We are excited to introduce our new sponsor, 1st Class Bagz and Accessories.  We caught up with Rosalind Chamberlain, owner of 1st Class Bagz and Accessories to find out more about her love of bags and starting her own business.

HR:  How did 1st Class Bagz and Accessories come about?  What made you start an online business?

RC:  I love handbags and always wanted a boutique.  I started online to reach a broader audience and keep overhead low.

HR:  What type of women does 1st Class Bagz and Accessories cater to?

RC:  We cater to ladies 26 and up.  We carry bold and adventurous for the young and conservative and classy for the seasoned woman.

HR:  When shopping for bags for your online store, how do you choose what to sell?

RC:  I go to a lot of runway shows pre season and see what colors are hot or trendy and I refer to a lot of magazines.

HR:  How many handbags are in your personal collection?  How often do you change your handbag?

RC:  I have 10 handbags in my collection.  I change my back twice a week! I have a basic black for meetings and shoot for colors on the weekend or vacation!

Stop by 1st Class Bagz and Accessories and check out the entire collection of handbags and jewelry!

The holidays are here and many of us are on a mission to find our loved ones the perfect gift.  Instead of wandering aimlessly around the malls, shop at Jill’s Consignment for fabulous designer handbags and accessories at a fraction of the retail price.  Check out the interview and learn more about consigning and why I love Jill’s Consignment. 

I am constantly featuring Jill’s Consignment because of their fabulous haute designer deals that I feel obligated to share with my readers.  Whether you’re looking for Gucci, Fendi, Balenciaga, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Botkier or Chanel, there are beautiful one-of-a-kind bags arriving daily that will make you want to whip out your plastic and start shopping!  I had the privilege of recently interviewing Jill, the dynamic woman behind Jill’s Consignment, and here’s what I learned…

When did your passion for consigning begin?

I worked in a friend’s consignment shop right after graduating from college with a journalism degree.  I was just doing it until I found something in journalism but absolutely fell in love with the business.

How did Jill’s Consignment come about?

I worked in my friend’s store for about 2 years and knew that was what I wanted to do.  I had the consignment “bug” I guess you could say.  While working for my friend I learned the business and how to run a consignment store the RIGHT way.  I know there are many that give the good ones a bad name.  I began saving money to open my own store.  My Mom had remarried and moved to Orlando and really wanted me there too.  She loaned me the money and I moved there the next week!  I found my location in just a few days and opened up in Orlando, Florida in 1996.  From day one, the business was a success and quickly became the most popular consignment store in Orlando.

Do you have previous experience in retail?

Yes, from my family – I was born into the retail business.  My Dad was President and owner of Furchgott’s of Florida, a large retail specialty chain and the first in North Florida to carry Gucci!  That was back in the 60′s of course!

When a new designer item arrives, what is your process for determining whether it’s good enough to resell?

It has to be in really, really good condition.  Excellent is preferred, of course.  And I only take certain designers like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, etc.  I like items to have an original retail value of at least $500.  Not all do, but most do.  Of course, we have a lot of wallets, scarves, etc. with lower retail values but are very popular, so we take those as well.

What is the most rewarding aspect of having an online consignment shop?

Hmmmm… well, it’s very, very hard work contrary to what most people believe.  But the rewards are great.  I guess the biggest reward is getting boxes almost every day from wonderful consignors who trust us to sell their amazing items for them!  And, it’s wonderful to be able to offer those items at a great savings to customers who want them but don’t want to or aren’t able to pay the full retail price.

Give three reasons why women should shop and/or consign with Jill’s Consignment.

For our consignors, we will always get the best price we can for their items, we will have them photographed, inventoried and online within 72 hours and we will pay them promptly either right away for cash outright consignors or once a month for consignment.  For our customers, we will describe our items EXACTLY as they are, we will offer them at a fair price and we will ship your item free of charge within 1-3 business days.  Of course, our customers can be assured that they will only get authentic merchandise from us.  I can happily report that in almost 20 years of business, we have sold thousands and thousands of bags, accessory items, pieces of jewelry and shoes and never a single fake item has gotten past us.

Who are your favorite designers?

Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta.

Do you have a closet full of designer accessories?

Ready for this…. NO. I have a few LV bags and a couple of Chanel bags.  That is it.  I don’t buy what comes in.  I am a jeans and t-shirt girl and I work behind a computer all day.  The only people I see are the UPS man, the mailman and the FedEx man. I have carried THE SAME Louis Vuitton Neverfull PM bag for the past two years!

What bag are you carrying today?

Louis Vuitton Neverfull PM.  It’s the best bag.  You can put so much in it and lug it around and it lasts and lasts and lasts!

**If you are interested in consigning with Jill’s Consignment, click {here} for more information.**

I would like to send a special thank you to Jill.  My Dad purchased an LV bag from Jill’s Consignment for my Mom’s birthday, and it arrived promptly and in pristine condition.

Ask yourself how long you plan to have it.  If it’s long term, then you must consider quality as your most important factor.  If you want something temporary for the summer (or winter) months, consider handbags on the lower end of the scale.  If you plan to use it everyday for work then quality and price is most important.

Once you decide how you want to use your next handbag (ie: an evening clutch, a work bag, a bag for travel), let the shopping begin!  We have chosen our favorite shoulder bags from eHandbags that will make the perfect everyday bag regardless of the season.  For a limited time, enjoy 15% off the regular price!  All handbags can be delivered throughout Australia.

Manzoni Casual Leather Bag in Mustard, $229.00 $194.65 and Manzoni Tan Shoulder Bag, $389.00 $330.65

Manzoni Crushed Lambskin in Green and Chocolate, $219.00 $186.15 and Funky Handbag, $75.00 $63.75

Manzoni Double Weave Shoulder Bag, $349.00 $296.65 and Manzoni Crushed Lambskin Hobo, $299.00 $254.15

Fashionphile is one of those sites that I didn’t want to share with anyone because I felt like I’d hit the jackpot. I know I should be ashamed of myself for keeping Fashionphile from my readers, so I am now featuring it as our latest haute online shop. Fashionphile is a family owned business and the largest pre-owned luxury handbag business in the country. There is an incredible selection of Louis Vuitton bags from various collections, as well as Gucci, Hermes, Chanel, Bottega Veneta, and several other designer labels.

All of Fashionphile’s bags are displayed in their Beverly Hills showroom off of Rodeo Drive. They offer what they call a “double-inspection guarantee”. Each bag is inspected by two authenticity experts before it is sold. Their authenticators have been trained to inspect bags to ensure that it has the correct materials, hardware, lining, lettering & embossing, codes, cards, packaging, and features.

Fashionphile has some of the most sought after designer handbags, and there are 3 ways to shop. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, you can stop by the Beverly Hills boutique, shop online or on Fashionphile’s eBay store.

I discovered Dime Divas before the holidays, and was a little reluctant to share for selfish reasons. Dime Divas offers brand new, authentic accessories including handbags, wallets, cosmetic bags, watches, and jewelry. Designers include Coach, Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, Cole Haan, to name a few. All auctions start at just one dime! Every time a bid is placed, 10 seconds is added to the auction. If you are the last Diva standing when the time reaches zero, you win! Needless to say, I was bidding for Christmas gifts and did not want any competition. Now that the holiday madness is over, allow me introduce you to Dime Divas!

“Our mission is to delight our users with a shopping experience that rewards membership with victorious purchases and spa experiences for those who come oh-so-close to victory enough times to need a good massage.” Dime Divas, LLC was created by a brother-sister team who are avid penny auction users. They wanted to bring the excitement of bidding and winning while providing the finest entertainment shopping experience on the Internet. To start bidding, simply sign up. Once you become a member, you can purchase bids (called DivaDimes) to use on product auctions. You may spend your DivaDimes on multiple auctions. One DivaDime = 1 bid. You will receive 10 Glam Bucks for every DivaDime spent. Once you have earned 5500 Glam Bucks you, you will receive a $50 spafinder.com gift card!

The fun part about bidding on Dime Divas is that each day of the week has a theme so you’re never bored with the auction items. Mini Mondays offers wristlets, clutches, and small purses! Tick-Tock Tuesdays offers watches! Wallet Wednesdays will offer purses with matching wallets. (Above is the Coach Soho Pleated Signature Hobo and matching wallet.) Thousand Dollar Thursdays has items listed with a MSRP of over $1,000! Need I go on?! Visit Dime Divas to find out about Fashion Fridays, Sassy Saturdays, and Second Chance Sundays!

What I love most about Dime Divas is their commitment to charitable contributions. Dime Divas will donate 50% of all final auction price to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Visit Dime-Divas.com to start bidding and let us know what you win!

One of my new favorite haute shops is CelebrityOwned, an eBay store that features 100% authentic designer women’s handbags, shoes, clothing & accessories from labels like Hermes, Balenciaga, Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, and many more. Located in Westwood, CA, CelebrityOwned’s merchandise comes from Hollywood stars, designers & producers. After spending several nights browsing CelebrityOwned (it takes several visits to see everything), I decided it was time to share these fantastic deals with the world. I had the privilege of interviewing the woman behind CelebrityOwned, Dana Weinrot.

HR: When did you launch CelebrityOwned?

CO: I launched CelebrityOwned in 2005. I started it just for fun out of my house but word spread rather quickly and I had to get an office quickly as I couldn’t store all the merchandise in my house. The business grew so quick that I kept running out of space and had to move in to larger offices. I am now in my third office.

HR: What made you choose an eBay store over an independent website?

CO: I chose an eBay store because as a new online business owner, you just can’t beat the traffic that eBay sends to you. While its not inexpensive to be a Top Rated PowerSeller on eBay, as the fees are quite high, I still believe it’s worth it solely for the level of marketing that eBay does on my behalf to drive all the traffic to me.

HR: Do you have previous experience as a buyer or personal shopper?

CO: My only previous experience in shopping is being a shopper but once i got hooked on eBay, it became my #1 go to site besides Shopzilla.com when searching for items I was in the market for. There are just so many great deals out there, there is no reason to pay top retail prices anymore.

HR: It’s obvious that you have a keen eye for style. How do you select the merchandise? Are there guidelines for choosing new merchandise for Celebrity Owned? How often do you shop for CelebrityOwned?

CO: Over the years, I have learned what sells the best on eBay. So now I just really try to stick to those brands and items that I know have top resale value. At the end of the day all the credit goes to my fabulous clients and their closets. Without their items, my business would not be the success it is today. The whole concept of my business becomes a topic of conversation between my clients and their friends. That’s really how I get all my new clients. It’s all word of mouth and it’s so amazing how it all works. Quite viral!

HR: What is the most rewarding aspect of having an online store?

CO: The most rewarding part of it all, is that I am able to make so many people happy. Clients and buyers – it’s really a win win for everyone. The clients want some extra cash so they clean their closets, the buyers on eBay want discounts, and I’m right in the middle.

HR: Can we expect a CelebrityOwned storefront in the future?

CO: I think about a CelebrityOwned storefront quite often but I fear change. eBay has become my life and I just can’t imagine starting over. I have an amazing husband, whom none of this would have happened without, and he is the one who normally pushes me to the next level even when I resist it most. So with all his wonderful support, I’m sure you will see a storefront in the future.

Click on the images pictured above for auction details. Visit CelebrityOwned to start shopping for your next designer handbag!

In celebration of the launch of JALDA’s online store, JALDA is offering HandbagReport.com readers 20% off their beautiful accessories. The coupon code for the 20% discount is NEW. If you are a Facebook Fan of JALDA, check for the coupon code and save 30%! The beautiful bags pictured above are available at JaldaStyle.com.  Offer is now through May 31st! Visit JaldaStyle.com and start shopping!

Jill’s Consignment first opened in 1996 out of Jill’s love of high-end designer accessories. Shortly after, the business expanded to JillsConsignment.com. With consignors from all over the world and loyal customers, like myself, Jill’s Consignment has a solid reputation as the best in the business. Their simple principle is that if you do business the right way, you will continue to do business.

The excitement of shopping at Jill’s Consignment is that (1) the selection is constantly changing since new items arrive daily! If you don’t buy the minute you see it, you risk it being sold from right under your nose! (2) Everything is authentic and designer. Labels include Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Coach, and Celine, to name a few. Must I go on?! Some accessories are vintage, while others are limited edition and only a season (or two) old. The customer service is excellent and the shipping is free!

Did I mention the option of selling or consigning your designer accessories that are sitting in your closet collecting dust? My mom sent three of her handbags to Jills Consignment earlier this week, and I can’t wait to see how quickly they sell! Visit JillsConsignment.com to find out more and to start shopping!

I have been on Talk Market checking out different handbag labels and want to share a few that I really like. Talk Market is offering HandbagReport.com readers $10 gift certificates that are good through April 30th. **Leave a comment or email me for the gift certificate code.**

Eenamaria Workin Weekend Baby Tote

Glam Noir Leather Clutch

Jane Marvel Mile High Bag

BazaardelaPaz Fish Food Zippered Bag

Nimli provides the perfect model of a lifestyle that cultivates a green conscious mind, body, and soul. If we create more responsible, earth-friendly marketplaces, it would greatly benefit our environment and quality of life.