Ever wish that The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants applied to your fashionable friend's closet? Well, new flash sales site decktOut is kind of like that, except with a focus on purses. Pre-owned authentic luxury handbags to be exact.

So why would you want to buy and sell used purses online?! 

Because decktOut founder, Liza Adams is all about making your life easier. After experiencing the annoyances of trying to sell some of her designer purses on eBay (getting only $100 for what should've gone for $800), she started to envision decktOut. She especially hated the hassle and research involved in trying to find authentic purses online. That's why she built her business model around honesty and customer service. 

I had a chance to chat with Liza on the phone recently and learn more about decktOut. Here's the scoop: 

Liza originally launched decktOut in October of 2010 and is relaunching version two of the site on March 15th. After living with her best friend last year, she continued to trade clothes with her even when they weren't living together. Knowing that lots of ladies could relate to her penchant to change up her look and long for something in a friend's closet, Liza decided to focus decktOut on designer purses because, after all, they are one size fits all. (Sure, that's debatable based on what you lug around everyday, but the logic still holds). 

I asked Liza, what's in a name? Why "decktout?" She explained,

"Realistically, every girl would love to be decktout in Louis Vuitton designer clothes or at least accessorized in designer [pieces]. I wanted it to be something for any girl out there to own something that makes her feel good." 

So who are these girls? decktOut is focused on women ages 25 - 55. 

"It could be the girl who is just starting out professionally but isn't making enough money yet. Maybe she has only one professional looking bad. Or it could be older ladies who are crazy about bags and like to switch around bags every few weeks. They're the ones who have more money to play around with and are looking for a good deal to keep up with their habit. [Both audiences] are crazy about fashion and designer goods and appreciate good customer service," continued Liza.

How does the website work?

"The new version of decktOut is like Gilt Groupe for pre-owned [luxury purses]," revealed Liza. "Previously, the site solved the original problem of the hassle of selling on eBay or consignment stores, but we've expanded by eliminating a point system. Now its just cash and we'll have flash sales for the bags. If you're selling a bag of your own we'll only take 20% cut of what you make. You'll be able to keep in your decktOut account and buy something [to replace it]. Shipping is free both ways; we want to make it very very easy for users. We're still bag focused, but we'd love to see expansion to other items at some point." 

How are you utilizing social media? 

"Social media has been a place for true feedback," said Liza. "When you put a version out there and get people you don't know to give you feedback, that's what really helps. Version one of decktOut was strictly a swap site, but I soon learned through customer feedback the system should be more. [For instance,] I kept getting requests for picture of the inside of the bags, so I added that." 

Liza added, "The new product pages will have Twitter and Facebook links so users can share the deals. I'd also like to see the Stay Fabulous blog go [more in-depth] into the history of the bags we have coming in and ask users for feedback of what designers they like. I'd use this for leverage and try to get more bags by a specific designer for the community."

Okay, that may not be true for all start ups, but it is for decktOut. In this case, it's founder Liza Adams. Liza went to art school at the New England Institue of Art and has done design work since. She loved it for a few years until it wasn't fulfilling enough. She had always thought of starting her own business and had a lot of ideas, but for her it was about mustering up the courage to go after one and not be afraid of failing. She explained,

"A lot of people have a fear of failing. They think 'what if I do this and fall flat on my face?' Sure it's a ton of work but you have to never give up and if you don't every try to do it, it won't work."

She is currently an interactive designer in Boston, but plans to devote herself to decktOut in the near future.

A little depth behind the fashionista:

"A cappuccino from Starbucks. I've always been a die hard Starbucks person and was really inspired by Howard Shultz's book. I actually wrote him a letter telling him how he inspired me as an entrepreneur and then he actually called me! He left me a voicemail a month after I sent the the letter. It was a three minute voicemail telling me to follow my dreams and that he would love to get to meet me some day!"

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