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Working Mom Statistics

This data shows that working moms are a majority and thus, is a target market Butler Bag should focus on:

• 63% of mothers of small children work outside the home
• 78% of mothers of school-aged children work out side the home
• 63% of working mothers have children under the age of six
  http://www.momsrefuge.com/news/9905/index.html

All of these celebrity moms show that it is possible to have a busy life but also keep their motherhood:

• Jennifer Lopez
• Cate Blanchett
• Angelina Jolie
• Halle Berry
• Christina Aguilera
• Jessica Alba
• Nicole Richie
• Nicole Kidman
• Ashlee Simpson
• Minnie Driver
• Isla Fisher
• Elizabeth Hasselback
• Amy Poehler
• Sheryl Crow
• Gwen Stefani
  

Competitor - Nine West

Nine West was founded in 1977, is part of the Jones Apparel Group Inc. and has many products including fashion accessories and handbags. They are a much bigger company than Butler Bag, employing 15,600 people. They advertise in Lucky, In Style, Marie Claire, Harpers Bazaar, ELLE, Self, Allure, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Seventeen, In Touch, Ok, Us, and People. Celebrities that are endorsing Nine West on their website include, Ashley Tisdale, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jean Smart, Kristen Chenoweth, AnnaLynne McCord, Bar Rafaeli, Jamie Lynn Sigler and Rachel Leigh Cook.
Price points for Nine West range from $40 to $200.
Fall colors for 2008 included black, purple and lime multi in the patent snakeskin print. Black in velvet. Black and natural in satin. Black, gray and medium brown in synthetic leather. A fading yellow and fading red in canvas. Tan and black in leather with studs and embellishments. Brown multi and metallic multi in a patchwork.

Competitor - Dooney & Bourke

Founded in 1975 by Peter Dooney and Frederic Bourke, Dooney & Bourke specializes in fashion accessories including; handbags, Ipod cases, luggage, bracelets, watches, briefcases as well as limited clothing. They started making handbags in 1981, starting out with the Tack case and the Equestrian Bag, both made from bridal leather. The original distributors for this brand were Nordstroms, Brooks Brothers, and Saks Fifth Avenue along with the company store in Norwalk, Connecticut. In 1983 they released the AWL (all-weather leather) bag. In 2007 Hayden Panettiere designed a bag for them. Celebrity endorsement is a big part of their marketing. Celebrities such as Mischa Barton, Lindsey Lohan, Emma Roberts, and Michelle Trachtenberg have modeled in ads for Dooney & Bourke. They advertise in Vogue, Teen Vogue, ELLE, Vanity Fair, Lucky and In Style.
Price Points range from $20 to $625.
Fall 2008 colors for Dooney & Bourke included, black, bordeaux, cherry, mustard and plum in patent leather. Black, brown T-moro, cherry, jean and moss in suede. Black, brown and tan in a jaquard with the logo. Black, chesnut and natural in regular leather. Slate and jungle in python print. Black and white for the multi colored logo print. Black, brown, grey, purple, red, royal blue for "shiny" leather. Black, brown, cranberry, pine green and red for pebble grain leather. Black, cognac, orange and red for ostrick embossed leather. There were also animal prints in giraffe, leopard, and python.

Save or Splurge?

While checking my email, the home page to MSN had an online article that read Wardrobe Economics - Save or Splurge? In this article the editors give their advice to women who are not sure when to take out their wallet and splurge or to save and go for the bargain. They list the evening gown or party dress which they say to save your money on. Jeans, which is labeled as a splurge, and also the handbag that they say go the extra mile and spend you cash. In the article they say that the the purse is an accessory, but more importantly a necessity. If you are anything like me, I use my purse everyday, all day, you need something that is durable and will last you. Spend more money now, you are really getting more out of your purchase than if you go for the bargain and are back and the store looking for a new purse the following year. Baragin doesn't always hold up. The editors say go for a look that is classic more than trendy, a timeless look. There are three bags they show or recommend all are in the price points between $400 and $600. In the economic down turn we are facing it is important to spend you cash wisely. Cick here to read the entire article.

Competitor Kate Spade

while growing up in kansas city, missouri, katherine noel brosnahan, now kate spade, was both the epitome and antithesis of the all-american girl. there was always something charmingly familiar yet wonderfully original about kate. her fresh sense of style and singular personality reflect a keen sense of wit, propriety, and a no-nonsense approach to life. kate has spent most of her professional career in the accessories business. after college in 1986, she took a job at mademoiselle magazine, leaving in 1991 with the title of senior fashion editor/head of accessories. while working at the magazine, kate realized that the market lacked stylish, practical handbags and so innocently began designing her own. she put together some sketches, investigated production costs, and created a line of classically shaped bags in satinfinished nylon, as well as interesting colors and fabrics. with her fingers crossed, kate, along with her partner and husband, andy spade, launched "kate spade handbags" in january of 1993.



Kate Spade's various collections are priced from $150- $700. From small bags to totes and soft breifcases, Kate Spade's collections are crisp, clean and professional. Leather, canvas, hide, and the classic satin-finish nylon are the main materials for Kate Spades's handbags.