Bleeker by Coach
Coach addicts will be thrilled to learn that the company has plans to launch two new lifestyle lines this year: Bleeker collection will be launched in Fall 2007 and will fill consumers' demand for a lighter weight leather bag - average price at $350 (the average Coach bags are $275 and Legacy bags average $450) The second line, Heritage Stripe, will launch Spring 2008 with durable and sporty totes made of coated canvas cotton. Lew Frankfort, Chairmand and CEO of Coach said in an interview with Wallstreet Journal this week, "the two lines were the company's response to voids in the market and to customer needs. In one case, our consumer expressed considerable interest in a lighter-weight, leather-based collection inspired by our history, and Bleecker offers that. In terms of Heritage Stripe, it met a functional void since we don't have a comprehensive lifestyle collection of durable, chic, sporty totes".
Currently the Ergo line (pictured left), is selling like hotcakes in Japan and US. Coach's popularity worldwide translates to a strong bottom line, sales are currently $625.3 million, up from $479.7 million last year. Frankfort also stated that Coach will be shutting down corporate accounts business that sold to distributors for corporate gift giving as bags were being distributed to unauthorized retailers such as Costco. I think this is a good move as it will boost company image because no luxury brand, entry level or not, should be featured at Costco next to the 10 pound boxes of bananas!
Source: WWD
Are Coach stuff made in China?? I've heard some pretty unpleasant stuff about them..
Haha...I was in Costco yesterday and saw a bunch of Coach watches laying around in their display box...yikes
I am also interested in whether some or all Coach bags are made in China. Thanks!
Where!!! Can I get that one? Those colors are so FUN.
Bag Snob!
I cant believe you would say nice things about coach.
Their bags are often hideous and people buy them because they say COACH and CCCCCC all over it!
Coach is far from being finely made nice beautiful bags with beautiful details.
Hi Coach hater,
Not everyone can afford the Hermes birkins I collect and Coach fills a very large segment of the market so I must report on the latest for the thousands of readers we have who love Coach.
It's just a different price point and quality level.
Don't be a hater!
xo
Bag Snob
OK so I am not a fan, though I could get that colored one just for kicks. Coach to me says "way middle class", and I just revolt. I'd do either Old Navy straw bag or a Chanel, but never Coach. Ever.
I felt the same way about coach, like it was the poor mans LV. But I really liked their winter patchwork this year so I bought the most expensive one. I have had more people notice that bag and have got more compliments on the bag than I ever have on my white leather Marc Jacobs tote, which was twice the price.
Really, the only handbag designer that remotely deserves to act "snobbish: is Hermes. And Courtney dear, that wasn't the most expensive Coach bag that you bought. Coach has a line of bags that are prices $798 and up. Poor thing, better luck next time. :~(
Hi,
to answer the question of whether coach is made in china or not, most of it is, although the ali "croc" bag or the penelope "croc" bag that retails for 10k is made in italy
because yes, coach still owns a factory in italy, where exotic bags are produced.
i really love the legacy line best and cannot wait for bleeker.
thanks for the info!
Tiffany dear, you should have read Courtney's post a little better. I believe she said she bought the most expensive patchwork bag, not the most expensive bag that Coach makes. Better luck next time...
Quite frankly, the really expensive ones aren't made any better than Coach, they just come with a longer guarantee. Who wants to use the same bag for fifty years? When it wears out, it wears out. Whatever.
Anyone who buys a bag that is unreasonably expensive for the name and then insults other brands that are more reasonably priced has more money than brains and no manners.
Buy any bag you like girls. If it feels good, wear it.
Wow... I probably will get reemed for this.. lol but I like coach don't get me wrong if my husband was an officer and not enlisted I could afford something other than a 500.00 dollar bag... In my wildest dreams. Maybe I was not meant to be a snob... So bash all you want if its the middle class version of LV I'll take your hand me downs... lol
I don't understand all the vehemence towards Coach? Other "higher" brands have lots of signature styles too (um...LV)? I personally find Coach's (and LV's) signature styles hideous, but besides that there are plenty of items that are classy and cute without all that madness. I have no problems with difference in opinion, but bigoted views from ignorance are another thing. Don't form judgments so quickly when you don't know the products. And for all of you who share that adulation towards Hermes or Chanel who uses it to think every other brand is "beneath" it, let me tell you that Hermes is also outsourcing a lot of their products now or no longer making them the traditional way, for mass production. Did you really think that they could make all their products in France in the traditional way with such a large demand in their products? And their much-awed at bags, namely their Birkin, is just priced at that range because it's handmade. It's not anywhere better than Chanel in terms of quality. But as long as uninformed "snobs" will continue to invariably support their hand-made products, they will continue to make them. That's all.
What's up with the condescending attitudes towards Coach? Most people who buy designer products buy for the name anyway, whether it be Chanel, Prada, Chloe, LV, Fendi, or whatever. And somehow those brands are better than Coach? Please.
Has anyone who bought an LV in the USA checked their label of origin lately? It isn't France!
Outsourcing to China is becoming the norm, even for high end bags. Coach outsources all over the world, not just China, to find materials that meet their quality standards. Some of my older bags have Italy and Costa Rica source labels.
As for Costco, they have had some Fendi and Gucci bags in previous years until the manufacturers tightened up. This isn't news.