Heart and Soul
Anna Welsh nurtures her socially conscious handcraft enterprise with a keen mind and a kind heart.
Anna Welsh was only 12 years old when she decided to combine her sewing skills and strong work ethic in the creation of her own handbag company.
Her company, Littlebags by Anna, has since grown to include multiple product lines, a team of seven, national wholesale accounts, and an artisan collaboration marketplace. She has broadened the company’s reach through key partnerships, speaking engagements, and media attention from the likes of TODAY.
Not too shabby for a 17-year-old.
Welsh, a Wynnewood resident and a junior at Harriton High School in Lower Merion, incorporates a social-consciousness component into her business model. Through a partnership with the Philadelphia nonprofit Tree House Books, Littlebags by Anna donates a portion of proceeds of each sale to support childhood-literacy initiatives and nurture the minds of underserved children. Recently, the company embraced an initiative to donate thousands of dollars’ worth of books written by 33 independent authors from 15 states and three countries to stock the Traveling Tree House bookmobile.
“The impact that one book can have on the life of a child is immeasurable,” Welsh says. “That’s enough to motivate me to do even more.”
Welsh supports environmental causes, too. Over the past five years, her company has rescued 3,250 pounds of discarded fabric from landfills and turned them into one-of-a-kind change purses, cosmetic bags, wristlets, clutches, and more.
We spoke with Welsh about balancing school and work, the power of collaboration, and the “changemakers” who inspired her.
Q&A
What did you learn about yourself and your business during this remarkable journey over the past five years?
I believe all entrepreneurs face hurdles, but I learned that facing them head on and figuring out how to pivot in difficult situations was most important. It’s not always easy, but understanding the big picture and determining how to obtain your goals has taught me a lot. … I found inspiration in Melinda Gates and other incredible women who start something based on their passion, work hard, and, at the same time, maintain their mission to help others.
Why did you choose literacy and education for your focus?
Ever since I was little, reading has been important to me, and I saw what a difference one book can make in inspiring a child to become a reader, writer, and thinker. I discovered early on that, in many urban and rural communities, there is just one age-appropriate book in every 300 homes. Some 67 percent of the children currently entering third grade are not reading on grade level, making them 87 percent more likely to drop out of high school. I knew I had to take action.
How did you change your business model during COVID-19 restrictions and closures?
We had to pivot because all in-person events were canceled. However, the transition to online sales was seamless because I already had an established ecommerce platform and a social-media following. I realized that a lot of other small businesses, especially female-owned sustainable ones, were struggling during the pandemic. And if there’s one thing I have learned in my entrepreneurial journey, it is that when women come together amazing things happen. So, I decided to start a collaboration marketplace. Littlebags by Anna now offers wristlet straps made by a female artisan in Hawaii. We also started working with an artisan in Brooklyn who makes eco-fiber tassels. These are all part of special collections of Littlebags, doubling and tripling the impact that someone can have when they buy a Littlebag.
Since you are a teenager, juggling school and homework with the demands of your company, is it easier to do this in the summer?
Yes! I focus on production and developing new product lines in the summer months, given that the spring and the fall/winter seasons are definitely our busiest. My parents and aunt also help staff events during the school year, if I can’t make it to a weekend event due to schoolwork. I am also the co-executive editor of the school newspaper, The Harriton Banner, co-chair of the Class of 2023 Committee, and a freshman mentor.
What advice do you have for budding young entrepreneurs?
I always love when people say that you should be part of something bigger than yourself because then you realize that there are people who are relying on you to do these great things. I think it’s about finding the one thing that you are passionate about and giving it your heart and soul.
Q&A
What did you learn about yourself and your business during this remarkable journey over the past five years?
I believe all entrepreneurs face hurdles, but I learned that facing them head on and figuring out how to pivot in difficult situations was most important. It’s not always easy, but understanding the big picture and determining how to obtain your goals has taught me a lot. … I found inspiration in Melinda Gates and other incredible women who start something based on their passion, work hard, and, at the same time, maintain their mission to help others.
Why did you choose literacy and education for your focus?
Ever since I was little, reading has been important to me, and I saw what a difference one book can make in inspiring a child to become a reader, writer, and thinker. I discovered early on that, in many urban and rural communities, there is just one age-appropriate book in every 300 homes. Some 67 percent of the children currently entering third grade are not reading on grade level, making them 87 percent more likely to drop out of high school. I knew I had to take action.
How did you change your business model during COVID-19 restrictions and closures?
We had to pivot because all in-person events were canceled. However, the transition to online sales was seamless because I already had an established ecommerce platform and a social-media following. I realized that a lot of other small businesses, especially female-owned sustainable ones, were struggling during the pandemic. And if there’s one thing I have learned in my entrepreneurial journey, it is that when women come together amazing things happen. So, I decided to start a collaboration marketplace. Littlebags by Anna now offers wristlet straps made by a female artisan in Hawaii. We also started working with an artisan in Brooklyn who makes eco-fiber tassels. These are all part of special collections of Littlebags, doubling and tripling the impact that someone can have when they buy a Littlebag.
Since you are a teenager, juggling school and homework with the demands of your company, is it easier to do this in the summer?
Yes! I focus on production and developing new product lines in the summer months, given that the spring and the fall/winter seasons are definitely our busiest. My parents and aunt also help staff events during the school year, if I can’t make it to a weekend event due to schoolwork. I am also the co-executive editor of the school newspaper, The Harriton Banner, co-chair of the Class of 2023 Committee, and a freshman mentor.
What advice do you have for budding young entrepreneurs?
I always love when people say that you should be part of something bigger than yourself because then you realize that there are people who are relying on you to do these great things. I think it’s about finding the one thing that you are passionate about and giving it your heart and soul.
I have always loved the word changemaker because I think it can mean so many different things. Personally, I see it as making a positive difference for people and the planet. I believe if one child at the age of 12 with one idea can impact so many children, then everyone can.
Photograph by Versano Photography
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, January 2022.
