Sorry I just had to comment... I own LV too but you're kidding yourself with that statement. Neither you nor I know what makes up the materials in the Monogram Canvas.
Coach wants to be the American Louis Vuitton...
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I totally agree. I have some older Coach bags, some Bleeker and Legacy among them. The leather is the best, thick and gorgeous. Personally, I think these bags truly represented Coach at its best. I have never before and still can't find any better leather than is in these older bags. I have quite a few LV's and while I love them, nothing compares to the older Coach leather. One of the many things that makes LV "premier" is that there are no sales, ever. There are no outlets, LV is only sold in their own boutiques or in the LV boutiques in Saks or Macy's, and very, very few Macy's, and online only through LouisVuitton.com. There is no such thing as keeping a bag for weeks, then returning it, and when you do return anything to the boutique, it is gone over with a fine toothed comb. You will never see a bag you pay a lot for go on sale or to an outlet a week after you buy it. LV doesn't discontinue bags on a regular basis, meaning, you never look like you are carrying an outdated style, and they have made most of their bags so iconic that they are passed from one generation to another. Coach needs to reduce their outlet exposure, and cut back on sales to make their product more like anything approaching a luxury brand. The downside is, the prices will limit the audience without the help of outlets and sales, but this would go a long way in making it a more exclusive brand.
Coach could become premier, but it would take a lot of time and money.
First, they would have to wind down their factory stores until they are all ultimately closed.
Next, they would have to gradually decrease the amount of sales in the full price stores until there are none.
After they close the outlets and quit having sales, they need to move manufacturing to either the US or a european country such as Italy.
After that's all said and done, they need to come up with a few staple bags that will be around for ages, for example, the Louis Vuitton staple bags include the Alma and Speedy. These bags would start in the normal Coach price range but will gradually increase in price year after year.
And then, after several years and bumpy roads, Coach is premiere.
First, they would have to wind down their factory stores until they are all ultimately closed.
Next, they would have to gradually decrease the amount of sales in the full price stores until there are none.
After they close the outlets and quit having sales, they need to move manufacturing to either the US or a european country such as Italy.
After that's all said and done, they need to come up with a few staple bags that will be around for ages, for example, the Louis Vuitton staple bags include the Alma and Speedy. These bags would start in the normal Coach price range but will gradually increase in price year after year.
And then, after several years and bumpy roads, Coach is premiere.
I do agree with this but I think Coach has made it's bed and there's no turning back now. It has completely "trained" it's customers to wait for the sales because there is always a sale.
What this proposes is tantamount to a "do-over" which I think would put the last nail in Coach's coffin.
If Coach no longer offered sale prices for it's goods I think most of those loyal customers would simply walk away and go for the vendor who IS offering a sale.
Coach's customer is a sale customer, that's how they've set up their company and I'm not at all convinced they can walk away from that model, nor do I think they ever intend to.
See, Coach already had the chance for a "do-over."
Remember last Fall when Vevers started? Coach claimed that:
- PCE would be discontinued (except for Black Friday and Mothers' Day).
- SAS (semi annual sales) would replace PCE. Discounts would be higher than PCE, but it would be only the merchandise that is "picked over" or didn't sell.
- Quantity would be reduced; bags would sell out, and we'd have to pay FP.
But look at what just happened. They had 2 PCE's almost within a month of each other. The latter PCE was a public coupon at that.
1941 items are definitely worth the FP, but now that they've gone back on their word entirely... loyalists know, quite concretely, that they'll be available for a discount.
Rogue sales were incredible at first, but almost everyone I know who initially paid FP got a price adjustment during this spring's first PCE. Now that they're not including them, I really see its popularity dropping. That will lead to Coach resorting to including them in PCE again, which will be another instance of them going back on their word.
New management seems too concerned with making positive margins in the moment, and they're, once again, taking everything back they promised they'd change.
Well Coach may have said that they wouldn't have PCE's but many of us who have followed and purchased from Coach for many years certainly never believed it! I knew in my gut that all the Rogue lovers who wanted to have the bag immediately and couldn't wait (because they thought it wouldn't get marked down anyway) ran out to buy the bag only to see it discounted shortly thereafter.
For many it was easy getting a discount but not for all. In some cases there were some who had to physically return the bag and then re-purchase it.......CRAZY!
I don't really follow Coach much anymore or buy their products either. It's a strange set-up for sure......
For many it was easy getting a discount but not for all. In some cases there were some who had to physically return the bag and then re-purchase it.......CRAZY!
I don't really follow Coach much anymore or buy their products either. It's a strange set-up for sure......
But how many times have they tried the same thing, only to annoy customers? They introduced the Borough... "No PCE!!" they declared. Not only did it finally get PCE's, but then went to outlet and ultimately MFF. They introduced the Phoebe... "No PCE!!" Same story, exactly. So they end up making their FP customers mad and then add salt to the wound by knocking off those styles at the outlet.
Coach will never be a premier brand. Period. They are a great contemporary brand so why not go with it? Have two DISTINCT AND DIFFERENT product lines... full price boutique styles and MFF outlet styles, maybe branded with a different name like "C by Coach" or something. The outlet stores keep them in the black so they are never going away.
Coach will never be a premier brand. Period. They are a great contemporary brand so why not go with it? Have two DISTINCT AND DIFFERENT product lines... full price boutique styles and MFF outlet styles, maybe branded with a different name like "C by Coach" or something. The outlet stores keep them in the black so they are never going away.
I think they've realized that "Coach" won't be taken seriously as a brand by itself.
I think the longterm strategy is to make 1941 its own line and have 1941-only stores (their SoHo store is a concept for that plan at the moment).
They're also realized that they can bring value to their brand by offering VIP "services" in their stores (the bag cleaning and monogramming). They're pushing these hard right now; I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed. I think it's very much a "we'll treat you and your purchases better than the other brands will" mentality, and they're hoping these perks will create repeat customers.
Don't get me wrong, I think they make the best products at the best price. They're honestly the same quality as Prada (especially in the leather goods and wallets) for sometimes less than half the price. It's simply the brand name that's pulling them down.
I'm willing to pay full price for the items, especially 1941, because I really do think that it's worth that dollar... but the fact that I know they'll be marked down makes it that much harder. It's free money I'm saving. Can't argue with that! I think that's how a lot of long-time Coachies feel right now.
I think the longterm strategy is to make 1941 its own line and have 1941-only stores (their SoHo store is a concept for that plan at the moment).
They're also realized that they can bring value to their brand by offering VIP "services" in their stores (the bag cleaning and monogramming). They're pushing these hard right now; I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed. I think it's very much a "we'll treat you and your purchases better than the other brands will" mentality, and they're hoping these perks will create repeat customers.
Don't get me wrong, I think they make the best products at the best price. They're honestly the same quality as Prada (especially in the leather goods and wallets) for sometimes less than half the price. It's simply the brand name that's pulling them down.
I'm willing to pay full price for the items, especially 1941, because I really do think that it's worth that dollar... but the fact that I know they'll be marked down makes it that much harder. It's free money I'm saving. Can't argue with that! I think that's how a lot of long-time Coachies feel right now.
Coach doesnt need to be a premier brand to be a successful brand. I would argue that some other brands could be more successful as a contemporary brand rather than a flailing high end, but thats another story.
I do agree that they need to start different branches, including 1941. Not necessarily more expensive branches, but just a certain type of product and look.
I do agree that they need to start different branches, including 1941. Not necessarily more expensive branches, but just a certain type of product and look.
I thought Coach had been improving the outlet offerings, but I visited an outlet a few days ago and it was mostly crap. I felt so many bags, and couldn't even tell if they were leather or not. Almost everything felt like plastic.
I'm glad the boutique lines are stepping it up, but the outlet stuff doesn't feel like high quality at all.
I'm glad the boutique lines are stepping it up, but the outlet stuff doesn't feel like high quality at all.
But honestly, should the outlet offerings feel like 'high quality'? It's an outlet. Lower price point. You get what you pay for.
I agree! I should have written 'quality' and not 'high quality'. I'm not a fan of whatever leather they seem to be using a lot in off bags lately. Are they still calling it cross grain? I can't tell the diff between the leather ones and the coated canvas.
I like the designs for the most part, just not the materials.