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$50K Hermes Bag Is Recession-Proof

In tough times, designer's bag sales are up

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2009 3:02 PM CDT

(Newser) – High-end designers everywhere are closing down storefronts, but somehow Hermes’ sales are up. The iconic brand has managed to beat the recession by ignoring it, continuing to sell $50,000 bags that require years on a waiting list to own. “Hermes’ position is unique; it is at the very top of the pyramid in terms of luxury goods,” one analyst tells ABC News.

“The people who can afford these goods are not affected by the recession,” an expert points out. “That’s why the brand is recession-proof.” Only 3,000 of the most sought-after bag, the crocodile-skin Birkin, are made each year, and sold exclusively through company-owned shops, where clients like Victoria Beckham—reported owner of $2 million in Birkin bags—are lucky enough to purchase them.

A model presents an ensemble by French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier for Hermes in Paris, March 11, 2009.
A model presents an ensemble by French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier for Hermes in Paris, March 11, 2009.   (AP Photo)
A model presents an ensemble by French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier for Hermes in Paris, Oct. 6, 2007.
A model presents an ensemble by French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier for Hermes in Paris, Oct. 6, 2007.   (AP Photo)
A model presents an ensemble by French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier for Hermes in Paris, Oct. 6, 2007.
A model presents an ensemble by French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier for Hermes in Paris, Oct. 6, 2007.   (AP Photo)
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The brand is classic, an icon. Handbags are the core of the business and a successful product. They are produced only in limited numbers, never overwhelming the market. - Francesca Di Pasquantonio, Hermes analyst

The appeal of an Hermes bag is its design and its usability. It is a true luxury item, but it's affordable in a way that a yacht isn't. It's really an investment. Everybody wants one, but not everyone can have one. - Eileen Robert, Hermes collector

If you want something super special, if you want a handmade crocodile bag and you can afford it, Hermes is the only place you'll go. - Michael Tonello, author of Bringing Home the Birkin

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
RobN
Jun 11, 2009 3:30 AM CDT
Of course these same people are the ones who give millions to charity while people like us write $100 checks. If it weren't for these idiots, most of the children's hospitals in this country would shut down, there'd be virtually no support for the arts, and programs like The Rainbow Project in NYC would disappear, but hey, it's more fun to call them names and congratulate each other on feeling more disdain for them than the next guy. You write a million dollar check to charity and want to spend 50K on a purse, I say good for you.
brawne
Jun 10, 2009 10:17 AM CDT
And even if it did work, I'd always be the dummy with the umbrella
Robert_Dada
Jun 10, 2009 8:34 AM CDT
Further evidence that trickle down economics never works.
 

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