This business puts kids sports memories in the bag

Two suburban moms came up with an idea on what to do with student athletic jerseys that have been sidelined.

Mary Baker and Mary Matthiesen found that their children's football and baseball jerseys from pervious seasons were piling up in the closet. So, the Cary women started a business turning the team jerseys into drawstring backpacks and stadium bags.

The moms know that it's tough to throw away jerseys that were worn to create lifetime memories.

"You can't throw them away. (The kids) put their energy into them," Baker said of the many jerseys that her two sons and daughter accumulated over the years.

The shirts can't be given away as they usually sport the athlete's name and number.

So, Baker and Matthiesen, who met through their children's sports teams and have been good friends for about 13 years, wondered what they might do to turn the jerseys into something useful.

Matthiesen came up with the idea of the backpacks. She turned her son's old football jersey into a bag and brought it with her to the high school football games. She carried her blanket and noisemaker in the bag.

Fans loved the concept.

"Everyone wanted one," Baker said.

With a background in the clothing industry, she approached Matthiesen with the idea of starting a business.

The business owners found vendors to make the bags and have connected with sports leagues and high schools throughout the United States to market the products.

The backpacks sell for $25 and the bags for $30.

Matthiesen, who has three boys ranging in age from 15 to 20, said they receive orders for every type of jersey including girls softball, hockey and even cheerleading shirts.

The latest effort for the business owners is to use the bags as a fundraising opportunity.

The owners, who have both been asked to participate in fundraising efforts for their children's teams, say they attempted to make the fundraising an easy aspect for moms.

"It can all be done on our website," Baker said. "The bags have a lot more value than some of the other fundraising items out there."

For more information, check out replayjerseys.com.