[optiblue]

Just heard about this from a friend and thought I'd share! Anyone here already on their list? :okay:

Exclusive clientele pay thousands to browse high-end merchandise (http://www.canada.com/life/Exclusive+clientele+thousands+browse+high+merchand ise/6630692/story.html)

http://www.canada.com/life/6628944.bin

Vancouver's one per cent have a new place to spend their millions.


Starting Wednesday, wealthy members of Colton's Personal Couture will pay $25,000 upfront to shop the couture brands by appointment in a private showroom stocked with their favourite luxury labels. Of the annual fee, $7,500 goes to membership dues, and the $17,500 balance is store credit. "Fashion confidantes" will guide them toward clothes and accessories that look classy and tasteful, and that suit their lifestyle.


More than 400 people, culled from the client lists of private bankers and luxury car dealers, have already expressed interest in the concept.


But at first, the club — Owned by Howard Colton — will only accept 200 clients, gradually increasing to 400 as they iron out new-business kinks.


It will primarily cater to the Asian population which, as Colton said, love brands and love to shop, but can benefit from the guidance of fashion experts.


Even the super-rich need help navigating trends and putting together a personal style, Colton said, adding that he believes $25,000 isn't a barrier for the clientele he will serve.


The establishment of the club — which also provides clients with a personal limousine service so they can travel to and from the showroom — indicates the changing retail landscape of the city. Twenty-five years ago, Leone was the only luxury brand store in Metro Vancouver. But in recent years, Tiffany, Coach, Hermes and The Room at the Bay have opened to cater to the high-end consumer.


As the principle partner and luxury Italian supplier of the online retailer BlueFly.com, Colton has well-established connections to European design houses. But this is not another BlueFly.com, he said. He wanted to create a new business that has a more personal touch.


"I wanted to do it in a more bespoke kind of way," he said, emphasizing that this is not a typical retail shopping experience.


"We don't want 5,000 people to come through every day like Holt Renfrew, Leone or Boboli. We want one-on-one. And that we should become their fashion confidantes."


Colton also understands that even the very rich love a deal. So his mark-up is lower than usual. He'll make his money on the membership fees.


The club is in a Richmond, B.C. penthouse that Colton has transformed into a luxurious personal fashion showroom. Chandeliers adorn every room and it boasts over $500,000 in merchandise, including unique Alexander McQueen clutches and a $50,000 handbag by Hermes.


Wearing his limited edition $60,000 Frank Muller watch, jeans and patent red shoes, Colton proudly showed off his space. He pointed out the zebra wood cabinet in the men's department in which all the drawers are lined with suede and Tom Ford and Etro hang on the custom-made hangers. The women's area boasts a small shoe section and lots of wonderful bags by Miu Miu, Prada, Gucci and Balenciaga. The clothing range will expand as they come to know their clients' sizes and preferences, he said. When a client visits, his or her preferred brands will be displayed.


"We dress the showroom according to the preferences of the client but we will try to nudge them a little sideways."


Yvette Cartier, a resident of New York and Montreal, heard about the club from a friend. An investment banker, she describes herself as a "big shopper who likes select merchandise."


"I am not a Holt Renfrew shopper," she said. "I shop abroad to buy every season, but it can be difficult because sometimes what I want is sold out."


She said she was very impressed with the merchandise she saw at Colton's. "It was very edited and very beautiful." Cartier spent her full store credit in one visit and said she would do it again. She doesn't care if she gets a discount. She just wants the goods.


Vancouver Sun


kgram@vancouversun.com

[pastarocket]

The ballers have a new store to get fashion advice and designer threads.

[TRDood]

Why would asians spend their money here? Selection in Vancouver is not great relative to close-by cities like LA, or Vegas which would have way more selection.

[Presto]

It will primarily cater to the Asian population which, as Colton said, love brands and love to shop, but can benefit from the guidance of fashion experts.

The one good thing from this: It could help the rich, yet classless. AKA mainlanders.

[Anjew]

money cant buy class, but now it can! :fullofwin:

[InvisibleSoul]

More like 0.02% if it's 400 potential clients out of 2M+ population in GVRD.

[Razor Ramon HG]

It will primarily cater to the Asian population which, as Colton said, love brands and love to shop, but can benefit from the guidance of fashion experts.

:lol

[68style]

Uhm...... did somethign change in the business laws in Richmond?

Last time I checked, you weren't allowed to run a business from a residence in Richmond, how can he get away with doing this out of a condo penthouse?

[trancehead]

writers a hack, referring to the 1%

[Iceman-19]

Might as well just delete the fashion for sale sub-forum.

[StylinRed]

we already have stores offering silly prices on merchandise and if you want to get better furniture than that you get custom work done.... and in those shops the attendants are extremely helpful and if that isn't good enough you can hire personal shoppers/assistants that will do the same... and if that isn't enough you're extremely wealthy and you would have a personal tailor as well as shop @ whatever designers own office where only select clients get to go to


So this guys so called couture store is simply trying to money grab from some unsuspecting idiots with too much money.... no wonder he's targeting new money

(interesting that article doesn't support commenting...)

[drunkrussian]

if i was vain and rich enough id just spend the 25k on a personal stylist that can source the same shit for me. prolly 1/4 of the price too. or id just get a couple of high end hookers to go shopping with

[yray]

Coltons Personal Couture (http://www.coltons.ca/#!contact|c1d94)

penthouse my ass, it's just a regular office building. Gonna be fun to see clai's crashing into luxury cars as they flock to Kirin on weekends. :lawl:

[q0192837465]

Interesting concept. But I doubt it'll fly in a small town like Vancouver. The really rich can simply go to Europe directly every season. What's the credential of this Colton guy? Is he some well-known stylist or something? Are his advice really worth the coin?

[lgman]

More like 0.02% if it's 400 potential clients out of 2M+ population in GVRD.

Yea, it's not like everyone that is super-rich wants this type of service. Only if you need to be eye candy to your clients or in need of screaming Benjamins over Confidence.

[belaud]

in b4 w6sta

[suzuka84]

it won't fly here. The rich come here to diversify their real estate holdings mainly for the good of the children. There can be no bragging rights telling their friends they bought their stuff at a high end store in Vancouver when everyone else has roots in Vancouver as well. Would you rather tell your friends you bought it at the XYZ store in Vancouver or you flew out to Europe and purchased during a shopping trip?

Rich mainlanders are fun to be around once in a while if you enjoy spending money frivolously. They only do it to show off, you can't show off to your friends if no one else can enter into the store.

[winson604]

Interesting concept. But I doubt it'll fly in a small town like Vancouver. The really rich can simply go to Europe directly every season. What's the credential of this Colton guy? Is he some well-known stylist or something? Are his advice really worth the coin?

Dude did you not read the article? He's was wearing his limited edition $60,000 Frank Muller watch, jeans and patent red shoes. With style like that I would gladly pay anything to shop at his store. :suspicious:

[nns]

When I saw 1%, I thought of OMCs.

[Harvey Specter]

Dude will be out of business within 2 months and good like going up against online retailers from Italy who not only sell designer labels that are marked down by 20% compared to high end retailers in North America, they also get all the new stuff for the current season before most of the stores.

[GoneGuru]

Everyone knows you go to BoysCo for the coolest clothing, and satchels.

[GGnoRE]

Shopping is not convenient in Vancouver so buisnesses like that have a good chance to succeed

[ilovebacon]

someone quick! go tell him that he just made a big mistake!

[Duff Beer]

Did a quick search and there was no Colton in China; should've just opened there, Beijing & Shanghai

[Manic!]

Also whats the point so spending 25k if you cant show it off. He needs to make some kind of crest or badge to put on clothes so every one will know.

1. Build a high end shop in a penthouse.
2. Sign up a bunch of people at 25K each.
3. Hide the money
4.Declare bankruptcy.
Seems like a good plan to me. If he sells 200 memberships that's 5 million right there. If he was serious he would not take all the membership money up front.

[Harvey Specter]

He won't get 5 people signed up let alone 200.

The ultra rich don't buy designer labels, most of the stuff they wear is bespoke or so ultra exclusive that 99% of us have never heard of the designer/tailor.

And Vancouver is the bottom of the list of cities that has any sense of style of fashion, most people around here have new money and think draping yourself in Gucci & Prada makes you "look rich". Take a walk in Holts on the weekend and you'll see the fakest people around. Half, if not most, are probaly working 3 jobs so they can floss at Holts.

[Hehe]

That's why he caters rich Chinese clients... for rich Chinese... brand>anything.

On a side note though, the few true 1% people I know of fly out to NYC, Paris or Milan for personal shopping. Often by invitation too.

[drunkrussian]

He won't get 5 people signed up let alone 200.

The ultra rich don't buy designer labels, most of the stuff they wear is bespoke or so ultra exclusive that 99% of us have never heard of the designer/tailor.

And Vancouver is the bottom of the list of cities that has any sense of style of fashion, most people around here have new money and think draping yourself in Gucci & Prada makes you "look rich". Take a walk in Holts on the weekend and you'll see the fakest people around. Half, if not most, are probaly working 3 jobs so they can floss at Holts.

so have u read the article? this guy is selling gucci etc in vancouver...

[spyker]

so have u read the article? this guy is selling gucci etc in vancouver...

Wow he's selling Gucci,like if there isn't already places in Vancouver that currently sell it,except you don't have to pay his 25K upfront fee to buy it.

[GLOW]

Everyone knows you go to BoysCo for the coolest clothing, and satchels.

:lawl:

[TRDood]

in b4 w6sta

in b4 niu99

:ilied:

[pinn3r]

Nice! Opening a shop exclusively for me
Will check it out soon :troll:














:ohgodwhy::okay:

[Harvey Specter]

so have u read the article? this guy is selling gucci etc in vancouver...

You do know that Gucci has a store in Vancouver right? And Gucci.com sells the entire collection online.

[BaoTurbo]

This is just like an exclusive holt renfrew

[fobulaus]

Also whats the point so spending 25k if you cant show it off. He needs to make some kind of crest or badge to put on clothes so every one will know.

1. Build a high end shop in a penthouse.
2. Sign up a bunch of people at 25K each.
3. Hide the money
4.Declare bankruptcy.
Seems like a good plan to me. If he sells 200 memberships that's 5 million right there. If he was serious he would not take all the membership money up front.


5. Go to jail.

[lundyt]

wtf..... I went to high school with his daughter....
should've got on the inside when i could :ifyouknow:

[Death2Theft]

Guy looks like he's wearing a bed sheet.

[EndLeSS8]

wait, we can ask Hyde what he thinks - he's part of the 1% :troll:

[blee123]

He won't get 5 people signed up let alone 200.

The ultra rich don't buy designer labels, most of the stuff they wear is bespoke or so ultra exclusive that 99% of us have never heard of the designer/tailor.

And Vancouver is the bottom of the list of cities that has any sense of style of fashion, most people around here have new money and think draping yourself in Gucci & Prada makes you "look rich". Take a walk in Holts on the weekend and you'll see the fakest people around. Half, if not most, are probaly working 3 jobs so they can floss at Holts.

especially those cbc bitches with heavy make-up going into Chanel so they can be "different" from their other friends who are rocking entry level LV/Gucci bags :facepalm:

[Manic!]

5. Go to jail.

Leave country before they catch on.

[Cman333]

Uhm...... did somethign change in the business laws in Richmond?

Last time I checked, you weren't allowed to run a business from a residence in Richmond, how can he get away with doing this out of a condo penthouse?

He's a customer of ours. He's not in a penthouse of an apartment. He's actually leased the whole floor of an office building in Richmond (where CIBC and Kirin is on 3 Road and Westminster).


As for people saying he'll be out of business, you need to understand. He's already got a few existing businesses in the same industry working out of the same office. He's basically allowing people to come up to buy things direct.


Think of this like "BEST DIRECT" but for designer clothes. I've been up there a few times (not for shopping, just to return his car before people assume I'm stinking rich) and his pricing is definitely significantly cheaper then retail. It costs 25k but you get $17500 towards your purchases. So this membership is about $7500 for the year. If you're one of those people that spend a shit ton of money on bags and shit I'm sure you'll save more then that going through Howard.

Either way, not really my cup of tea but the dude's been in the business 10+ years and keeps growing. Can hate on his idea, but he ain't going outta business even if this venture flops. Bluefly makes the money.


Anyways best of luck to ya Howard.

[Harvey Specter]

Well the problem with Bluefly is it's all b grade stuff, basically designer stuff that doesn't sell and from previous seasons. Similar to what yoox.com offers but with a large selection because they're based in Italy.

Most people don't care about seasons and stuff and just want to wear something designer but any savvy buyer who knows designer would never purchase anything from bluefly or yoox so I still have my doubts that this guy will sell current season stuff at a major discount.

I do wish this guy luck but I still doubt he'll get a large clientele based on the competition online and what some of the online retailers from Italy. Like for example LVR has the current season, the retail is almost 20% cheaper than Holts and they include all taxes/duties. I buy designer stuff and you'll be shocked to see the markup that Holts, Neiman Marcus, Saks and other high retailers have on their designer clothing, it's actually shocking.

[GGnoRE]

^ You seem to be a savvy shopper. Would you be my fashion confidante? :troll: nohomo

[Harvey Specter]

^
Lol. I charge.

[will068]

Well the problem with Bluefly is it's all b grade stuff, basically designer stuff that doesn't sell and from previous seasons. Similar to what yoox.com offers but with a large selection because they're based in Italy.

Most people don't care about seasons and stuff and just want to wear something designer but any savvy buyer who knows designer would never purchase anything from bluefly or yoox so I still have my doubts that this guy will sell current season stuff at a major discount.

I do wish this guy luck but I still doubt he'll get a large clientele based on the competition online and what some of the online retailers from Italy. Like for example LVR has the current season, the retail is almost 20% cheaper than Holts and they include all taxes/duties. I buy designer stuff and you'll be shocked to see the markup that Holts, Neiman Marcus, Saks and other high retailers have on their designer clothing, it's actually shocking.

Really ? I would think the American Retailers like NM and Saks had the best deals for regular priced commercialized luxury goods.

[death_blossom]

as was previously mentioned, all this new money is leading to rich mainlanders that have no sense of style or taste. I'm quite certain this Howard fellow is catering to those who have more money than brains. they need someone to tell them what to buy in the hopes that they will "look" like they have class. this is exactly who this guy is catering to. these rich ppl will be hanging on every word that his fashion experts have to say.

[drunkrussian]

Wow he's selling Gucci,like if there isn't already places in Vancouver that currently sell it,except you don't have to pay his 25K upfront fee to buy it.

You do know that Gucci has a store in Vancouver right? And Gucci.com sells the entire collection online.

not arguing with either of you. his appeal is to a clientelle that is about mainstream snob status. to achieve this status you need to a) achieve exclusivity and b) wear things that people know. meaning his audience wants to wear things that people recognize as being high class - they want gucci, they don't want something people don't know of and therefore they can't show off. at the same time, anyone with money can go into a gucci store and buy it. being a part of a little dick gucci club is just the right thing to put you over the top with your douchebag friends.

i'm not saying this business plan is a good one nor am i saying it will work. i'm just pointing out the business model.


I do wish this guy luck but I still doubt he'll get a large clientele based on the competition online and what some of the online retailers from Italy. Like for example LVR has the current season, the retail is almost 20% cheaper than Holts and they include all taxes/duties. I buy designer stuff and you'll be shocked to see the markup that Holts, Neiman Marcus, Saks and other high retailers have on their designer clothing, it's actually shocking.

you seem like you know your stuff and have common sense. a lot of millionaires are idiots and either want to be "pampered" or just want somewhere to physically go and quickly buy something - they're not online trying to get the best price. this is why i think high end retailers work, and why a personal, 1 on 1 business model works for executives. and let's not forget the fact that they need someone's guidance when purchasing the mistress jewlery and purses :troll: haha once again not saying i think this guy's store will work, just shooting the shit

[PornMaster]

I see 2 problems with this

1) Huge insurance scam possibility

2) Vancouver has a ton of thieves

Hell Monte Cristo in Oakridge gets robbed all the time and its in a fucking mall

[Harvey Specter]

Really ? I would think the American Retailers like NM and Saks had the best deals for regular priced commercialized luxury goods.

Nope, these retailers make money from the high markups.

[Harvey Specter]

not arguing with either of you. his appeal is to a clientelle that is about mainstream snob status. to achieve this status you need to a) achieve exclusivity and b) wear things that people know. meaning his audience wants to wear things that people recognize as being high class - they want gucci, they don't want something people don't know of and therefore they can't show off. at the same time, anyone with money can go into a gucci store and buy it. being a part of a little dick gucci club is just the right thing to put you over the top with your douchebag friends.

i'm not saying this business plan is a good one nor am i saying it will work. i'm just pointing out the business model.




you seem like you know your stuff and have common sense. a lot of millionaires are idiots and either want to be "pampered" or just want somewhere to physically go and quickly buy something - they're not online trying to get the best price. this is why i think high end retailers work, and why a personal, 1 on 1 business model works for executives. and let's not forget the fact that they need someone's guidance when purchasing the mistress jewlery and purses :troll: haha once again not saying i think this guy's store will work, just shooting the shit


I agree with you that some people will never buy stuff online and don't care about paying a premium, it's why Holts and other high end retailers are still in business.

[Mr.HappySilp]

The one good thing from this: It could help the rich, yet classless. AKA mainlanders.

fashion can't buy class :suspicious: first thing they got to learn is not to pick their nose in public.......

[dark0821]

-.-

Well... if the merchandise are ALOT cheaper than .. lets say HR
I am sure people who has the money will want to go buy there...
same amount of money but get alot more merchandise...and shopping in a private setting?!

lol... I can see the not "tooooooooo" rich Asians pooling their money together... They are like, we might not spend $25K a year each, but 4 of us can top out 25K easily....