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hubby's business idea

Mochi

Veteran

Today as we were shopping for our trip and walking through the bag displays in Saks Fifth Avenue, he came up with an idea for a new way of setting high price points for bags as a designer. Hubby theorized that if women are willing to pay ridiculous amounts of money intentionally to show off something hardly anyone can afford (for example, a Birkin), then his theoretical business can produce each bag custom-designed and made, so no two handbags will ever be the same. In that scenario, (some) women will be willing to pay huge premiums. What do you all think? Hubby is making me post this.

(I will add that I never shop with him, he is unused to shopping for women's items and could not fathom any value beyond utilitarian for a handbag.)

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Thistle

Veteran

I think he has to cultivate a brand name women want to show off first. I mean, tons of etsy purses are unique, hand made, pieces, but they can't command Birkin prices.

Echo

Veteran

While this is not true in every case, it is part of the appeal for some in buying a pricey bag that others will recognize it. Even when people protest that they would NEVER wear a bag with logos or a monogram print, there are styling details that give a premium bag away to those who know - logo or not. Every brand has a recognizable feature, whether it is as obvious as a monogram print or as subtle as woven leather.

Unless and until a brand was recognized as premium, a custom made bag would mean nothing in terms of status, and thus the price most people would be willing to pay. Belen Echandia offered custom bags for quite some time (I don't know if they still do), and yet their prices could never approach those of premium brands because despite the craftsmanship and the customization, their name simply didn't carry the cache of something like Chanel or Bottega Veneta.

Additionally, there are Italian makers who will make a custom bag... usually for far, far less than the price on a premium brand bag. Custom and one-of-a-kind does not command the retail that a recognized design house will.

Anonymous

I agree with Thistle and Echo. This is already done. I saw a place that will make your bag to your specifications in about an hour from lovely soft leather. There needs to be more to command the big bucks.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Agree with Thistle - but the thing is? I don't buy a handbag based on name recognition.

Granted, I got a very nice Michael Kors handbag from my Mom as a late Christmas gift - good quality and I *loved* the style of bag. It was my first slightly 'fancier' handbag. And yet - first thing I did when I got home? Removed the "MK" doily/thingamabob hanging on the side of the bag! It was too blingy for me and I didn't want that gew-gaw hanging off the side of the bag, advertising the brand/designer name.

For me, it's not about name recognition, even though I do appreciate designer handbags.

editing to add: I get more comments on a bag I bought at TJ Maxx in Palm Springs, advertised as a 'vegan' bag - I bought it because I liked the quality, shape and style. Whenever I carry it, I always get comments - and it was about $40? No comments so far on the fancier MK bag, even though I love that one too.

editing (again!): your husband might be onto something, because I would be willing to pay more for something that was one-of-a-kind.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Hm, interesting idea. It seems like one of those things that would have to kind of "go viral." There would probably have to be a signature look or something, because the people who pay the very high prices your DH is thinking of do often walk in circles where brand recognition counts (no judgement on this, it's just true at this point in time). A celeb following wouldn't hurt. And of course the craftsmanship has to be there. Maybe with a "birth certificate" of some kind that shows the exact pantone color formula used and the pattern so that they can be sure it is indeed the only one of its kind. The company would also have to keep great records and make sure not to duplicate an item.

rute

Veteran

Women pay huge amounts for the Brand, the status and not for having a unique bag, so i'm not sure... Here in europe is the contrary, they do not what an unique bag, but an it bag, a bag that all bloggers have, all celebrities

Vildy

Veteran

There's no belonging in a non-brand, non-recognizable bag.

Anonymous

Yep, I agree with the sentiments here. It's too easy to get a vintage bag that is basically one-of-a-kind, and much cheaper, too.

Mochi

Veteran

Yes, what I couldn't articulate to him is spelled out clearly here. Thanks. When he wakes up he will appreciate the feedback.

Incidentally, this Zara plaited shopper bag (an Angie rec) turns out to be the single most complimented item I've ever bought. Women on the street, saleswomen at Nordstrom, Zap wanting to steal it, everyone. So sometimes simply nice design does win out!

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....g-with-bag

velvetychocolate, I also like some of Michael Kors's bags a lot, but hate that piece of bling hanging off it.

Mochi

Veteran

Hubs read all your comments and thanks you for bringing him back down to reality, although he still doesn't get it. As I suspected, it looks like his "build your own bag" idea a la Apple Store (configure your own Mac) went up in flames here.

When we were shopping, he wanted to mix and match features from different bags to make a more functional bag that appealed to him, so he thought that's what women also wanted. And to him, having something very unique would be a huge point.

So he now understands he has no clue why people buy expensive bags at all.

Vildy

Veteran

Ironically, though.... bag is being sold for full retail and sometimes a lot more on eBay. Saw why when I saw it offered as the Olivia Palermo bag.

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Hil

(website)

Veteran

This whole conversation reminds me about how hubby and I went shopping one day for a handbag for me as a gift. He kept pointing out these uber functional black square dull as dishwater bags which he thought would be fantastic and I kept looking at the bright, beautiful, lined in lovely fabric creations. I left the shops with a lovely mint green Nine West hobo bag and he left with the knowledge that he just doesn't get women and handbags.

Mochi

Veteran

Yup. I asked him to never buy me a handbag as a gift.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fab thread, Mochi! I like your hubs

Mochi

Veteran

Thanks! I kept thinking about your hubs, and Janet's, and so forth, men who have a fine eye for awesome items. My husband just doesn't. Though he did pick out the suit at Express that looks great on him!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm so impressed with his suit choice, Nancy. And of course, he has you to guide him with his style eye.

Kyle

Veteran

His thought process makes sense, but I don't think he is fully factoring in the sheer power of brand. For those who purchase these bags, IMO, the value is in the brand and the cachet associated with the brand. They are willing to pay a huge premium to own something from Hermes, Celine, Valentino or similar.

That's why companies are so fiercely protective of their brands. Consider the cult appeal of Harley Davidson, Fender and other iconic brands. It's the "X" factor that original design would not have.

Mochi

Veteran

Very true, Kyle and others. Hubby rightly wants to know how these companies got their brands to this height in the first place. The million dollar question!

Vildy

Veteran

Suggest to hubby that the couture houses only put on their runway shows so that they can make their real money selling handbags, perfumes. There aren't enough clothing customers but there apparently are enough handbag customers.

Jjsloane

Veteran

This reminds me of the recent piece I heard on NPR about the man who founded Coach and how he told his wife that handbags would not be a good business venture for them...

rute

Veteran

It's not always the expensive but as Vildy said they want the belonging feeling.

That Zara bag is not expensive and all women want it, because it's not just a funtional item (he, as a man is thinking only in the function of a bag), they feel they are on trend, they belong to a group, if they have a trendy bag (a bag all women have)!

Mochi

Veteran

I just bought it because I thought it was beautiful and well-made, and could use a tote. I know it was a huge item in Europe, but I haven't seen anyone else with it here in the US. So yes, it always gets compliments.

Anonymous

I must have missed this when you first posted it -- are the ones currently on the Zara site the same? Not the beautiful colour you have, but they do look like nice bags.

Mochi

Veteran

I don't see my exact bag, Ceit, but this comes pretty close (not in the same color):

http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs.....BRAIDED%20

And I love a bunch of their other "shopper" bags, including but not limited to this one:

http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs.....SHOPPER%20

rachylou

Veteran

If your husband could produce the value, he'd have a tidy niche market with preppies and sloanes. Now that all their brands have gone mass market (like Coach, Hunter, etc.), they don't have anything anymore that espouses their values... which coincide nicely with what your husband was pitching.

Or if he could just arrange to sell Argyll boots in the U.S.? I'd really like a pair...