Beautiful things: two for the price of one

   A while back I bought a designer handbag. Sadly not for me, it was a present for my wife. The bag itself is a beautiful thing, but it's not the subject of this post. Instead I'd like to talk about the packaging it arrived in. Normally when you order something online, it either arrives in a flimsy plastic pouch or a padded paper bag. This packaging is simply something that serves the purpose of keeping the dirt of transit away from the product and is normally disposable.
    Not in this case. This bag arrived in a pouch made from slightly thicker plastic, I'm guessing PVC rather than polythene. On it was the designer's signature pattern and printed instructions on where to cut to create a designer shopping carrier bag from it. A few minutes with the scissors and hey presto! my wife has two designer bags instead of one!
    I find this to be satisfying on so many levels. First, it's an attractive item in its own right. Second, it's a clever way to ensure recycling by making something disposable into something useful. Third, it's a brilliant piece of marketing. What girl isn't going to be pleased with an unexpected extra piece of designer merchandise? Repeat business and extra logo exposure elegantly combined.
    Orla Kiely, you are a genius!