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Confessions of a Luxury Sale Whisperer (with Madison Avenue Spy)

Back Row with Amy Odell

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Part 2 of this episode is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In Part 2, Amy and Lila debate the Saks Fifth Avenue bankruptcy and Amy shares a theory about why Jeff Bezos goes to fashion shows.

On this episode of the Back Row Podcast, Amy talks with Lila Delilah, THE Madison Avenue Spy, about the current unhinged state of luxury retail — from the "Very Important Client" customer categorization system to how luxury brands deal with all-out frenzies over once-secret sales. They also discuss the Hermès game, brands that have threatened to sue Lila, and more.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 – Introducing Madison Avenue Spy
5:10 – Were there VICs in 2010?
7:00 – How have luxury sales evolved?
13:10 – The lines are getting out of control
15:00 – What are the most legendary sales right now?
16:10 – Will The Row do invitation-only sales?
20:00 – Hermès shoppers are begging for appointments
27:00 – The brands that threatened to sue Madison Avenue Spy
31:10 – The bag-buying experience at Chanel vs. Hermès
34:40 – Reacting to the “Great Reset”
37:45 – Was Hermès ever really a fashion brand?
41:00 – What could break the spell Hermès has on shoppers?

Links & Resources
Back Row Newsletter: https://www.backrow.net/

Back Row Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wpDOgc...
Amy Odell - Instagram: Instagram: instamyodell

Madison Avenue Spy
Substack: https://substack.com/@madspy
Website: https://madisonavenuespy.com/
Instagram: Instagram: madisonavenuespy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@madisonavenue...
Telegram: https://t.me/+iN9VTm1Q6qJhMGYx

This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Joyce Ciesil, Amy Odell, and Jonathan Voytko.

luxury fashion, luxury handbags, designer bags, Hermès, Chanel, The Row, VIC, very important client, Madison Avenue Spy, Back Row podcast, luxury shopping, department stores, Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks bankruptcy, Amazon, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, fashion news, fashion insider, invitation only, bag buying, luxury sales, Great Reset, fashion podcast, handbag podcast, luxury retail

20 Comments

@Sheila-n1d 3 months ago

absolutely spot on comment about the hermes thing. it's pretty sad that someone who can freely afford $10,000 and up for leather goods would have to "beg" a salesperson for the "opportunity" to waste their money.

@roseamongthorns6 2 months ago

True story. Over 39 years ago, my boss's wife gave me an Hermes scarf. I wasn't crazy about the pattern and wanted to exchange it. I had never heard of Hermes. I found the old store on Madison Avenue, but first had to run down to Canal Street & Broadway to pick up some fabric and then go to Hermes to exchange the scarf. Well, there I arrived with my huge blue plastic shopping bag from downtown. The guard looked at me like I was from another planet. I was quite mortified. In my head played "too late to turn back now..." I exchanged my scarf and scrammed. Many year's later, his wife gave me another Hermes scarf. That one I kept. I still have both - even the boxes - the latter one with her original gift tag. They are precious to me and I wear them from time to time. I think my sister-in-law was with me. I can laugh about it now. At the time, not so much.😂 I enjoy your interviews Amy. Thanks so much!

@shesellssanctuary1601 4 months ago

Very interesting final points on the popular style of Hermes bags actually are day bags. It highlights how with so many aspirational shoppers buying items for trend rather than understanding how these items are used and worn buy the truly affluent.

@periscope7731 7 months ago (edited)

The same constant begging by clients happens at Official Rolex Retailers, too. Hourly! Yet the bulk of monthly shipment allotments usually end up in the collections of a small cadre of clients who already own three and four Rolex!

@fixationinfatuation 5 months ago

There are so many beautifully made items in the market that the obsession for quota bags Is insanity to me.
Personally most people can’t be bothered with it all.
More power to them 🎉

@pinkpotatoes9849 2 months ago

Owning a Chanel Classic flap used to make us feel like a really classy lady. Now Chanel's image is like expensive grunge so I don't even want to associate with the Chanel brand anymore.

@surfergirlt2432 2 months ago

Oh my God, where has your show been all my life? I love your content!! After the first interview, I subscribed here and followed you on Apple Podcasts. I have truly enjoyed the two interviews I’ve heard so far and look forward to more.

@ArlettyAbady 4 months ago

This video was very surprising. For someone who covers fashion to the extent that you do, I was gobsmacked to learn that you've never been to the Hermes shop in Paris. I like beautiful things, but don't follow much of the happenings in the fashion world. But I've been to the Hermes shop; got a lovely scarf there. It's truly a memorably beautiful shop. I like their clothes too; got a vintage purple moleskin coat, which I wear every summer for past few years. Women who call Hermes clothes ''trash'' really need help.

@Foreverfriends-h9g 1 month ago

Customers shopping/begging and or crying for handbags at Hermes is a regular occurrence across all boutiques, Its embarrassing and a guaranteed way to be cut off from getting the handbags on your wishlist. Men usually get offers way easier without any pre spending IMO..

@мишаПрудников-ы6к 7 months ago

thank you for the video!!

@luxe.leather.revival 1 month ago (edited)

Pre-loved is DEFINITELY the way to go for Hermes bags. That's how I've built my collection up <3 But I'm even more obsessed with the leathers from The Row. I buy new from them or pre-loved as well :]

@luxe.leather.revival 1 month ago

OMG! Interactive Marketing, I remember that one! I was a digital marketer for 27 years (I just recently went through my 5th layoff experience and decided not to go back - now I have a luxury handbag YouTube Channel). I used to have 3 resumes at one point because of the various names for digital marketing. I had one that was "online marketing" one that was "internet marketing" and the last was "digital marketing".

@philippemihailovich6316 2 months ago

How can The Row be considered luxury when they don't have their own atelier to make or design anything. They are curators who act like art galleries exhibiting artists they like but removing the artist names and replacing the labels with the gallery name. Such a con

@Soarin8 7 months ago

Great interview

@fixationinfatuation 5 months ago

I really enjoyed this conversation, I love beautiful things and I find the psychology behind these obsessions fascinating.
Pls don’t think about the trolls Amy.
Some people have too much time on their hands and just LOVE feeling superior behind their keyboards. Thanks 🙏🏻 ❤

@zahzahzee 4 months ago

I LOVE this woman. What a joy!

@DanielleA2023 1 month ago

The exploding wealth inequality currently means industries (hospitality, food, retail, fashion)are giving lessAF about the masses (us normal folk)

@stephaniefromgaeta 7 months ago

Excellent. Love her frankness and insight.

@marcadam3722 7 months ago

Great video! Really enjoyed the interview. 👍 Hermes is currently planning to introduce haute couture. All the wannabes buying ‘stuff’ just to ‘qualify’ to purchase a quota bag might soon have to spend a great deal more. 😬 I wonder if haute couture is a way for Hermes to limit their quota bags even further. To reduce the number of desperate quota bag shoppers. The social media proliferation of Hermes ‘unboxings’, many which are probably super fakes anyway, is not, I suspect, contributing to the kind of image Hermes wants to project. 🤔