Private Company Sales

The Bag Boutique are holding a private company sale at Speedo's Head Office in Nottingham on Wednesday 1st November 2006. A selection of our handbags, make-up bags and zip purses will be on display for all employees to purchase on the day.

It is a great way for our customers to touch and feel the bags as we are an internet based business - this is the ideal opportunity to start Christmas shopping.

If you would like to organise a private company sale in your office within the East Midlands, then please get in touch and we can look at availability before Christmas.

Google or Froogle?

I have just started to learn about Froogle and wondered how many of you are using this service to search for goods/products on the internet.? I think it is a great way of finding new products and shopping online and as such have been entering the Bag Boutique's bags into the froogle world! For retailers it is a great way of having your products listed, as it is free and doesn't take very long to upload all of the information.
I have read about certain drawbacks, more popular retailers are listed first, those with higher google rankings etc, but as a new start-up business I think it is important to research and try out all avenues.
Let me know your comments about Froogle as I would be interested to know who uses it.

Tabitha to Open First UK store

The Tabitha brand, which I am sure you all know, yes you've guessed it - bags and accessories will be opening its first UK store on the King's Road in London.

The 550sq ft shop will showcase shoes and accessories on the ground floor, with an office being taken in the basement. The price point for Tabitha bags are between high street and designer so next time you are mooching around London, take a trip to the King's Road to check out their bags.

The Growth of Internet Spending

Shop, shop, shop...

I know I have posted lots of comments before about the growth of online shopping, but it seems to be in the news more than ever.
ASOS.com have reported a massive surge in sales by 120% in the 3 months to 30th September, this has also been true for N Brown's online sales which rose 57% for the first 6 months of the year.

Last year, our internet shopping spree reached a massive £21.4 billion which was a rise of 30% compared with the previous year. We are becoming increasingly confident in using the web as a source of buying which is down to the growth of home broadband and increased security.

I must admit I have definitely contributed with Boden, ASOS and Joules all becoming my favourites!! Keep up the online shopping, it has to be easier than trawling the shops on a busy Saturday afternoon!

Event write-up and Calendar Girls!!

The Bag Boutique and WI!

The Bag Boutique attended a WI event in Kegworth, Leicestershire on Friday 13th October and it was a shame that we didn't get to hear the inspirational speaker Tricia Stewart, one of the original calendar girls. Below is a little insight into Tricia Stewart and Calendar Girls if you didn't already know.

Tricia Stewart joined the WI in 1985, and had suggested an alternative WI calendar featuring the crafts of the WI but the girls would be nude. This became a reality in April 1999 when the Alternative WI Calendar was launched in memory of a close friend and in order to raise money for Leukaemia Research.

In 1999 the calendar sold 88,000 copies in the UK alone, a further 240,000 copies were sold in America; this success changed the image of WI!

In 2003 the film 'Calendar Girls' based on the story of the Alternative WI Calendar was premiered at the Odeon in Leicester Square. Helen Mirren played the role of Tricia Stewart and a second calendar was launched featuring 6 actresses from the film and 6 of the original girls.

Tricia Stewart set out to raise £5,000 but a phenomenal figure of close to a million pounds has been raised to date.

If only I had the chance to listen to Tricia on Friday as I think she would have been inspirational, as many people have said, I guess I will have to watch Calendar Girls on DVD instead!

Sale at The Bag Boutique

Splash Out

As previously mentioned, The Bag Boutique has a special offers section which means you can update your wardrobe without spending a fortune. There are currently massive savings to be had on selected bags and purses.

Many of the bags in the special offers section are priced between £25-30.00, go on treat yourself.!

The Eva bag pictured was £46.00 now only £30.00 so hurry whilst stocks last.

Postcard Design

The Bag Boutique has just had some postcards designed and we are delighted with the outcome, they are currently being printed but we wanted to recommend the services of Conceptstore Design Solutions who have worked with us to create our postcard flyers.

If you are in need of design solutions I would contact Chaten Parmar to discuss further.

Shopping Events

Well I thought I should give you some warning as to which events The Bag Boutique will be attending, that way you can book up your diary with some Pre-Christmas Shopping Events.

October 2006

• Rainbow Children's Hospice Afternoon Tea with Tricia Stewart, Kegworth, Nottinghamshire (Friday 13th October 1.30-5pm)

November 2006

• Private Company Sale at Speedo, Nottinghamshire (Wednesday 1st November 2006)
• Ladies Who Love to Shop, Leicestershire (Saturday 4th November 2006 10.00-4.00pm)
• Action Medical Research Christmas Fair, Spalding, Lincolnshire (Monday 20th November 5.30-8.30pm & Tuesday 21st November 10.00-3.30pm)
• Christmas Shopping at Blades, West Bridgford, Nottingham (Wednesday 23rd November 6.30-9.30pm)
• Althorp Christmas Fair, Althorp House, Northamptonshire (Saturday 25th November & Sunday 26th November)

If you have any questions regarding the location of the events, please do not hesitate in contacting us at mailto:info@thebagboutique.co.uk

My Weekly Fix

Just thought I would post this article which was written for Chic Shops.

My weekly fix!

Having enjoyed such a long and warm summer (let's hope there is still more to come) with plenty of Weddings, Christenings, Garden Parties and the good old fashioned family/friend Barbeques, I am sure you will agree it may be that time to begin shaping up before the inevitable Christmas excesses which usually start with a string of parties in late November!

So Thursday nights for me, from now on are all about stretching, meditating and breathing techniques in the local village hall for my weekly fix of yoga and pilates. Some of the exercises I have to say are actually quite strenuous but with a bit of will power to continue my weekly exercise routine I am sure I will begin to see a difference if not feel better in the weeks to come.

It would seem that us yoga types might not be the trendiest, with an array of tracksuit bottoms, t-shirts, old camping mats and beach towels, so I think the time has come to bring a bit of fashion to the village hall! Thank goodness, whilst sourcing an array of bags and accessories for The Bag Boutique I came across a designer who makes beautiful handmade, silk and corduroy bags to house yoga or pilates mats. The bags can be carried on your shoulder but also vertically on your back.

Even if you haven’t got the state of the art mat, I suggest a new bag, which can hide away your old one and bring colour and designer fashion to your wardrobe.
The Bag Boutique currently has 2 designs of yoga mats available to buy online, both can be viewed here.

Just thought as I was writing about 'Elbo' then I would post this article as it coincides with the designer.

Handbag Designer Profile Eight - Elbo

This is the last profile which we shall be writing, until we have added further designers to our online boutique.

Elbo was set up in 2003 by accessories and costume designer Emma Burton. Emma graduated from the Royal College of Art in London in 2001 with an MA in Constructed Textiles. To date Emma has worked for the likes of Alexander McQueen, Cath Kidston, Michiko Koshino and Deborah Milner. All 'Elbo' handbags and yoga bags are designed and made in the UK.

Our favourite is the Japan Rose Yoga Bag - a must to update your yoga wardrobe. The frill purse is currently on special offer and be purchased for £30, see the special offers section.

Winner of Designer Handbag Competition

Congratulations go to Joanne Bulpitt from Oxfordshire who was the lucky winner of our September handbag competition. Joanne wins the Luna: Blue handbag designed by Jan Milne and worth £45.00.

Watch out for details of our Pre-Christmas competition coming soon...