Boxing Day Sales 2015 Were A Boom But Did You Score A Bargain?

All over the world this year, shoppers threw open their purses and wallets at Boxing Day sales, breaking all records for the start of the summer or winter clearance (depending on where you live) period and surpassing even the retailers' expectations. All countries are reporting positive consumer confidence, resulting in sale activity much stronger when compared to last year.

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Historically, Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on December 26^th, the day after Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their bosses or employers. Others say that it has origins in the Anglican tradition of collecting money in boxes during Christmas and handing it out the day after.

In many countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia and NZ, it is considered a public holiday which was traditionally spent with family and friends. Many Americans have it as a holiday because most schools and businesses are closed, and now it is also considered an official holiday for federal employees in the US. An executive order issued by President Obama in 2014 allows federal employees to now have that day off in addition to Christmas Day.

Sadly, however in many countries Boxing Day has become known as a shopping holiday, much like Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) in the US. The joy of spending the day having fun with family and friends has been taken over by greed and the compulsion to shop and score a bargain. Marketing campaigns have successfully convinced consumers to extend the Christmas cheer by enjoying huge savings by shopping on that particular day. The message sent is "be prepared and get in quick – you WILL have competition."

Boxing Day sales are common in many countries including the UK, Canada, Australia and NZ, and, in fact, in many parts of the world, Boxing Day is the biggest sale day of the year. Shopping centres, big brands, and independent retailers slash their prices to get rid of stock. While it will never come close to Black Friday in the USA, many US based retailers will also drop those price tags on the 26th. Bargain hunters flock to city malls around the world in a shopping frenzy which this year has eclipsed last year's Boxing Day sales. Records were broken as hundreds of thousands of shoppers across the globe flocked to cash in on the hefty discounts this Boxing Day.

In Australia, The Australian Retailers Association reported that Boxing Day trade had likely passed its own projection of a record-breaking $2.3 billion in sales nationwide. Indicators estimate that $2.5 billion was taken at tills around the country on December 26th.

In the UK, Boxing Day saw 22 million people hit the sales, which marks an increase on last year of 11.7 % in High Street spending, 7.8% at shopping centres and 3.2% at out-of-town retail parks.  Boxing Day 2015 has been one of the busiest days of the year, with 14 million bargain hunters hitting Britain's high shopping streets alone, spending an estimated £3.1 billion in the 24hr Boxing Day spree. Interestingly, it is estimated that about 50% of these shoppers were foreign tourists from China, the Middle East and the US who spend much more than a typical UK shopper.

According to the Daily Mail UK, Selfridges had the most successful first hour of trading in its history, taking more than £2million between 9am and 10am after 4,000 people queued outside its Oxford Street London store from as early as 1am. Shoppers began queueing at its Manchester Exchange store from 3am and more than 1,000 waited outside its Trafford Centre store in the city. The first through the doors plumped for heavily discounted luxury clothing – the first item sold in London was a Valentino Wristlet clutch bag reduced from £1,400 to £700, while the first in the Trafford Centre was a Mulberry handbag reduced from £1,350 to £944.

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And Canada experienced the same sort of results. Many Canadians flocked to the country's shopping malls and e-commerce sites to snatch up the bargains.

It is true that bargain hunters have become very savvy. Most eagle-eyed shoppers will have spotted the sales online at least 48 hours before the sales this year, making them more aware of the bargains to be had. And many shoppers will not leave the comfort of their lounge room with at least 11 million shoppers in Australia alone indulging in the seasonal sales spree from home - enjoying the preview sales and warehouse-wide deals straight from their sofa.

Many stores dropped their prices 48 hours earlier this year and the traditional Boxing Day specials were available on Christmas Eve. This is a tradition that has occurred for many years in Australia at least. Post-recession stores started discounting before Christmas in an attempt to win over consumers who would have otherwise waited until Boxing Day to purchase. This way retailers get a double go at the cautious buyer who is only willing to purchase a bargain.

While Boxing Day sales have traditionally been a bricks and mortar affair, there has also been growth in digital shopping this year. For example in Australia online sales were expected to reach $2.7 billion between December 26 and January 15, accounting for 16 per cent of all summer clearance spending. However, the lower Aussie dollar meant that more customers spent locally, rather than online where the exchange rate and shipping costs added significantly to the cost.

Most retailers reported strong sales online. For example, John Lewis in the UK said sales were up 17.7% since launching online on Christmas Eve, while Curry's PC World set a Boxing Day record of more than 250,000 online shoppers between 10am and 11am. In Australia, David Jones said its website broke all records for traffic and sales on December 26, clocking up over a million visitors. Retail analyst Brian Walker from the Retail Doctor Group expected 14 to 15 per cent of summer clearance sales to be from online shoppers this season on average

In fact, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, Boxing Day sales are attracting more digital shoppers than ever, and the bargains are starting well before December 26th. In the future, Boxing Day shoppers will be more likely to spend the biggest retail event of the year at home, bagging bargains online in clearance sales that will increasingly start before December 26, retailers and analysts say. 

So what has caused the buying blitz in 2015? Is it low interest rates or the fact that more people have jobs?  Or is it just a one day wonder which masks what is really going on?

In the UK it was all over in a day and it appears that the Boxing Day rush to the stores was a one-day wonder. Shops in High Street had hoped that the post-Christmas boom would save them, but unfortunately sales slumped after the Boxing Day bonanza. Despite the 11.7% increase in Boxing Day spending, on December 27th which is usually one of the busiest days of the year, High Street Xmas sales were down overall by 21.3% when compared to last year. Retail parks and shopping centres also saw respective drops of 0.8 per cent and 25.2 per cent compared to last December 27. It is thought that reduced hours (Sunday trading) and flooding in the north meant an 18 per cent fall in numbers on the previous year.  Unfortunately for retailers, these poor results follow depressing figures for sales during Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and on Christmas Eve.

In fact from these UK figures can you surmise that having Boxing Day sales has not increased sales overall but replaced the sales normally made on the 27^th or at least split them over the 2 days? Without trading on Boxing Day would the retailers have got the same or better results by just trading on the 27^th and letting everyone have a well-earned social day on the 26^th?

In Australia, however, post Boxing Day sales are expected to boom and predictions that around $7.2 billion will be spent between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve and $20.8 billion from Boxing Day to January 16.

Post Boxing Day sales for 2015 are still on the go, with the best deals and bargains from major retailers all over the world still on offer for the discerning buyer. Discounted designer bags, half price jewelry and bargain price clothing are the most coveted goods. But heavily reduced white goods and household items, end of year car sell-outs and even travel packages are also in demand. With prices slashed by up to 90% in some stores, 65% off designer handbags and 40% off TVs there is always a bargain to be found.  And these bargains are likely to be offered for several weeks to come.  

                                                             

Boxing Day shoppers in Australia broke all records with $2.5 billion being spent as eager shoppers hit the stores in search of a bargain.  This is due in part because in NSW this year new laws passed by the State Government allowed all shops to be opened on Boxing Day. The new laws make the Boxing Day sales available for everybody and brings retail trading laws consistent across the states. In the past only stores in the CBD and in tourists areas were allowed to be open, so the Boxing Day sales dollar has been more diluted with many people shopping at their local shopping centre rather than making that unpleasant trip into the city and having to fight other consumers for the bargain and manipulate their way through the myriads of hungry bargain hunters.

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Believe me I know what it was like. I owned a café in the QVB in Sydney for many years and Boxing Day was the worst day of the year it brought out the worst in people – pushing and shoving; abusive language and behaviour; in fact I found most shoppers on that day just plain rude! I think Boxing Day sales is a very apt terminology for this day because retail sites are turned into boxing arenas where people jostle for bargains. 

Did you bring your boxing gloves?

Boxing Day Sales 2015 were a boom but did you score a bargain? How often have you been to a sale, only to walk out of the store paying full price for what you want?  Many of the goods on sale are of poor quality or outdated or limited in size range. These Boxing Day sales are clearance sales. An opportunity for retailers to get rid of last year's stock or goods that are not selling well. When I worked at the QVB, I watched with interest as hundreds of people lined up for hours at the Coach store hoping for a bargain. But I noticed that very few of their bags were actually reduced, but in the hype people walked out with bags they paid full price for, chuffed at the fact they thought they had got a bargain. I found it quite amusing really that people could be so mislead.

You have to ask the question, do all these shoppers score a real bargain? It would be interesting to analyse how many people paid full price during these 2015 Boxing Day sales.

I have never been able to understand the mentality of the Boxing Day shoppers. Instead of staying at home and playing with their kids and new toys, or going on a picnic or to the beach, these people chose to shop amidst chaos in order to get a bargain that was probably available before Xmas day and will probably be available on the 27th, 28th and possible a week or two after that as well.

Do these Boxing Day sales bring some sort of economic advantage to the shopper or do they just bring a social cost and loss of family time for people who can think of nothing better to do with their time. I know I would rather be doing fun things with my family and friends, rather than shopping!! The thought of lining up for hours and then pushing and shoving just to maybe save a few dollars just does not make sense. To me, Boxing Day sales are all hype and no joy.

Don't get caught up in the hype! The Large Purse Shop has Boxing Days sales all year long – shop in the comfort of your own lounge whenever you want to get a quality handbag at bargain prices.

Why Women Love Luxury Handbags

  

There is no doubting the fact that women love luxury handbags. If you read any purse blogs or comments on purse forums you will see that some women are actually obsessed with them. Some women own a huge variety of luxury handbags which collectively may be worth many thousands of dollars. Social media and Dr Google are full images of the well-to-do, celebrities and royals who carry a different bag with each outfit – they have luxury handbags to match each color and style of their outfits.

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For the rich and famous, including celebrities and royals it is easy to possess a collection of luxury handbags. But what about the typical working woman or the stay at home mum. How can she pay such excessive prices to realise her dream of owning that latest style? The reality is that most bag-loving women will go without other things in order to satisfy her need for a new bag.

What sacrifices would you have to make to meet the expense of that elegant Hermes Birkin which recently sold at auction for over $200,000?  Made of exquisite pink crocodile decorated with 18 carat gold hardware and genuine diamonds? The run-of-the-mill Hermes will set you back about $8000 and even then, you may have to be on a waiting list to get it!

These days you probably could not get luxury handbags for much under $500. Most of the more exclusive brands will be well over $1000. So the average Jo Blog has to save up for a long just to come up with the money needed for one of these expensive bags.

Luxury handbags are the ultimate 21st-century object of desire, not just for the well-to-do, celebrities and royals, but also for working women from all walks of life as well. In this day and age, women of all ages tend to spend more on a handbag than a holiday, jewelry or even a car - and they hope that everyone else will notice their new acquisition.

Clothes commonly take second place to this most looked-for accessory. For example, an ad made in 2007 featured Kate Moss starring in a Longchamp's bag campaign She lay naked on a beach with nothing on except for her Longchamp handbag. The message this ad revealed was clear: clothes are redundant - it's all about the luxury handbag.

So why do women find luxury handbags so desirable? It is to a certain extent because they have become a distinguishing fashion statement depicting a woman's wealth and status. They also indicate how fashion aware a woman is, and proves her position and earning power. It is also due to the escalating popularity of large purses, which over the past 100 years, has mimicked the growing social independence of their women.

In previous eras, a woman's role was mostly domestic and she would keep her personal items in a purse tucked into the folds of her skirt or in a small handbag she carried discretely. But as women started venturing from the home, both for leisure and work, larger purses became a convenient way of carrying their belongings and daily needs. Eleanor Roosevelt is recognised as starting the trend of carrying large purses as a customary fashion.

At the time when rail and sea travel became more accessible, there was a growing demand for fashionable luggage such as suitcases, dressing cases, hat and shoe boxes. Styles developed and the modern leather handbag was born.

It is not surprising then that many of today's luxurious handbag design houses, such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and Hermes, originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as travel became more accessible to everyone. As women achieved more financial independence, the handbag industry prospered out of all proportion to its humble beginnings.

The fact that the right handbag can make us feel goes far deeper than just being a vehicle to carry our possessions. Both revealing and concealing, it also represents a feeling that deeply private to its owner. This feeling arises from the fact that the handbag was first designed as a silk purse or pocket worn close to the body for safe keeping.  At that time, pockets were seen as being underwear – a secret place hidden beneath lavish material and assessable only by an intimate slit in the skirt.

These intimate undertones lingered on when the first luxury handbags were worn in the late 18th century. Called reticules, they were superbly embroidered, pouches with handles in damask, satin or velvet. Women used them to carry cosmetics, a fan for flirtation, smelling salts and carte de visite, all without compromising the slim-line fit of the Empire-line dresses which were Vat the time.

To begin with, the idea of a woman displaying her personal belongings in a visible pocket was as outrageous as if she had taken off her knickers and waved them in the air. As a result of this defiance of common decency, reticules were labelled "ridicules" by those unready for change.

Because of the intimacy associated with them, luxury handbags were seen as sexual items.  The expression "old bag" was used to describe a woman who was passed her sexual best and grumpy women who display no emotion or compassion are still called that today.

In our time, luxury handbags still have their sex appeal because they are very closely associated with all of our most intimate possessions. A large purse is our survival kit for daily life. It carries all our personal needs from a mobile phone, tampons, make-up, money and keys, to hair straighteners, laptops, I-phones, chewing gum, condoms to a change of clothes. Consequently, its curiousness remains intact. Most men find the details of what a woman has in her handbag excitingly inconceivable and would never dare to invade its privacy.

Most women feel naked without their luxury handbags. Your bag rather than your clothes makes you stand out from the crowd. Even when your outfit is drab and outdated a good-looking bag makes you look and feel good.

Because of this, the handbag industry has seen incredible growth in the past few decades. By mid-2000's sales of bags were growing at twice the rate of clothes. Now the big fashion houses make millions of dollars a year from the sale of luxury handbags alone.

So what are the features that make luxury handbags desirable? The first thing is that it must have an outstanding design. It has to be instantly recognized as a prominent brand such as Fendi, Gucci, Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton or from other established fashion houses. Most fashion houses have their signature designs and this too helps in appreciation of the brand itself.

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Another important feature for a luxury bag is glamour and appeal. Typically this comes from the link between a particular brand and a celebrity - such as the famous Hermes Kelly bag. Originally produced in 1935, it was not until 1956 that the bag's status shot to worldwide bestseller status. And this occurred because the newlywed, Princess Grace of Monaco, was photographed for the cover of Time magazine shielding her pregnant belly with a classic Hermes bag. The handbag in question subsequently became known as the Kelly in her honour. Fashion commentators at the time were quite adamant about the association of bag and star: Carrying a Kelly bag became synonymous with class and old money.

Another example occurred In 1994 when the Lady Dior became a sensation after Princess Diana took to wearing it around town after she separated from Prince Charles. This handbag is a seductive combination of briefcase and handbag which has distinctive gold charms. It depicted a thoughtful woman who was nonetheless glamorous and sophisticated. These days, social media can promote the status and demand for a particular bag just by been photographed on the arm of a style icon, celebrity or royal like Princess Kate Middleton.  

Shrewd marketing definitely also plays an important part in creating a must-have bag. While celebrities may always be able to get their hands on the latest luxury handbags, for the woman in the street it's much more difficult, irrespective of how much money they are ready to spend. The fact that many high-status bags are unobtainable makes it more looked-for. Some luxury handbags have waiting lists extending up to three years. The Hermes Birkin is in this category.

Women's natural competitiveness is cunningly managed by the top bag designers. For example. In 2005, Alexander McQueen inspired customer demand to a fever when he publicized the launch of his new designer bag. He specified that it was a limited edition with only 200 ever to be produced, and so it became the ultimate fashion trophy, selling out before a waiting list was even compiled. This bag was called the Novak after Kim Novak, the legendary blonde actress who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 masterpiece Vertigo. Prices started at £550 and went up to a whopping £6,000 for the deluxe crocodile version.

It seems a price tag does not prevent luxury handbags from selling well. In fact, fashion houses believe that high price tags seem to add more desire to own it. There seems to be an endless willingness to splash out on designer bags.

Luxury handbags will last a lifetime if cared for properly. Some of these styles may come and go, some retain their value and some increase in value. But it is only a handful of them that have the mystic qualities to become iconic. To become iconic, a bag is not just exceptionally well designed but it also surpasses the time in which it was fashioned.

Luxury handbags which have received the right to be called iconic are the Hermes Kelly, the Fendi Baguette, the Marc Jacobs's Stam, the YSL Muse and the Mulberry Roxanne. All of these bags share a clear, clean line; nothing fussy or over-designed, with a combination of functionality and luxury. An iconic bag owes its status to the finest traditions of pedigree, quality and craftsmanship to look as good years later as it did the day it was born. And, for a true bag lover, that is worth more than price.

Beware: A Large Purse Which Is Too Heavy Can Cause Injury

  

Beware! If your large purse is too heavy it can cause serious injury resulting in severe pain to your back, neck, shoulder and other parts of your body. The best pain relief is to change what you carry around in your large purse to make it lighter.     Women particularly tend to carry their lives in their bags – laptops, I-pads, phones, makeup, wallets, personal hygiene items, books, documents, water bottles, snacks and the list goes on! We want to be prepared for all events.

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 The new-age woman loves to carry a large purse but the reality is that big bags result in big heavy loads! But Injuries and pain are caused by carrying a bag that is too heavy.

 The "you'll never know what you need" mindset comes with a price. A hefty large purse can cause serious injury, especially if you do not have upper body strength. Two things act in combination to cause back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, pain in your buttocks, headaches and general body aches all over especially if your upper-body muscles are weak or tight.

1. The weight of the bag and its contents against muscles, tendons, nerves, and ligaments
2. The compensating shift in your posture which you make when carrying a heavy load can.  

 If you carry a large purse that is too heavy, you are likely to end up with a sore shoulders, sore neck, sore back, sore arms and pain elsewhere. That is because the muscles in the upper back (trapezius) and neck (cervical paraspinal) become strained from having to support the heavy weight in one position over time.

Initially, the weight puts pressure on the web of nerves that can cause aching or shooting pain from the neck down the arm. Then, every time you toss your bag over your shoulder, the upper back muscles that stabilize the shoulder blade struggle to counterbalance the heavy weight. Eventually, they become overworked and painful.

And the problems don't just affect the upper back.  If you load an extra 10 pounds, for example, onto one side of the body, it can cause the trunk to tilt sideways to compensate, adding lower-back pain to the list of aches and pains.

The pressure on the muscles in the back of the head and shoulders can cause symptoms such as:

1. Upper neck, shoulder and back pain
2. Poor posture
3. Muscle spasms
4. Sciatica, including nerve pain in the buttocks and down the legs
5. Tendinitis of the elbow
6. Injury to the rotator cuff muscles in the shoulder
7. Tension headaches
8. Numbness or tingling in the arms, hands or fingers due to pinched nerves
9. Lower back pain

 Over time you could suffer more severe nerve trauma or even degenerative joint disease. Long term you can end up with and increased risk of Scoliosis which is  curvature of the spine; Kyphosis or hunchback in women with weak bones; painful osteoarthritis;  or full-blown degenerative joint disease in predisposed shoulders.

 Dr. Erickson, a specialist in the subject, explains that the reasons your heavy large purse causes all these nasty symptoms is because:

1.  Your natural gait is thrown off.  Your gait is the way your arms and legs swing when you walk naturally, and it's an important way to keep your body balanced. When you put a heavy handbag on one side of the body, the arm on that side can't swing properly and the other arm has to swing more.
2. Your muscles are off balance and you develop asymmetry in posture. Since all of the weight of your bag is on one shoulder, you're carrying an asymmetric load, which throws off your posture. Most people tend to carry purses on their side of dominance i.e., if you're right-handed, you'll hang it over your right shoulder. But this causes the muscles in your dominant shoulder, particularly the trapezius muscle, to become larger.
3.  A heavy asymmetric load causes muscles in your spine to compensate for the weight, which can cause the opposite side of the spine to go into spasm. This overcompensation can also affect your lower back and your sacrum (the bone at the base of the lower spine); the more asymmetric the load, the more everything below the shoulder has to work, and as a result, your muscles become stiff. 
4.  Carrying that heavy purse can cause the trapezius muscle, which sits on top of your shoulders, to spasm and therefore tighten, along with the muscles that go from your shoulder to the base of your neck causing a lot of stiffness in the upper back, the shoulder area and the neck. It can also cause a decreased curve in the neck, which is known as "military neck."
5.  People develop arthritis in their neck when it has been enforced to carry a heavy weight for a long period of time. The delicate muscles that help you carry your purse also assist with turning the head, making that action painful.
6. You get tension headaches from the muscles being forced to do all of this heavy lifting. When the muscles in your shoulder and neck area spasm, it can cause pain in the back of your skull that radiates around to the front.

 Carry your large purse safely

 It's not only the size and weight of your large purse that causes problems, but also where and how you carry it that can lead to aches and pains. Avoid injury by making these easy changes.

1. Alternate your bag from side to side: Carrying a bag on the same side all the time can overwork muscles and permanently affect your posture. To prevent this, switch sides every now and then, e.g. at every corner.
2. Carry your bag diagonally across your shoulder so your core trunk muscles carry more of the load. Sling your heavy bag across your body, and adjust the strap to minimize swing.
3. Do not raise your shoulder to prevent the bag from slipping because it will only tighten the muscles on that side. When bags are heavy you tend to scrunch up your shoulder to hold them in place and to stop your bag straps from falling off, That bad posture, over time, will create shoulder, neck, and upper back pain because muscles have to work extra hard.
4. Do not carry a heavy bag on the crook of your arm can lead to elbow injuries like tendinitis.  Limit strain by carrying two small bags instead of one heavy one or use a backpack.
5.  Keep a good posture and a strong core. By keeping your abs engaged (like you're buttoning up a tight pair of pants), your weight is centred over your feet.
6. Firm up with upper body exercises: You are more likely you experience pain is your upper-body muscles are weak or tight. Firm up with stretches and strength moves.
7. Don't text while carrying your purse. You may develop "military neck" due to the double-duty of texting and looking down that causes the curve in your neck to get lost and get flat. 
8. Wear sensible footwear. The combination of high heels and heavy bags is a recipe for disaster since heels cause you to tilt your pelvis forward and predispose you to back pain. If a heavy load is thrown into the mix, you have even more of a chance for chronic pain and irritating injury.

 Change the style of bag you carry

 If it is essential to carry a lot of items change the type of bag you use. A messenger bag, cross body bag or a backpack spread the load more evenly. If your load is very heavy consider using a trolley bag.

 Lifting any weight over 25 lbs has the potential to cause injury, especially if you're moving the object from a position below your knees to above your waist or if holding it in front of your body. If carrying a heavy load, you need to counterbalance to prevent the muscles from becoming overstretched.

 Choose the right style of bag for you which incorporates functionality; health and safety together with style and fashion. Some tips to consider:

1.  Select a bag with minimal hardware, a classic which is neat without all sorts of add-ons. Buckles, grommets, belts, and other embellishments add to the weight. A simpler style will naturally lighten your load.
2. Select a bag with a wider strap to disperse weight evenly. Straps that are at least 2 inches (5 cm) across are good. The thicker the better. A narrow strap concentrates the pressure of the bag on one spot, and can dig into the ligaments at the acromioclavicular joint, where your collar bone meets your shoulder blade causing irritation.
3. Or select bags with different straps so that you can alternate how you wear them. I.e. one which has handles that you can hold in your hand, as well as longer straps for cross-body wearing to better distribute the weight and give your shoulders intermittent breaks.
4. Select a bag that has straps that are correct for your body and adjust them so they are set up properly for you.  If the handbag is too short or high up, it's going to affect the way your arm can swing. But if a handbag is too long, it will affect the way your hips swing when you walk. You want to be able to swing your hips and your shoulders freely without being jolted by the bag.
5. elect a bag made in a lightweight fabric especially if you must have a large purse to carry your belongings. A nylon or cotton fabric is normally much lighter than leather, although butter-soft leathers can be quite light.
6.  Make certain the bag has various compartments to spread the weight evenly. Without compartments, all your stuff will collect in one spot in the bag, creating a painful load to carry.
7. Select a smaller sized bag. It's only logical: the bigger the bag the heavier it is and the more unwanted items you lug around.

 Carry less in your large purse

 Weigh your bag. If it is over 25 lbs it is too heavy. When full your large purse should not weigh more than 10% of your body weight. I.e. if you’re 90 lbs, your bag plus contents should not be more than 9 lbs.  In truth, some specialists say that the limit should be only 5% of your body weight. Evaluate what you really must take with you and be strict. Here are some tips to help you:

1. The weight of the bag itself. Different bags can weigh from less than a pound up to several pounds depending on the size, the material and hardware. Bags which weigh 8 to 10lbs may cause problems. Select a bag which appeals to you but has functionality and safety as well.
2. A wallet can a pound or more, so  remove unused cards, receipts and put coins in a jar.
3. Key chains can weigh 2 lbs or more, so remove any keys you don't need and use a lightweight key ring.
4. Coupons can add up to a pound or more. Toss out all expired coupons and upload current ones to your phone.
5. Makeup bags can weigh 2-3 pound or more. Only carry items you need to refresh your makeup while you are out.
6. Personal hygiene items also add weight. Take just what you need but don't be caught short.
7.  Documents soon add up to be quite hefty.  Be a planner and only carry what you need for the day.
8. Pens and pencils add weight so  select what you need and store the rest.
9. Laptops depending on the type can weight several pounds. Choose a light weight model for travel or use your I-pad.
10. Cell phones and I-pads can weigh several pounds

 Upper body exercises prevent pain

 If you have weak muscles in your upper body and core you are more likely to suffer pain when carrying a large purse which is too heavy. Strengthen your muscles with some simple exercises.  Note - if in pain see a doctor before starting these exercises.

1. Neck Rotation. Slowly circle head to the right, forward, and left; and then do it in reverse. Repeat 5 to 10 times.
2. Neck Stretch. Stand tall, with the right hand behind head near the left ear. Gently pull down toward right shoulder; hold 10 seconds. Repeat on other side.
3. Resistance Band Row. Place the left foot on a resistance band and put right foot back, whilst holding one handle with right hand. Slowly draw elbow up toward ribs. Hold for one count, and then lower. Repeat 12 to 15 times then switch sides.
4. Shoulder Roll. Stand tall with shoulders pressed down. Roll shoulders up, back, down, and forward in a circle 10 times, then repeat in the reverse direction.
5. Lateral Pull Down. Place centre of resistance band firmly in a closed doorway, and hold one end in each hand. Raise hands above head, and then pull elbows down to sides. Hold for one count, and then raise hands back to start. Repeat  12 to 15 times

 Other things that can help build your upper body strength  are stretching, yoga, pilates, light weights and other forms of exercise which ensure that your shoulders are equally strong and toned. It's also helpful to just try walking without a bag from time to time to restore your natural gait.

Choose Your Large Purse Safely at The Large Purse Shop

 Summary

 I recommend that you totally empty out your large purse and start again. Load up your bag with only your basic needs. Lessen the load and you will be shocked at what an improvement it makes to your general health. Ease the pain by decreasing the weight in your bag and you will avoid shoulder or back pain. If you have already done this but still have numbness or tingling in your hands, a decrease in grip strength, or increasing back pain, seek medical advice.

The Most Expensive Handbag In The World Is Worth $3.8m

The Guinness Book Of Records lists the most expensive handbag in the world for 2015, as the Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse. It is worth an astounding US $3.8 million. This remarkable evening bag has held the record as the world’s most expensive handbag for the preceding five years as well.

This amazingly expensive handbag is heart-shaped. It was fashioned in 18 carat gold, but its most incredible feature are the real precious stones which decorate it. There are 4,356 colorless diamonds, 105 yellow diamonds and 56 pink diamonds which cover it. This is a total of 4571 diamonds weighing a colossal 382 carats. 

This one of a kind work of art actually took 10 skilled craftsmen 8,800 hours to make. It was designed and manufactured by Mouawad which is a privately owned multi-national company that sells exquisite jewelry, objects of art, and luxury watches. The company, which was founded in 1891 in Lebanon, now has its headquarters in Geneva, with a Middle East headquarters in Duba genevai. It was founded by David Mouawad, and is now led by 4th generation family members Fred, Alain and Pascal Mouawad.

 Alain, Fred & Pascal Mouawad Source: Wikipedia

Mouawad also holds three other Guinness World Records:

1. 1.     The Mouawad L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace featuring the world’s largest internally flawless diamond, the Incomparable diamond which is 407.48 carats. This is the most valuable necklace in the world and worth $55 million
2. 2.     The Very Sexy Fantasy Bra worth $11 million. This is the most luxurious and costly piece of lingerie ever made.
3. 3.     The Mouawad Splendor worth $12.8 million. This is most costly single pear-shaped diamond in the world.

The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse speaks wealth and luxury. While diamonds are a girls' best friend, handbags are a girls' best companion. This most expensive bag offers the best of both worlds; friendship and companionship.

But this is not a bag the normal person could ever hope to own. And quite honestly you would be a bit anxious carrying it to the pub wouldn't you? There are   several other less expensive handbag styles you can select from to make a fashion statement for yourself. Make your next companion a tiny less bit more affordable by getting it from the Large Purse Shop. 

The worth of designer handbags has remained quite steady overtime, so a quality purse is a good investment. Take the  2014 Hermes Birkin crocodile skin handbag which recently became the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction at a price of over $220,000.  It certainly kept its value. But make sure you look after it well and store it properly. 

The Most Expensive Handbag In The World - Or NOT ?

  

I read recently in the Daily Mail UK that Christies Auction House in Hong Kong sold the most expensive handbag ever sold. The bag was a Hermes Birkin, in pink crocodile skin and was bought by an anonymous buyer at auction.  When the final hammer went down at 1.72 million Hong Kong dollars which is equivalent to UK £150,000, or US $228,480, it was reported to be the most expensive handbag ever sold.   However i think the Wall Street Journal has clarified the situation by reporting it is the most expensive handbag sold at auction.

The Daily Mail UK reported that the cost of this record setting Birkin bag broke the previous world record, set in 2011, for the world's most expensive handbag. The previous record holder, which was sold for £133,500 (USA $202,585) at auction, in the USA, was held by another Hermes Birkin, but in red crocodile skin. This probably also relates to the most expensive handbag sold at auction.

Because  this report conflicts with research I have completed. I believed that the world's most expensive handbag, as listed in the Guinness Book of Records, was the Mouawad’s 1001 Nights Diamond Purse which is worth an astounding US $3.8 million. I will discuss this super valuable bag in another blog. It is quite a different bag to the Birkin.

So did the Daily Mail get it wrong? It seems so. I think they meant to say the most expensive handbag sold at auction.  I will devote this blog to discussing the world's most expensive handbag as identified by the Daily Mail UK because it is a bag more appropriate for day to day wear.

But just to put it into perspective, you could buy an Aston Martin DB9 Volante with the same amount of money that this Birkin, a record making expensive handbag costs. Or even put a deposit on a house. But the Daily Mail also reported that Christies have another Birkin on their books, a sexy black leather number, which may sell for even more and beat this record price.

So what makes this expensive handbag so valued?

This astoundingly expensive handbag is a Birkin Bag designed by Hermes. It is made in bright fuchsia-pink luxury crocodile skin and features beautiful 18 karat gold detailing and is covered in genuine diamonds. The Birkin bag, which was first designed in 1984 by Hermes, a French fashion house, was named after the actress Jane Birkin, is seen as a fashion classic.

The story has it that the Birkin was created after the Hermes CEO, Jean Louis Dumas, sat next to Jane Birkin on a Paris to London flight. The actress expressed her frustration about the difficulty in finding a leather weekend bag.  She outlined what her ideal bag would be like. Soon after, the bag she described was born as the Birkin. Hermés now count many of the world's wealthiest women as fans.

The Hermes brand is famous for its extravagant leather accessories and the Birkin has become one of the most sought-after handbags of all time. The Birkin Bag is known for having a price tag in the thousands of dollars. There is a waiting list for a Birkin which can be several years long.  Hermes is eminent for its perfect finish and the best quality materials used.  Hermès never uses  assembly lines with but uses one crafts-person to make each bag at a time, hand-stitching each piece to create the immaculately finished product.

Unfortunately the high-end luggage and accessories produced by Hermés isn't really within every fashionista's price range.  A Hermes Birkin bag can have a price tag of upwards of £8,000 (USA$ 12185).  But while a Birkin bag may be worth as much as a small car, it is seen by the fashion industry as an 'investment' piece – an expensive handbag yes, but one that will remain in style for years, if not decades. And at the same time go up in value. The Birkin has proof of this - waiting lists of up to three years and the highest two sales records for the "most expensive bag" being attributed to a Hermes Birkin bag.

We don't know the identity of the new owner of this most expensive handbag, but we do recognize that both Kim Kardashian and Heidi Klum are the proud owners of pink Hermes Birkin bags which are similar to the record breaking one described here. Don't they look really great and make such a bold statement? They certainly stand out.

Victoria Beckham is reported to owning as many as 100 bags, which together are estimated to be worth £1,500,000 (USA $2,284,800). Khloe Kardashian has one in just about every color of the rainbow. Recently she showed off her latest acquisition which features the Monopoly mascot on the front, holding a large bag of money, surrounded by paper bills with the sides splattered with orange, pink and dark red dots of paint. 

I am not convinced that the pink Birkin bag reported in the Daily Mail UK is the most expensive handbag in the world, but do believe that the Wall St Journal report is correct - it is the most expensive handbag sold at auction.  Check out my next blog when I disclose ten bags which may be more valuable than this record setting expensive handbag reported by the Daily Mail UK.

I you want a great new bag but simply cannot afford a very expensive bag then check out the great bags on my site at the Large Purse Shop.

Some Luxury Handbag Retailers Have Cut Costs and Reduced Discounts

The Business of Fashion has reported that some luxury handbag retailers have cut costs and reduced discounts in order to cope with slow-moving sales. But the outcome has been good with some companies such as Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Coach    all topping analysts’ earnings estimates for the past quarter. To protect their brands and margins, these companies have reduced discounts, added new products as well as slashing costs.

Michael Kors Chief Executive Officer John Idol reports that growth of the once hot luxury handbag segment in North America has slowed to low single digits but that young customers are still buying handbags and leather goods, but styles have shifted to lower-priced large wallets and small cross-body bags.

“There’s been this myth that no one is buying a luxury handbag anymore, but really it’s a change in trend away from the big totes everyone was buying a few years ago to smaller bags that don’t cost as much,” said Dorothy Lakner, a New York-based analyst at Topeka Capital Markets.

Because the number of people looking for a luxury handbag at North American department stores is reduced and subsequent sales are low, there were higher levels of leftover Kate Spade, Coach and Michael Kors handbags that needed to be sold off at discounted prices to make way for newer goods.

“You have to make products scarcer and have less inventory left over at the end of the year so you can get full price,” Lakner said. “Michael Kors is really pulling back on inventory in the department store channel. Similarly, Coach is reducing the number of discount events.

Luxury handbag sales have been boosted by international expansion but a strong U.S. dollar has hurt tourism sales domestically and taken a bite out of profits earned abroad. “You have to focus on newness in products and keep inventories tight,” Lakner said.

Even after a restructuring, Kate Spade’s luxury handbag sales still make up about 70 percent of its revenue, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Since 2013, the New York-based company has sold the Lucky and Juicy Couture brands and streamlined its corporate operations. In 2014, it began a complete overhaul of management with renewed focus on e-commerce, which now accounts for 20 percent of luxury handbag sales. The retailer is also expanding into home goods, rolling out a 325-piece home-furnishings category last month.

The move to streamline expenses may be paying off. While Kate Spade’s $275 million in net sales in the third quarter fell short of the $281.2 million analysts expected, the company recorded profit excluding some items of 6 cents a share, topping the 4 cents analysts forecast.

Michael Kors posted profit in the second quarter through Sept. 26 of $1.01 a share. That topped the 89 cents a share analysts predicted. Still, the London-based company forecast third-quarter revenue of $1.33 billion to $1.35 billion, falling short of the $1.4 billion analysts projected.

Results were similar at Coach, which said last week that profit excluding some items last quarter was 41 cents a share, exceeding analysts’ estimates by a penny. The New York-based retailer posted sales of $1.03 billion, missing analysts’ projections of $1.04 billion.

While all three companies say they’re pulling back on discounts, they’re also looking to categories other than luxury handbag sales to drive growth. Coach agreed to buy designer shoe brand Stuart Weitzman in January for $574 million to diversify its selection. It also hosted its first women’s runway fashion show this fall. Kate Spade introduced a home goods line last month, while Michael Kors is expanding its licensing agreements into watches, accessories and eye wear.

The luxury handbag makers could follow the example of how fellow luxury handbag retailer used restructuring and cost-cutting to boost performance. One of the original lifestyle companies, Ralph Lauren, announced a restructuring effort in May that will save $110 million annually when it’s completed in 2017.

Increased efficiency helped Ralph Lauren post earnings last quarter of $2.13 a share, excluding some items. That surpassed the $1.73 a share analysts had estimated. Still, comparable sales declined 6 percent, Ralph Lauren said in a statement Thursday. That’s more than the 3.8 percent decrease analysts had forecast.

But you don't have to own an expensive luxury handbag – there are bags available that look more expensive than they are. If you have champagne taste but not the budget to match, The Large Purse Shop has a range of affordable bags which manage to look like a luxury handbag and look like they cost way more than what they actually do. They'll all make you look like a million bucks for two to three figures. We're especially fond of Italian leather; isn't it lovely?

Gucci Brand Is One Of The Top Three

According to an article in the BOF, Gucci is one of the strongest brands in the world. It says that in unprompted brand recognition survey, where consumers are asked which luxury brands they like to buy, Gucci regularly is in the top three.

However recently, the Gucci brand has been at risk of losing its strong brand position and has been suffering from a decline in sales. Its weakened status as a fashion authority is due to two factors; (1) competition in the luxury market is growing and (2) Gucci has been lacking fresh creative content. Former creative director Frida Giannini was a master at maintaining and even reviving former Gucci icons but she did little to produce a plan for future icons.

It is obvious that to stay relevant, a brand must bring new ideas and styles to marketplace. And that is exactly what new creative director Alessandro Michele is doing for Gucci.  The second quarter of 2015 saw sales rise by 4.6% beating all expectations.

One problem Gucci has is that its entry-level handbag priced at around $600 to 700 seems to have lost its ‘oomph’ factor. Ill-advisedly Gucci seems to view its logos as a stigma and only uses the logo on bags with lower price points. But Louis Vuitton’s logo-heavy luxury products show that this is not what the consumer wants. Consumers at all levels want their branded bags to be recognizable.

So where does this leave Gucci today? Gucci’s third quarter results, released today, show only a modest growth. Yet, it still seems to be a bit ahead of its brand competitors. It is anticipated that Michele's influence will improve both organic growth and financial performance as early as next spring.

However while it is anticipated that Gucci’s sales will recover quickly, its profitability may take a little longer. This is because fixing the Gucci brand image will cost. Gucci needs to fix disparities in pricing across regions, the brand’s retail network in China more needs to be spent on communications to support Michele’s new creative vision.

But overall the Gucci brand looks like it has a better future and Gucci handbags will remain popular with consumers. Check Out Some Authentic Gucci Products At Discount Prices 

Large Purses Impress

For generations the handbag has been used to demonstrate signs of wealth and many women these days crave the labelled brands as an indicator of status. Large purses first came into popularity in the early 1900's and the term handbag was initially used to refer to hand-held luggage most often carried by men. At this time it was considered lady-like to carry as little as possible and a small bag was typical. In fact, it is noted that Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the first women to start the trend of carrying large purses which was not really typical of the time. Since that time large purses have impressed.

www.largepurseshop.com

Women and men are advised to invest as much money as they can in a good quality leather handbag. This is because quality leather especially Italian leather,  lasts a long time and always looks good.  Well made large purses can hide the fact that maybe your clothes are not as well-made or fashionable. A good handbag has become a sign of good breeding. Designer large purses are a good way to exhibit both wealth and good taste. Large purses also reflect women's climb up the corporate ladder. In the 80's, as women began “power dressing” in shorter skirts, sharply tailored suits and killer heels, their handbags soon followed suit becoming bigger and flashier.

Today the size of the typical handbag has increased to meet the need of the modern women on the go. Nowadays our large purses carry our keys, our phones, our I-pads, our make-up, our personal items, our books, our umbrellas and much, much more.  Essentially, our large purses carry our lives.

Large purses are designed to hold all your daily necessities, so you can say so long to cramming your belongings inside. Streamline your style with plentiful pockets and card slots! Add a wallet to store your coins, notes and card. Large purses provides organization for convenient weekend getaways, overnight stays, business, college, and everyday use.  Large purses are great for both men's handbags and women's handbags alike.

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