UK and US bag sales soar at Kurt Geiger as party season returns

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Dec 13, 2022

We’re used to referring to Kurt Geiger as a footwear specialist but that description may need to change with news this week that accessories sales are surging at the multi-channel firm’s Kurt Geiger branded operation.

Party and gifting season is clearly well under way at the Kurt Geiger label (the wider company also owns Carvela and operates multi-brand shoe concessions in department stores like Harrods and Selfridges) with the retailer saying this week that it has seen “unprecedented” demand for bags this festive shopping season.

It expects to sell over 100,000 bags this month and also said gifting sales in the UK and US are up 101% on last year. In the UK, growth is 71% and in North America, it’s 236%.

That US spike has been aided by “growing celebrity clientele, with the likes of Rita Ora, Lily Collins, Paris Hilton & Jenny Ortega all donning Kurt Geiger London accessories”.

The firm also reported that average transaction value on gifts has climbed by 17% and its embellished styles, which have a higher retail price than the non-embellished styles, have had record sales, in particular the Shoreditch Bow bag and Belgravia bow styles.

“Demand for crystals and sparkling accessories and bags [are at an] all-time high with new ranges selling out almost immediately,” it added. But its bestsellers are the Rainbow Kensington Bag and Black Kensington Drench Bag. The newly launched Southbank Tote is its third best-selling bag style after debuting just last month.

Overall, bags have now become the number one search item on both its UK and US websites, “demonstrating that its customers consider the brand a destination for all accessories”. 

That can also be seen from the fact that hats have also been “performing strongly, even in November during the milder weather”, with the Evil Eye Beanie being its top-seller. 

From the brand’s gifting range, the crystal tumbler has been a best-seller in both the Evil Eye and the Rainbow styles, and it’s Evil Eye Christmas bauble has been selling out quickly.