Bag a Bargain
Are designer handbags a good investment? Christine Colbert, founder of Dress Cheshire, points you in the right direction.
From Michael Kors to Hermès, a beautiful designer handbag is a perennially popular accessory. But, are there handbags where one can actually make a profit? Well, there’s one brand for sure that will make you money: Hermès.
The Hermès Birkin and Kelly bag, in any form, is so popular, and so rare, that they hike in price the moment they leave the boutique. Hermès has an extremely clever marketing plan, driven by their obsession with quality and absolute dedication to perfection in every bag made. They only produce a very limited number of each of their bags each year, which means supply is considerably less than demand. If you’re lucky enough to be offered a bag by Hermès (and even luckier to be able to afford one), you don’t say no, even if it’s not the colour you were hoping for. In this way, Hermès keeps demand at a high and exclusivity a driving factor in the desire to own one. This, naturally, results in a thriving pre-loved market for Hermès bags, with hopeful shoppers unable to get on ‘the list’ at their local Hermès retailer, buying via boutiques such as Dress Cheshire. We have a wait-list for Hermès bags, and a steady supply of ladies ready to sell, too.
Other brands where you might actually make a return on your investment are those who discontinue a line, or launch a limited edition style, making those bags now impossible to buy new. Gucci, Prada, Bottega Veneta – all you need is a super-starlet to be seen with one on your arm, and demand will follow.
While you might not see a profit on your designer handbag purchase in most cases, there are some brands that retain a greater resale value as a percentage of their original purchase price. You can’t go wrong with a classic Chanel 2.55 Classic Mini Flap Bag, designed by the icon herself in 1955 and the epitome of an accessory that has stood the test of time.
As with any designer pieces you are considering re-selling, quality is key to the value that will be placed on it. Pre-loved bags might be expected to be a little worn, but staining on the inside, scratches on the exterior, missing pieces, etc., do not a good price make. If you’ve kept the soft bag and the original packaging, that’s great and will really help set the best price for you.
If you have a bag to sell or have a craving to own something special, get in touch for some expert advice – you never know, Dress Cheshire could be about to make your dreams come true!
There is one designer handbag you might be able to get your hands on for the price of a round of drinks, and that’s a beautiful pink Chanel Mini Flap Bag worth over £5,400 that Dress Cheshire is raffling off in aid of The Alzheimer’s Society. Head over to dresscheshire.com to grab your tickets before they sell out.
Find out more at dresscheshire.com.
