Business tote bag

著者：株式会社ミラック光学　代表取締役 村松 洋明

I recently bought a leather tote bag for business.
I usually use a regular genuine leather business bag, and I suddenly wanted a tote bag that I could easily throw in documents and belongings as well as carry a laptop and small prototype samples and that would allow me to easily access them.

Even though they are all called toto bags, I thought that the designs, shapes and sizes were all roughly the same and that there were not many major differences between them. However, when I started looking into it, I found that even genuine leather bags have a wide range of prices depending on the manufacturer．．．
Many of them have simple designs and shapes, are all about the same size and are made of well-made genuine leather. So, why do the prices vary so much ???

I’m not interested in the so-called “brand name” ultra-luxury bags, so I researched the bag for two weeks in search of a “deciding factor” for its simplicity before finally purchasing it.

In terms of price, I ended up choosing a more expensive one. I completely rejected the idea that “higher prices mean better quality” and I decided it on the points I want to look for and choose. I ended up choosing a more expensive one.

Although they all have a simple design and similar storage capacity, the price range varies. My criteria for choosing were following 3 points:
1.Specific explanation of genuine leather material
Even though it is simply called “genuine leather”, the explanation is thorough and clear about what a wonderful material that leather is, it is unique and rare compared to other leathers and the explanation makes sense.

2.Things about the manufacturing method
Every company expresses the phrase “made with the spirit of artisanship,” so it is important to visually show the details of how much particular has been paid to the product through videos and photos and how attentive they are to their products and to convince it.

3.Deliberately disclosure of the cost
Some manufacturers make their prices transparent by disclosing the costs of materials, parts, labor costs, packing materials, shipping costs and other fees. They also honestly state which processes they have cut costs in and “This is the fair price for our products.” and the statement makes sense.

By focusing on these three points, I was able to choose a good that I could be satisfied with and relate to even though it was a bit pricey.

Truly good products last a long time and the more we use them, the more we grow attached to them. We don’t end up with “be penny-wise and pound-foolish” and ultimately we can be satisfied even if the price is higher. I felt that the “balance” of various elements is very important when it comes to products.

There is a demand for ultra-luxury brand-name bags because they appeal to fans of the brand. There is also a need to purchase ultra-low-priced bags even if there are concerns about the quality. I think consumers choose the products based on their own values.

I learned once again that when choosing a product that is safe, reliable and can be used for a long time, it is important to find an exquisite balance of various elements, the “true credibility of the manufacturing site” whether it is in own factory or outsourced production and the overall “satisfying sense of product” and “product quality” that we feel important.