Women have been carrying handbags for many years. Early women weren’t as interested in having a handbag that really represented them because they were not out as much as women are today. They generally bought large bags so they could put everything, even the vegetables in their bag. However, as the trend grows, the fashion also changes, and now the trend of bags has changed from big bags to a small clutch.  And because of this trend, the competition between the big brands also increased and they are constantly creating a new style statement of bags for women. The big brands like Aldo, Gucci, OfficeLinks, Calvin Klein and Esbeda and many more brands are constantly coming out with new styles of bags whether it is a big bag or a clutch.  Big brands want to create a well known name in the market. They make the handbags in a very unique style so anyone can use it, whether a middle class women or rich. Their whole concentration is on the design, material they use, and of course quality. The cost of the branded bags and normal bags are also reflected as per their quality, quantity, manufacturing and personality of the bags. Therefore, generally women like to buy branded bags over normal bags. Often the cost isn’t a factor. Girls are generally attracted towards these designer bags because they feel that it helps them to enhance their personality as well as a style statement. Branded bags have now become an essential part for every woman to carry.

The most common material for designer handbags these days is leather.
If you want your handbag strong, highly durable and incredibly tough, leather is a perfect choice for the material. Keep in mind that leather also comes in different types such as cowhide, goatskin, natural, manmade etc., so there will always be one out there that “feels” right in your hands.

Suede is has many of the same strength and durability properties of leather. Coach specifically does a great range of colors and styles in suede handbags!

Canvas is sturdy, can be waterproofed, is less expensive than leather, and can be used with on a daily basis for both casual and corporate attire. The Canvas tote bags are simple, beautiful, and full of character.

Denim handbags are casual, simple and best for daily usage, and also trendy as it comes in various colors and floral prints, and are durable and will last for years. The big advantage with these materials is that they are recyclable and often washable. Another bag that comes under same segment is the seat belt bag; these types of bags are also made from recycled seat belts in a criss-cross pattern.

Another kind of bag that considered very handy to use and can be dyed with numerous colors is Nylon handbags. Although nylon handbags are not as strong as leather their washable feature makes them popular among those who used them on daily basis. Nylon handbags are often made by the most popular Kate Spade and Prada.

Straw is another material that is also used to make lot of handbags, which can then be dyed with colors. Straw is casual, classic, and often pooled with fabric or leather. Straw handbag materials are commonly made of wheat, palm straw, or sea grass, etc.

There are other material are also available like velvet, license plates, sheepskin, polyvinyl and many more that are frequently used to make handbags. However, the important question is How do you feel your bag should be?

Handbags are a very important accessory for ladies who want to carry their makeup and hair products with them. They will select a handbag according to the supplies they are taking with them as well as selecting a handbag that complements the outfit they are wearing.  Handbags are made of different materials like thick cloth, leather, plastic, etc. and what puts them into the category of clothes and jewelry is the brand name and quality of the bags. There are lots of designer brands which manufacture handbags like Chloe Handbags, Fendi handbag, Mulberry bags, etc. These are luxury brands which produces only high end designer handbags.

As the ladies handbag popularity increased, a lot of fake handbags were introduced in the market for taking the unwanted advantage of this popularity. Identifying a fraudulent ladies handbag is usually pretty difficult, so it is better to buy the bags from the brand dealer or from a wholesale shop that has a good reputation in the market.

Fantastic—2010 Gucci autumn and winter leather handbags
Classic and delicate external designs with the blend of nostalgic metal fasteners will take you on the 70’s-80’s decade. The edge of luxury is endless and that’s why this kind of handbag is made of python skin, ostrich skin, luxury alligator skin and rare lizard skin. It makes people have familiar feelings through small aiguillette, suede, large metal buckles and so on.

We strongly believe that it is a great move by Gucci because it will not only reduce the use of paper but simultaneously reduce the carbon dioxide as well.

Females usually go with the handbags that resemble their personality and define them better. And big bags come with big advantages to women. A large bag allows them to carry everything they wish to.

So the next time you are shopping for a handbag, be sure to look at the color, size, space and important things that that go with your personality.

1) Will this handbag be for everyday or for special occasions?
2) What will I carry in my handbag?

Both of these questions are important in your search for the best handbag.
Every woman has her own sense of style and therefore she would be inclined to buy a handbag that reflects her personality. For some women, they only buy their designer bags. Certain types of women’s handbags are made from the finest materials and carry the names of some of the world’s most famous designers.

One of the most popular types of ladies handbags are those made out of leather. Leather handbags are available in several different colors. Many women prefer a neutral shade such as brown or black when purchasing a handbag.

Whatever your preference in ladies handbags may be, be sure to at least have one that seems perfect. Purchase a few and make your handbag as much of a fashion accessory as your jewelry.

Luxury Brands

Luxury brands have a heightened status that allows the opportunity to charge premium prices.
By: Jackson and Haid

Why consumers buy Luxury Brands?

1. The desire of emulating the lifestyle of the richest or social class.
2. The superior quality of the product and services.
3. The basis of self-rewards.

History- Gucci

• Founded in Florence 1921
• 1950: first global store in New York, US
• 1979: Accessories Collection with 20,000 product lines & with over 1,000 stores
• 1992: Loss of more than $40 million
• 1993: Gucci sold all the shares to Investcorp (a Bahrain-based private equity firm)
• 1993: Appointment of Domenico De Sole & promotion of Tom Ford to Creative Director

History- Vertu

• Founded in UK in 2000
• Independently run and wholly owned subsidiary of the Finnish mobile phone
• Vertu’s president and COO is Perry Oosting
• Worldwide offices: in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Singapore
• Concentration: most exclusive luxury instruments for personal communications

Gucci Branding Strategy

3 Phases of Brand Strategy

Phase 1: Brand stabilisation phase: early 1995-October 1999

1)    Re-established control of Gucci product design and manufacture
2)    Re-established control over Gucci product distribution
3)    Create a balanced product portfolio for a luxury brand
4)    Establish a luxury marketing communications platform
5)    Create a luxury brand consumption experience
6)    Tom Ford – the design direction and control

Phase 2: Multi-brand acquisition phase – November 1999-July 2001

1)    At this phase, Gucci had transformed from their single brand status to become a multi-brand luxury goods group.
2)   The Gucci group to requisite skills to advantage each category of acquisition and intra-group synergies to provide positive benefits for the group as a whole

Phase 3: Gucci group consolidation phase – August 2001-April 2004

1)    New Gucci group has been formed
2)    To manage effectively portfolio of brands which will each be unique in its brand image and  values, while leveraging the skills and infrastructure of the enlarged Group.

Vertu Branding Strategy

1)    Utilises craftsmanship, precision engineering, high-end technology and a unique personal service dimension
2)    Product launching associated with fashion shows – Paris fashion week

• Aiming to create a fashion brand rather than a technology brand
• Focus on Vertu Concierge Service
• provides specialised travel assistance
• 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world
• free for the first year,  and charge £500 per annum
• offers a customisation service

3)      Focussed their enormous attention on store layout

• Developed a unique buying experience by creating a “gallery-like” feel to its retail environments
• Vertu available to purchase through their website.

4)      Partnership  or joint venture -to gain greater market share

a) Hong Kong – King Fook Jewellery
b) U.K – Goldsmiths

Hobo Bag
The hobo bag is a style of handbag or purse that is typically large and characterized by a crescent shape, a slouchy posture and a long strap designed to wear over the shoulder. Hobo bags are made out of soft, flexible materials and tend to slump, or slouch, when set down. This style of purse is called a hobo bag because it resembles the shape of the bindle on a stick that hobos are portrayed as carrying over their shoulder in drawings and cartoons.
Hobo bags are popular among Hollywood celebrities who favor the bohemian, or bsoho-chic, style familiarized by such celebrities as Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Sienna Miller, and Joss Stone.

Wedding Bag
These types are generally small, long straps and rectangular in shape. The unique selling point of these bags is that they are easy to carry, and often made of satin material along with crystals for an elegant look.

Shoulder Tote
The shoulder tote is a massive tote to be carried almost exclusively by shoulder. If it were carried by hand, the bag would be so big it may drag on the ground! This is great for someone who needs to carry around everything they own around with them while looking trendy. These styles go in and out, off and on. You can count on them coming back in at some point, though!

Barrel Bag
A trendy style bag for your daily needs! These bags are generally an elongated, stretched out style with lots of horizontal room. The style usually has long handles to hang over the shoulder.

Bucket Bags
As the name suggest, the bucket bag is like a handbag that’s shaped in the form of a water bucket. The unique selling point of these bags is that they have plenty of storage room, are top zippered, and easy to use, so throw everything in it!!
Brands like Dooney and Bourke specialize in these bags.

Satchel Bag
These types are large, basket style handbags with two large straps. Satchels are most often made of leather or cloth. In the old days, doctors used to carry satchels around with their essentials, which have evolved into the modern day designer handbag satchels. That’s why it is also known as doctor style bag and this doctor style bag is used today!
Indiana Jones always carries a satchel as part of his outfit, alongside his whip and hat.

Cosmetic Bag
Cosmetic bags are a small, convenient bag that you can carry around your makeup and beauty products. They’re often small enough to carry inside of another larger bag, and are great to take when on vacation.

Tote bag
These summer bags are a large handheld bag or purse that is used to carry things, such as books, beachwear, or everyday items. They’re great for the beach, and you don’t have to deal with the fuss of a zipper. A tote bag is normally made of treated canvas, nylon or heavy pebbled leather.

History

• Early Days (1854-1892)

–        1854 – Louis Vuitton opens first store in Paris

–        1885 – first LV store opens in London, on Oxford Street

–        1892 – Vuitton dies; the Vuitton Company begins selling handbags.

• Golden Age of Louis Vuitton (1893-1936)

–        1893 – Georges (Louis’s son) begins his campaign to make the company into a worldwide corporation.

–        1936 – The golden age of Louis Vuitton ends as Georges Vuitton passes away. Estimates attribute Georges Vuitton with over 700 new Vuitton designs.

• Modern Age of Louis Vuitton (1937-1996)

–        1978 – Vuitton opens its first stores in Japan, in Tokyo and Osaka. (Sales in Japan would come to account for nearly half of the company’s total revenue by the 1980s.)

–        1984 – Vuitton expands its presence in Asia by opening its first store in Korea, in Seoul.

–        1987 – Moët et Chandon and Hennessy, leading manufacturers of champagne and of brandy, respectively, merges with Louis Vuitton to form the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate, LVMH. The group is partly owned by the Christian Dior group, and Bernard Arnault is Chairman and CEO of both companies.

–        1992 – The first store in China is opened at the Palace Hotel in Beijing.

• Millennium Age of Louis Vuitton (1997-present)

–        1997 – hires designer Marc Jacobs to be the label’s artistic director

–        2006 – opens its first store in Norway

Product

• Main Products: Leather Bags and Wallets

–        Handbags

–        Luggage

–        Cosmetic Bags

• Original Product Line: Monogram
• Expanded its product line

–        Monogram Denim

–        Monogram Multicolore

–        Monogram Vernis

–        Damier Canvas

Price

• Premium Pricing

–        Luxury image

–        Selling Point

• Never on sale!!

Place

• Department Stores:

–        Macy’s New York

–        Bloomingdales

–        Saks Fifth Avenue

• Exclusive Distribution

–        Limited number of stores and retailers

• Direct channels: Free-Standing Store

Endorsements

–        Jennifer Lopez

–        Kate Moss

–        Uma Thurman

–        Scarlett Johansson

Sponsorship

–        “Louis Vuitton Cup 2007”

–        “LVMH Young Artists’ Award”

–        “LVMH Website – “The Magazines”

Mission Statement

• “LVMH must continue to be synonymous with both elegance and creativity. Our products, and the cultural values they embody, blend tradition and innovation, and kindle dream and fantasy.”

Five priorities reflect the fundamental values shared by all Group stakeholders:
- Be creative and innovative
-  Aim for product excellence
- Bolster the image of our brands with passionate determination
-  Act as entrepreneurs
-  Strive to be the best in all we do

Rank1- Sandra Bullock
Recent Earnings                                : $56 million
Handbag                                             : Prada

Rank2 – Reese Witherspoon
Recent Earnings                                : $32 million
Handbag                                             : Miu Miu Coffer

Rank3 – Cameron Diaz
Recent Earnings                                : $32 million
Handbag                                             : Balenciaga

Rank4 – Jennifer Aniston
Recent Earnings                                : $27 million
Handbag                                             : Salvatore Ferragamo Knot bag

Rank5 – Sarah Jessica Parker
Recent Earnings                                : $25 million
Handbag                                             : Chanel Coco Cocoon Bowling

Rank6 – Julia Roberts
Recent Earnings                                : $20 million
Handbag                                             : Fendi Peek-A-Boo

Rank7 – Angelina Jolie
Recent Earnings                                : $20 million
Handbag                                             : Dior Granville

Rank8 – Drew Barrymore
Recent Earnings                                : $15 million
Handbag                                             : YSL Tribute Bags

Rank9 – Meryl Streep
Recent Earnings                                : $13 million
Handbag                                             : Roberta Freyman’s classic Cab

Rank10 – Kristen Stewart
Recent Earnings                                : $12 million
Handbag                                             : Ralph Lauren Belmont Bag