From Financial Advisor to Handbag Inventor | Emily Blumenthal & Penny Crook

From Financial Advisor to Handbag Inventor | Emily Blumenthal & Penny Crook

From Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons by Emily Blumenthal

June 9, 2026 · 31 min · Season 1

About this episode

Penny Crook shares her journey from financial advisor to handbag inventor inspired by a sentimental gift from her father.

What happens when a sentimental handbag inspires an entirely new business? In this episode, Penny Crook, founder of Denault Handbags, shares how a purse gifted by her late father sparked the idea for a patented reversible handbag designed to simplify wardrobes and deliver two looks in one. Leaving behind a career in financial advising, Penny entered the world of product development, manufacturing, and patents to create a bag that blends functionality, versatility, and quality. She opens up ab...

People in this episode

Host: Emily Blumenthal

Guest: Penny Crook

Topics covered

  • handbag design
  • entrepreneurship
  • product development
  • financial advising
  • patents

Keywords

  • handbag
  • entrepreneur
  • reversible handbag
  • product development
  • financial advisor

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Denault Handbags

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