A Client Success Story: Saltwater Canvas Mesh Bags

The first Saltwater Canvas mesh bag was conceived by Helen Langone of Newton, Massachusetts in 1998. Helen was a regular at the local YMCA where she stopped in each day for a morning swim. She quickly grew tired of toting around a wet shower bag of slimy shampoo bottles and rusty razors! Determined to find something that was quick-drying and durable, she started experimenting on her own. After a couple of different designs and a few alterations, she came up with a bag that was sturdy and that kept her belongings clean and organized. When the YMCA was collecting items for a fundraiser, she made and donated a few shower bags for auction. They turned out to be a big hit and she realized she was on to something!

For many years, Helen received orders and produced the bags out of her home all while caring for her children. When the bags were featured in Shape Magazine, the order sizes increased and she quickly realized that she needed help. Concerned that she wouldn’t be able to afford production and keep up her small but growing business, she started exploring her options and came across Asian ProSource.

After gaining a clear understanding of the product and her needs, our expert team was able to identify suitable manufacturers and obtain samples and pricing from several qualified factories. We helped her to choose a factory, finalize the prototype, and move on to production.

Helen was hesitant to hand over production to someone else after making the bags with her own hands for so long. She was surprised at how easy the process was with Asian ProSource. Even though the factory was overseas, communication was seamless. Our team in China took several detailed product photos so she could see exactly what was taking place and feel assured that we had a tight handle on quality control.

“They are meticulous in their work; they find oversights I have made and they make excellent suggestions. They are wonderful to work with and work very hard to make sure every detail is correct. One time when I was researching towels, Doris (one of my favorite people who I work with now), took samples home and tested the color fastness of each sample. She set up a table with cups of water with towel pieces in them. She then set up a chart with ratings of color fastness and fabric quality for me to look at. From the pictures, it looked like she had set up her own laboratory! It was very easy from this long distance to see the difference in the towel fabrics I was looking at. She really went the extra mile, and always has. They have made me feel that I am their only customer, and I know they must have many others they are working for as well.”

The quality of the bags produced exceeded Helen’s expectations and she has never looked back! Since sourcing production to China, Saltwater Canvas bags have been featured in “O” Magazine, Parents, Quick & Simple, Coast to Coast, Boston Globe and About.com. Ordering additional stock has also been an easy process for Helen.

“When I want to place an order I send an excel sheet with my order and color choices, and they figure out the best and fastest way to get the job done. Within days I have samples I can view on the web. Once I approve them I have a delivery date and am kept up to date on the schedule.”

Asian ProSource is proud of our reputation as an upbeat sourcing company focused on developing win-win relationships. We are happy to aide Helen in the growth and success of Saltwater Canvas and strive to deliver the same results for every client.

“My business is growing incredibly, thanks to this company. If it weren’t for them, I would probably still be in my basement, sewing my shower bags and eating peanut butter sandwiches. I know for sure that my mesh bags are in good hands, and that Asian ProSource makes these bags only for my company. There are many factories out there emailing me for my business, but I know that I trust Asian ProSource. Why look anywhere else?”

For more information on Saltwater Canvas bags, visit www.saltwatercanvas.com. If you would like to know what Asian ProSource can do for you, please contact us for a free project evaluation!