The best products always come from a NEED. And who has not gone through a frustrating search for a cell phone, wallet or keys at one time or other from the murky depths of her purse?
SOLUTION: A Purse Organizer
When I first saw the Purseket and met its creator -NJ Stewart, I was actually surprised. I was wondering what all the hype was about. The product was so SIMPLE - it was just a basic shell with pockets! Why was Oprah, the ladies from The View and the trend spotting magazines singing its praises? I tried it... And it DID make finding stuff in my bag much easier!
And then the idea was picked up by others! If you search for "Purse Organizer Insert" on eBay right now, you will find hundreds of listings. There are a number of designs out there. Some with their own fancy names - PurseN, Purse Hop, Purse To Go, INPurse, etc. Some even lovingly made by SAHM moms like NJ was when she first made some for herself and her friends. How do you choose which purse organizer will work for you?
I can only share my experience in trying what I think are two of the best brands in the market today - the Purseket and PurseN. Following are pictures with the actual bags I use with them.
PurseN
What I like about it: Pretty and sturdy. Outer shell is a matte canvas material that looks like it can take a lot of wear. Lining is made of a soft luxurious material with a silk-like sheen. Lots of pockets - including zippered compartments and 2 elasticized corner pockets that are roomier for sunglasses and keys. Expandable with a zippered bottom and snaps at the corners. Fine details including the shiny metal hardware and slim handles that are inconspicuous when tucked back into the sides
This is what I would call the Mercedes Benz of organizers - very sleek and elegant, and fully loaded.
What I don't like about it: The boxy shape - Its outline can show through your bag if it doesn't have a flat bottom. The price tag - $50 to $60.Purseket
What I like about it: Rigid yet flexible inner padding that adjusts to the shape of most bags. Roomy pockets in different widths that can accommodate a variety of items. A sturdy key post that serves as an anchor to easily find keys. An open design that allows you to expand your bag when needed to accommodate bulkier items and lets your bag assume its natural shape while you carry it. The rolled shape also makes transfer of contents between bags really easy. And finally, a good price point - $17 to $24 depending on the size.
What I don't like about it: Nothing. It just looks kind of odd and bulky at first but you will appreciate the utility and the literal flexibility of the shell as it molds to the shape of the bag you place it in.
I personally use the Medium and I find this size fits most of the bags I own (... and that is also why this is the only size I carry in my store! *wink*) The Purseket does come in 4 sizes - from a drop-in mini insert to an 8 pocket wrap-around for large totes. There are a number of authorized retailers like me who carry them on eBay and you should easily find a trusted seller from reviewing their feedback.
Beware of the Purseket copycats or fakes... There is even one seller from Singapore who uses the keyword "Purseket" in his item title yet sells something completely different - One that even has credit card compartments at the sides (huh?)! I don't think you want ANOTHER wallet in your purse! Remember that you are searching (actually feeling!) for something in your purse in the dark most of the time! Unless you carry a flashlight in your purse, you don't want to be taking it inside out to find a specific credit card - so the SIMPLER the design, the better.
You also want to make sure your organizer is RIGID yet FLEXIBLE. I can't emphasize this enough. A lot of the pictures you see of other purse organizers are either stuffed to full capacity so that you don't see how the sides become LIMP or collapse inside your purse when one of the pockets or corners become empty! These are the design details that you don't see from the pictures until you actually use it inside your bag.
You also don't want it to be so STIFF that you can literally see its outline outside your bag - as if you have a box or a book inside your purse!
I highly recommend the Purseket but if you want to try another organizer, imagine how it will FEEL INSIDE and LOOK OUTSIDE your bag when you actually use it. The pictures usually look really good... but most of them end up looking EXACTLY like they do in the picture - as another organizer on top of your dresser! 8-) Finally, check the seller's feedback history to see how previous buyers have evaluated the product.
~ Beng Cerdenia
What I don't like about it: Nothing. It just looks kind of odd and bulky at first but you will appreciate the utility and the literal flexibility of the shell as it molds to the shape of the bag you place it in.
I personally use the Medium and I find this size fits most of the bags I own (... and that is also why this is the only size I carry in my store! *wink*) The Purseket does come in 4 sizes - from a drop-in mini insert to an 8 pocket wrap-around for large totes. There are a number of authorized retailers like me who carry them on eBay and you should easily find a trusted seller from reviewing their feedback.
Beware of the Purseket copycats or fakes... There is even one seller from Singapore who uses the keyword "Purseket" in his item title yet sells something completely different - One that even has credit card compartments at the sides (huh?)! I don't think you want ANOTHER wallet in your purse! Remember that you are searching (actually feeling!) for something in your purse in the dark most of the time! Unless you carry a flashlight in your purse, you don't want to be taking it inside out to find a specific credit card - so the SIMPLER the design, the better.
You also want to make sure your organizer is RIGID yet FLEXIBLE. I can't emphasize this enough. A lot of the pictures you see of other purse organizers are either stuffed to full capacity so that you don't see how the sides become LIMP or collapse inside your purse when one of the pockets or corners become empty! These are the design details that you don't see from the pictures until you actually use it inside your bag.
You also don't want it to be so STIFF that you can literally see its outline outside your bag - as if you have a box or a book inside your purse!
I highly recommend the Purseket but if you want to try another organizer, imagine how it will FEEL INSIDE and LOOK OUTSIDE your bag when you actually use it. The pictures usually look really good... but most of them end up looking EXACTLY like they do in the picture - as another organizer on top of your dresser! 8-) Finally, check the seller's feedback history to see how previous buyers have evaluated the product.
As NJ says... Dig in your garden, not your purse!
Check out more fashion solutions in my eBay store...~ Beng Cerdenia
Guide created: 10/04/09 (updated 11/18/09)


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