Blokesbags – a germ of an idea that nagged at the back of my mind for more than 12 months.
I knew the time was right – bags for men are appearing on catwalks across the globe and I wanted to be in at the beginning.
Some days I am entirely confident that the enterprise will be a success, others I wonder what the hell I am playing at.
I am playing at launching a website www.blokesbags.co.uk that will be exclusively dedicated to men's bags be small bags, messenger bag, laptop bags and 'something for the weekend' bags.
Everyone I meet becomes part of my ongoing market research and I am becoming a master at gauging their reactions.

Eyes

I watch their eyes intently when I tell them what I am doing:
Eyes widening means they think I am off my head.
A creasing around the eyes means, “Did he really say bags for men?”
A slight narrowing means scepticism, but they want to know more.
Eyes steady and holding your gaze means “I will think about that. You may have something”

Mouth

A pursing of the lips is accompanied by the whistle of a squeezed intake of breath again means scepticism.
A pursing of the lips accompanied by the whistle of a squeezed exhalation is “Wow, now there’s a though”
A huge grin means that they are stifling a laugh
A sideways clench (either way, try it) also means they need more information before deciding on its merits or otherwise.

Luckily those that think it a good idea outweigh those that think it mad by about two to one.
Phew, fewer to win over there then.