GAZELLES IN OUR MIDST
Do It Right
… and They Will Come
SUE MCCARTHY TALKS BOOK, BEGINNINGS, SUCCESS AND FASHION
By Vi c k i Fr e n c h B e n n i n g t o n
At a book signing at The
Vault Luxury Resale
92
GAZELLE
T
he double flap Chanel bag is probably the most historically
significant fashion accessory ever. And Sue McCarthy,
founder and CEO of The Vault Luxury Resale and author
of “Good, Better, Best” can give you the particulars.
First, Coco Chanel added a shoulder-length strap,
changing the course of handbag history. The original M lock on the
purse stood for mademoiselle because Coco was single. Newer versions
were replaced with the familiar interlocking Cs. The quilted exterior was
reminiscent of Coco’s love for horseback riding, reminding her of the
vests worn by the stable hands. The dark burgundy interior represented
the color of the uniforms at the convent where she grew up, and an inside
compartment was rumored to be for her love letters.
Who knew?
McCarthy, that’s who. She knows her stuff, and that’s just one of the
long list of stories she can share about the merchandise she carries, though
she said her daughter, Laura McCarthy Maurice, is the real fashion font of
information. Her other daughter, Diana McCarthy Ford, is the marketing
guru. Both work in the store, and both starred alongside their mother
in “Resale Royalty,” the Style Network documentary series that helped
launch McCarthy’s shop internationally, though she achieved success in
the luxury retail trade even before the show came along.
But McCarthy didn’t start out sporting (or selling) Chanel, Louis
Vuitton or Christian Louboutin in her own store in an exclusive
Brentwood location. In fact, she opened her first shop with a couple of
racks of clothes brought in by friends and family. But she did things a little
different than some of the thrift stores she herself had shopped in.
“I always bought used, because I don’t think it makes sense to pay full
price,” she said. “One day, I thought, ‘Why do these stores have to be dirty
and dark? I want to do this, but I want to do it better.’”
She wanted to utilize the resale concept, but take it up a few notches.
“I wanted my store to be clean and bright, and welcome customers like
any upscale shop,” she said.
She worked hard (still does), standing by the motto, “tell people what
you’re going to do, and do it right,” and has always kept her stores organized,
with an upscale presentation. But she said her real secret to success has
always been superior customer service, which she continues to provide.
Through several stores and name changes, the business continued to
thrive, and she was approached by a producer for “Resale Royalty.” When