Designer Handbags Are Seen As A Status Symbol In China.

When I owned a café in the QVB in Sydney, it was located directly opposite the Coach store. During the Boxing Day sales there was always a line up outside the shop, similar to this image. Customers waiting eagerly to get their hands on bargain designer handbags.  I have to say that at least 80% of these potential customers were of Chinese decent. Coach is actually the 4th most popular brand of designer handbags in China in term of sales.

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Any luxury retailer will now tell you that their most valuable customers are from China. The post 2008 years have not been the easiest for luxury brands, but China's addiction to luxury goods has made up for the slowing down of European sales. Most of the Chinese population have only just recently started making enough money to survive and to splurge on luxury items was once unheard of. However, the new Chinese middle class has grown enormously over the past couple of decades and the number of millionaires is soaring.

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The Chinese people now seek social-status signals such as branded goods, luxury items and designer handbags.  Travel abroad is high on many of the people's wish-lists, but for about 80% of Chinese travellers, shopping is a crucial part of their travel plans. They are happy to spend hours of valuable tourist time queuing for expensive bags and other luxury items. In Britain, alone, it is reported that they spend nearly £1,700 ($2,800) per person per trip which is three times the market average. And much of it is spent on retail shopping -  Chinese tourists have no problem buying Prada designer handbags by day but sleeping in two-star hotels by night.

The main reason why the Chinese prefer to buy abroad is price. China has heavy import tariffs and consumption taxes, as well as higher pricing strategies. This can increase the prices of luxury goods in China by 50%. According to LVMH, a French luxury conglomerate, a Louis Vuitton handbag costs 30% more in Beijing than in Paris.

The second major reason that the Chinese prefer European or American stores over their own is the guarantee of authenticity.   They feel more secure that they are not buying fakes. Many Chinese consumers prefer buying products from outside their home country because they're seen as less likely to be counterfeit. And they're not bothered by the two- to three-week delivery time if they buy on-line. In fact, they like the wait because it provides some confirmation the goods really are from overseas.

The Chinese also shop abroad for the “experience” and the stories they can tell afterwards.  Bragging rights are a crucial reason to buy abroad. Chinese people love to show that they have been abroad, so a “Made in Italy” is much more of a status symbol than “Made in China”. Bragging also takes the form of giving expensive luxury goods as presents. Successful men and women simply cannot return home without a sizable excess-luggage bill!

 The Chinese people have a huge demand for luxury goods and the lure of luxury brands is very strong. And it is not just Chinese women who are addicted. Chinese men also love their designer handbags and are in are in hot pursuit of top brand-name bags like Gucci, Hermes, Burberry, Prada, Coach, Louis Vuitton. In fact, men are said to account for 45% of China's $1.2 bn luxury handbag market.  They serve as status symbols, 

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China is now the world's second-biggest economy, and it’s 1.36 billion people are the biggest market for everything from cars to shoes to smartphones and especially for designer handbags. In recent years there has been a huge change in the Chinese market. China is now full of globalized shoppers who took more than 100 million trips out of the mainland last year.  

In fact, in 2013, Chinese people bought an estimated 47% of the world's luxury goods, and mainly in countries, located nearby. By some estimates, more than half of the world’s luxury spending will come from Chinese pockets this year. The Chinese taxman, however, is missing out because nearly 33% of luxury products bought by Chinese are purchased outside the country. And the silly thing is that most of these products are actually made in China.

And the boon is not just the Chinese spending so much on luxury goods abroad. They are also spending online. China has over taken the U.S. to become the number one e-commerce market. Its middle class buys a wide range of products online ranging from baby formula, health foods, vitamins, milk powder, skin care products, Purina for their dogs and as well they splurge luxury items such as designer handbags. China's consumers have gotten savvier and are now looking to buy top quality brands.

In short, the Chinese market is now a more mature market with the new middle class having a lot of disposable income at their fingertips. Of course the huge multinationals have loved the size of this market and have profited from it. 

However, China's boom years symbolized by double digit growth could not continue forever.  The Chinese economy has definitely slowed down over the past year and this has affected the luxury market to a certain degree. There has also been an official crackdown on corruption and lavish gifting which has affected the luxury market. No longer will you see plane-loads full of $800 bottles of wine.  But the new Chinese middle classes still see luxury goods as a way to show they have made it and brand names such as Dior and Rolex remain popular search terms on Chinese blogging sites. The Chinese shopping-spree looks set to continue, and China's Ministry of Commerce expects China’s lucrative cross-border trade to become a US$1 trillion market this year.

 The psychology behind why the Chinese love luxury items so much is possibly linked more to aspiration and the images of wealth, sophistication and civility that brands from fashion-houses like LVMH represent. French and Italian fashion-houses permit the Chinese customers to enter into a world of elegance and opulence, allowing them to escape from grimy city-life, smog and poverty

  

The Chinese President, Xi Jinping, has adopted a phrase for what's happening: the "new normal.

In some cases, of course, China's government has put a chill on foreign businesses. It built a Great Firewall that blocks most people in the mainland from accessing Facebook, Twitter and Google search, allowing local internet companies to thrive. And now local brands are making gains as their quality and marketing improves.

 The growth in online retailing into China has been a boon for countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the USA. But if you intend to export to china make sure you pass through official - "sunshine" - channels into China, rather than the murky so-called grey channels, often via Hong Kong, that are sometimes used. Supportive policies from the Chinese Government are helping stoke growth in cross border e-commerce, providing ways to avoid the dubious grey channels through Hong Kong.

When I was in Guangzhou just over a year ago, the brand stores were not flamboyantly displayed, but were found among the regular market stores The majority of stores sold cheap China made goods. When I did decide to but one of the designer handbags on sale, the merchant got out his calculator are started tapping away. He came up with a price more expensive than if I had purchased the same bag in Sydney, and no proof it was authentic.  Better to buy your designer  handbags online at www.largepurseshop.com

Did Your Boyfriend Spoil You This Valentine’s Day?

We all think of Valentine’s day as a time when our boyfriends or our lovers give us diamonds, flowers and chocolates. Well we all live in hope anyway. But many of us miss out and feel let down and get nothing! Is romance is dead for us?  But then again why has Valentine’s day become so associated with commerce particularly in the western world? When I owned my café in the QVB, the flower shop next to us were frenziedly busy on that day with flowers lined up the isles waiting for some starry-eyed lover to claim them for his girlfriend.

Valentine's Day is also known Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine which has only recently been celebrated as the day of love. In some countries is an annual holiday celebrated on February 14^th. But in point of fact, it originated as a western Christian liturgical feast day honouring early saints named Valentinus or (Valentine). In fact, several early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. Two significant martyrs linked with February 14^th are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae).

Saint Valentine’s day did not really have any romantic implications until the 14th century which was a time when the tradition of courtly love prospered. Under the inspiration of Chaucer’s poetry about "Valentines" romance began to be associated with this day. Chaucer wrote the first recorded connotation of Valentine's Day with romantic love in “Parlement of Foules” (1382) which when understood says: "For this was on St. Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate." This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard the II of England to Anne of Bohemia.

But it wasn’t until the 18^th century, in England, that Valentine’s day developed into an event where lovers revealed their love for each other by exchanging gifts.  This introduced commerce into Valentine’s day, pretty much the same as Xmas day and Easter. It was at this moment in time that lovers began to give flowers, chocolates and sweets, and the custom of giving valentine cards started. In the beginning the cards were handwritten, but since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

The custom of signing cards with the phrase “your Valentine” is believed to date back to the legend of Saint Valentine of Rome. He was imprisoned for carrying out weddings for soldiers who were prohibited from marrying and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under roman rule.  The legend has it that while he was imprisoned, St Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius, and before his execution, he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a parting.

St Valentine’s day is still celebrated by various Christian denominations. It is a feast day celebrated by the Anglican church and the Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox church celebrate St Valentine’s day but in July. It is also accepted as a important cultural celebration in many areas around the world, and now also seen as a commercial occasion by many.

There is also a suggestion that Valentine’s day was celebrated as the advent of spring and the fertility associated with it. In Ancient Rome, the festival of Lupercalia was celebrated between February 13–15, and was an ancient rite linked to fertility. There is some belief that the men and women in Lupercalia drew names from a jar to make couples, and anonymity associated with modern Valentine's letters originated from this custom. In Slovenia there is a proverb which says that "Saint Valentine’s day brings the keys of roots". Plants and flowers begin to grow on this day and birds begin to mate, which is probably why the giving of flower is so treasured even in these modern times.

In Europe, valentine keys are given to lovers as a romantic symbol and as an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart. Other symbols related with Valentine's day include heart shaped products, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.  

Valentine poetry and verses have been written since the 15^th century and even Shakespeare spoke of it in Hamlet (1600-1601) when Ophelia sorrowfully said:

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.

— William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5

The modern Valentine's Day poem can be found in the collection of English nursery rhymes Gammer Gurton's Garland (1784):

The rose is red, the violet's blue,

The honey's sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,

And Fortune said it shou'd be you

In 1797, a British publisher issued The Young Man's Valentine Writer,  where sentimental verses were written for the young lover unable to compose his own. This was the commencement of the commercialisation of cards and by the early 19^th century, paper Valentine’s day cards made with lace and ribbons, had become so popular in England, that they were assembled in factories.

Valentine’s day customs have now spread worldwide and it is probable that about £1.5 billion is spent in the UK alone on flowers, chocolates and cards each year. In the US Valentine's day sales hit a new record in 2016, with people showering attention on their loved ones. They spent much more than the previous year. In 2016, Valentine's Day is likely to contribute $19.7 billion to the economy, according to the National Retail Federation. That's even better than last year's record of $18.9 billion. In 2014, only $17.3 billion was spent, which was even lower than the $18.6 billion spent in 2013.

More than half of the US residents celebrated Valentine’s day this year. This is comparable to 2015 but lower than the previous record of 60% in 2013. That means less people are partaking, but they are each spending more. Those who celebrated spent around $150 each. And as usual, men spend nearly twice as much as women: Around $200 per guy vs $100 per gal.

Young people, who are still trying to court potential lovers, participate more than older, more established people. Almost 70% of those between 25-34, and 60% of those between 18-24 will give on Valentine’s day. While less than half of those between 55-64 will celebrate it, and only 45% of those 65 and older.

It is interesting to note that more people give less expensive gifts, believing that it's the thought that counts. The top five gifts sent on Valentine/s day are candy/chocolates, greeting cards (often anomalously sent), dinner out, flowers, jewellery. I myself was spoilt with a massage which was great.

This year more shoppers went to department stores (35%) than discount stores (31%). Nearly 20% will go to greeting card stores or florists while only 11% will go to jewellers. But more and more Valentine’s day shoppers are now buying online each year. In 2016, nearly 28% shopped online, compared to 25% in 2015 and 16% in 2014. The use of mobile phones for online shopping is also on the rise with 7 out of 10 people shopping on their mobile devices sharing the love as they run.

So did your lover, boyfriend, partner, husband or the boy next door spoil you this Valentine’s day? If not, tell him to make up for it with a new handbag and send him to www.largepurseshop.com. A racy Italian made purse is a definite sign of true love and lasts a lot longer than chocolates or flowers.

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Consider These 10 Tips When Choosing A Large Purse.

Celebrities are mad about a large purse. Indeed, the bigger the better. Celebrities want to be see with them and photographed with them, whether just out and about or going to the gym. In my opinion, it would make me edgy to bring a bag worth thousands of dollars to the gym and leave it out of my sight, but I am certain these elite fitness studios have luxury lockers to accommodate their patrons’ luxury items. Big bags are getting bigger and better They can be used for daytime wear, for travelling or for going to the gym. They are very versatile and can be used for several purposes.

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But then I believe that many celebrities are given designer bags for free or for publicity purposes. It is a low-cost way for fashion designers and high-brands to get informal exposure when the paparazzi takes pictures of the stars for magazines. These images usually end up on social media and quickly go viral - the large purse sported by the celeb is all of a sudden the new fashion icon of the time.

Social media is the new driving force behind exposure for brand-names, and the trend to carry a large purse is catching on and the typical consumer is now also fixated about them. Fashionista’s want to be seen carrying the same bag as their favorite celebrity. There are a few things that you should consider if you want to buy a large purse, and I thought I would share these ten tips with you.

1. Ensure the material it is made from is durable enough for carrying on a regular basis so that it will stand up to any hard knocks etc. Look out for bags with sequences or little beads or pieces that can fall off easily. 
2. Look for water resistant material which will protect your stuff from the rain, and will not watermark if the fabric gets wet. 
3. Pick a color that goes with most of your outfits. If the color is too flamboyant it could clash with all or some of your clothes.
4. Quality is a significant issue to think about when ordering a large purse to carry around. Check out the stitch work, fabric and pockets to ensure that it is durable and will not fall apart after just a few outings. Ensure it is not a fake!!
5. Check that there is room inside the bag to fit everything you need to carry. The outside of a large purse can be deceiving and not big enough inside. Some practices designers use to make the bag look bigger is pockets and pouches, the less of these attachments the better.
6. Check that the inside is well designed with dividers and pockets so that you can organize your belongings easily. 
7. Ensure that the weight of the bag is not too heavy for you. If it is too heavy, it could cause injury to your back or neck.
8.  Ensure that large purse is in proportion with your body size. Petite woman should not carry a large purse which is too big and too heavy for them. It may be tempting to get into the fashion of carrying a large purse but truly how big is too big? I for one think that over-sized purses do not look good on petite woman. They look out of proportion with the rest of your body. 
9. Make certain the bag is value for money – it is sometimes preferable to get a quality leather handbag from an up and coming new designer than to buy a low-end  bag from a luxury top brand. 
10. Select a handbag appropriate for the event. A large purse is not the best choice for every occasion. They are perfect for day wear, business, for travelling, and for the gym, but may not be right for evening wear, the races or for going to a wedding.

Fashion and style is to some degree the realm of pop-stars and celebrities. If you are a follower of celebrities you will notice that the current trend is to carry a big, a really big large purse. But do you actually need one so big? Pick wisely and do not get trapped in the fever. Resolve what you truly need to carry around with you – cell-phone, computer, extra pair of shoes, extra clothing, make-up, personal items, water bottle, snacks or even a baby!?

But be sensible. The more you carry the heavier your large purse will become and the more at risk you are of causing yourself an injury. It comes down to what you actually need to have with you at all times. Remember that not all fashion trends will work for everyone.

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