Michique Handbags of Cape Breton has just made deals to sell their high-end purses at 14 stores across the country, including in Toronto and Montreal.

Sisters Michelle Newcombe and Monique Delisle hand-make their line of purses out of a house in Sydney.

Last month, they took their product to the Mode Accessories Show, a major trade show in Toronto.

The sisters' participation at the show led to the new retail deals.

"We are very pleased. It went really, really well," said Newcombe. "We picked up quite a few stores, 14 or so stores across Canada. We're pretty well known in the Maritimes, so we're trying to reach past the Maritimes."

Golden Globe, Cannes

The sisters also took home the retailers' choice award at the Toronto trade show.

Michique Handbags have already been featured at gifting suites at the Golden Globes, along with the Cannes and Toronto film festivals.

Newcombe thinks that exposure played a big role in the company winning a spot at the Toronto trade show and signing the new buyers. "We even broke into Montreal and Quebec, which we were finding difficult. We were very pleased with how we did."

Business growing

Newcombe figures they'll have to almost double their current rate of production to keep up with demand. The sisters already have two assistants and expect to hire more help.

They also have to think about how they'll handle the growing demand.

"We're trying to look at that. Right now we just have our heads down: making bags, making bags, making bags," said Newcombe.