From Bags to Riches.com :: Not Your Average Apparel Sale Website

In fact, they don't specialize in apparel sale, they specialize in renting out high end handbags to the common folk of the world, who greatly outnumber the rich and famous.  Who hasn't wished they could walk in to a party donning the latest bag from Gucci or LV? Even if it’s just for one night, sometimes it’s just nice to have something nicer than everyone else; call it “catty woman syndrome.”

So, what exactly is FromBagstoRiches.com all about?  Similar to other websites like BagBorroworSteal.com, they carry high-end handbags that you can rent for a fee; rates range from $22.95 to $299.95, depending on what designer you’re looking to rent. Designers currently include Chloe Paddington, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton,, LAMB, Juicy Couture, Fendi, Dooney & Bourke, and Coach.

Founder and CEO Kara Richter says that the company was started when she looked at her closet and realized that she both wanted, and needed, more than one really nice, expensive handbag. And if she was feeling that way, there must be other women out there that felt the same.  With a mission statement that addresses how a woman "feels good" when she "looks good," they certainly knew their market going in to the game.  In 2004, the company launched, and they've had their ups and downs, but have definitely leveled off since then, as their web traffic stats clearly show.

Many of you may be saying “but this is just like other handbag rental sites out there…..” and in some ways, you’re right.  The selection is large and varied and you do rent bags – here’s what’s different:  you don’t pay a membership fee (unless you want to belong to Club Diva), you don’t pay for shipping, there’s no wait list (what’s on the site is available right now), and there’s no insurance fees - $100 worth of insurance is included in the rental fee that you pay.

Overall, I think that Kara Richter has the right formula in FromBagstoRiches.com; I expect that this site will continue to experience growth as more and more people seek out luxury items at an affordable cost.