oh,yes?! I did not realise, I totally assumed they changed.. dont know why to be hobest. Must be the 🌞😂. I don’t know Philip. Since I shifted from shoes to bags, I do a lot of research and researching more fun colours for women bags, less masculine stuff. I always call any supplier and ask for samples and prices. Even the French. Its really nice to order from Rocky Mountains for example, sometimes, totally agree, ( with the exception of import tax) or the other Italian company you suggested on one of the course supplies, but they do seam to be a little bit more expensive, on different products. I personally love going to shows like Premiere Vision, speak to the representatives, take my samples, even when they come to London now,and if I dont get the leather from their UK distributors, I go to the tannery directly.

that is very good advise. I have had clients for a while, and I have charged what I thought it will go for, without making it too cheap. on the website though, trying to position myself to a luxury market, the prices, using general formulas are really too high, and I findmyslef really frustrated, re- analysing things and market and so on. but coming in the forum today, it's brilliantly helpful. have a great week, and a successful day!

I find AA crack very expensive, too. Not necessarily arrogant with me, but expensive. He is a fearless business name and he is used to selling to traditional big name businesses like John Lobb, Fosters, and Ettinger to name a few. it's a totally different market, because I believe, they have different prices for different clients. it's cunning and probably smart. I worked for John Lobb and still do occasionally; and know they have leather made to order exclusively for them, by different tanneries. They only select the best of the best skins even from the leather they order. They have a team of clickers in house ( the people that cut the leather to send the patterns to makers) that are fiercely going through skins and send back to AA crack the skins that they cannot take the best use from. I believe that is why Tony cannot and he is not transparent. It's changed though, they show now the prices, but they are very high. I agree. I suggest you try and speak to him, or go there. Sometimes, he does do deals, or if you buy in cash, he does not charge VAT, he is an old fox, and he is oiled with few recessions, and has a big family to feed. Like all of us, too, but you see my point. He is a shrewd business men. I am also cunning and clever, so I try my best to find my suppliers, and I found his competitor in UK, which is the representative of Tannerie du Puy, in UK. She has a terrible online business, in terms of online presence and response, and you can see how difficult it is for her , I can't imagine how she survives, but she is still in business, and if you want, try her. She is supportive of small ateliers, and has old stock of Hermes Leathers that will sell you at good prices. 21st Century Leather is the name of the company, and her name is rusty@twentiethcenturyleather.com. I am not promoting or get anything from recommending Rusty. Personally,I find it annoying that she is using her nick name, in her business, and it took me 10 minutes to find her name as I never seem to remember it. But she is a women, and I know it's tough, and I like to support my "business women active in the battlefield" companions :) as much as possible. Try contact her, email is the best. She is based in Northampton. That is why I shifted my attention to French tanneries now. Remy Carriat have the most wonderful costumer service I ever came across ever in this business in the last five years! Good luck and have a successful week everyone!

Thank you Philip for these great notes and suggestions. As always, very on point and efficient communicator. I always come back here to find a rock to lean on in terms of knowledge, support and honest advise. Thank you! I have recently published my website with first made to order collection of handbags and bespoke leatherwork and I find myself going back again re-defining the customer, and the market!!, working on marketing question that I left incomplete, or partially understood. I have ordered the Blue Ocean book, and looking forward to learn the techniques it teaches. thank you again and wishing you and everyone a productive and successful week! Adriana

Hi Philip, the podcast link does not seam to work. Would love to hear your thoughts on this one, I was pondering if I should get this book for a while. The only thought that's holding me back from buying it, it seams to me that it refers too much of big corporations of luxuries and heritage brands with a devout client base. It is somewhat different from modern artisan luxury leather goods. I am learning with difficulty that clients who love and afford luxury prefer to associate themselves with the big names, and only sometimes they learn to trust new designers. Its a long term play and a different learning curve, the clients are very different beasts now. I have few other titles to recommend as well, very good to understand and learn from. "DELUXE, how luxury lost it's lustre" by Dana Thomas, is one of them. Read it few years back and flicking through it again, it talks about fascinating world of luxury as well as it's darker corners of consumerism.. and the world of celebs, Oscars, stylists,.. but not the new phenomenon of Influencers.

Thank you Philip for sharing this! It struck me how wonderfully similar, sensitive, true artist like mentality all of the artisans express throughout the movie. Sometimes even their gestures, expressed how much love they put into their work, and how much of a bigger picture they all see. This company has assumed a great responsibility and it builds up an unbelievable legacy as patrons of the arts.