What happens when I place my order?

As you probably know from looking around our website - we have a great selection of fabrics, ribbon, and embroidery options from which you can create your own, personalized bag.  This means each and every bag we create is made to order, when ordered, with each step being completed by hand in the United States

When you place your order, either online, on the phone, or through a local Design Specialist, we receive and process your order within two business days.  If there are any problems or questions that we have about exactly how you'd like your bag to look, you'll hear from us within that time.  Then your order goes to our cutting room, through the embroidery process, then all the pieces are handed to a single seamstress who sews your bag from start to finish.  This whole process can take between three to five weeks.  Once the sewing is complete - we do a final check and get yourHERObag sent via Priority Mail (which will take 2-3 days unless you're on an overseas base, where it can take a week or more for shipping).  If you've provided your e-mail address we'll notify you when your bag leaves our Homebase - so you'll know to be on the lookout for your bag's arrival!

Our creation time varies between three to five weeks.  That's how long it takes between your order arriving and your finished bag being handed to the United States Postal Service.  We ship all our orders Priority Mail, which takes 2-3 days in the United States, if you're located overseas it can take an additional two weeks to arrive, so please keep that in mind when ordering for special occasions!  If you provide us with your e-mail address we'll send you an e-mail when you bag ships (and that is the sole use to which we'll put your e-mail address; we strictly guard your privacy). What are the shipping costs...

If you have a close deadline, please contact us before you place your order and we'll let you know what options are available for rush orders.  While we can't always accommodate them, we'll do everything we can to get your bag to you in time.  When we can accommodate Rush Orders we typically charge $10-$20 extra - depending on how quickly the bag is needed.

Send off an e-mail with your dilemma and a Design Specialist will get back to you with her professional recommendation for your approval.  Or, when placing your order, select Best Match as an option and we'll chose the obvious match.  If we have any question at all, we'll contact you with options for your approval.

We are always excited to turn a worn out uniform into a lasting memory, but it does involve some special consideration.  After you've placed your order (and selected Own Lining when ordering) you'll need to send us the piece of uniform you'd like used (for most bags we need an entire blouse and for some larger bags a set of pants is required).  An address will be provided when you place your order (as well as the material requirement for the bag you ordered) and we recommend getting some form of tracking or delivery confirmation when sending your own material or uniform to us.  Delivery confirmation comes standard on Priority Mail shipments and that is the method we strongly suggest you use. 

If you've provided an e-mail address, we'll send you a quick note letting you know your uniform has arrived at myHERObag HomeBase safely!  Construction time for your bag starts when we receive your material, so be sure to add shipping time to the expected date of delivery.

We use the uniforms in exactly the condition they arrive to us - so be sure to send a clean and well mended uniform, or look below, at the next question, if there are potential condition issues with the material you'd like to use.

Sometimes we need to remove pockets from uniforms to use the material underneath, or separate seams and seam lines will show on the lining, we hope you will cherish these little reminders of the fabric's previous life and appreciate that the lining will not look as it would if new fabric was used - but that's part of the joy of using a loved one's uniform!

If you are at all concerned about how we'll be using your uniform or other article of clothing, please contact us ahead of placing your order so we can make sure you understand everything that goes into making your HERObag.  We always want you to be as delighted with the finished product as we are creating it for you!

If your uniform isn't in perfect condition it can still be put to good use.  We have many options when it comes to mending or backing uniforms so they are strong enough to enjoy a long life as part of your HERObag.  Please contact us ahead of time, so we can discuss all the available options and get your approval for a course of action.  We never alter a uniform or material without your permission, so if, for any reason, a uniform arrives in a condition where it can not be immediately put to use, you'll be contacted with options before anything further is done (though it does speed up the process if you contact us first!)