Handbags

Innovo Group Inc.

Jaclyn, Inc.

Guide to Handbags

Find wholesale handbags and avoid legal troubles with designer knockoffs
By Frances Burks

If you're looking to tap into profits from bulk purses and handbags, there are plenty of wholesale sources to get you started, and many require a low minimum order, which can prevent you from getting stuck with loads of handbags that don't sell. However, avoid peddling designer knockoffs and counterfeit handbags, which can subject you to criminal penalties.

As you examine the market, consider these points:

1. High-end, wholesale designer handbags are desirable and get a good amount of media coverage, especially if celebrities own them. However, the majority of women can't or won't pay several hundred to several thousand dollars for such handbags.

2. Style, form and function can take precedence over brand names for many consumers. Some women may simply be looking for appealing styles in satchels, hobo bags, messenger bags and totes to efficiently accommodate the gadgets and other items they need to carry.

3. While a consumer who buys a knockoff designer handbag may not face legal troubles, vulnerability to legal consequences is higher for people found selling counterfeit products. The seller of fake bulk handbags can be subject to state and federal penalties, including fines and prison terms.

4. Some sellers of wholesale handbags offer what they call fashion handbags "inspired by" certain designers. However, anti-counterfeiters in the industry consider it copyright infringement if a product can be mistaken for something it isn't, even among bulk handbags.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find legal purse distributors and wholesale purses Some sellers of wholesale handbags are proactive in preventing the sale of counterfeit products. Such handbags wholesalers' ads often emphasize that their designer products are genuine. Question handbag wholesalers about their products; those carrying legal merchandise should have no problem answering questions about the origin of their handbags.

I recommend:  Go Wholesale lists many handbag and purse wholesalers. However, be aware that some "designer inspired" bags are listed among the merchandise here, which could present legal problems. Ceri International displays a Better Business Bureau logo on its website, and ultimately can be checked out with the BBB. According to Ceri, the company has an AA rating. Look for quality wholesale purses from genuine wholesale distributors that require a minimum purchase. ShopForBags sells bulk purses and handbags for as low as $3.95 apiece, with a minimum $100 order. Handbagshopping.com offers wholesale purses with a minimum $150 order.

Get help spotting counterfeit handbags Counterfeited items have become such a problem that entire organizations and company departments devote time solely to deterring counterfeiting, even by handbag manufacturers. Some organizations may even develop training for officials to help them spot knockoff mechandise.

I recommend:  The International Anticounterfeiting Coalition counterfeit gallery has examples of fake designer handbags and notes the consequences of buying such products. LegalMatch offers a searchable database to find a lawyer who can handle counterfeit handbag cases.

Know the characteristics of genuine designer handbags Purse and handbag designers have taken various steps to distinguish their products from knockoffs. They've built unique features into their manufacturing processes to set their bags apart from fakes.

I recommend:  Kate Spade provides specific details on the characteristics of the company's authentic handbags. For example, the company says a label that is sewn onto the front of the bag is one indication of a genuine Kate Spade handbag. Coach handbags have registration numbers, and the company offers a venue for reporting Coach counterfeits. Dooney & Bourke handbags also carry a registration number, which should be printed on an item's guarantee card.

Find out what consumers are saying about handbags, handbag designers and handbag manufacturers Keeping abreast of fashion and consumer trends will contribute to your success when selling handbags. Besides looking at what's popular in fashion magazines, get ideas of what handbag consumers want by watching your competitors' sales.

I recommend:  eBags, which offers customer reviews throughout the site and information on up-and-coming designers. Handbags.com also includes customer reviews on its site as well as information on handbag trends.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Genuine designer handbags will be made of quality materials, be assembled with even stitches and may have the designer's name or logo printed on the interior lining. Leather handbags often have the designer's name or logo branded on the interior or exterior.
• High-end bulk purses and handbags offered at extremely low prices are typically fakes.