idea! My daughter and I both carry huge bags around with d-supplies and still cant’ always find what we need. DMProducts
I would love to win a bag from DMProducts!
DMProducts. They look like great purses!
I am soooo proud of you and this beautiful bag you created. If I won it I would make sure someone who needed it got it so it was put to great use. DM Product….you go girl!!
DMProducts” What girl doesnt love a handbag? What diabetic doesnt have a ton of things to carry? Would love this product!
DMProducts. I love diabetes bags made fashionably. Wonderful!
I would love to win one of these fabulous bags from “DMProducts” .
DMProducts
How chic and useful those DMProducts bags look. Thanks for giving us something fashionable and usable to help us deal with our daily diabetes maintainance. It does more than you know to help boost self confidence.