Hermes covers its azz...
 

I think Hermes will take a PR hit, but not to the same extent as if it would have been Louis Vuitton or Gucci. Hermes isn't really a mainstream brand -- it doesn't sell handbags at a price point where Oprah's target market, Susie Suburbanite, can just roll into the boutique and buy them, unlike Gucci and LV.

Luxury store apologizes to Oprah
Hermes' Paris store had rebuffed talk show host

Wednesday, June 22, 2005; Posted: 12:49 p.m. EDT (16:49 GMT)
(CNN) -- Luxury store Hermes on Wednesday apologized to Oprah Winfrey for turning her away last week, saying that the store was closed to set up for a public relations event when the talk show host stopped by its Paris store.

"Hermes regrets not having been able to accommodate Ms. Winfrey and her team and to provide her with the service and care that Hermes strives to provide to each and every one of its customers worldwide," the store said in a statement.

"Hermes apologizes for any offense taken due to such circumstances."

The store said the incident occurred on June 14 around 6:45 p.m., about 15 minutes after the store closed. It said Winfrey and her team arrived at a time when "a private PR event was being set up inside."

Winfrey had no immediate comment.

The New York Daily News, which first reported the story, cited sources close to Winfrey that the talk show host was first rebuffed by a clerk and then a store manager. The Daily News said Winfrey had gone to the store to buy a watch for singer Tina Turner, her dinner partner that night.

I know they are kickin' themselves in the BUTT! All Oprah has to do is announce this on her show and their sales will drop all over the US,lol.

Re: Hermes covers its azz...
 

True. The average American can pay $600 for a handbag, not $10,000 (inexpensive Hermes bag). It's bad PR, but I don't see this impacting their sells. There primary customers don't care.

Did we already discuss this and I missed it, but I didn't know AJ from 106 and Park was married. I just happened to be surfing and saw Tom Cruise on there and Free brought out Katie Holmes and Tom says to AJ, "I saw your wife backstage, lets go get her". Free goes and gets her, but they don't show her when they return from a commercial. I then quickly turned because I have had my fill of Cruise.

Re: Re: Hermes covers its azz...
 

...just confirms what we suspected all along: abaici = big baller, shot caller. :)

Yup, it was discussed on here, and I think there is a pic of AJ and his wife back in the news section.

In today's Sun Times, columnist Bill Zwecker reports that a rep for Oprah said Oprah will be doing a show on what happened at Hermes when she returns to taping in September. Everything was caught on tape also.

Even though I still don't believe that Hermes will take a major hit on the bottom line because their stuff, with the exception of perfume, is simply not affordable to most consumers, they are going to be put through the wringer.

I think there are three sides to the story -- O.'s side, Hermes' side and the real side. I will wait to see how this plays out.

Let me know when this sucka airs...I can't wait.

Re: Re: Hermes covers its azz...
 

Doesn't Hermes also sell ties and scarves? I seem to remember seeing some and while they were way out of the price range I would pay for a scarf, they did not seem only for the ultra rich jet set crowd only. A fashionista who saves her pennies could get one (I'm thinking they were in the $200-300 range???)

Re: Re: Re: Hermes covers its azz...
 

They do sell scarves and ties. Matter of fact, I was thinking about getting myself a scarf (if they had an acceptable pink and green pattern) later this year. The scarves run about $325 -- they're affected by foreign currency issues.
Now, though, I don't know. Neiman Marcus also sells Hermes.
:confused:

Re: Re: Re: Hermes covers its azz...
 

**waving** Hey Tony

See, I knew I was gonna get a comment. Should have known you were gonna put me out there.

Re: Re: Re: Hermes covers its azz...
 

Yes, but I was focusing on the handbags. They are the rage now.