About Sarah
Hobby to a business
"What began as a hobby, while working in a publicly listed cloud computing company turned into a business idea. As my career progressed, I recognised the importance of dressing for my role and the impact a practical, stylish bag could have. I envisioned a handbag that would take me from the school drop-off, through my working day, to evening drinks with ease — a bag that would make me feel organised when travelling and in meetings, while stylishly complementing both work and casual outfits.
The problem was that I could not find my perfect bag"
Sarah Haran - Founder/CEO
A leap of faith
Unable to find a bag that met her needs, Sarah used the skills she had developed through her handbag hobby and designed her own. Initially focused on work use, her range now includes various styles that suit the diverse lives of modern women.
Having reached the pinnacle of her corporate career, Sarah took a leap of faith in 2018 to launch her namesake accessories company. The purpose of the company is to "bring bags of joy for life's every moment", with a vision of having a Sarah Haran bag in every bedroom and boardroom of our target market.
Building our business
As the company has grown we have achieved key milestones, perfected our unique concept and enhanced our product range which you can view online, at our Paisley HQ or at our showroom in Canary Wharf.
Back in the early days, Sarah balanced her tech career with her passion for handbags. By day, she worked in the tech industry, and by night, she crafted beautiful handbags, selling them under her initial brand name, VVA. It wasn’t until she left the tech world behind that she was able to rebrand as Sarah Haran.
In those formative early days, Sarah dedicated significant time to perfecting her unique handbag concept from her home workshop. With no full-time staff, she worked with freelancers until the business could justify its first full-time hire. In August 2019, Martina joined the company, marking another milestone.
The business initially operated from Sarah’s home, reflecting its grassroots origins. By 2022, the brand had grown significantly, reaching a size that justified moving into dedicated premises in Paisley. This move marked another pivotal moment in the Sarah Haran journey, setting the stage for further expansion and success.
Inspirational businesses ...
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"Embrace what you don’t know, especially in the beginning, because what you don’t know can become your greatest asset."
Sara Blakely (Founder of Spanx) -
"Every day is a school day, do not be afraid to learn, as you do not know what you don't know"
Sarah Haran - (Founder) -
"The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."
Mark Zuckerberg (Co-founder of Facebook) -
"As a woman, you have to speak up, believe in yourself, and always have a point of view. Don’t wait for permission to create something amazing."
Jenn Hyman (Co-founder of Rent the Runway) -
"Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude."
Michelle Obama -
"If it doesn’t scare you, you’re probably not dreaming big enough."
Tory Burch (Founder of Tory Burch LLC)
COMPLIMENTARY
A Book of Style
The Sarah Haran guide to always looking stylish with handbags
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