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.
 
This is how Podium Orders work at my store, a US location. I’m very close with the store, not due to VIP status but because my work is with similar clients to H.

When I had been a customer for about 6 months buying only scarves and CDCs my SA asked me for my requested Kelly specs. She knew this was the bag I wanted long term. I requested Gray/Navy/Black in 35 or 40 with Gold Hardware. A month after the SM was back from Podium, I was in the store and they told me she put me down for Etain. They order lots of bags for the store, they are allowed to order some “classic” colors, mostly seasonal colors and then it’s competitive for the pastels and bright pinks/purples/blues. The SM is required to buy a mix and cannot buy too many of the desirable Classics or Pop colors. My understanding is that my name was on the Podium ordered list for the Etain bag.

8 months later an Etain SO bag was declined by a customer and as it matched my requested specs they offered it to me which I took. My Podium bag had not come in but did come in a few months later and was sold to another client.

If you have a good relationship with your SA or SM it is not tacky to ask for the specific bag you’re looking for. They want to sell the bags to their long time, trustworthy, non reseller clients and if they can order it for you at Podium they will. SOs are not easy at most stores. The bags I am interested in are more classics and not necessary to SO so I haven’t been offered one. There is a leather that I love that is unavailable and my SM knows that if it ever shows up on the SO list, I would love the opportunity to place a SO for it but it’s unlikely. My SM also goes to Podium with her SAs client lists of other items like wallets, RTW preferences and shoe history so she can buy things that their long time clients will be into. For example after the last Podium, my SM told me about a pair of boots and a bracelet set she knew I would love. She’s probably right, I’m not obligated to buy them but they know my taste and style now so I probably will love them.

I placed another Podium request at the beginning of this year but then was told about a special seasonal Kelly so I will be getting that this “Fall semester” and waiting for my Podium till next year or if they both arrive around the same time and I can swing the dough, they’ll make an exception for me to get both. My last bag was almost a year ago. Then I would not likely request anything for next year Podium.

Sorry for the long post, I hope this helpful to anyone trying navigate a regular old Podium order. To clarify, this is not the same as being placed on a wish list as far as I know. Podium is ordered with specific clients in mind, if they decline the bags then there is a wish list of clients interested in similar colors or styled.

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Very helpful
 
I've got both rose lipstick & craie bags expected from when I was shown the store order list after January's podium so hopefully these may start appearing soon! (Blue hydra was also on the list). For me 2 new bags-a Verrou in the rl on a gold chain & the new baton de craie shoulder bag in craie. VERY excited to see both new designs! New season
 
I've got both rose lipstick & craie bags expected from when I was shown the store order list after January's podium so hopefully these may start appearing soon! (Blue hydra was also on the list). For me 2 new bags-a Verrou in the rl on a gold chain & the new baton de craie shoulder bag in craie. VERY excited to see both new designs! New season

This feels strange since I just went through this thread a d all I could find was that pink was not offered. What type,of leather was offered in pink and were they perhaps SOs?
 
This feels strange since I just went through this thread a d all I could find was that pink was not offered. What type,of leather was offered in pink and were they perhaps SOs?

These were just podium orders-I.e. The store's planned stock which they may or may not allocate to individual customers in advance. In my case I was able to be listed against these 2 bags where in each case they had just 1-2 expected on the order. The Verrou I remember was available in rl (my choice), blue hydra & a beautiful grey in doblis only (think this may be the grid mouette-beautiful). Although this design may be available in other colors but not ordered by my store. I think this is chevre. So I don't know the full pink list but based on my experience & what someone has written above about rl it's back!
 
This feels strange since I just went through this thread a d all I could find was that pink was not offered. What type,of leather was offered in pink and were they perhaps SOs?

It's Rose Lipstick Chèvre and it seems it's only being offered in very small bags. The Verrou is a clutch and the Micro Kelly is only 20cm so the size of a pochette. I don't think we're going to see any large bags in Lipstick but that's just a guess!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nahreen
Can anyone tell me if Hermes comes out with fall colors for b and k? I have just started to love Hermes and i have alot to learn.
There are standard colors (black, gold, etoupe, orange, red for example) and a host of seasonal colors (e.g. anemone, bamboo, lime). H has 2 seasons: spring/summer and autumn/winter. The non-standard colors change every season or 2! The popular ones are rested and reemerge a few years later (electric blue)!
 
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!).
R u kidding??? Boring? Oh hunny hunny! You're gonna eat those words as soon as you see it and dress it up in ANYTHING and it will look dynamic!!! I find that I have to force myself to rotate bags now that I have my black k28! Xoxox
 
R u kidding??? Boring? Oh hunny hunny! You're gonna eat those words as soon as you see it and dress it up in ANYTHING and it will look dynamic!!! I find that I have to force myself to rotate bags now that I have my black k28! Xoxox

Ditto this! I have three black Hermes bags, including a black chèvre 30cm Birkin with RC interior. I love all of them! And, IF is right, dressing them up is so fun! BBC, you're going to fall in love!
 
R u kidding??? Boring? Oh hunny hunny! You're gonna eat those words as soon as you see it and dress it up in ANYTHING and it will look dynamic!!! I find that I have to force myself to rotate bags now that I have my black k28! Xoxox

Ditto this! I have three black Hermes bags, including a black chèvre 30cm Birkin with RC interior. I love all of them! And, IF is right, dressing them up is so fun! BBC, you're going to fall in love!

IF and CG, I have been warming up to the idea. I never really thought I "needed" a black bag, my thinking being that if I wore black it would blend, and if I wore color it would drag my outfit down. I guess it's my little rebellion at being a New Yorker, where everyone wears black and it's always the first choice.

But I've really been thinking it over, and I do have so many accessories to make it pop [emoji6][emoji6][emoji6] AND, it would be nice not to have to think so hard about tying my outfit in with my bag to make it all go together (usually accomplished with scarves and jewelry).

Of course now I need all sorts of accessories to go with the expected black! I do have a RG clic H with the black H....perhaps a CDC....10-motif onyx VCA (like my carnelian/rouge H combo)? [emoji43][emoji43][emoji43] I may be in trouble!!!

Feel free to post any and all enabling photos!!! [emoji8][emoji8][emoji8]
 
  • Like
Reactions: arlv8500
IF and CG, I have been warming up to the idea. I never really thought I "needed" a black bag, my thinking being that if I wore black it would blend, and if I wore color it would drag my outfit down. I guess it's my little rebellion at being a New Yorker, where everyone wears black and it's always the first choice.

But I've really been thinking it over, and I do have so many accessories to make it pop [emoji6][emoji6][emoji6] AND, it would be nice not to have to think so hard about tying my outfit in with my bag to make it all go together (usually accomplished with scarves and jewelry).


Of course now I need all sorts of accessories to go with the expected black! I do have a RG clic H with the black H....perhaps a CDC....10-motif onyx VCA (like my carnelian/rouge H combo)?

Feel feel to post any and all enabling photos [emoji8][emoji8][emoji1360]?? [emoji43][emoji43][emoji43] I may be in trouble!!!
You don't need anything actually bc black is the perfect canvas for what you already own. Stop. Breathe. Reinvent what u already have and Enjoy my dear...
 
BBC, I wore my black/RC Birkin to a funeral a couple of weeks ago with a black and white dress, black studded wedge sandals, and short black sweater. It was perfect. I was a little embarrassed getting so many compliments at a funeral. Though appreciated, it just felt wrong.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BBC
Top