Vera Bradley Grows From Local Shop to Global Empire

Two young entrepreneurs in 1987 set out to find quality driven luggage for women. When their search didn’t pan out, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia Miller (pictured L-R) decided to make their own.

After stealing the show with neighborhood clothing displays, Baekgaard and Miller knew they needed to meet the growing demand and come up with a solid business plan. The two fashion forward women contacted SCORE in Ft. Wayne. They met with mentor George Cook who gave them the business advice they needed to grow their company into a fashion empire.

With help from SCORE, Vera Bradley Designs transformed from a neighborhood trend to a global brand. Even as a global, multimillion dollar company, the two owners say they never hesitate to contact SCORE for business advice.

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Posted by: Laurel Delaney