Rohan Bags Price Index
I have mentioned in several posts that I am trying to track the price of a pair of Rohan Bags over the last 30 years. It’s not often that this can be done because products change so often or are superseded, up or down graded. Not the case with Rohan Bags. Soon to be celebrating over 30 years of continuous manufacturing means that we can track the Bags Price Index over all those years. An interesting exercise. Let’s see what we find.
I was talking to Tim Rohan’s Design Director about this, he mentioned the Mars Bar Index. I was intrigued. A little investigation told me that apparently it has been observed on several occasions that the price of a Mars Bar correlates accurately with the change in value of the pound sterling since World War II. Well, we can manage 30 years. Let’s start in 1980. Paul Grantham great post Rohan Long Preston 1st reported that Paul paid £19.99 for his Bags just before the Rohan Long Preston shop opened. Thanks again Paul.
Around that time, a Mars Bar cost 15p – a mini £2,900 and an average graduate salary was £5,700.
To date, I have not got very far with my Bags Price Index below.
1980 £19.90 OK £20.00
1983 £23.00
1984 £29.00
1986 £29.00
If anybody would like to join in just drop us a comment with the year and the price, I will add it to our index. It will be interesting to see what we end up with.
A little quote
Maybe we will be able to say the same thing about Rohan Bags.
Sarah Howcroft
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6 Comments
I would like to add to the Bags price index. I have lived in The States for 30 years. When I return to the UK I drop into the Covent Garden shop to buy my Bags. I have been doing this since Covent Garden opened. Before Covent Garden opened I phoned Long Preston when I was in London and had them sent to me in London. Once I made it to a Regional Show in a hotel in London. That was an interesting experience. Bags are not low cost to buy they are however high value. I am still wearing some of my first Bags which cost me approx. £19.00 I think in very early 80′s. That is value for money.
I can add to the Bags price index list
1988 £35.00
1986 £29.00
1984 £35.00
Guess what I am still wearing the bags I purchased in 1988. I would be wearing the others but they are in constant use. My daughter has them she is living in New Zealand. How’s that for value for money. ( She also has my Olfio and Wild Vest)
I have just received a catalogue in the post from a mystery Rohanist. The date is 1981 Spring Range. It is a black and white catalogue with line drawings no photographs.
The same person also sent me the price list to go with the catalogue, and it lists Bags price £18.19. Colour available Lovat or Grey. That’s a new one for the list.
Thank you for sending the catalogue mystery Rohanist
I am one of the lucky ones, I purchased my first pair of Bags at a Rohan sale in 1987 at the Rohan Shop in Covent Garden. It was March I remember because sale day was my birthday. I stood in a very long line of people we stretched around the block. I couldn’t believe the number of people. The door opened, and I was among the first group of people in the shop. I gathered up my Bags in Distant Green £31.00, a Wild Vest £19.00 and Olfio Distant Green £19.00. Guess what I still have all three. I know how much each one cost because I was using all my birthday money from my family.
WOW Warren – thank you for the prices to add to the Bags Price Index and the memories.
Looking forward to the link to the timeline. Please post it when you are ready, so we can all share
Hi Sarah,
Here’s what I have on prices for Bags. Alas many catalogues/pricelists didn’t indicate the year, which makes it bit tricky
March 1983 – 23
1983 – 25
1986 – 29
Spring 1987 – 31
1987 – 31
1987 – 33 (Action Bags)
1988 – 23.71 (for International orders, probably less the VAT, I guess)
Winter 87/88 – 35
1989 -35
Winter 1989/90 – 35
Spring Summer 1990 – 39
Sept 1995 – 55 (Base Camp Bags)
March 1996 – 43
I’m Warren McLaren. I was that troublesome Australian that was always bothering you and Paul about trivial stuff. I still have some of that correspondence from when Rohan was small enough that you guys corresponded personally and even signed the letters. I met you both on several occasions, in Long Preston in 1983 and later in Milton Keynes in 1986. Then i met you when I was the designer at Paddy Pallin, and you joined us for an Australian coastal picnic in Royal National Park. I recall you weren’t keen to wear a proffered Akuba hat to keep the sun off, because made of rabbit fur it assailed your vegan ethics. (I might even have a photo deep in the archives of you and the dreaded hat.)
I was very saddened when Rohan was sold to Clarks. And especially so when I learnt of Paul’s most unfortunate car accident. There have been few companies and designers, with such a entrepreneurial, innovative and rebel spirit in the outdoor scene since then.
It’s weird you starting up the Rohantime project, because simultaneously I’ve been trying to develop a modest little website that chronicles innovative design in the global outdoor industry. I’ve scanned a heap of old catalogs I had in boxes, and created milestone timelines for many companies, but its still not complete. However my Rohan profile was the first I had mostly finalised. When I get it more sorted I’ll forward the link.
all the best, warren