Labelgate 09 update

[lionlaw]

As some of you may know, we collectively (shout out to momo for noticing it first) discovered the change in the interior label/tag from metal to leather last night and were appalled to put it mildly.

Some of us fired off emails and I just received a response to mine. They said it was ok to post it here, so here you go:

To explain, we order the metal name plates from our hardware suppliers and had encountered different difficulties lately with regards to their timings which can delay orders; and hence we decided to find an alternative solution in leather, which is of course something we can manage ourselves. The metal name plate is more expensive yes, yet also proving very complicated as a personalised hardware (ie not a standard hardware) from our suppliers, same as the purse hooks. The idea of the leather name plate was in no way something we intended to look cheap, we do apologize if this is how it was perceived; and thanks so much for your suggestions on alternatives.
In terms of cost modifications, I think this is a good moment to address this. Like you, we have received feedback that the purse hooks are a “nice to have” for some, yet not necessary and many clients don’t really use them, so we will not include these moving forward yet will offer them at a good price when requested OR if a customer who knows and loved them from before specifically requests them, we will be more than happy to offer it complimentary (while stock lasts). On this note, whilst I read you email with worry your comment on your numerous hooks made me laugh!
The need to reduce some costs, such as in extras (like the hook) was a decision linked to the financial crisis. Since September-October we noticed customers have mainly purchased when we have sales. We of course understand this from the customer’s perspective and hence with valuable customers like from the purse forum we decided to keep the 15% discount and we also carried out the free shipping for a while. From our perspective and as a small company, it has been incredibly difficult for us.
Since purchasing is mainly done when we create larger sales, we had to look at changes such as reinstating the shipping cost as a normal fixed rate for any sale, and the purse hook change which we offered as a nice extra.
The change in the Returns Policy was carried out due to certain refunds being made on bags with no fault (not of course, manufacturing problems) so not related to cost cutting directly.
To conclude we wanted to make changes without diminishing the quality and look of the bag, and again I apologize if our change didn’t come across the same way as the previous name plate. I think some of the solutions other brands have (luxury brands like the ones you kindly mentioned) would solve the name plate situation and would be controllable by us. And a good solution from the clients perspective I hope.
Also just to let you know there are some handbags about to be dispatched which will have the metal name plate until the new solution is applied. We will no longer use the current leather name plates and I think the Chloe alternative you suggested would be the most suitable for us moving forward (for bags from next week). On the note of branding, as you probably saw we have recently added a detachable leather “IG” in the outside of the bags as another branding tool (which we think looks nice yet do let me know if you have further feedback).
Sorry this email turned out to be so long and detailed yet since the different emails received today mentioned purse hooks (in your case), costs reductions and returns besides the name plate and since yesterday a customer mentioned the change in shipping*, we thought with Ignacio we should reply to everything together…
Thanks so much again for your support in these times of changes! We will endeavour to continue offering great bags and as mentioned in the letter exciting changes too!

[momo43]

honestly, i don't care for the "detachable IG" label. It looks too handmade and it takes away from the beauty of the bags themselves when it's hanging off the bag. plus the knot is hard to open. i just cut it off my bag. my suggestion for the detachable label would be to do one like the old coach labels. the whole name "ignes" heat stamped on a rectangular label which is attached by one of those ball and chain metal strings.

the chloe suggestion is good. another alternative would be to sew in the leather labels if the company continues to use the leather labels. the gluing of the leather labels is so tacky and cheap. simply sewing in the label would make such a difference. also perhaps using the same color leather as the bag for the leather label would help a lot as well imo.

[elizat]

I agree about doing a tag like Coach. That would be nice. I took off the hangtags too b/c it got in the way. I felt it was too big.

A sewn in label is nice and would be fine. The new Sak bag I just got has this.

[starkfan]

Thanks for posting this, lionlaw! I'm a little saddened to hear that they may be eliminating the metal nameplates altogether, though, as I'd really much rather see a slight increase in prices (say, US$5-10 or whatever is reasonable) than lose the metal nameplate altogether. By "personalised hardware", I suppose they mean that it's customised with the Ignes name stamped into the metal? TBH, I've always been a fan of custom hardware, as I think it adds that extra little detail that elevates a bag, so I'm really loathe to see them eliminate it altogether, since that metal nameplate is the only piece of custom hardware (aside from the purse hook).

If they do insist on eliminating them, I agree that the direct heatstamping into the leather trim around the pocket is a better idea than the current leather label. I suppose they're trying to mimic the look of the matching metal nameplate by using metallic leathers, but it just doesn't quite mesh well. Heatstamping the name into the leather trim would be much better, or if not, sewing a matching leather label would probably work better too.

I agree, momo, that "IG" label is one that I definitely would not keep on my bag. It strikes me more as a tag than a label, not unlike the leather swatches that come with Linea Pelle tags. A tag like Coach may be better if Ignes really does intend for it to stay on the bag, too. (But I'd probably still remove it anyway!)

[irainei]

my IG label nearly fell off the first few times I used it LOL heatstamping directly onto the leather in the inside is definitely the better choice to go.

[Jane*Bond]

Labelgate!!

I actually like the idea of embossing the leather like Chloe - it sounds like that is what they are considering. Any little bit of less hardware will decrease the weight!

I could do without the IG thingy. I'll be sure to ask for a purse hook for my mini-emilia coming up. I actually do use those (though not often for purses, I hang Christmas stockings with them).

[Euridice]

Thanks, Lionlaw!

I prefer they just keep the metal nameplate. I don't like sewing in a leather one. I had a feeling this was something along these lines, that they ran out of them or something like that.

I like the pursehooks but agree that they can just make the changes they describe.

of course, I will definitely write to them with my preferences.

I thought the IG was kind of like a bag charm. I don't mind it at all. I assumed they got the idea for that from the initial charms that newbaglover asked them to do, or something.

[No Cute]

Thanks for sharing, LL.

While I, too, prefer the metal name plates, I can understand their frustration if the supplier is slowing things down. Remember how long it took to get some bags? It sounds like it wasn't a cost cutting measure but an issue of maintaining control over the process when a supplier was messing up. (Anyone else read that?)

Heat stamping directly into the bag or sewing a leather label into the bag is fine with me, using a matching leather. As I mentioned, my silver/gunmetal Millie looks fine. I can appreciate that they were trying to mimic the look, but the glued metallic doesn't work in the other two bags I got.

I like the IG but don't think it's intended to keep on the bag. It's a swatch of the leather like the LP or Tano swatches, and I think it's cool with the logo. I take it off and hang it on my bulletin board, which is where the Coach tags go, too.

[Cornflower Blue]

I don't often post on this forum, but I look in now and again. For what it's worth, I think the heatstamp is a good idea and would solve the whole problem in one fell swoop.

[Euridice]

I never kept my Coach tags on. I haven't had coach since the late 80s, but I do remember those!

Yes, that is what I read, No Cute.

CB, great to see you p osting here, as always. I need to go back over the BE to see if you got the orange prada tote....I have been thinking about that the last 2 hours!! While waiting in line at the motor vehicle registration place....lol

[cathyfitz]

Just sent an email to Maria, requesting a purse hook with my recent order of the Luisa (I do use these) and offering to purchase a gold hardware one before they're all gone. Christmas stocking holders - what an excellent idea! I also asked her about a wrist strap for my already home Luka (as NoCute and I were discussing)

But most importantly, I joined in "Labelgate" - love that! I hope everybody that has/or soon will receive the glued-on labels fires off an email. And even though I love those pursehooks, I'd rather have the metal nameplate. I would rather that be included in the price of the purse, and I would be willing to optionally purchase one of their pursehooks.

And FYI, they included the IG strap with my Luka, which has nowhere to place it!

[No Cute]

Yes, my new Tango had the IG logo swatch, too, like Cathy mentioned, which adds to why I don't think it's a bag charm. I think they're fun swatches.

[Cornflower Blue]

Originally Posted by Euridice

I never kept my Coach tags on. I haven't had coach since the late 80s, but I do remember those! Yes, that is what I read, No Cute. CB, great to see you p osting here, as always. I need to go back over the BE to see if you got the orange prada tote....I have been thinking about that the last 2 hours!! While waiting in line at the motor vehicle registration place....lol

Thanks Euridice, but no I haven't bought it . I have to share my DHs hard earned cash between handbags and skincare, and having just got a Be Mine Mini in Red, it was only right and proper that I then turned to skincare, and I'm afraid I dug a bit too deep.

http://www.vaishaly.com/

I thought it better to lie low for a bit, lest DH has a heart attack.

[starkfan]

Originally Posted by No Cute

While I, too, prefer the metal name plates, I can understand their frustration if the supplier is slowing things down. Remember how long it took to get some bags? It sounds like it wasn't a cost cutting measure but an issue of maintaining control over the process when a supplier was messing up. (Anyone else read that?)

Hmm, yeah, I read that too, and I can understand as well if there really has been a history of the supplier possibly messing up and causing delays with the bags. I'm still pretty loathe to see them eliminate the metal nameplates altogether, though! If they need to extend their usual turnaround time by another week or two to ensure that they have enough of a buffer period to get the nameplates from their supplier, that's a sacrifice I'd be willing to make. The usual 2-3 weeks turnaround is really fast for bespoke bags anyway, so changing that to 4-5 weeks or something would still be much faster than other bespokes/SOs! JMHO, of course.

Oh, and on the purse hooks, the solutions that they outlined in the email definitely seem suitable. There are only so many purse hooks that can be used at any one time, anyway! (Heh, well, unless they double up as Christmas stocking hangers! That's such a cute and innovative idea, Jane*Bond! )

[lionlaw]

IGNES is really listening to what we want in their changes so now is the time for us to influence their decisions if we can come to a consensus.

From a cost perspective, I think heat stamping a bolder IGNES logo is the way to go inside the bags.

As far as the bag charm, I didn't want to say anything but I cut them off too. Just too cutesy for me.

As far as tags on bags, the only bags I keep the hanging tags on is Prada because the luggage tags on the gaufres and cervos are too cute. I think something like that would be cost prohibitive for IGNES so I would vote recommending eliminating the hanging things alltogether.

If people prefer the metal plates-- how much more are you willing to spend/wait?

So what do we all think?