Do you feel like the For Target line cheapens your bags?

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#76
Toto too said:
This is exactly my point about it being a bad move for the designers. I understand that the motive is to get your name out there and recognized, but do you want to be recognized for something that is bad quality? Another poster pointed out that the people who already buy the more expensive versions probably won't buy these, so they're trying to hit another market. So, a person who is not familiar with the brand name buys a Target bag, and it's not made that well. What's their opinion of the brand name going to be? Say they walk into Macy's or Nordstrom's and see the a bag by the same designer. They'll pick it up, say "I saw this at Target, but it wasn't anywhere near this much! This is crazy!", and they'll put it down. They may not notice the superiority of the higher priced bag.

...Brand recognition is all about perception. It doesn't help to put a fancy name on something that is substandard, because then everything that has that name on it will be suspect.
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I tend to agree with Toto too on some points. Since Gryson and Botkier are not household names... this will be the general public's first introduction to these brands.

Will these same Target buyers "graduate" into the premium lines? Isn't it more likely that some of these Target shoppers (future TPF's :rolleyes:) will buy other luxury brands like LV, Chanel, etc., rather than Botkier and Gryson?

A "B line by Botkier" might be the smarter approach so not to alienate the loyal customers who got them there in the first place.
 
#77
I think many target shoppers who buy these brands may not even realize they are designer brands with more expensive bags. They are probably just walking through, think it's cute and buy it. I don't think they go home and do further research, after all, we are not all purse obsessed. ;)
 
#78
Nope, Target Designer bags don't cheapen my bags. I think we all appreciate a well made vs no so well made. I have always been the "less is more" and try to keep my accessoires,clothing down to a few well made and wearable things. My closet has Target and Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic, Austin Reed and Eddie Bauer to name a few. All of which was either bought on sale or with a gift card that had been given to me or flat out was a gift. Bags range from freebies with purchase at NM cosmetic events to my one lone chanel that was a birthday gift.

But I must admit, seeing a brand at Sam's Wholesale Club (Fendi comes to mind) tells met to not ever buy it until it goes on sale. So the designers that sell their stuff regularly to "make a quick buck" will never get an impulse buy from me.

Bottom line, I buy bags I will use and feel good about carrying. So anything they do to make "fast bucks" will just tell what I am willing to pay or how much research I will do prior to purchasing.
 
#80
I had my mind & heart set on the Botkier Sasha mini duffle as well as the Gryson Hannah in black (2!), however, news of the Target line came prior to this weekend and yesterday, instead of Botkier or Gryson, I bought a (my 2nd MJ) Marc Jacobs at Neiman Marcus. Extremely well made, heavy zipper pulls, incredible quality zippers, beautiful thread & stitching, the leather....soft & smooth-textured. Brass feet, smooth handles that are just the right height...I could go on. (It is the Blake with the twisted-knot look to the handles set on round brass rings.)
 
#81
I actually plan on buying one of the Gryson for Target bags (I know, I know, but wait!) I am still in college, and while I have quite a few HE bags, I am also still waiting table to pay the bills until I graduate. At work, I have a tiny cubby hole to store my purses, and there's no way I'm sticking any of my nice bags in that tiny, greasy hole! I still want to carry a bag with a nice design, and this seems to be the perfect solution. If coffee or water spills on it in the break room, no big deal. It's no substitute for my real Gryson, but I won't be terrified to mess it up.
 
#83
rachieface said:
But, I am more focusing my point on the Target mass marketing, I guess. Most of these bags like MBMJ, AX have their own stores and are not being sold at a place like Target which is basically everyone's favorite store. Whether you are high class, middle class, lower class, whatever - you go to Target.
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You can't be serious. We have a Walmart, a Target and Kohls on the same street. If I want something cheap i go to Walmart. If I want something nicer I go to Kohls. Target can't outcheap or outnice either one, we might go into Target once for every 50 times we go into one of the other stores.
 
#86
katybug1986 said:
i love the target designer bags. i own both the real thing and the target designs. i dont care what other people think when they look at my bags. i just buy them because i love them.
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ITA! Maybe that's why I don't feel these offshoot lines take away from my bags because I really don't care what people think! I've worn my Chanel Lady Braid and my WalMart Metro7 shopper (which, by the way, has been used more than 2x, more than 10x actually) and has not broke in any way) with nice clothes and sandals many times! I buy things because I like them.
 
#88
ValleyO said:
I don't have an issue with it- they're not the same designs, and nowhere near the quality of materials. It's just a great way for smaller designers to get more exposure.
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I agree. The stuff they sell at Target is not of the same quality of the more expensive stuff they sell elsewhere. they basically just make a cheaper version of something so that they can become more popular
 
#89
Why can't Target hire it own bag designers and make amazing, unique bags without glomming onto another designer's name?
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actually, target is doing something like that. they're having "limited edition" items in their clothing and handbags lines that are similar to the go international designers, except its target's own private label. they have some handbags that came out and they're not that bad. actually, some of them are cute and i even purchased a faux straw woven clutch.

http://www.nitrolicious.com/blog/2008/03/20/target-go-international-private-label-collection-1/

i feel that target does not cheapen a line. actually, i would prefer to purchase a partnered with target designer than a faux (honestly, i actually have some but haven't used them in a while) bag. it's a win-win for both target and the designer. the designer gets more exposure and the customer who frequently shops at target for cheap fashions (like me) gets great deals and clothes/accessories.

it also makes the buyee potentially want to purchase the higher end item after seeing/buying the clothes/accessories. actually, it makes me want to save up for the "real thing."
 
#90
i agree with you that it does devalue the brand to do a cheaper line. but with that said i want one that is cheaper too now! but too bad no target in canada.
 
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