Strathberry turns to online helpers to grant luxury bags international fame
LUXURY bag and leather goods maker Strathberry of Scotland has launched a £25,000 funding drive on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform to help raise its profile internationally with a focus on Asia and North America.
The Edinburgh company, which has seen its bags used by musicians Amy Macdonald and Paloma Faith as well as actress Emma Watson, also confirmed it is working on a collection in partnership with a major Scotch whisky brand.
They are also working with a new Chinese distributor in Tianjin to widen online distribution onto major e-commerce platforms.
Guy Hundleby, managing director, said the business had deliberately chosen Kickstarter because of its popularity in North America. He said: “We have been finding a level of interest across there. It feels to me the brand has so much potential for international growth.”
Mr Hundleby said the company has been targeting high profile fashion bloggers in the United States and the UK in recent months as a way to build word of mouth about the brand.
He said: “We have had a phenomenal response. That has given us a lot of confidence as there are bloggers who are receiving a lot of product and are inundated with brands trying to get things in front of them.”
On the whisky collaboration Mr Hundleby said Strathberry had previously produced internal merchandise for the as yet unnamed partner. A range of goods available to consumers is now in the pipeline. He said: “As a younger brand it is fantastic as it allows us to align with a brand that has real longevity and history behind it. It is very early days but there may be something we can work with them again on in the future.”
Mr Hundleby said the business has been focusing on its leather collection and has no immediate plans to revisit previous designs in tweed. Online sales are said to be running at about £1,000 per day, with orders being sent all over the world. Bags cost about £300.
Mr Hundleby said stock from the current collection had almost sold out but new designs will be launched later this summer.