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Woodside residents Kerri Stenson and Cindy Goldberg came together to start a company for luxury reusable shopping bags in 2014 to create a sustainable and useful product. As busy mothers, they both saw how many bags they needed throughout their day and created an eco-friendly product that was gender and age neutral.
Stenson and Goldberg said they “immediately clicked” when they met through their daughters Woodside Preschool. Since then, they’ve been great friends and business partners.
With Goldberg’s background in computer programming and Stenson’s career as a lawyer, they found a commonality as they were both multi-tasking through their life trying to balance work, volunteering and caring for their families at once.
Goldberg and Stenson, who moved to Woodside in 1998 and 1999 respectively, both express happiness in finding each other as like-minded people and growing their families together over the past 20 years.
“We were both interested in having fun while doing the work,” said Stenson.
As the original publisher and editor for Edible Silicon Valley, a lifestyle magazine on local sustainable foods, Stenson found that there was a large audience that was eco-minded. As the climate movement began to progress, they took the opportunity to create a reusable bag that was unlike others already on the market.
“We knew we could move the needle to saving the environment,” said Stenson. “Single use bags are one of the most egregious polluters of the world.”
Prior to their business, they responded to the need for reusable bags by creating a tote bag fundraiser for Woodside Elementary School’s PTA, which they used quite often. It was during this time that the original idea for Urban Market Bags was born.
When designing their bags, they prioritize quality and aesthetics. Compared to other reusable bags that often use ripstop nylon, Urban Market Bags uses premium recycled fabrics which gives their products durability and a luxurious feel.
“The choice of material reflects our commitment to longevity and sustainability, as the fabric is not only of higher quality but also sourced responsibly,” said Stenson and Goldberg.
Along with using recycled materials, Urban Market Bags are machine-washable, anti-wrinkle, tested to hold 50 pounds and will fold up to fit in a car cup holder.
Their color selections of black, brown, green, navy, tan and yellow offer neutrality and sophistication compared to brands that gear toward patterns and floral designs, said the owners of the brand.
“Why ruin an outfit with a messy, wrinkled bag?” said Goldberg, who emphasizes that the bags will come out of the wash without wrinkles.
They found that other reusable bags on the market were hard to wash and were easily stained by their groceries. Urban Market Bags was designed to be a “true reusable bag system” that allows customers to wash and reuse continuously.
Currently, they’re targeting a male audience after finding that many men are using their product as well.
Although they have found success in their business, it was not an easy journey. Since launching their business in 2014, they’ve faced the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of their manufacturer all while managing their home lives and dedicating time to volunteering.
Rising from the pandemic, Urban Market Bags transitioned into using recycled fabric when they moved their production to a new manufacturer in Cambodia.
“Our product is very high quality and it’s expensive to manufacture,” said Stenson.
Stenson and Goldberg, with their busy schedules, strategically found that selling their products through e-commerce fit well with their lifestyle. They are currently selling through their website and working to get their new products with 100% recycled fabric onto Amazon.
“We do feel like we have a niche product. It’s a solution that works for everyone and it’s a high scale item,” said Goldberg.
True to their multi-tasking abilities, the company is mainly run by Stenson and Goldberg who manage all the legal and technical work of their company. As mothers who were always on the go, they successfully created a brand suited not only for busy mothers but also to anyone who needs a bag to hold their everyday necessities.
Three packs of the bags start at $30.
For more information, go to urbanmarketbags.com.
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