For the Love of Coach

[whateve]

I just read the article, and I honestly don't think it came off as snobby as all, maybe a little naive? It's absolutely true that people still think that all COACH does are khaki monogram bags, because thats what majority of people see at their local super market or target, wherever. Bad outlet bags that have been completely mass produced. When I started carrying COACH again 2 years ago, (and yes I suppose I/m one of the snobs that used coach as a starter brand then moved on to LV, burberry, etc..) but when I walked back into that boutique two years ago I had no idea they were producing that kind of designs they were, since then I have purchased about 30 bags, which may be a bit excessive, but thats a whole other story. But even now when I use a borough or a crosby or a sadie, my friends assume its a new dior or burberry and I absolutely blow their minds when I tell them it's coach. Because people still expect to see over produced and overexposed jacquard khaki monogram. (not that theres anything wrong with owning one!) As the poster above said this is no ones fault but Coach themselves, they have diluted their brand, and they need to get it together. My only regret is that no one guided me back to coach sooner, I would have loved a sabrina or juliette!

You said it yourself, when you carry a Coach leather bag, people are surprised it is Coach. So maybe these people who think that all Coach makes is khaki signature because that is all they have seen are wrong. They may have been seeing Coach all along but didn't realize it. Partly because they assumed that any nice bag they saw couldn't possibly be Coach.

One of things I love most about Coach is that there are designs for everyone. There is always a new style to tempt me, but in order to become recognizable as a lifestyle brand, they need to do what they did with the khaki signature - produce something that is unmistakeably Coach, that people will recognize as Coach when they see it.

 

[HesitantShopper]

You said it yourself, when you carry a Coach leather bag, people are surprised it is Coach. So maybe these people who think that all Coach makes is khaki signature because that is all they have seen are wrong. They may have been seeing Coach all along but didn't realize it. Partly because they assumed that any nice bag they saw couldn't possibly be Coach.

One of things I love most about Coach is that there are designs for everyone. There is always a new style to tempt me, but in order to become recognizable as a lifestyle brand, they need to do what they did with the khaki signature - produce something that is unmistakeably Coach, that people will recognize as Coach when they see it.

I agree, i have had Coach for years and none are siggy bags so one probably never noticed they were the brand, it simply wasn't 'out there' to notice, the Classic "C" signature brands are noticeable by those not even into purses, so that is what people think of.. but it's always been so much more but one has to look deeper.

I also agree they need a signature bag and i don't mean literately lol That one style that says to anyone who knows Coach this is Coach...

It seems like they do this for a bit then drop it and move on.. but that doesn't build a classic, iconic design.

 

[highrider9o9]

I agree, i have had Coach for years and none are siggy bags so one probably never noticed they were the brand, it simply wasn't 'out there' to notice, the Classic "C" signature brands are noticeable by those not even into purses, so that is what people think of.. but it's always been so much more but one has to look deeper.

I also agree they need a signature bag and i don't mean literately lol That one style that says to anyone who knows Coach this is Coach...

It seems like they do this for a bit then drop it and move on.. but that doesn't build a classic, iconic design.

i agree on having a signature bag, although my SA at chanel herself has a few legacy duffles and adores them! I would say the duffle would probably be one of the closest to being a "signature bag" They had the potential to do that for the borough but they moved on to quickly.

 

[HesitantShopper]

i agree on having a signature bag, although my SA at chanel herself has a few legacy duffles and adores them! I would say the duffle would probably be one of the closest to being a "signature bag" They had the potential to do that for the borough but they moved on to quickly.

They have a tendency to move on rather quickly, perhaps they feel unsure? i don't get the reasoning, you'd think by now they would know who they were lol

 

[songofthesea]

CoachCruiser, thanks for articulating what I have long felt. Talking about Coach as a "starter" brand has always made my blood boil. I was taught growing up that if one doesn't have anything nice to say, one should keep one's mouth closed. There are multimillionaires carrying coach because they love the bags and they don't care what anyone else thinks,or says. That being said, the judgemental comments need to stop!! Bravo to you!!

 

[CoachMaven]

I agree, i have had Coach for years and none are siggy bags so one probably never noticed they were the brand, it simply wasn't 'out there' to notice, the Classic "C" signature brands are noticeable by those not even into purses, so that is what people think of.. but it's always been so much more but one has to look deeper.

I also agree they need a signature bag and i don't mean literately lol That one style that says to anyone who knows Coach this is Coach...

It seems like they do this for a bit then drop it and move on.. but that doesn't build a classic, iconic design.

I completely agree with this sentiment! Even MK has a bag that most handbag people recognize- the Hamilton. Coach needs to create or bring back a design that was most popular, like the duffle or Borough and have it all the time as one of their key pieces.

On a similar note of signature fabric, I have worn several of my bags recently (leather ones) and one of my co-workers, every time, goes "I love that!!! Is that a Coach!?" like she is surprised, lol. She is one of the those who thinks siggy bags are synonymous with Coach too.

 

[CharliLuvsCoach]

I love you, CoachCruiser!!

 

[letstalkbags]

CoachCruiser, :urock: !!! Well said friend !

 

[immigratty]

I'm not a "Coach girl" But as a lover of Dooney & Bourke can certainly relate to the comments OP. It is really laughable that people believe that if the bag retails for over a certain amount, it is automatically fashionable, higher quality, more refined, has more "fashionable customers" etc. Similar to what you said, my Dooneys meet, if not exceed very high priced bags. Outside of Dooney & Bourke, the only other brand I carry is Gucci. Now I looooooooove my Guccis, but realistically in terms of price, 1 Gucci = 8-10 Dooneys. My Guccis are all very high quality leather, thick, can hold up to whatever you put it through [theoretically, at $3k+ a pop u better believe I'm not putting them thru too much] however, so can my Dooneys. and honestly, I can't feel a difference between the Gucci's and Dooneys [especially the Alto collection] and Dooneys are certainly better than LV canvas you're going to pay thousands of dollars for [and there's nothing particularly stylish about]. What you're paying for is a name period. I just don't believe that paying 10x more for a handbag translates to 10x better quality.

and on top of that, I can name so many of those "stylish" over priced bags that are AWFUL...that I wouldn't carry if they were FREE! you are paying for a name, and "status symbol." period. So keep doing what you do with your Coaches ladies. my motto is "you can't make sense out of nonsense" so really, don't even let it get to ya!

 

[xeyes]

CoachCruiser, The article that whateve posted says as much about the author's ignorance of the current Coach product range as anything else. But, her ignorance is understandable. As charleston-mom and others have said, Coach have hurt themselves in recent years, and this is the result. Having a "signature" bag or two (or more) that stayed in the lineup forever used to be their M.O., but now most of the "classics" are no longer being sold and current products are turning over and being dumped in the outlets in a matter of months. I'm no marketing expert, but it seems that creating a recognizable brand and product is going to be hard to do when their efforts have been spinning in so many different directions in recent years. Redefinition in people's eyes from "the brand behind all those heavily-counterfeited siggy bags" to a "luxury brand" is going to take some doing.

I hope that there is always a place for Stewardesses and Court Bags and Willises alongside the Boroughs (which are almost gone now, actually) and the Rhyders and Dakotahs and Swaggers and whatever other styles may follow them. And, considering how much I (and so many others) have benefitted from retail product being massively discounted at the outlets, I guess I'm not in a position to complain about that. I don't know that I have a specific idea of what I'd like to see from Coach in the future (apart from the obvious - well-made, interesting styles at a good price!), but I hope that they can turn some more heads, change some more attitudes, and bring in enough interest to give themselves options going forward.

In short (too late!) - these are interesting times for Coach. I hope that we get to see where they're ultimately headed.

 

[iNeedCoffee]

I'm not a "Coach girl" But as a lover of Dooney & Bourke can certainly relate to the comments OP. It is really laughable that people believe that if the bag retails for over a certain amount, it is automatically fashionable, higher quality, more refined, has more "fashionable customers" etc. Similar to what you said, my Dooneys meet, if not exceed very high priced bags. Outside of Dooney & Bourke, the only other brand I carry is Gucci. Now I looooooooove my Guccis, but realistically in terms of price, 1 Gucci = 8-10 Dooneys. My Guccis are all very high quality leather, thick, can hold up to whatever you put it through [theoretically, at $3k+ a pop u better believe I'm not putting them thru too much] however, so can my Dooneys. and honestly, I can't feel a difference between the Gucci's and Dooneys [especially the Alto collection] and Dooneys are certainly better than LV canvas you're going to pay thousands of dollars for [and there's nothing particularly stylish about]. What you're paying for is a name period. I just don't believe that paying 10x more for a handbag translates to 10x better quality.

and on top of that, I can name so many of those "stylish" over priced bags that are AWFUL...that I wouldn't carry if they were FREE! you are paying for a name, and "status symbol." period. So keep doing what you do with your Coaches ladies. my motto is "you can't make sense out of nonsense" so really, don't even let it get to ya!

OT ( sorry CC ), I have one Dooney...and I loooooove the Florentine leather on it. It's thick and sturdy and so smooth-and you do get more bang for your buck. I think the quality is great.I think I may need some more Dooney in my life.

 

[immigratty]

OT ( sorry CC ), I have one Dooney...and I loooooove the Florentine leather on it. It's thick and sturdy and so smooth-and you do get more bang for your buck. I think the quality is great.I think I may need some more Dooney in my life.

yesss yesssssss come on over, we'd LOVE to have ya. lolol

I want to introduce you to the Alto line too, you'll be very much in love. For a quick preview, you can look at my collection, link is in my signature.

 

[HesitantShopper]

What you're paying for is a name period. I just don't believe that paying 10x more for a handbag translates to 10x better quality.

!

This is very true, past a certain point one is most definitely paying for the name, the brand, the allure.. the whole products package if someone thinks otherwise they are deluding themselves, small elves in Switzerland did not produce this bag so to speak lol

Now of coarse it's none of my business what people choose to spend money on, that said being real about is important, to me that says way more about someone than the brand of purse tangling off their arm.

 

[starbucksqueen]

Thank you for your thread. Very well-thought out and true. I have loved and carried the brand since the 1980s. Carried other brands. Always carried Coach. Someone may have suggested to me, but since then, it was something I did on my own. They'll probably put one in my coffin when I go! LOL. But it seems Coach lovers can catch it both ways: from reverse snobs who think you spend too much and why don't you buy a Walmart bag, etc. Some people want to be the police. Don't let them. It just stuff. Carry what you want. Be happy.

 

[highrider9o9]

This is very true, past a certain point one is most definitely paying for the name, the brand, the allure.. the whole products package if someone thinks otherwise they are deluding themselves, small elves in Switzerland did not produce this bag so to speak lol

Now of coarse it's none of my business what people choose to spend money on, that said being real about is important, to me that says way more about someone than the brand of purse tangling off their arm.

I will say with some brands like chanel or LV and their yearly price increase their is a large market for resale. You can literally buy a bag use it ( as long as you take care of it) and in 5-10 years sell it for almost as much as you originally paid for it.