There’s more to selling counterfeits at your purse party than just offering low cost knockoff purses, they can actually be harmful to the consumer. In pharmaceuticals, for example, the dosage or purity may not be up to par. In our small area of commerce the purse party, it could mean a latch or zipper is faulty, or the material is substandard and rips, causing the wearer to lose the contents of their purse. Okay, that isn’t as severe as faulty medication, but in a sue-happy world, the liability to the seller can become costly even at a purse party.

Needless to say, fake or counterfeited purses damage the reputation of the designer and the salesperson who sells that designer purse. And, as already stated, jobs are lost in the original manufacturing if the fake products sell better, and then there’s less need for the original. Fakes can force the designer purses price to plummet. Or they can go the other way and make the designer bags inflate in price because of their rarity. It just all depends on the marketability.

In the past two centuries, many European designers became snooty as far as their design’s prices were concerned. They considered copying as flattery. But that was before the age of the Internet and the purse party which skyrocketed counterfeiting to levels never before conceived. The copies of their products by illegal manufacturers became so worldwide and such an everyday nuisance, that the designer’s sales were being affected. Besides, when someone works hard to have a unique product, it’s a personal violation to have someone steal that idea and try to make it cheaply. You can understand how upset these designers can be if you put yourself in their place.

Worst of all, there’s growing concern that a good deal of the funds from counterfeiting goes directly to organized crime in both the US and Canada.  There’s evidence that monies received for fake purses sold at purse parties could even be used to fund some terrorist activities including trying devastate commerce in North America.  That’s why the U.S. President made the “Copyright Czar” position.

In an article by NYI’s Solana Pyne, in part two of her three part series “Counterfeit City”, she interviewed investigator Shawn Lewis who stated buying knock-off (see, here he uses the term for counterfeit and fake) purses is like giving money to crime syndicates.

“Please make a donation for child labor, organized crime and terrorism,” says Lewis. “Nobody is going to put any money in that kettle. But when they buy a handbag for $55 from a purse party that’s a fake, that’s exactly what they’re doing.” He states the FBI is very concerned that cash from the counterfeit trade funds terrorism, but it’s hard to find direct links to support that evidence. Still there’s enough suspicion to put fear into the heart of Western countries that terrorists hate and love to target.

So ladies, please think twice before selling counterfeit designer purses at your purse party, don’t be lured in by the prospect of making easy money.

Canadian Enforcement

Counterfeit designer purses and the purse party is one part of a much bigger counterfeiting problem. With the arrival of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), the need to get a handle on the illegal crossings of goods including counterfeit designer purses has increased in both Canada and Mexico.

In Canada, thwarting the flow of counterfeit designer purses has been made more difficult because of weak border rules and their hit-and-miss enforcement.  In fact, custom officials have little authority.  Why?  For one reason, to try and prosecute is timely, expensive and often not realistic. Then there are all the legal issues that crop up.

For example, only if the Royal Mounted Canadian Police (RCMP) investigates and gives the authority to seize goods is there is a chance for the intellectual property holder to receive justice and the thief to be prosecuted as a criminal.  The good news is that in recent years, there has been a growing cooperation between border customs officer and the RMCP along with a crackdown on the sale of fake designer purses sold at the purse party.

Let’s say on a particular case, the RMCP get a tip that fake Fendi bags are entering Canada and being sold in Ontario at a purse party. Then custom officers can seize goods at the border based on RMCP intelligence in investigation of criminal activities.

The RCMP and custom agents have been working together to train units in the regions of Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax in keeping an eye out for counterfeiters operating in their cities. But the border enforcement still falls short of being able to effectively control counterfeit goods coming into Canada. Most of the strength of the legal forces only applies to trade code and copyright violations. And as we have seen, designer handbags cannot be copyrighted as of yet.

In the article, Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Laws & Practices: A Case for Change by James Holloway, states, “In the luxury goods industry, which includes high-end watches and designer purses, counterfeiting costs billions of dollars in annual sales, continuing to pose a major challenge for luxury goods manufacturers.

In France alone, where many legitimate luxury goods are made, counterfeiting may result in as many as 38,000 lost jobs every year.  In an effort to combat the problem, luxury goods manufacturers spend millions of dollars every year running anti-counterfeiting programs. Still, most markets remain flooded with fake luxury goods including the designer purse.”

Canada’s Copyright Act states if anyone knowingly makes or sells a copy of a copyrighted work or knowingly imports it into Canada for sale or distribution; they may be guilty of a criminal offence and may be liable for conviction. And yes, that does include the purse party and fake designer purses.  But in order to convict someone for this, the law must show that person acted intentionally with the unmistakable knowledge they were infringing on that copyright and had specific intent to defraud or deceive the consumer.

For you, that means you would have to know the counterfeit designer purses you’re selling at your purse party are fakes. You’re doing it on purpose to make a buck. That isn’t an easy thing to prove. The burden is on the courts to prove the intention. A prosecution relating to someone who sold counterfeit NIKE, TOMMY HILFIGER and OAKLY products was acquitted because this could not be proved.  But don’t think you’ll get away with it forever.

But, if there’s proof the counterfeiter stated his fakes were the legitimate thing, the original designer has grounds for suing that counterfeiter for false advertising. The owner can then demand compensation for his loss in the marketplace as well as the destruction of all of the counterfeiter’s fakes.  The guy might not go to jail, but the designer can ruin him financially.

Now, just as in the United States, a trade mark owner in Canada has the exclusive right to register a trade-mark (or logo) so no one else can put that on their goods. Counterfeiters that do this can be prosecuted. So, if someone puts the Christian Dior logo on their counterfeit designer purse, there’s a good chance they can be prosecuted. Other sections of the Act state if an imposter even markets products with a trade mark that’s so similar that it’s confusing to the consumer they can be arrested.

There you have it, everything you should know about the legalities of accepting an invitation to a purse party. If you know the merchandise is fake don’t go!!!.

United States Enforcement

As far back as the 19^th century, there have been incidences in the U.S of imitations made to look like they were from European markets long before the purse party. At the country’s infancy, there was a sort of patriotic pride in the act of imitating the European designs including the designer purse and making them in the “Good old’ U.S. of A.”  Back then it was mostly in fabric design, fine collectibles and furniture designs. Some of it grew from necessity because the coveted European originals were not obtainable during wartime. So, manufacturing “look-alikes” has long been an acceptable practice in the United States explaining how the counterfeit purse party was born. Many looked at it as a child trying to imitate its parents. The United States has always had a “Europe envy” complex.

In the early 1990’s, the U.S. Court of International Trade even tried to put a disclaimer on products imitating brand names to save the manufacturers from trademark infringement in an effort to break up the monopolies. Established on free enterprise rights and non-government involvement in commerce, the United States has reluctantly “turned the other cheek” as far as the production of knock-offs. As a result, many American consumers believe it’s their “right” as savvy shoppers to hunt down the bargains at a purse party or in flea markets without giving a second thought to if it’s counterfeited or not.

According to the article by Robyn Givhan of the Washington Post in August 2007, while designers admit fakes and knock-offs are an aggravation, in many people’s minds, the bargain basement knock-offs are considered a frugal shopper’s right. Within hours after the Oscars, knock-off evening wear and designer purses worn by the stars as a one of a kind go on sale in reputable stores. Knock-off Kate Spade or Marc Jacob bags are a huge part of the tourist industry in big cities such as New York.

However, there have been very recent moves, backed by high names in the designer arena, to change the laws and broaden them to include the design and fashion industry. Perhaps this is because American designers such as Kate Spade are reaching the levels of the European Design Houses that have been around for decades and decades. This change in the law will affect purse sellers and buyers and will affect the sale of fake designer purse at the purse party.

Several congressmen including Se. Charles Schumer and Rep. Jerrold Nadler have tried to introduce into committee the Design Piracy Prohibition Act.  In an article by the New Observer on August 13, 2007, these two politicians took the stage along with designers at the Fashion Institute of Technology to promote the urgency of this bill. The bill would allow the copyrighting of designer’s designs and take a bite out of the black market’s profits (if it ever makes it through Congress to actually become law).

The Piracy Prohibition Act would protect a designer by allowing him or her to photocopy and register as copyrighted a particular handbag design. However, it would only be protected for three years. And anything that was already in the marketplace would be exempt from the law. The limit of compensation would be $250,000.00 but it would require the destruction of the fake goods including the fake designer purses. Mass marketers would still be able to produce goods that were “inspired” by the designer’s creation. It would put teeth in the prosecution of piracy and counterfeited fakes and also would give the designers more respect as creative artists. What the bill proposes to do is to tack on to the federal Copyright Act of 1976 and thus make the “blueprint” of the design copyrightable.

Many European designers think the best way to combat the fakes and legal knock-offs is to either: a.) introduce less expensive lines of their products to meet the demand of shoppers, or b.) make the attorneys rich by going to court and suing.

To quote from this article in the News Observer from August 13, 2007, “The disregard for designer creativity – for what might be called ‘research and development’ in another industry – reflects the way in which American culture has always viewed fashion. In the early 1990’s for example, French designer Yves Saint Laurent sued Ralph Lauren…”

In 2003, Counterfeit Chic out of Canada stated that it was commonplace for clothing designers in America to watch the New York shows with an eye for how they could knock-off the competitor’s designs and manufacture them in mass. Doing this doesn’t break any infringement laws because they can claim the imitations are only “designer inspired”.

For that reason, a designer gown worn by a movie star at the Oscars can be copied and on the store shelves of Macy’s or Sax Fifth Avenue within days. The line crossing into crime is only if it can be proved the design is a forgery. As long as the tag doesn’t state it’s a designer’s product, it’s legal.

Taking matters into their own hands, many designers have hired private investigators to purchase fake goods and track down their sources, giving a whole new meaning to the term “mystery shopper”.  If you’re going to sell fake designer purses at your purse party, you better think twice.

Tips For Never Ending Bookings

If your goal is to be a successful purse party consultant, you’ll understand the key is to find people to host a purse parties. Here are a few tips that I use to keep my appointment book full of purse party bookings.

1.      Print out business cards. Most computer word programs have templates and you can get blank, perforated sheets at an office supply store. Enclose one in any bills you pay, or attach one if you pay for services by check. Examples might be the babysitter, the exterminator, the tree trimmer, your insurance agent and others you do business with.

2.      Where ever you go shopping or are out in public, be friendly, be warm and make eye contact. Strike up a conversation. Compliment them on their outfit and say that you’ve “just the thing” they need to go with it. Get their contact number and address to send them a catalog or invitation to a party.  If the person is showing interest and you’re getting a good feeling just ask her is she’d host a purse party.

3.      Distribute flyers or business cards around the neighborhood or at apartment complexes, condos and businesses nearby, if it’s all right to do so. Please take “No Soliciting” signs seriously.

4.      Ask a lady in front of you while you’re waiting in line if she would like to get a free purse, no strings attached. Show them your purse, or wallet. Tell them about its quality and how you got it. Then just ask, “Would you like to host a purse party?”

5.      Always ask for referrals. Do they know of anyone who would be interested in getting a free purse? Or if they’re people who have hosted a party of yours, ask them if they know anyone else who would like to host one?

6.      Customer Appreciation Days.  If your hair salon or pet groomer is having one, ask if you can bring your merchandise and you will give them 20% of the sales as a thank you.

7.      Follow up on your clients who have hosted purse parties in the past. Would they care to host another? Volunteer to help them with their hot and warm lists or provide some guests of your own.

8.      By all means, follow up with people who have purchased merchandise at your parties. Don’t hound them, of course, but call a few weeks later and ask for feedback on the products they purchased and the party in general. If they seem excited, talk to them about hosting a party. Keeping those ripples spreading in an outward direction.

9.      Act like you’re busy and your schedule is filling up for bookings, even if you’re not. Busy people appear to be successful people. People also feel a sense of excitement that they can squeeze into your schedule. It makes them feel important and also more respectful of your time. But don’t be gruff or pushy in an effort to appear important it won’t get them to host a purse party.

10.  Plan parties 2-4 weeks out to give you and your host ample time to get together, send out invitations, plan the menu, help with follow ups and most importantly keep your hostess upbeat.

For those purse party consultants looking for ladies to host a purse party keeping your appointment book full I hope these tips can help.

As purses and handbags came into use in the everyday wardrobes, different names began to crop up to describe their styles and use.

Clutch – is a medium to small sized elongated bag with a short handle or sometimes no handle. It’s designed to be carried close to the body in one’s hand, thus the name. In earlier fashion trends, they were often made of fur or were beaded and embroidered. Often times, evening bags are in the style of a clutch. In the age of glam and bling, more clutches in metallic colors are hitting the markets.

Look for them in the softest leather to Patten leather in hues of bronzes, platinum or gold.

Tote – is a larger bag usually with two handles. It’s usually in a durable fabric or leather because it’s a daytime, everyday style bag. Some totes in the past have been made in straw, hemp, or macramé. Totes vary in sizes and may have outside compartments as well as inner pockets.

Pocketbook – is similar to a purse in the British sense of the word. It’s a woman’s wallet that does not fold over as a man’s, but often is compartmentalized into a section for coins, a section for currency and sections for cards, pictures or checks. At times it can be carried separately like a clutch, but often times are concealed in a tote.

Satchel – is a large bag with a small handle that’s meant to be carried on the forearm instead of a shoulder. Many think of the satchel as made of straw or canvas and sold near beaches or tropical ports of call.

Duffle – (duffel) is a very large bag used to haul sports equipment or short stay traveling. It’s usually made of canvas or a waterproof polyester, vinyl, etc. It most often has two short woven straps and is zippered or Velcro sealed.

Shoulder bag – a tote with a longer strap slung over the shoulder with the bag portion riding on the hip. These became the most popular in the 1960’s and were often in Patten leather.

They’ve never gone out of style because they offer large storage space and the convenient shoulder strap leave the hands free to do other tasks.

Messenger bag – so named from Pony Express days on up through the World Wars, this bag is worn diagonally from the shoulder to around the waist and carried on the side hip. Couriers wore them as well as the bicycle messengers in large cities before fax machines and email took over. Introduced in the 1990’s as an anti-fashion statement, it’s becoming increasingly popular for women’s everyday bags. Also laptop computer bags can resemble a messenger style bag.

Fanny Pack – (hip pack, tummy pack) has recently become popular in the handbag world for the athlete or weekend jogger to carry essentials around their middle. It’s less cumbersome and is now used by new mothers and grandmothers as well.

Murse – (manbag) Off and on in the fashion trends, a “purse” for men tries to make a showing. Smaller than a backpack, it more resembles a messenger bag and is usually in fine leather. Hey, after all the junk of theirs we’ve had to carry in our bags,

I say go for it, guys. Coach has long had a line for men from smaller leather bags to ones for laptops. If you think about it, the purse was originally designed only for you men and not for the women in your life until say, 400 years or so ago.