SALES: Regent Crescent in full sales mode.
It’s that time of year again and the sales signs are filling up the shop windows. To be honest, the sales signs have been up for the last few months, as retailers try to persuade shoppers to part with their cash. But the 20% and 30% off level will surely rise to 40% and 50% off – and more.
Some people relish the sales and the chance to grab a bargain, but how can you avoid sale madness and make sensible purchases, especially in these fevered times?
Here are my Top Ten Tips on sales success, garnered from my many years of January rail-roving. I bought the ill-fitting Calvin Klein stone-wash jeans in a mad rush, so you don’t have to.
1. Do it alone! Take your time, make your own decisions without any pressure and trust your instinct. If you love it, then buy it!
2. If you do need to take someone with you, make sure it’s someone you trust to be honest. Sometimes friends are just too polite and will say a bin bag looks great on you.
3. Shop early! The malls are quieter, you’ll have the best choice of sales items and will be more alert too so all the more likely to spot a good bargain.
4. Don’t drink! Alcohol is likely to impair your judgement and you could sober up to be horrified by your purchases. Do make sure you stay hydrated though, as your energy levels can deplete quickly and affect your decision-making skills. Snack every so often, and pace yourself.
5. Before you buy anything think of three items in your existing wardrobe that it will match. It’s hardly a bargain if you need to buy more things to go with it.
6. Visit shops you can’t usually afford, as the sales are a great opportunity to complement your existing wardrobe with special pieces rather than buying more of the same. The quality will be better, and the pieces you buy will last for years.
7. Make use of personal shoppers. Before overhauling your look, get some advice from the professionals – they’ll be able to tell you what colours and shapes suit you so you know what to look for on those sale rails.
8. Before you hit the shops research the trends for the next season. That way it’s easier to buy investment pieces that will take you through winter to spring. Summery tea dresses and strappy tops can be layered with knitwear so you can get loads of wear out of them.
9. Many stores offer a collect by car service, which means no more struggling down the malls laden down by bags. Struggling can force you to go home early and miss bargains! But be careful not to forget just how much you’ve bought…
10. Don’t be afraid to rummage through the sale rails – one man’s tat is another man’s treasure. If you can’t find your size then ask, stores often have extra stock not on the shop floor.
* Have you bagged a brilliant bargain in the sales? Let me know! We all love a happy story…
Why isnt there a male creche. We could sit in there reading newspapers, watching TV, having a drink and relaxing. Girlies should not be allowed in, and to collect us, they need a ticket to get us out!
ooo what a dream ……………
What a brilliant idea Donald! I would want Playstations and unlimited cheese and pickle sandwiches in there!
what saddos, what are they on about “cheese an pickle sandwiches” – get a life you computer nerds!
Response to #8.
Can I ask why would you research next seasons trends when the sales contain last seasons styles, hence getting rid of them cheaply??
Good question Charlotte – lots of pieces in an season’s wardrobe will be ‘capsule’ pieces – the classic garments that come round year after year, and which can be dressed up according to what’s hot. They are always on the rails. For example, if you know that Spring/Summer 2009 is going to be hippy-chick, with white as the dominant colour, and floral additions, and that sandals are back, then you could buy some white cotton trousers in the sale, some floral accessories and a pair of sandals, and match those core items with what the fashion houses release nearer the time – which would make for a bang up-to-the-minute look without breaking the bank. Lots of people plan ahead this way – it means being good at reading the fashion pages, as well as being here for the bargains when the sales start.
Don’t forget too that some seasonal looks can have a long life and extend into the next season – for men, for example, black and grey have been stable colours since Spring/Summer last year, and buying those for next winter would be a sensible idea as the look won’t date.
i cannot believe this blog you take like it is some type of sort…’make sure u stay hydrated’….you think ppl are stupid and they need to read a blog to tell em to drink water…please……………..
Just been to the Florida Mall, Orlando. All the takeaways in the Food Hall offer free samples to all the shoppers. Try before you buy, that way you know you are going to get some reeeely yummy food!!! Or just go round and round and round eating all the free food!!! Just a thought for the Food Hall in the Trafford Centre.
good points! everyone needs a cheat sheet for happy shopping. i would also add that it’s good to find out from a sales associate when items are marked down. over here h&m gets their markdowns on tuesday, american eagle on wednesday and gap on thursday. that way, you can plan out your shopping trips.
http://tinyyetmighty.wordpress.com/2008/12/21/things-you-should-know-before-you-go-shopping/
Karen, I don’t need any excuse for free food! I shall pass that suggestion on to our Catering manager, and see what she thinks!
Excellent advice from a hardened shopper!