What is your hope for the future of Coach?

[highrider9o9]

Would love to know more about what you would like to see change!!

A lot of it really has to do with more business than the actual designs/product, but if were talking product......

There needs to be a staple piece(s). Keep the Duffle in stock always. make it this brands speedy/neverfull/hamilton/flapbag etc...... I remember people constantly coming in asking for just the plain duffle, (usually legacy style) or women who wanted more colors or to replace one and so on, but almost everything was if you don't buy it now you'll never see it again, unless you get lucky on eBay or an outlet.

Honestly a lot of my (and my coworkers) qualms about the product went away when vevers took over, he took the company onto a much better road, he made the company somewhat fashionable again. The last few years with reed, the product got stale, he was replicating bags from his own line, and it was not taking off. Vevers did a great job of expanding the line and it's audience.

Minimize outlets! I worked in both retail and outlet, and outlet was terrible! Recreating full price bags for outlet is not good for the integrity of the brand.

They still need to find they're footing, In my tenure there were 2-3 major corporate/upper management layoffs, and we "restructured" numerous times. It was exhausting. They probably treated employees the worst out of all the luxury brands I've worked at.

Theres honestly a lot, these are just the initial that popped into my head.

 

[Pagan]

I personally think that the outlets are completely at odds with any notion of moving up market. You can’t be all things to all people; that never works. If they were sold under another label in the outlets it wouldn’t be so bad, but they’re all Coach bags.

As long as the outlets are there, I don’t see them as ever being a premium brand. That’s fine, but it’s at odds with pricing bags well over $1000. They’ve trained us all to just wait for sales, even for the 1941 line. I did buy a Chalk Rogue last summer full price but now I know better. I wouldn’t pay full price for anything at Coach any more. I only buy during PCE events and the SAS.

When they’ve trained the people who can afford to buy the bags full-price not to (although many of us will buy from others at full retail), It confirms to me that their target market is more heavily skewed to the lower price points. There’s nothing wrong with that; it just means they’re more accessible than premium.

 

[Galaxygrrl]

I personally think that the outlets are completely at odds with any notion of moving up market. You can’t be all things to all people; that never works. If they were sold under another label in the outlets it wouldn’t be so bad, but they’re all Coach bags.

As long as the outlets are there, I don’t see them as ever being a premium brand. That’s fine, but it’s at odds with pricing bags well over $1000. They’ve trained us all to just wait for sales, even for the 1941 line. I did buy a Chalk Rogue last summer full price but now I know better. I wouldn’t pay full price for anything at Coach any more. I only buy during PCE events and the SAS.

When they’ve trained the people who can afford to buy the bags full-price not to (although many of us will buy from others at full retail), It confirms to me that their target market is more heavily skewed to the lower price points. There’s nothing wrong with that; it just means they’re more accessible than premium.

I just think they need to rename the outlet. Donna Karen/DKNY, Ralph Lauren/Polo, etc

I think the issue is they make most of their money from the outlet, so I'm sure that don't want to upset the apple cart on this.

 

[vivianyan]

I personally think that the outlets are completely at odds with any notion of moving up market. You can’t be all things to all people; that never works. If they were sold under another label in the outlets it wouldn’t be so bad, but they’re all Coach bags.

As long as the outlets are there, I don’t see them as ever being a premium brand. That’s fine, but it’s at odds with pricing bags well over $1000. They’ve trained us all to just wait for sales, even for the 1941 line. I did buy a Chalk Rogue last summer full price but now I know better. I wouldn’t pay full price for anything at Coach any more. I only buy during PCE events and the SAS.

When they’ve trained the people who can afford to buy the bags full-price not to (although many of us will buy from others at full retail), It confirms to me that their target market is more heavily skewed to the lower price points. There’s nothing wrong with that; it just means they’re more accessible than premium.

well said.
I paid $1500 for a full price tearose rogue, which started my coach fever. And look now? I am not willing to pay full price for any of the Coach bags. I'm trained not to.

 

[Icing_Time]

well said.
I paid $1500 for a full price tearose rogue, which started my coach fever. And look now? I am not willing to pay full price for any of the Coach bags. I'm trained not to.

I'd be willing to, but the quality would have to be bang on. My two older swaggers are great quality, but I just bought a prairie satchel online and while it's light, I can't say that the leather is great on it. It's dry, thin, and doesn't feel smooshy, or thick and pliable.

Debating on if I should return it, because I don't like the idea of buying and using conditioner on a bag I newly bought. The 1941 collection however, seems to have luxurious leather. I wonder if good pebbled leather like the days of old are just rare nowadays.

I'm rambling, but what I mean to say is that it would be nice if all Boutique Coach pieces were a step above factory, and not on par.

 

[highrider9o9]

I just think they need to rename the outlet. Donna Karen/DKNY, Ralph Lauren/Polo, etc

I think the issue is they make most of their money from the outlet, so I'm sure that don't want to upset the apple cart on this.

From a somewhat insider perspective.....NO. Doing that weakened a lot of those brands.
Right now there are more outlets then there are retail stores, which is the total opposite of what they should be doing. The outlet business got way out of control, ESPECIALLY FACTORY ONLINE! They created too much internal competition that they forgot to handle the external competition, and let brands like MK and TB take over there market. Minimize the outlets, create demand and urgency for the retail product, and no more MFF.

 

[Galaxygrrl]

From a somewhat insider perspective.....NO. Doing that weakened a lot of those brands.
Right now there are more outlets then there are retail stores, which is the total opposite of what they should be doing. The outlet business got way out of control, ESPECIALLY FACTORY ONLINE! They created too much internal competition that they forgot to handle the external competition, and let brands like MK and TB take over there market. Minimize the outlets, create demand and urgency for the retail product, and no more MFF.

I thought about 75% of their revenue was from the outlets. That is a big ask to cut part of that revenue.

 

[highrider9o9]

I thought about 75% of their revenue was from the outlets. That is a big ask to cut part of that revenue.

Nooooo, I haven't worked there for a few years, but I doubt it has changed that much. it was probably around 50%, maybe a little more. You have to remember a good chunk comes from wholesalers as well. When i was "transitioning" from retail to outlet, outlet stores were just surpassing retail stores in numbers, but retail sales are starting to make a comeback.

 

[highrider9o9]

I thought about 75% of their revenue was from the outlets. That is a big ask to cut part of that revenue.

obviously they couldn't just close all the outlets, but there are a lot of changes that they could make. close factory online, stop replicating bags, stop opening new outlets, slowly close some, that are too close to high sales retail stores, etc...

 

[AManIntoFashion]

I get what you guys are saying about outlets destroying the higher end of the brand. But what about those of us who like Coach, and can't afford/don't want prices to become like Gucci or Louis Vuitton? How does Coach keep it's quality without becoming ridiculously expensive and losing customers that can't afford/don't want to pay upwards of $800 for leather goods?

I'm enjoying how this forum is unfolding!

 

[AManIntoFashion]

I just think they need to rename the outlet. Donna Karen/DKNY, Ralph Lauren/Polo, etc

I think the issue is they make most of their money from the outlet, so I'm sure that don't want to upset the apple cart on this.

From a somewhat insider perspective.....NO. Doing that weakened a lot of those brands.
Right now there are more outlets then there are retail stores, which is the total opposite of what they should be doing. The outlet business got way out of control, ESPECIALLY FACTORY ONLINE! They created too much internal competition that they forgot to handle the external competition, and let brands like MK and TB take over there market. Minimize the outlets, create demand and urgency for the retail product, and no more MFF.

Interesting. I was thinking of the outlet branching as another store like said companies. I know in another thread some time back someone mentioned something like "Carriage by Coach" (not my idea, someone else here) as their separate outlet/more affordable branch, which I thought was clever.

 

[Pagan]

I get what you guys are saying about outlets destroying the higher end of the brand. But what about those of us who like Coach, and can't afford/don't want prices to become like Gucci or Louis Vuitton? How does Coach keep it's quality without becoming ridiculously expensive and losing customers that can't afford/don't want to pay upwards of $800 for leather goods?

I'm enjoying how this forum is unfolding!

I wouldn't want to see Coach prices go the way of Gucci or LV either. Most of my collection is Coach; the remainder is LV (two bags and three SLGs), Longchamps (several Le Pliage totes and SLGs), Roots (a leather tote and some SLGs) and a couple of small French brands.

I personally consider Coach to be a mid-tier brand. They are not premium, IMO, although they have some lovely bags. I really like the quality of the 1941 line. I do have a few non-1941 boutique bags that I like, but am not interested in their current non-1941 bags and don't like the outlet bags at all. I just don't think the quality is the same.

I'm happy with mid-tier brands in general. I'm happy with MAC, Urban Decay and the like in makeup. I have lots of Lululemon workout gear, but won't buy $400 leggings. I'm always willing to pay more for better quality, but only to a point. I don't see myself ever buying a Chanel or Hermes; the law of diminishing returns kicks in at that point.

It's the same with bags for me. I want high quality leather and classic styles that will survive several seasons, but I'm not in the market for a $5k bag, particularly when it's because someone has slapped on a logo I would prefer not be there in the first place.

I agree with others that a different brand for the outlets would be a good thing, but I can't see Coach doing that. People likely shop there because it's Coach branded. Having said that, I think the shared brand logo serves to put a perceived ceiling on the value of the boutique products. It's a bit like owning the nicest house on a modest street; not matter how much you do to it, you're still in the same neighbourhood. It likely won't have the same value as the most modest home in a more expensive neighbourhood.

 

[whateve]

I wouldn't want to see Coach prices go the way of Gucci or LV either. Most of my collection is Coach; the remainder is LV (two bags and three SLGs), Longchamps (several Le Pliage totes and SLGs), Roots (a leather tote and some SLGs) and a couple of small French brands.

I personally consider Coach to be a mid-tier brand. They are not premium, IMO, although they have some lovely bags. I really like the quality of the 1941 line. I do have a few non-1941 boutique bags that I like, but am not interested in their current non-1941 bags and don't like the outlet bags at all. I just don't think the quality is the same.

I'm happy with mid-tier brands in general. I'm happy with MAC, Urban Decay and the like in makeup. I have lots of Lululemon workout gear, but won't buy $400 leggings. I'm always willing to pay more for better quality, but only to a point. I don't see myself ever buying a Chanel or Hermes; the law of diminishing returns kicks in at that point.

It's the same with bags for me. I want high quality leather and classic styles that will survive several seasons, but I'm not in the market for a $5k bag, particularly when it's because someone has slapped on a logo I would prefer not be there in the first place.

I agree with others that a different brand for the outlets would be a good thing, but I can't see Coach doing that. People likely shop there because it's Coach branded. Having said that, I think the shared brand logo serves to put a perceived ceiling on the value of the boutique products. It's a bit like owning the nicest house on a modest street; not matter how much you do to it, you're still in the same neighbourhood. It likely won't have the same value as the most modest home in a more expensive neighbourhood.

The outlet branding wouldn't have to be different on the exterior of the bag. I have a MK outlet bag that is nearly identical to the FP version except for the color and size of the studs. The only place it says Michael Michael Kors is on the inside label. Although I don't know how successful MKs separation of their outlet from FP is, since I'm very happy that I got the bag I wanted at the outlet for much less money. Same with Kate Spade: I found nearly identical bracelets at the outlet at the same time they were in the full price store.

Even some premium brands like Gucci have outlets. They usually don't have the styles that sell well and there aren't a lot of outlets available to most people, so I doubt it impacts their FP sales.

I can't bring myself to spend thousands on a bag. It is too big of a commitment when I might fall out of love, and then it would become a chore to carry it.

 

[AstridRhapsody]

Coach outlets need to go back to what they were originally for, old discontinued products/seconds. All outlets are now primarily items specifically made to be sold at discount which really cheapens the brand. You go shopping in an area near a coach outlet and every woman is carrying a cheap mff bag. If you removed the branding most people would never guess a 1941 bag was made by the same company as a mff bag, they are worlds apart. My friends in my neighborhood are snooty and only carry premier brands. We go out to lunch and it will be 3 birkins sitting next to my rogue lol. They have told me several times they love my 1941 bags but would never carry one because all the mff out in the world. While I can agree their higher end bags are lovely they just don't fit my style. With 3 young kids (their kids are teens to adults) I know I will be sticking with Coach for a good while and anything else $1500 and under. I don't want to have to worry about my kids being kids and messing up expensive bags. My oldest loves to play dress up and wear my bags/shoes/clothes around the house. I think I would have a mini heart attack is she was dragging a birkin around the house

 

[whateve]

Coach outlets need to go back to what they were originally for, old discontinued products/seconds. All outlets are now primarily items specifically made to be sold at discount which really cheapens the brand. You go shopping in an area near a coach outlet and every woman is carrying a cheap mff bag. If you removed the branding most people would never guess a 1941 bag was made by the same company as a mff bag, they are worlds apart. My friends in my neighborhood are snooty and only carry premier brands. We go out to lunch and it will be 3 birkins sitting next to my rogue lol. They have told me several times they love my 1941 bags but would never carry one because all the mff out in the world. While I can agree their higher end bags are lovely they just don't fit my style. With 3 young kids (their kids are teens to adults) I know I will be sticking with Coach for a good while and anything else $1500 and under. I don't want to have to worry about my kids being kids and messing up expensive bags. My oldest loves to play dress up and wear my bags/shoes/clothes around the house. I think I would have a mini heart attack is she was dragging a birkin around the house

Honestly I don't see the appeal of a Birkin. They aren't my style and seem stiff. I looked at one at a luxury auction and I didn't think it seemed special. I think you can only get so much quality and then after that you are just paying for style and name. What I mean is that high end Coach isn't that far away from the quality of premium brands. Even without kids, I don't want a purse that would give me a heart attack if something happened to it. Someone on here had coffee spilled on their Gucci at a restaurant.