Podium Master Thread

[Vlad]

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.

 

[boboxu]

Hmmmm, yea I think the "quota" part is going to make me an unsuccessful candidate for this bag My SA is convinced my SO will be coming this semester...
But anyway, what do you think is the capacity difference btwn the mini kelly and a mini constance 18? comparable or not... wor mini k is way smaller?

The pochette is about 22cm so I think it has larger capacity and the Constance 18 has good capacity too, 19cm is quite small to me maybe for card case, lipstick, tissue,.. But it's too cute. Still haven't seen it in person yet but my SA said it fits IPhone 6 plus.
Btw, what it has to do with SO? They won't let you have bag and SO in same season ?what if you have the mini first then SO comes later? It happened to me last year, I got my bag in August and my SO came in Dec. This season I'm waiting for my SO too, submitted April so hopefully it will get here by Xmas ✌️

 

[mygoodies]

is that one chevre??? wow!!! I'm asking...no begging for RL one now!!!! hahahahah

LMAO[emoji23][emoji23]
RUN....!!! Don't forget to bring some PINK cupcakes for yr SA LOL[emoji12]

 

[MSO13]

My SA told me that it's too small to fit iPhone 6 Plus.

Nowadays don't we all have phone-in-hand at all times anyways? I think I hold my phone more often than having it in my purse [emoji57] But yes, I do want the option of being able to put it in my purse if necessary. Like you, I'm probably leaning more towards a Constance mini [emoji7]

If it's 17cm, and I assume that's the length of the widest part of the bag, it will definitely not be able to fit an iPhone 6 Plus which is 16cm. It will not go into the bag. That's very sad to learn, Constance 18 would be more practical from that aspect

The pochette is about 22cm so I think it has larger capacity and the Constance 18 has good capacity too, 19cm is quite small to me maybe for card case, lipstick, tissue,.. But it's too cute. Still haven't seen it in person yet but my SA said it fits IPhone 6 plus.
Btw, what it has to do with SO? They won't let you have bag and SO in same season ?what if you have the mini first then SO comes later? It happened to me last year, I got my bag in August and my SO came in Dec. This season I'm waiting for my SO too, submitted April so hopefully it will get here by Xmas ✌️

The Mini Kelly II was redesigned specifically to accommodate larger cell phones, this was the purpose of changing the shape to be more similar to the Pochette which I've been told holds quite a bit. At 19cm which is the reported width and listed in the petite maroquinerie book that my SA showed me for the season it should hold an iPhone 6+ but until someone sees them we obviously can't confirm what will fit. I have a case on my phone but I'm able to put my phone in my micro LV speedy by angling it a bit so I do think the big phones will fit. Hermes is smart and they know that some of the issues with the mini bags on the market were the inability to hold a larger phone. Even if they're late to the party on minis, I expect them to do it right.

As a functional bag, this isn't likely to be the most useful but as a collectible and very cute piece I think it's going to be sold out in a flash. My boutique is only getting two, one of which is supposed to be for me. My SM knows I'm so ready for this to come in and we're hopeful it will be soon!

 

[mygoodies]

The Mini Kelly II was redesigned specifically to accommodate larger cell phones, this was the purpose of changing the shape to be more similar to the Pochette which I've been told holds quite a bit. At 19cm which is the reported width and listed in the petite maroquinerie book that my SA showed me for the season it should hold an iPhone 6+ but until someone sees them we obviously can't confirm what will fit. I have a case on my phone but I'm able to put my phone in my micro LV speedy by angling it a bit so I do think the big phones will fit. Hermes is smart and they know that some of the issues with the mini bags on the market were the inability to hold a larger phone. Even if they're late to the party on minis, I expect them to do it right.

As a functional bag, this isn't likely to be the most useful but as a collectible and very cute piece I think it's going to be sold out in a flash. My boutique is only getting two, one of which is supposed to be for me. My SM knows I'm so ready for this to come in and we're hopeful it will be soon!

Thanks so much for the reassurance dear and I hope you will receive yours very soon in your dream combo[emoji256][emoji256]

 

[sparklyprincess]

The Mini Kelly II was redesigned specifically to accommodate larger cell phones, this was the purpose of changing the shape to be more similar to the Pochette which I've been told holds quite a bit. At 19cm which is the reported width and listed in the petite maroquinerie book that my SA showed me for the season it should hold an iPhone 6+ but until someone sees them we obviously can't confirm what will fit. I have a case on my phone but I'm able to put my phone in my micro LV speedy by angling it a bit so I do think the big phones will fit. Hermes is smart and they know that some of the issues with the mini bags on the market were the inability to hold a larger phone. Even if they're late to the party on minis, I expect them to do it right.

As a functional bag, this isn't likely to be the most useful but as a collectible and very cute piece I think it's going to be sold out in a flash. My boutique is only getting two, one of which is supposed to be for me. My SM knows I'm so ready for this to come in and we're hopeful it will be soon!

We can't wait to see your bag when it arrives!

 

[Israeli_Flava]

The Mini Kelly II was redesigned specifically to accommodate larger cell phones, this was the purpose of changing the shape to be more similar to the Pochette which I've been told holds quite a bit. At 19cm which is the reported width and listed in the petite maroquinerie book that my SA showed me for the season it should hold an iPhone 6+ but until someone sees them we obviously can't confirm what will fit. I have a case on my phone but I'm able to put my phone in my micro LV speedy by angling it a bit so I do think the big phones will fit. Hermes is smart and they know that some of the issues with the mini bags on the market were the inability to hold a larger phone. Even if they're late to the party on minis, I expect them to do it right.

As a functional bag, this isn't likely to be the most useful but as a collectible and very cute piece I think it's going to be sold out in a flash. My boutique is only getting two, one of which is supposed to be for me. My SM knows I'm so ready for this to come in and we're hopeful it will be soon!

Thank u for the info dear! I thought about it after I posted that I was not interested that maybe I could angle the phone if it was too long to fit straight and quickly emailed my SA for one, if possible hahahaha Aside from my phone, all I would carry is a calvi & some lipgloss so I could def make a miniK work.. ESP in RL Mysore!
Do you know what colors your store is getting? Were u able to pick the color you wanted in advance and that is 1 of the 2 coming?

 

[Israeli_Flava]

LMAO[emoji23][emoji23]
RUN....!!! Don't forget to bring some PINK cupcakes for yr SA LOL[emoji12]

I wish I could give her cupcakes... she's a 5 hour flight away... but I'll def bring something if she pulls off that miracle! hahahah

 

[MSO13]

Thank u for the info dear! I thought about it after I posted that I was not interested that maybe I could angle the phone if it was too long to fit straight and quickly emailed my SA for one, if possible hahahaha
Do you know what colors your store is getting? Were u able to pick the color you wanted in advance and that is 1 of the 2 coming?

Actually it was interesting, my SM had done the podium order already when the first IG photos came out. I was in the store and mentioned the photo of it to my SA and she went to check the book and my SM came out and was like oh, I ordered your favorite color that you passed on twice because it wasn't the right bag in this bag so should get this one. Basically a done deal. I don't know what the other color is on order, my SA said she was bummed because they only had the two pieces booked and now there's a lot of interest in the bag. Maybe they'll make more or new seasonal colors for a year or two. So thanks to the great tPF intel from Pretty99 back in January/February I got my name down way back then, it just was fortunate that I really wanted this color and couldn't decide on the bag. This is a good combo for me!

 

[Israeli_Flava]

Actually it was interesting, my SM had done the podium order already when the first IG photos came out. I was in the store and mentioned the photo of it to my SA and she went to check the book and my SM came out and was like oh, I ordered your favorite color that you passed on twice because it wasn't the right bag in this bag so should get this one. Basically a done deal. I don't know what the other color is on order, my SA said she was bummed because they only had the two pieces booked and now there's a lot of interest in the bag. Maybe they'll make more or new seasonal colors for a year or two. So thanks to the great tPF intel from Pretty99 back in January/February I got my name down way back then, it just was fortunate that I really wanted this color and couldn't decide on the bag. This is a good combo for me!

Please tell me the combo!!! hahahaha I'm hyperventilating over here!!! I love the story!!!

 

[Pinkydream]

Thank u for the info dear! I thought about it after I posted that I was not interested that maybe I could angle the phone if it was too long to fit straight and quickly emailed my SA for one, if possible hahahaha Aside from my phone, all I would carry is a calvi & some lipgloss so I could def make a miniK work.. ESP in RL Mysore!
Do you know what colors your store is getting? Were u able to pick the color you wanted in advance and that is 1 of the 2 coming?

Hi dear!! I just wanted to add that when my SA came back from Podium in February she told me that they have only ordered two mini Kelly, one in Black croc at about 23.000 Euros and one chevre in Rose Lipstick with ghw. I will be getting the RL, so I'm so happy!! So I suppose the Boutiques only be getting a few or so.

 

[Pinkydream]

Actually it was interesting, my SM had done the podium order already when the first IG photos came out. I was in the store and mentioned the photo of it to my SA and she went to check the book and my SM came out and was like oh, I ordered your favorite color that you passed on twice because it wasn't the right bag in this bag so should get this one. Basically a done deal. I don't know what the other color is on order, my SA said she was bummed because they only had the two pieces booked and now there's a lot of interest in the bag. Maybe they'll make more or new seasonal colors for a year or two. So thanks to the great tPF intel from Pretty99 back in January/February I got my name down way back then, it just was fortunate that I really wanted this color and couldn't decide on the bag. This is a good combo for me!

Yes this is just how I got the Info also at that time around February or so. I told my SA about the Instagram pic when she just came back from Podium and she told they had also only ordered one black croc and one chevre.

 

[Israeli_Flava]

Hi dear!! I just wanted to add that when my SA came back from Podium in February she told me that they have only ordered two mini Kelly, one in Black croc at about 23.000 Euros and one chevre in Rose Lipstick with ghw. I will be getting the RL, so I'm so happy!! So I suppose the Boutiques only be getting a few or so.

That's what I figured. I asked for the same one because although my name screen isn't Pink Fanatic... it should be Just ordered a RL Mysore calvi today as a matter of fact! Sooo I know it's a long shot but I had to ask right?

 

[Pinkydream]

That's what I figured. I asked for the same one because although my name screen isn't Pink Fanatic... it should be Just ordered a RL Mysore calvi today as a matter of fact! Sooo I know it's a long shot but I had to ask right?

Yes of course you had to order the Mysore calvi RL in chevre is just so dreamy!! I hope you can get the mini Kelly! Probably if your SO comes in this semester, they can hold the mini Kelly to January or the SM could make an exception for you that you can get the mini Kelly and the SO. I heard this is possible.

 

[mygoodies]

That's what I figured. I asked for the same one because although my name screen isn't Pink Fanatic... it should be Just ordered a RL Mysore calvi today as a matter of fact! Sooo I know it's a long shot but I had to ask right?

OMG I asked my SA to order me a RL Calvi in chevre and he said it doesn't exist[emoji33] so I just believed him (stupid me, should've asked here!). Can u pls let me know the exact code for this Calvi dear? So I can show it to my SA and make him eating his words[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

 

[Israeli_Flava]

OMG I asked my SA to order me a RL Calvi in chevre and he said it doesn't exist[emoji33] so I just believed him (stupid me, should've asked here!). Can u pls let me know the exact code for this Calvi dear? So I can show it to my SA and make him eating his words[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

OMG BABE IT'S ON H.COM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO GO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://usa.hermes.com/leather/small...gurable-product-slg-calvi-cardcase-26083.html