HUDSON — For nearly three decades, Sarah Bertochi sold office furniture as an outside sales rep.

The job paid the bills but did not fulfill her. So she decided to embark on a new path, and will soon open a new store in downtown Hudson, Sarah Bertochi-Handmade.

"I'm totally reinventing myself," said Bertochi, 59, of Marlborough. "When I first retired from my sales job, I said that was my chapter one. This is my chapter two."

The store, which will open at 63A Main St., will sell bags Bertochi makes from fabric designs that she has created, as well as handmade items from other artists, both local and throughout New England.

While working her full-time job, Bertochi was also a textile artist, creating designs on various eco-friendly fabrics. As a creative outlet, she started using those designs to make bags, such as totes and handbags.

"I was really enjoying what I was doing, and I started making handbags for my friends and it kind of snowballed into this business," she said.

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About five years ago, Bertochi began attending local craft shows and farmers markets to sell her handmade bags. While the sales were successful, she found the market season was busy and tiring.

Last year, while working a market in Worcester, she was approached by a representative from EforAll, an organization that promotes entrepreneurship, who suggested Bertochi apply to participate in its business accelerator program. She was accepted, earning a one-year training course on how to start and run a successful business.

No more business on the move

"I was ready to be closer to home and not having to lug my product and my tent around every weekend," said Bertochi. "I wanted to find a way to sell my bags, as well as support other artists and their homemade products. I wanted to start my own brick-and-mortar business."

She initially searched in Marlborough but fell in love with downtown Hudson. The space she leases at 63A Main St. was most recently home to the Hushed Willow, which closed last year. Before that, Mullahy's cheese shop occupied it before moving to a larger location up Main Street.

"If you look at Hudson five years ago compared to now, it's a totally different place," Bertochi said. "It's a destination, it's a walking downtown."

The business did hit a snag. Bertochi said she signed the lease on Feb. 1, but three days later the space was flooded. Cleanup and repairs pushed back her opening date by about a month, she said.

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But now, things are on track for an April 1 grand opening. Along with her bags, Bertochi will sell other handmade items such as home decor, ceramic pottery from local makers, handmade candles and jewelry.

She said also took inspiration from open kitchens at restaurants for the design of her business.

"About a third of the space will be a workshop area, where people will be able to see me working on the items I sell," said Bertochi. "It kind of pulls the curtain back and shows people how the items are made and who is making them. It really is being made by your neighbor."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: New business selling handmade bags, other products comes to Hudson