Spilled curry on your one-week-old Prada bag and cannot remove the stain? Fret not. You will be glad to know there is a thriving professional bag and shoe cleaning service industry in Singapore, which may be able to help save your precious buy.
Operators estimate there are now at least seven players here, up from four about five years ago.
Despite growing consumer demand, professional cleaning for bags and shoes is still a niche industry as it requires specialised expertise and technology, says Ms Gemma Gil, managing director of ColorWash International, a professional cleaning service provider that started in Singapore in 2003.
The five operators Urban spoke to report growth of 15 to 30per cent in business every year. Besides ColorWash International, they are My Bag Spa, Cleanique Bags Services, Bag Spa and TheBag And Shoe Aesthetics.
ColorWash, the first bag and shoe professional cleaning service provider to set up shop here, has eight outlets in Singapore, four in Indonesia, one in HongKong and one in the Philippines, making a total of 14 stores.
My Bag Spa started with one outlet in Far East Plaza in 2004. Since 2008, it has franchised its operations in five markets - Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam, opening 11outlets overseas and two more in Singapore, bringing its total number of stores to 14.
Newer operators such as Bag Spa, which opened in International Plaza in 2009, are also faring well.
Ms May Xie, Bag Spa's owner and director, declines to reveal exact sales figures but says revenue has been growing at a consistent rate of 30 per cent every year. It will open its second outlet here in Ang Mo Kio Hub in July. It also has four outlets overseas - two in Thailand, one in Malaysia and one in China.
SURGE IN DEMAND
Singaporeans' increasing affluence has led to a surge in demand for their services, say operators.
They report seeing more luxury branded bags being sent in for servicing - Prada, Chanel and Hermes bags, in particular. They estimate that branded totes make up about 70 per cent of the bags they handle.
Ms Cecilia Tan, who owns The Bag And Shoe Aesthetics, says: "As people are more well-informed and educated, they tend to become more brand-conscious. The prevalence of social media also encourages consumerism among the younger crowd and many students own branded goods now."
Only 5 per cent of her store's walk-in customers request shoe cleaning services, with 95 per cent opting for bag cleaning.
Ms Xie of Bag Spa says: "Shoes are perceived to be less complex and easier to clean so most owners do it themselves. But luxury bags are more expensive and owners would rather send them for professional cleaning."
With stiff competition in a niche industry, operators are constantly rolling out new products and looking for ways to improve their services.
To mark its 10th anniversary last month, ColorWash came up with two types of disposable wipes that can be used on leather products to remove minor stains on the go.
Priced at $4.90 per packet for both types, they are available at all ColorWash outlets.
Cleanique Bags Services, a six-year-old chain with four outlets here, also launched a do-it-yourself leather kit in June last year. The kit contains a leather cleaner and moisturiser. However, it still recommends that customers bring in their items for a professional cleaning every six months.
NOT EASY, BUT SATISFYING
The industry comes with its own set of challenges. Handling the prized possessions of customers is never easy, especially when one is faced with the task of removing difficult stains.
Mr Simon Lee, marketing manager of My Bag Spa, finds dealing with animal waste or vomit stains the toughest.
"The item can be disinfected but the odour may not be removed," he says, adding that items with such stains usually have to go through an odour-removing process many times.
Bags made of unconventional materials, such as ostrich skin and python skin, are also difficult to treat as they are more delicate and tend to crack more easily.
Operators say they will accept only jobs that they can handle, and they strive to make sure customers understand the limitations of their services.
Ms Gil of ColorWash recounts an incident when a customer was willing to pay any amount for her 10-year-old Chanel bag to be restored to its former glory. Not only had the leather lost its shine, but the bag also sported many cracks due to wear and tear and the lack of proper care.
"We told her the bag was permanently damaged and could not be salvaged. Instead of being unreasonable, she valued our honesty."
Still, it is always satisfying when the toughest of tasks is accomplished. MsXie of Bag Spa recalls a customer who once spilled an entire bottle of nail polish onto her leather and fabric Gucci bag.
Removing the nail polish from the materials was not too difficult, but re-drawing the discoloured logo was an enormous challenge for her employees, she says.
"But we did it and when the customer complimented us on a job well done, we felt a great sense of accomplishment."
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DIY TIPS
Five operators share do-it-yourself tips on stain removal and good bag and shoe care.
My Bag Spa says:
Do not use wet wipes to clean stains on your bags and shoes as they may contain alcohol and oils, which can aggravate the stain. Instead, gently dab the stain with a dry tissue to minimise the damage and send it for professional cleaning as soon as possible.
Do not place your shoes in the shoe cabinet immediately after use. Perspiration or moisture will encourage mould growth. Leave them out to air for 10 to 20minutes before storing them. Bag Spa says:
Send your bag or shoes for a protective coating before using them. A protective coating is a transparent layer of a chemical substance. It will not change the look or texture of the item, but will make it water resistant and protect it from ultraviolet rays which can cause colour fading. Do not try to clean pen marks as the wrong treatment may cause greater staining or rub off the dye and grain of the leather. Send the item for professional cleaning instead. ColorWash International says:
Buy small charcoal packs ($9.90 each, from all ColorWash outlets) and place them in your bags and shoes to remove odour and absorb moisture. To reuse the packs, dry them in the sun or in the refrigerator. Stuffing your bags and shoes when they are not in use with newspaper wrapped with clean tracing paper helps to absorb moisture and minimise mould growth. Cleanique Bags Services says:
Keep your bags and shoes in a well-ventilated place with adequate air circulation. Sun them for a few minutes fortnightly to help kill fungus and bacteria. For ink stains on bags or shoes made of patent leather, dip a cotton bud in olive or mineral oil. Dab the ink stain gently with the cotton bud to remove it. Wipe the remaining oil on the leather off with a dry cloth. The Bag And Shoe Aesthetics says:
Send your bag for waterproofing treatment to protect it from the rain and water stains before using it. Mould can develop easily in bags and shoes due to the humidity in Singapore. Buy a dehumidifier to dry the air in the place where you store your bags and shoes, or leave them in an open space, away from direct sunlight.
LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS
1. ColorWash International
www.colorwash.com.sg
Outlets include 03-05 Mandarin Gallery; B1-05 Marina Square; and 01-01 ChinaSquare Central
Launched in 2003, ColorWash has eight outlets in Singapore and sixin Indonesia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
It specialises in cleaning all kinds of leather and fabric, as well as providing other services such as colouring, water protection and protective coating.
It says designer boutiques that engage its services include Celine, Chanel, Gucci, Miu Miu and Prada.
Common stains and marks it sees on customers' bags are food stains such as ketchup or milk, lipstick stains and dirt resulting from perspiration and dust.
Prices: From $15 for shoes and from $40 for bags (cleaning); from $50 for shoes and from $100 for bags (colouring).
2. My Bag Spa
www.mybagspa.com
02-75 Far East Plaza; 02-09 ChangeAlley Link Bridge; and B1-105 Lucky Plaza
Set up in 2004, My Bag Spa has three outlets in Singapore and 11 in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
It specialises in restoration as well as customising colours for all types of bags and shoes.
Common stains and marks it sees are pen ink marks, wear and tear caused by abrasions and water stains.
Prices: It declined to reveal its prices.
3. Cleanique Bags Services
www.cleanique.com.sg
Outlets include 02-97C Lucky Plaza; 02-044 Suntec City Mall Tower 1; and 05-08B OUB Centre (under renovation till December)
Opened in 2007, Cleanique has fouroutlets in Singapore. It specialises in lacquering and restoring colours on glossy bag and shoe surfaces.
Upscale boutiques such as Agnes b, Bottega Veneta, Christian Dior, Ferragamo, Loewe, Prada and Valentino are said to send their bags and shoes to the chain for cleaning.
Common stains and marks it sees include mould, oil and water stains.
Prices: From $20 for shoes and from $45 for bags (cleaning); from $70 for shoes and from $100 for bags (colouring).
4. The Bag And Shoe Aesthetics
www.tbsa.com.sg
02-27 Singapore Shopping Centre
Launched in 2008, The Bag And Shoe Aesthetics specialises in cleaning lambskin, nubuck, suede, untreated leather and exotic skins such as alligator, ostrich and snake.
High-end labels that engage its services are said to include Chanel, Coach, Gucci, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Tods.
Common stains and marks it sees on customers' bags are lipstick stains, oil stains, pen and highlighter ink marks, coffee stains, water stains and wine stains.
Prices: From $35 for shoes and from $65 for bag (cleaning); from $90 for shoes and from $195 for bags (colouring).
5. Bag Spa
www.bagspa.com
02-39 International Plaza
Bag Spa opened one outlet here in 2009 and will open its second in July. It has four others in China, Malaysia and Thailand.
It specialises in colour restoration for all types of bags and shoes.
Common stains and marks it sees on customers' bags are food stains such as gravy, oil stains, pen ink marks and scuff marks.
Prices: From $8 for shoes and from $35 for bags (cleaning); from $30 for shoes and from $80 for bags (colouring).
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