The holiday season has come and gone and many retailers are wondering how they can bring huge business into stores during the beginning of 2012. All over the world – especially in Vietnam – handbag sales went up in the last quarter of 2011, showing the extreme potential that this fashion product has for store owners. As you consider choosing a line of wholesale handbags for your shop in 2012, you should think about other fashion items as well.

Consider the success that major brand-name stores have had shifting handbag buyers’ eyes from favorite western-style handbags over to other items like apparel and accessories. An article in Bloomberg discusses how huge department stores are creating “reasons” for shoppers to buy clothing:

“U.S. department stores are leading the charge [to change marketing], with Saks Inc. (SKS), Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) and Macy’s Inc. (M) improving in-house clothing lines and refurbishing women’s departments. The retailers are counting on women to spend more overall and not simply shift their dollars away from higher-margin purses and footwear…”

The article does admit that handbags are not only big sellers, but bring in the big money as well. However, women are still spending more of their money on clothes, but overall purchases have been leaning towards accessories over the last few years. The difference is a little under 3-to-1 ratio:

“Women’s apparel sales amounted to $108 billion in the 12 months ended in September, according to NPD Group Inc. Women bought $22.5 billion of footwear and $5.7 billion of handbags, the Port Washington, New York-based firm said.”

Store owners need to look at their current offerings and adjust to fit demand for western style accessories versus western style clothing. By using what the biggest department stores have recently discovered, you can leverage your sales of both accessories and clothing to benefit your bottom line. Whether you use your full price handbags to sell discounted clothing or vice versa, make sure you have enough supply to support your offerings!

Keeping It Simple – Even the most basic black dress can become a showcase for your fashion when you add a number of accessories. For one, your handbag is a major feature of your outfit when you stick with a black dress. Choose a western handbag that features a number of glittery elements, which fit right in with the outrageously bright and sparkly holiday decorations. A great example is a western style wallet with a rhinestone cross, which will add a bright spot to your demure outfit.

On Top – Layers are essential during the holiday season, even if you live in warm parts of the world. By adding on top of the normal outfits you normally wear, you can build in a holiday element to your existing wardrobe. This can take the shape of  tights with holiday patterns and even hosiery with colors reflecting the type of party you are attending.

Embrace the Cold – If you do happen to live in a frosty area, you need to accept scarves and gloves as more than just a way to stay warm. Mix and match your winter clothing with your outfits to express the holiday spirit when you are window shopping or visit holiday sites with your family. Don’t forget about your western style knit hats as well!

Luckily for you western style fans, Best Handbag Wholesale carries a number of western fashion accessories that will add a major boost to your cowboy look! Here are some of the choices:

Rhinestone Cell Phone Holders – This is the perfect addition to a western style outfit for the woman who wants to be connected, but protect her phone at the same time. By adding a rhinestone cell phone holder to your outfit, you will match your western style handbag and whatever clothing you have chosen. Best Handbag Wholesale’s cell phone holders will hold most smartphones, including the ever-popular iPhone. Carry your phone in style with genuine crystals and large rhinestone decorations.

Western Buckle Sets – If you’re like me, you probably love your belt, especially if you’ve been wearing it for a while. It’s comfortable and provides a purpose. However, the buckle on mine has always bothered me. It’s so plain! The best way to remedy that situation is with a western buckle set, which will easily add some major flair to your waistline. BHW’s buckle sets are made with genuine rhinestones and fit on all 1.5 inch belt straps.

Rhinstone Dog Collars – You don’t want to leave out your pet pooch from the western style frenzy! BBW has a large selection of dog collars for the pet that has everything, including a fashionable owner! The entire collar is decorated with western star ornaments and rhinestones – a great value and stylish? That’s a perfect combination.

- The Daytime Clutch – One particularly popular style that wholesale handbag distributors should get ready for is the daytime clutch, which is essentially a large clutch that can actually hold more than a cell phone and some mascara. This trend will take over the market – with the cost of things rising – usability is huge in the handbag market right now.

- Loud Colors – It would seem that 2011’s ‘black is the new black’ trend is done, done, done. We are looking at some bright colors in the upcoming year. Expect a lot of yellows and every shade of orange you can imagine. In 2012, citrus colors are the new black.

- Blocking Out – Speaking of color trends, the way that you will see colors used in designs is about to get retrofitted to modern styles. Designers are taking those bright yellows and oranges and putting them with neutral colors in block format. Without actually “mixing” the colors like paint, you get the contrast with a new color palette not seen before…all in one bag.

- Carrying Boxes and Bowlers – Finally, the last big handbag trend of 2011 will seemingly be two more types of bags – box bags and bowlers. I recommend that handbag distributors hold off on the bowlers at the moment and look at getting their hands on box bags. Every celeb will have one hanging off their shoulders.

As a story from Reuters says, despite the overall slump in economic prosperity, many are still buying luxury handbags from top of the line French designers:

“French luxury goods maker Hermes sees no sign yet of affluent buyers tightening their purse strings in spite of a somber global economic outlook, the head of the brand said on Sunday at Paris Fashion Week. The luxury goods industry continues to grow at a solid pace thanks to tourist buyers in Europe and strong appetite in emerging markets, while more affordable products such as L’Oreal and Clarins cosmetics have felt a slowdown.”

At prices of 10,000 Euros for some of its handbags, Hermes indicates that this trend of sales is true of not only other big name designers, but also those in the western handbag business. This news comes as unexpected to many, especially since analysts expected the Asian markets (which are crucial to the growth of fashion houses) to be light on spending for fashion accessories. This was the same for other brands outside of Hermes:

“Like other big luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Dior, which are part of LVMH, and Chanel, Hermes makes the bulk of its sales from leather goods and holds a show for its ready-to-wear collection at Paris Fashion Week twice a year.”

What do you think? Are you still buying western style handbags in this economy? How soon after a new bag is released do you go out of get it?

Leather – The fabric of the fall is definitely going to be faux leather, if the looks on red carpets are any indicator. With the leather western handbags showing up on the arms of many celebrities and on runway models, it looks like designers are focusing on this style as well. Pair leather purses with other leather accessories like wholesale belts for a fully encompassing style for your outfits.

Block Coloring – Usually, the first question asked about the new trends in fashion is about the hot colors. Is pink the new black, or vice versa? Well, fall 2011 is going to be all about block coloring, possibly because of the retro looks that shows like Mad Men have made popular again. Block coloring takes several bold colors and pairs them together in sections throughout one piece. For instance, a dress may have three sections – one orange, one black and one salmon, each accentuating a different part of your form.

Draped Dresses – If the awards ceremonies of last year were the only style-making events, we’d all be wearing draped dresses everywhere. Several huge designers made this incredibly beautiful form-fitting look the center of fall lines at Fashion Week. By bringing attention to areas of gathered fabric, drapery can draw attention away from other areas that you may not want people seeing. Use draped clothing to your benefit!

For instance, here are a few of the traits associated with popular handbags that we discuss in this blog regularly, as seen by Female First:

The Clutch – If you use a clutch, you are saying that you like to keep your personal items safe and close by, but like to be proper at the same time. Usually, women who carry clutches have more bravado and carry themselves with more loyalty overall. “Girls have some special moments with yout[sic] clutch tucked safely under your arm. A clutch carrier, much like Sarah Jessica Parker, are schrewd[sic] and value the vintage classics and the company of long standing friends.”

The Hobo – Female First says that the Hobo – quite the popular bag in the Hollywood set – shows that you like to have a lot of stuff on you. This represents your need for more hobbies and interests – no amount can ever be enough. “Actress Sienna Miller is often seen with a well-loved, practical hobo bag. Fans of this slouchy shoulder-bag are nearly always creative types – brimming with ideas and only ever disappointed in their struggle for perfection.”

Bowling Bags – The article says that Bowling Bags usually indicate that the carrier is a single girl with a fast-paced, friend-filled life. It also says a lot about the character of this person as well – “Your kind and loving personality means that you will have friends and be remembered everywhere you go as the girl who had a hand on just what she needed, when you needed it!”

Already being paraded around Hollywood by celebrities like Sienna Miller (Alfie), the western style trend is an amalgam of many different fabrics and styles. Primarily, those looking for this rodeo-style look are mixing leather, cotton and suede, with colors like beige and brown being the main elements. Major designers are also getting this style integrated with their lines – Gucci and Alexander Wang being two of the biggest.

The many benefits to the western look come in its simplicity and lack of total structure. You don’t have to completely cover yourself in western wear to get in on the trend. A simple western style handbag is one way you can always have some rodeo flair incorporated into your outfits. You can also add western jewelry and/or western belts to your accessories to any denim outfit to harness a more laidback western look for yourself.

However, if you want a head to toe western look, you may want to utilize all of these fashion pieces: checkered or plaid shirt, cowgirl boots, bedazzled cowboy hat, gemstone belts, western handbag, small jeans, leather jacket and pretty much any clothing with fringe as an embellishment. You may also want to look into leather pants, although these can be difficult to get comfortable in. If you use some of these tips, you will be a master of western trends in no time!

Forbes is reporting that shares of the Coach stock will continue to go down, despite the brand’s popularity and stature:

“Coach reported strong revenue growth in its recently released fiscal Q3 2011 earnings and the market reacted positively to the news, pushing Coach stock higher.  Sales for the first quarter increased to $951 million, up 14% from the same period last year. Shares of Coach still trade within a dollar of their 52-week high of $60.63. We currently have a $57.49 price estimate for Coach, about 5% below market price. Despite strong revenue growth, the firm reported a decline in its gross margin in fiscal Q3 over the same period last year. Continued margin pressure could spur downside to our price estimate for Coach stock.”

Overall, the article says that Coach will most likely continue to see its value decline, making the profitability and growth of Coach to slow. The primary reason for this are sourcing costs for the designer goods, which lead to a shift in the profit margin, especially between retail and wholesale operations:

“The rise in sourcing costs indicates a long term trend (as the living standards and cost of labor increase in outsourcing locations) and may lead to a continued decline in Coach’s gross margin going forward. Coach’s strategic shift towards retail operations will put further pressure on margins, as the firm’s enjoys significantly lower margins on its retail stores than on its wholesale operations.”

Where do you get your wholesale handbags from? Have you ever bought stock in a designer before? If you did, which brand would you let guide you in the stock market? Do you think Coach will bounce back when the economy does?

“While the IB (‘It’ bag) has fallen out of favor, its legacy is that the consumer now knows the value of an expensive bag and is almost instinctively on the lookout for the “next big thing” in the bag world. And that’s where the good news begins. All of the attention lavished over the past decade on behalf of luxury-goods companies in the quest to create and sell “the world’s most desirable bag” has led to the construction and revamping of some pretty thoughtful, well-put-together classics, with a degree of longevity one would never have attributed to the IB.”

The point that this column makes is showing the difficulty that consumers have when purchasing handbags over any other kinds of fashion items. The price of handbags is concealed inside the bag, forcing the shopper to actually pick up the handbag and spend some time opening it and looking at it. This process has been going on for years, but consumers are becoming more selective of their handbags, especially due to the rising prices in a tough economy. However present this ‘sensible bag evolution’ is, the column does gloss over the opposite side of the spectrum:

“The flip side of the sensible bag evolution is that bags have become so important and such style signifiers that these days they are the easiest way to switch up an outfit. YSL’s ’70s-inspired clutch (£1,195), with heavy silver studding, is a case in point. Whilst your little black dress might be somewhat staid, this bag is anything but.”

When you are looking for a new western style handbag that may be a bit out of your price range, you should choose one that is sensible and goes with a number of outfits that you already have in your closet. Having to choose between several purses on a limited budget doesn’t have to be a hard choice.