Making the Most of Handbags

Use a wide selection of purses to satisfy customers and boost your bottom line

Even if your handbag sales are brisk, increasing your selection of bulk purses and handbags can also increase your profits. Whether you’re stocking designer purses or fashion styles like satchels, hobo bags or totes, you should discover ways to get them for less, while ensuring that they’re not high-end knockoffs.

Your female customers strive to look their best while not breaking the bank on their fashion accessories. When making the most of handbags in your inventory, consider the following ways to increase your profits, while protecting your reputation as a reputable retailer at the same time:

1. Discover purse wholesalers to provide a variety of styles to reach diverse customers from budget-conscious pre-teens to fashion-conscious designer label lovers.

2. Reduce returns and protect yourself from legal action by taking steps against counterfeiting if you sell designer handbags.

3. Add other accessories to your inventory—like decorative scarves, wallets and cell phone holders—that you can match with your purses and market alongside your handbags.

 

Find new sources for bulk handbags and wholesale designer handbags to attract new customers

Evaluate your demographic and customer requests to find ways to expand your selection of wholesale handbags. Stocking purse styles for work, play and formal occasions can generate multiple sales from each individual customer. If your customers frequently shop with their children and pre-teens, for example, offer styles geared toward kids to encourage additional sales. You may discover untapped profits just by continually making the most of handbags in your inventory.
Try: Whether you want to stock backpack style purses, clutches, totes, hobos or evening bags, HandbagShopping.com has the styles for your store, including many that might appeal to teens and pre-teens. Look for items in everything from fur to metals to beaded styles. Use the online catalog at ShopForBags to find fashion bags in materials like silk, snakeskin and leather or those with imprinted or embroidered designs. The site also offers purses for the kids’ market.

Work with handbag manufacturers to ensure you're selling authentic designer bags

If the pricing on an order of designer bulk satchels, hobos and totes seems too good to be true, it just might be. With the popularity of designer handbags, some purse distributors have profited by peddling convincing knockoffs. Reputable purse manufacturers will work with you to spot and eliminate sources of counterfeits since they cut into their bottom line and their reputation, as well.
Try: The International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition provides a “Counterfeit Gallery,” anti-counterfeiting links and resources to help you spot knockoffs. Always talk to official company representatives before ordering designers bags from a distributor or wholesaler. For example, Kate Spade offers tips on recognizing an authentic bag and provides a form to report fraud. Coach also offers a hotline to discuss possible counterfeits or report a bag you’ve received without the authentic registration number.

Expand your inventory with accessories to sell alongside your handbags

When ordering wholesale purses, study the catalog to find additional items to add to your store shelves. Stylish consumers may want to embellish plain purses with scarves to coordinate with specific outfits, have a matching wallet or buy a cute makeup bag to fit inside their tote. You can potentially increase profits on your handbags, simply by placing coordinating products next to one another to encourage mixing and matching.
Try: S.W. Trading offers wholesale wallets in fashion prints, basic black and imprinted with pop culture motifs. The site also stocks cell phone accessories, key rings and scarves that customers can use to spruce up handbags. Amazing Wholesale Scarves sells silk neckerchiefs and hair scarves perfect for adorning the straps of a hobo bag or tote.

 

• Attend industry trade shows whenever possible to check out the marketing strategies and displays that companies use to showcase their handbags. Use these ideas as jumping off points when designing your own seasonal, in-store set ups or photo shoots for online marketing.

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