Michael Kors is Closing Down 100 to 125 Stores

[HesitantShopper]

I still have my two MK bags, still love the interior liners and pockets of his designs. Anyways, often at the mall(which has both a Coach and MK) i see shopping bags from his store, not COach so they are still very much being purchased here.

Purse brands in general from the gist i have read are struggling, many aren't buying them up like they used too.

 

[Hobbsy]

I still have my two MK bags, still love the interior liners and pockets of his designs. Anyways, often at the mall(which has both a Coach and MK) i see shopping bags from his store, not COach so they are still very much being purchased here.

Purse brands in general from the gist i have read are struggling, many aren't buying them up like they used too.

Coach's last earnings call in May, they are up double digits in sales, which they also expect 4th quarter and year end. That's not slowing down! That is full speed ahead!!!

 

[Icing_Time]

MK is very popular where I live...both boutiques and outlet.

When I go to the outlet mall, Coach_is always fairly empty and MK is busy.

At the boutiques, same thing, Coach_is low traffic and MK is busy. The MK boutiques are bright and inviting; the Coach_boutique is darker if that makes sense.

I live in Edmonton, (a city in Canada) and echoing what you said, Michael Kors is the preferred brand over here, to the point of over saturation. I have not seen much of the new line of Coach bags in action, and when I do, they are often carried by sensibly-styled women instead of the young crowd that Coach hopes to target. Coach stores are always empty in passing, but the customer service is top notch from what I've experienced. The youngin's in my city tend to gear towards Michael Kors or Kate Spade before upgrading to LV at some point.

I have faith that Coach can ride it out these transitional pains as they have more original offerings at fair prices. With Luxe brands getting more and more expensive, and the $100-200 bag brands are now pretty much chemically-smelling faux-leather, there is a true market there for good quality at fair prices.

 

[carricca]

I don't own any Michael Kors bags, but I've always thought of them as a clothing designer more than a bag designer. I may look at their bags now if they aren't doing so well in the market b/c maybe there will be some really good sales.

 

[jade]

I have a few MK bags. I think I sold most of the MK bags I had - I still have my Selma, my rain bag. I have 2 collection bags I got on clearance. A miranda tote (1st gen) and an evening bag. The bags of a few years ago seemed nicer than the current ones. And now it is very common to see Kors bags locally, more so than Coach full price bags. I see lots of outlet bags.

 

[AggieK]

I don't like Michael Kors. I thought he was mean on Project Runway, and I especially dislike him putting his name on everyhing. Sometimes I see a bag design that I like, and then it's ruined by his big honking name. It seems like Michael Kors merchandise accounts for 25 percent of Macy's inventory. It's a real turn off for me.

 

[jade]

I don't like Michael Kors. I thought he was mean on Project Runway, and I especially dislike him putting his name on everyhing. Sometimes I see a bag design that I like, and then it's ruined by his big honking name. It seems like Michael Kors merchandise accounts for 25 percent of Macy's inventory. It's a real turn off for me.

It has definitely gotten worse. His logos used to be pretty small. On many of the early bags the only branding was the zipper and on the hang tag that was removable. The new bags have much bigger logos than my first gen Selma. The collection bags are more discreet. Sadly it has also trickled on to lots of the clothing, and it is one of the brands that fits me really well!

 

[lovingmybags]

It has definitely gotten worse. His logos used to be pretty small. On many of the early bags the only branding was the zipper and on the hang tag that was removable. The new bags have much bigger logos than my first gen Selma. The collection bags are more discreet. Sadly it has also trickled on to lots of the clothing, and it is one of the brands that fits me really well!

I think that also has to do with the clientele...remember seeing a customer complain about a pair of his shoes being too plain, that you can't tell it's MK from the outside. Um...for lots of us here that's a good thing?

 

[jade]

I think that also has to do with the clientele...remember seeing a customer complain about a pair of his shoes being too plain, that you can't tell it's MK from the outside. Um...for lots of us here that's a good thing?

This is why I no longer shop at MK. I like the more subtle versions of logos - iconic hardware and similar.

And the clothing has a lot of weird chains. The fabrics got crappier too. The downgrades in quality of fabrics and materials have made me stop shopping.

 

[Marie Lee]

I had 9 MK bags and have sold them all. I got tired of them about 2 years ago, I also got tired of Coach then too. Both had too many cheap fabric big logo outlet bags seen everywhere. When Coach started the 1941 line, I came back ,buying an Ace then a Rogue. I think I need another Rogue, so many catch my eye. I also noticed MK bags really copy all other brands.

 

[Suzanne B.]

I had 9 MK bags and have sold them all. I got tired of them about 2 years ago, I also got tired of Coach then too. Both had too many cheap fabric big logo outlet bags seen everywhere. When Coach started the 1941 line, I came back ,buying an Ace then a Rogue. I think I need another Rogue, so many catch my eye. I also noticed MK bags really copy all other brands.

I have noticed that they all copy other brands designs. If a designer has a hot bag, you can bank some other designers (as well as non designer brands) will be on the bandwagon with a similar style. We've seen that happen many times.

 

[jade]

I have noticed that they all copy other brands designs. If a designer has a hot bag, you can bank some other designers (as well as non designer brands) will be on the bandwagon with a similar style. We've seen that happen many times.

Yup! I saw a Prada clone of YSL's Sac du Jour. And everyone from MK to Kate Spade to Coach to Tory Burch to Rebecca Minkoff copied Prada's double zip saffiano tote.

There really aren't that many practical handbag shapes in the universe, and there are only so many templates.

 

[faintlymacabre]

I live in Edmonton, (a city in Canada) and echoing what you said, Michael Kors is the preferred brand over here, to the point of over saturation. I have not seen much of the new line of Coach bags in action, and when I do, they are often carried by sensibly-styled women instead of the young crowd that Coach hopes to target. Coach stores are always empty in passing, but the customer service is top notch from what I've experienced. The youngin's in my city tend to gear towards Michael Kors or Kate Spade before upgrading to LV at some point..

Hey fellow Albertan.

My observations from Calgary are identical. Michael Kors is fairly ubiquitous, and I've not yet seen anyone at all carrying a 1941 bag. This makes me kind of sad, but hopefully I'll have some sightings soon. The store definitely has shopper traffic now that the SAS is going on, and I have seen the sale selection disappear for sure!

 

[RayKay]

Hey fellow Albertan.

My observations from Calgary are identical. Michael Kors is fairly ubiquitous, and I've not yet seen anyone at all carrying a 1941 bag. This makes me kind of sad, but hopefully I'll have some sightings soon. The store definitely has shopper traffic now that the SAS is going on, and I have seen the sale selection disappear for sure!

Down in Lethbridge, and I don't even see MK that much, never mind 1941! Like I said on the previous page, I may have spotted a couple Selmas in the wild. I have two MK Mercer Duffels myself which I do really like, but I never really see other MK in the wild. I have seen MFF MK bags at our local Winners for sale at times, but they actually seem to sit for a while - often going to clearance.

I have definitely not seen ANYONE with any Coach 1941 bags here, but we also don't have a Coach boutique, a Coach outlet, etcetera. I do see a lot of people with the MFF Coach (including Siggy) stuff that they bought at our Winner's or the outlet in Calgary or whatever. I doubt most would recognize any of my 1941 stuff as Coach, with the exception of my colleague, as most don't even seem to realize they make leather bags. She used to be very into Coach, but has not really bought any since Vevers came in. She still carries around a few of her older Coach bags, but she has moved more to Kate Spade for new bags.

Honestly here it is rather rare to see a designer brand, even contemporary, though I do see more KS than I used to (mostly the Maise or the MFF Rachelle). Most of what I see is Guess/London Fog/DKNY/Betsey Johnson/Jessica Simpson or other no-name brands/"inspired" brands - I guess whatever is on offering at Winner's or the Bay. The occasional "no name" nicely made leather bag (like Roots). We are a black hole for shopping and handbags here otherwise!

 

[Leena.coach]

I have read for so long that Coach was being overtaken by MK, that it's passé, that the non leather or mixed material bags are a bad plan and so on.

Wellll, looks like MK is closing stores and Kate Spade has been bought by Coach. I am not saying Coach has not had issues. The "Poppy" era of trying to appeal to people too young to afford their bags, the copying LV with so many logo styles, the lack of new designs... yet they have some wonderful bags now too- loving the Edies and the new Bandit. I am thinking that being around since 1941, they have weathered more trends than many of the current brands and will continue to do so.