Attire Accessories - Jul/Aug 2019 (Issue 77)

88 Tell me a bit about how the company started. What was the aim of the label when it was launched? Founded in 1977 by owner Mark Perren’s father, Doug Perren, the original Nova Leathers shop in Bristol sold quality leather shoes to local customers. In 1979, Mark left his job as a bank manager and joined the business to diversify the offering and focus on the distribution of leather handbags. The range was a great success, not only locally in their shop but with other independent retailers that wished to stock them. In 1984, after the factory producing the bags closed, we travelled to India, looking for factories we could partner with to supply quality leather bags, and here we are. Today, Nova Leathers is a leading distributor of quality bags to the UK and Irish market. Supplying independent retailers, independent department stores, department store groups and garden centres, we have built a strong reputation and loyal customer base for more than 40 years How were the initial products developed, and what was the response? After seeing the success of the small range of leather bags, the decision was taken to expand the range in terms of styles, materials and colours. We diversified into other collections, such as David Jones bags and our Spirit canvas range of casual bags. Regardless of the material or collection, quality and affordability remain a constant. What sets you apart from your competitors? We pride ourselves on delivering the rare combination of quality, affordability and excellent customer service. Our strategy of not selling directly to consumers or through discounters means we can protect profit margins for our customers. We love working with retailers, and we give area exclusivity (within reason) for proactive customers. While always maintaining excellent quality, we believe that our products should be accessible to all and strive to ensure the collection represents outstanding value for money. A network of sales agents, a website with easy online ordering functionality, two dedicated showrooms and a strong presence at leading UK trade shows means that Nova Leathers is always accessible and easy to buy from. How important is your location and history to the company in its success? We are lucky enough to be headquartered in the beautiful countryside near Bristol. We have more than 15,000 sq ft of warehouse space so are able to hold a large amount of stock and fulfil orders quickly. We have lovely offices and showrooms and are always happy to welcome customers who are interested in seeing the latest ranges. Nova has a strong heritage. As well as owner Mark Perren’s father founding the business, his son David is the sales manager for the South West. Many of the people who work at Nova are friends of family. The team is a close-knit one, and we all care about our customers and our success. Sharing this success is also important to us, and we have supported a number of charities over the years, including Cardiac Risk in the Young and St Peter’s Hospice. We are also proud to have helped the Bristol Children’s Hospital through bidding on and winning Being Gromit Malkovich at the Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal in 2013 and Great West Shaun at the Shaun in the City Appeal in 2015. How has the product offering changed over the years, and how would you describe your current collection? Many of our classic leather styles have remained, but we have added more colours and finishes to the range. We have also diversified into other collections, such as the French brand David Jones and our Spirit canvas lifestyle range. We are developing a range of bags for men, including backpacks, messenger and laptop bags. Our SS19 collection includes a wide variety of styles, including clutches, shoulder bags, totes and messenger bags. How often do you launch new lines, and what are your bestselling designs? Tell me about your recent campaigns. We launch a new collection twice a year – Spring/ Summer and Autumn/Winter. Our bestsellers are our classic designs – simple totes and cross-bodies. However, we have definitely seen a surge in the popularity of backpacks and bum bags, which is reflective of catwalk trends.