Coach Is Closing 70 Full Price Stores

[HesitantShopper]

I'm saying this will help improve the luxurious image of the core brand. Not to put those who don't buy from the core brand under the spotlight. They should be two separate entities and that's what is making the Full Price Store sale numbers so low; everyone just goes to the outlet

I think their are others reasons why FP stores have problems, the outlet does create a secondary option, but most seem to feel the quality of the FP items isn't there and doesn't justify the cost and the designs also seem lacking..

I don't disagree they need a go too.. a staple, this is Coach's design ... that is something they have lost sight of.

I also think the playing field has changed.. so they need to get a better game play.

 

[lvmk]

I think their are others reasons why FP stores have problems, the outlet does create a secondary option, but most seem to feel the quality of the FP items isn't there and doesn't justify the cost and the designs also seem lacking..

I don't disagree they need a go too.. a staple, this is Coach's design ... that is something they have lost sight of.

I also think the playing field has changed.. so they need to get a better game play.

That's why the price would raise and manufacturing would be brought back to the U.S... See my coach revival plan ^

 

[HesitantShopper]

That's why the price would raise and manufacturing would be brought back to the U.S... See my coach revival plan ^

Being made in the US is not realistic... most companies shifted away from this to reduce costs, while yes i realize the answer of well flip it back and raise prices, there problem solved, i don't see it being successful financially.

 

[lvmk]

Being made in the US is not realistic... most companies shifted away from this to reduce costs, while yes i realize the answer of well flip it back and raise prices, there problem solved, i don't see it being successful financially.

Louis Vuitton does it, and many people buy it because it's supposed to be a luxury brand and being made in China isn't very luxurious. Coach was originally made in the US; they need to get back to their roots, not trying to be some street brand...

 

[LouisieAnna]

Replacing "New York" with "FACTORY" for MFF pieces sounds tacky to me. I wouldn't mind something like "Co. by Coach" or "C/O by Coach", ala Marc by Marc Jacobs or See by Celine, etc. It would, obviously, be an abbreviation for Coach Outlet, but not distracting or gauche.

ETA: ITA that both lines having the same name is indeed a problem, and an anomaly among luxury brands with a lower priced line.

 

[lvmk]

Replacing "New York" with "FACTORY" for MFF pieces sounds tacky to me. I wouldn't mind something like "Co. by Coach" or "C/O by Coach", ala Marc by Marc Jacobs or See by Celine, etc. It would, obviously, be an abbreviation for Coach Outlet, but not distracting or gauche.

ETA: ITA that both lines having the same name is indeed a problem, and an anomaly among luxury brands with a lower priced line.

I agree with that

 

[Murphy47]

Many years ago the logos for each were completely different. Not sure why that changed.
I think there is a market for each line. My problem with Coach is that FP often looks EXACTLY like MFF. Make the styles completely different.
It also seems no sooner does a new line come out than it goes on sale. No incentive to pay full price when you know it will go on sale. Soon.
I do like the return to semi-annual sales. Twice a year should be enough.
And I for one would pay more for a USA made bag that was a classic style that never went on sale.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[ShaNayNay]

So they had no prior info of the closing? that is terrible, that said It happens... in many companies unfortunately.

No they didn't know that they were one of the 70 until they were given their 1 week's notice.

 

[lvmk]

many years ago the logos for each were completely different. Not sure why that changed.
I think there is a market for each line. My problem with coach is that fp often looks exactly like mff. Make the styles completely different.
It also seems no sooner does a new line come out than it goes on sale. No incentive to pay full price when you know it will go on sale. Soon.
I do like the return to semi-annual sales. Twice a year should be enough.
And i for one would pay more for a usa made bag that was a classic style that never went on sale.
Just my 2 cents.

+1

 

[whateve]

Being made in the US is not realistic... most companies shifted away from this to reduce costs, while yes i realize the answer of well flip it back and raise prices, there problem solved, i don't see it being successful financially.

I agree. If I have to pay more for a Coach, I want it to be because the materials and workmanship are better, not because their costs are higher.

Louis Vuitton does it, and many people buy it because it's supposed to be a luxury brand and being made in China isn't very luxurious. Coach was originally made in the US; they need to get back to their roots, not trying to be some street brand...

LV and other designer brands play a game where they make almost everything in China, then they ship it to the US or France and assemble it and add the finishing touches. For that, they are allowed to put on the label that says "Made in USA" or "Made in France." It doesn't mean it was really completely made there.

 

[lvmk]

I agree. If I have to pay more for a Coach, I want it to be because the materials and workmanship are better, not because their costs are higher.

LV and other designer brands play a game where they make almost everything in China, then they ship it to the US or France and assembly it and add the finishing touches. For that, they are allowed to put on the label that says "Made in USA" or "Made in France." It doesn't mean it was really completely made there.

Are you sure? If this is the case, why did they send my wallet to Paris for a repair? Because it says on the tag assembled in the USA of imported materials from France, so wouldn't that be tiring to ship it from China to France and then to the U.S.?

 

[lvmk]

I agree. If I have to pay more for a Coach, I want it to be because the materials and workmanship are better, not because their costs are higher.

LV and other designer brands play a game where they make almost everything in China, then they ship it to the US or France and assembly it and add the finishing touches. For that, they are allowed to put on the label that says "Made in USA" or "Made in France." It doesn't mean it was really completely made there.

And the workmanship would be better; we'd be supporting the US economy and have a highly skilled workforce.

 

[whateve]

Are you sure? If this is the case, why did they send my wallet to Paris for a repair? Because it says on the tag assembled in the USA of imported materials from France, so wouldn't that be tiring to ship it from China to France and then to the U.S.?

There is a thread in the Chanel forum, I think, about this practice.

They would still do the repairs in Paris. Coach makes bags in China but does their repairs in New York.

 

[slowlikehoney]

I agree that Coach should be made in the US again. That used to be one of the main things that made Coach special. And the fact that they don't do it anymore is one reason I only buy vintage Coach now. I have plenty of bags made in China, but I'm not going to pay current Coach FP prices for a China made bag. I can just buy a no name bag at Kohl's.

 

[katierose]

Being made in the US is not realistic... most companies shifted away from this to reduce costs, while yes i realize the answer of well flip it back and raise prices, there problem solved, i don't see it being successful financially.

I agree.

I don't have a problem with Coach being made in China.
Generally I find the craftsmanship to be excellent.
Admittedly there are problems, but it's pretty rare overall, and usually if there is a problem it's due to the leather not holding up, so it's not due to the workmanship.

They can probably eliminate 90% of the problems by eliminating the lower priced bags/lines, (less than $500) which are made with lesser quality leather, and they have already said they plan to do this.