Not in Stock, Not Coming — The Quiet Truth About Luxury Inventory
What’s really going on when boutiques say “we didn’t receive that style.”
Welcome — I’m Angela, the personal shopper behind Shop With Angela.
I work with a global network of clients to source rare, high-demand pieces from the world’s most coveted fashion houses — from Chanel and Hermès to Loro Piana, fine watches, and ready-to-wear.
This Substack is a more private space — where I share the realities behind luxury sourcing, what’s actually happening inside boutiques, and why some items never make it to your local market. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at an industry that’s often beautiful on the surface — but much less transparent underneath.
If you’ve ever wondered how certain people always get the impossible-to-find pieces, this is where I explain how it works.
What brands won’t tell you about luxury inventory — and how personal shopping fills the gap.
You walk into a boutique and ask about those new Chanel raffia ballet flats you’ve been seeing everywhere.
The sales associate says:
“We never received those ones.”
Not sold out. Just… not available.
And you’re left wondering, why not here?
Here’s the Truth: It Was Never Sent to Canada
This happens more than most people realize (especially in Canada).
Luxury brands don’t distribute products equally across all markets. Instead, they send high-demand items to regions where they expect the highest volume of sales — often Asia, the Middle East, and the UK.
Take the Loro Piana Inglesina stroller — launched in Asia, the UK, and the Middle East. Not in the U.S., and definitely not in Canada.
Unboxing: Loro Piana x Inglesina Stroller sourced for a customer in Canada.
Same goes for the Chanel Nano Shopper Mini Bag — the micro-sized version of a style you may have seen all over Instagram in the last couple of years. It was released in select countries, including Canada in very limited quantities. I was lucky enough to source one from Montreal for a client last year.
But recently, someone reached out asking for it again — and so far, Canada hasn’t received this bag in the smaller size this season. Only the larger version has arrived.
It’s not about exclusivity — it’s about strategy. Brands allocate based on projected sales. And Canada? We’re often treated as a lower-volume market.
The System Wasn’t Built With You in Mind
Most people don’t realize that Canada often doesn’t have its own buyer.
That means product decisions — like what styles or sizes a store receives — are often made in the U.S., by people who may not understand Canadian clients at all.
When I worked in luxury retail, I saw this all the time.
We’d receive just five units of a hot item. No restocks. No options.
And no, boutiques usually can’t request more — even if they wanted to.
It’s not that sales associates don’t want to help you. It’s that they were never given the inventory to begin with.
So, What Happens When You Want Something Canada Didn’t Get?
Sometimes boutiques can place special orders — but usually only for VIP clients with a long purchase history. If you’re new, or the item is considered too low in value (like a $2,000 dress), the answer is often no.
This is the kind of problem we’re here to solve
As a luxury personal shopping service, we work globally.
People often ask, “Where are you based?” — but that matters less than you’d think. Local inventory is limited, so we source internationally: across Europe, Asia, the U.S., and beyond.
If a piece was released elsewhere, we look there. If it’s still available, we usually know where to find it. And when timing matters, we often secure it within days.
From Chanel Nano Shoppers and LV x Murakami to Hermès exotics, Patek Philippe, and ready-to-wear — we help clients access what boutiques can’t, no client profile required.
And yes, we ship worldwide.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever walked into a store and been told:
“Sorry, we never received that.”
Now you know why.
The item wasn’t sold out. It was never sent here. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out.
You just need someone who knows where to look.
Until next,
Angela
🌐 Explore more: www.shopwithangela.ca
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