Podium Master Thread

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

This thread is the Podium Master Thread for you to discuss intel on product offerings at the Podium event.

For reference, here's a brief primer on Podium Order (PO) vs Special Order (SO):

Podium Order

i thought pos aren't really an "order" yet, until it is approved by paris, hence they can only "cancel" it after the order has been placed by the sm (not the client).

According to my sas, whom have explained the whole podium process with me quite clearly. (things can differ a little from country to country, but i think the general picture is the same)

1) regular clients submit/express their "wishlist" to the sms before they go off to paris at each podium. But you don't have to do it in jan/jun, you can tell them i really want x anytime, say in march (just after the feb podium), and the sm will just have to note it down, and then order it at the next podium (july), so the wait to see whether this order has been approved is, of course, a lot longer than say, if you have told the sm in jan. At this point, this is still a "wishlist", not an "order". I know people like to say that "i am going to order this and that", but bare in mind, nothing is an "order" until paris has approved it, before then, it is still your "wishlist".

2)the sms take this wishlist to the podium with them, and see what's availabld to order, then match this with the wishlist and submit their orders for the next season. (feb for aw, july for ss)

3) once these orders have been approved by paris, they will become an "ordered book/list", which are all the items that the store will/should receive for the entire coming season. Hence, everything on this list is "approved", so if your item appears on this list, then it is now an order. So your sm will be able to tell you whether the item you have asked for has been approved or not at this stage.

4)as you can see, this order list is for next season, so there is at least a 6month wait for whatever you've ordered. Some people said they've only waited a month after they have submitted their "order", but to my understanding, it is not the item that the sm has ordered for this client at this particular podium, it is merely an item from the current or past season, which hasn't been spoken for, and has just arrived and happened to match the client's "wishlist", hence, was offered to this client, so she didn't have to wait for the one which the sm has ordered for next season to arrive.

5)sometimes, things that the sms have ordered just never arrive at the store for no reason, some are actively canceled by paris, some are delayed for more than 2 seasons.(aka pending orders from previous seasons) so i guess, you can call all these scenarios as an order being canceled by paris.

6) clients are generally told that pos take 6months ~2 years to arrive, because the order can be delayed for many seasons, but most of the stock should arrive within the next season

7) special order is a totaly different route, and hence whatever i have written does not apply to sos.

8) every country has a different policy for their "waitinglist" or "list" (however you want to call it)

a) some store let a very small amount of client to choose from their ordered stock list for the coming season, (but you can only choose from certain colours/leather/size/hw) so the chance of getting what you have chosen is very high.

B)some stores from time to time ask their clients what they want, and keeps a list of client name with their "wishes", and may use this as their guide at each podium, but you can submit your wishlist in ss11, but sm might not have ordered it till ss12, so you dont' know how long you'll wait for this item. Not everyone can go on this list.

C)some stores (like taiwan) let everyone put their wishlist down, you don't have to be a regular client to submit your wishlist. It is a merely a record of clients who wants b/ks. They don't use it to make orders at the podium, it is not an order list, not a waitinglist, it does not mean you will get this item for sure, it is just a client list, just in case one day a vip turns down a bag that the sm has ordered for her, the sas will then go to this list, and call those who also wanted the same bag.

9) can you change your order once it has been placed at the podium? I am not 100% sure about this, but my guess is no, once it is ordered by the sm and once the sm has left paris, it can't be changed. But if you are lucky, if there's something else that matches your criteria in the same poidum ordered list, and hasn't been spoken for, then the sm might offer that bag to you, or if you are a vip, they will re-order it for you at the next podium.

Ok, keep in mind, this might not apply to all stores and even whatever the sm has ordered, might be altered by paris without prior notice. (ie changing the hw, or the size or the leather etc)

Special Order


I have explianed previously how POs worked; Now I will explain how the current SO works in my country:

SMs are informed the number of b/k they are allocated for next season at each podium. Say a store has 50 b/k, it is up to the SM how many b/k she/he wants to order at the podium. For example 40 was ordered, then the store has 10 quota available for SOs. Which is why SOs are usually ordered after the SMs have returned from Paris. They are also not allowed to order anything "regular" through SOs now, ie if it was available to order at the podium, then such bag should only be ordered at the podium and not hogging up another SO quota. Appeareantly this rule is quite recent.

As we all know, since last year, Hermes introduced this SO online system, which allows SA to submit their applications online and it also tells us what can be ordered. (ie, if it was not an option on that system, then it is not available to order) This system puts a limit on many criterias, so we are not as free as we were in the past to order whatever we want. If you want to order something even more special, then it is customised order, which is so rare that each store only gets 1 quota per season or year (can't remember sorry)

Unlike in the past, you can have many options to play around with the bag in different colours. Now you only have 5 options.

1) single colour in a SO only colour/leather

2)Bi-colour:
a) Exterior in one colour, and lining/piping in another colour (if contrast piping is requested, it has to go with the lining colour. No contrast in piping is accepted)
b) Exterior in one colour, and lining, straps, handles, piping in another colour
c) Exterior in two colours (3 sides/ colour) and lining, straps, handels, piping is the same as the sides.

3)tri-colour:
Exterior in three colours, (2 sides/colour) and lining, straps, handels, piping is the same as the sides.


So, we can no longer get a tri colour in exterior in one colour, straps handles in one and lining in another.

You can still choose the hardwares and the stitching. But again they have a list of available colours for stitching should you want to choose another colour other than the default stitching.

They also removed the option of exotics from SO (as of late 2011). So we will see less and less of tri and bi colours exotics now (I am not sure how these can be ordered now, I didn't ask)

Box was also not on that list (as of late 2011), so box can only be ordered at the podium.

Chevre is only available up to size 30 for Birkin.

The SAs have a list of available colours/leathers, so you can only pick from that list, anything that's not on the list can't be ordered.

You can mix and match any colour as long as they are on the list.

The system will give you an instant approval and also give you a not so accurate ETA date.

However Paris can still cancel it BUT they don't generally do so. So once you are on the sytem, you are quite safe.

What I have just typed doesn't apply to anything that was not ordered through that SO system.

(As of late 2011) The wait is also much much shorter than the past, both of my SOs which were ordered through this sytem, arrived within a year, one of them only took less than 7 months.


Here's an explanation of Podium vs Rack.
 
Hmmmm Ok, so you can PO a constance. Awesome! I think C24 counts at my store (not 18). But either way, I just want C24.

Since we know the colors available through a SO, do you just PO from those colors? For example, since I know Paon or Craie is a color being produced now but didn't SO, can I choose to try to PO this color in a Constance?
SO and PO colors are different. Podium colors have to be in production. That's why some of us order single color SOs - just to get a color that is out of current production. Podium order is a bag that will be made anyway - special order is made to your choices within certain limitations (as H cannot produce dye lots of every color and leather ever made). Your SA and SM can tell you what's a likely PO.
 
This thread is beyond helpful, thank you to all.

I am curious about how Gris mouette will turn out. I snapped a pic next to a blue glacier... VERY different. The lighting throws off the color. I'm a bit sad as I prefer the latter but SO'ed the Gris mouette.

I have been told PO will take place next week. I was able to request a Constance mini and malachite b30 for spring/summer 2017. Very curious as to next years colors....... And even more curious when all these requests will come in....
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    183.4 KB · Views: 399
SO and PO colors are different. Podium colors have to be in production. That's why some of us order single color SOs - just to get a color that is out of current production. Podium order is a bag that will be made anyway - special order is made to your choices within certain limitations (as H cannot produce dye lots of every color and leather ever made). Your SA and SM can tell you what's a likely PO.

Thanks for clarifying, I was very tired when I replied yesterday so didn't explain myself well! Your description explains why my SA guided me towards certain colors mentioning these would have a better chance of appearing. I guess the real benefit of a PO is not having to rely on luck for the exact bag you want actually being ordered by your store or having to hope that not only is it being ordered but that someone else turns it down & maybe then makes it available to you. Guess this all comes back to quotas from H and basically puts you at the front of the line in your store for the bag you have chosen if that order is fulfilled?
 
Thanks for clarifying, I was very tired when I replied yesterday so didn't explain myself well! Your description explains why my SA guided me towards certain colors mentioning these would have a better chance of appearing. I guess the real benefit of a PO is not having to rely on luck for the exact bag you want actually being ordered by your store or having to hope that not only is it being ordered but that someone else turns it down & maybe then makes it available to you. Guess this all comes back to quotas from H and basically puts you at the front of the line in your store for the bag you have chosen if that order is fulfilled?
Pretty much!
H as we all know is so inconsistent. In my US store, the POs are basically a request against the store's overall order - so you say "hey, I want a Bleu Nuit K28 with PHW" or better yet "I want a dark blue or black K28 with PHW" and they ensure one gets ordered for the store and when/if it comes, it will be offered to you first. It varies between SAs, SMs, and stores how specific they get and how diligent they are about making sure your order gets to you.
I haven't placed a PO in Paris where I buy most of my bags, only SOs, but because they have more access to inventory it seems a little looser.
What I don't recommend in a PO is asking only for something really difficult, like box or barenia. It's worth letting them know that's what you want most but the odds of getting it are lower. And sadly nothing is guaranteed - I was in store when an order came in accidentally that was meant for a DIFFERENT boutique and the lucky people on a call list or close by got first dibs. I doubt much if any of that order got to the boutique it was intended for as I saw three bags sell within minutes.
 
No. You need to know the colors.

Although for my last PO I was so frustrated, my choices were:

1. Any shade of pink
2. And shade of blue no darker than Bleu saphir
3. Any shade of green that's not olive or brown

But they know I know all of the colors and prefer jewel tones - they know my taste and the colors I buy. The time previously I had given a long list with every specific color I liked and wound up with my last choice....black.
Your list is just like mine. Black is a wonderful color but my least favorite for bags.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BBC
Your list is just like mine. Black is a wonderful color but my least favorite for bags.

Well, we definitely have similar taste, Meg! [emoji41][emoji1360][emoji8]

Yes, I was sitting there in the SMs office when she told me what she ordered me at February podium....black. Black? Seriously???? And I know in the back of my mind how many ladies would looooove a black 25B GHW but all I'm thinking is bor-ing!!!! I don't own a black bag, though, so I'll take it when it arrives, and then when whatever they order me this time arrives (someday....) I'll decide between the two (or even better, keep 'em both!).
 
Well, we definitely have similar taste, Meg! [emoji41][emoji1360][emoji8]

Yes, I was sitting there in the SMs office when she told me what she ordered me at February podium....black. Black? Seriously???? And I know in the back of my mind how many ladies would looooove a black 25B GHW but all I'm thinking is bor-ing!!!! I don't own a black bag, though, so I'll take it when it arrives, and then when whatever they order me this time arrives (someday....) I'll decide between the two (or even better, keep 'em both!).
Hahhahahaha OMG this was me a year ago.... never ever would I have thought I would want a black bag... fast forward a few months ago and I actually started thinking I wanted one... lo and behold, I am now the very happy owner of a K25 swift black GHW, and I could not be more in love with it. I find that I am actually using this bag A LOT!!! When I want to be more under the radar, this is the bag I am reaching for! So I guess, never say never?
 
  • Like
Reactions: BBC and megt10
Well, we definitely have similar taste, Meg! [emoji41][emoji1360][emoji8]

Yes, I was sitting there in the SMs office when she told me what she ordered me at February podium....black. Black? Seriously???? And I know in the back of my mind how many ladies would looooove a black 25B GHW but all I'm thinking is bor-ing!!!! I don't own a black bag, though, so I'll take it when it arrives, and then when whatever they order me this time arrives (someday....) I'll decide between the two (or even better, keep 'em both!).
I love black bags on other people. I have 2 black bags and I can't remember the last time I used them. Considering that I almost always wear something colorful you would think that they would be something I would use. I'm developing a taste for some neutral colors but they are gold, white, GT. One of my black bags is a small toolbox with GHW. Bright twillys help.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BBC
Hahhahahaha OMG this was me a year ago.... never ever would I have thought I would want a black bag... fast forward a few months ago and I actually started thinking I wanted one... lo and behold, I am now the very happy owner of a K25 swift black GHW, and I could not be more in love with it. I find that I am actually using this bag A LOT!!! When I want to be more under the radar, this is the bag I am reaching for! So I guess, never say never?
I think a K 25 in black could be very useful for going out. I'm loving swift leather.
 
Well, we definitely have similar taste, Meg! [emoji41][emoji1360][emoji8]

Yes, I was sitting there in the SMs office when she told me what she ordered me at February podium....black. Black? Seriously???? And I know in the back of my mind how many ladies would looooove a black 25B GHW but all I'm thinking is bor-ing!!!! I don't own a black bag, though, so I'll take it when it arrives, and then when whatever they order me this time arrives (someday....) I'll decide between the two (or even better, keep 'em both!).

I did a similar list as yours with bright pink or bright Blue on my list in February but these were not available at the time. I extended my list for this podium with dark Blue, black, purple and Gris T. I hope I am lucky next week when my SAs visit Paris.
 
Hi All, I've just requested a 'Podium Order' K35 Retourne in Etoupe Togo with PHW - hoping that has a good chance of being available to order by the SM? (I am obsessed with this combo). Also wondering how soon you can expect to hear from the SM/SA that the order was placed, or, is it better to contact (pester) them instead? Thankyou for your advice
 
Hi All, I've just requested a 'Podium Order' K35 Retourne in Etoupe Togo with PHW - hoping that has a good chance of being available to order by the SM? (I am obsessed with this combo). Also wondering how soon you can expect to hear from the SM/SA that the order was placed, or, is it better to contact (pester) them instead? Thankyou for your advice

You requested or store offer you
Who took you order
What did sm says
Pester them?
You sure?gd luck in future
 
Top