Top: Nordstrom (on sale!!!) | Bottoms: Rag & Bone (on sale!!!!) | Shoes: Christian Louboutin, similar here | Earrings: Nordstrom | Lips: Nars Lipstick Pencil in Cruella with Nars Audacious Lipstick in Annabella
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Many of you might not know this, but at my previous job, I worked on the eCommerce team. My main job was buying and merchandising of the website. But I also ran the editorial calendar and stalked competitors websites almost daily. I kept track of sales, marketing strategies, how long sales ran, if sales were the same in stores vs. online, and so much more. At any given time I was able to rattle off what sale was going on and all the details around it. I can’t keep up like I use to, mostly because my current job has nothing to do with online sales. But I’m still really good at knowing a good sale!
So you might be thinking, ‘Why do I need to know this?’ Well I have SO many tips for online shopping that I want to share with you! And what better time of year to share those than the start of the Christmas season. I hardly ever pay full price for stuff, even some of my designer items. Now I am no expert by any means, but the sites I do shop at, I have a really good understanding about when to buy and when not to. So here it goes:
Sign Up for Retailer’s Emails
I know it’s annoying to get excess emails, but almost all sites offer a discount just for signing up (usually between 15-20% off). This is like free money! I even sometimes use an old email address or make Kurt sign up if I want something bad enough and their are no deals going on. And then you get notifications first hand of their sales in the future.
Also, make sure that once you start to receive emails that you actually OPEN up the email. Companies track who opens their emails and also who clicks thru to their website on those emails. Most companies then break their email list into smaller ‘buckets’ of people. Those who open and click thru their emails the most will be viewed as a ‘top customer’. And if you like the store enough, you want to be a top customer because they will send you special deals. I get sent ‘secret’ links to shop J.Crew’s New Arrivals before they are even live on their site! And I get special discounts from time to time. So if their is a retailer you shop at often, make sure you are opening AND clicking thru to the site. They will reward you for it, trust me!
Know When to Shop and When Not To
Good sales almost always start leading into the weekend (think Thursday or Friday). This is because websites typically run the same sales as they do in stores and traffic at the malls is the highest over the weekends. Be patient and WAIT.
Ok, but now that I said wait for sales I’m going to confuse you a little! For big holiday shopping weeks like Black Friday/Cyber Monday, retailers start their sales much earlier than they have in years past. When I worked in eCommerce we typically started a sale that Monday/Tuesday of Black Friday week and then changed to a new sale handle ON Black Friday. For example, the site would be 25% percent off starting the Tuesday before Black Friday and then Black Friday morning, the sale would change to 30% off. In my opinion you should shop early because the item you want might be sold out by the time the Black Friday deal starts.
Always Add Items to Your Cart
Make sure you create an account at your favorite retailers (use the same email address that you signed up to receive emails with). This way you can add items to your cart that you want to purchase and the items will be saved for whenever you choose to purchase them. When a big sale happens, you can quickly check out before items sell out.
I watch items in my cart all the time, especially at my favorite retailer, Nordstrom. Nordstrom is notorious for price matching. Meaning if another retailer has a sale going on, Nordstrom will offer the same discount. I’m probably not the norm here, but when I want something, I add it to my cart and I will check it religiously every day or every few days. And almost all of the time, at some point it goes on sale. I also do this when my size is sold out. Retailers get returns or exchanges so just because you size is sold out now, doesn’t mean you are doomed!
Always Try the Coupon Codes
A lot of retailers use a code in order to get the sale. For example, 25% off the site with code HOLIDAY. You have to physically enter this code at checkout. And you would be surprised at how many people actually forget to enter that code! So they are paying full price for merchandise that should have been on sale.
Anyways, I always add items to my cart and then add the code. I then go back and scan my cart to make sure the code worked on ALL of the items in my cart. Sometimes retailers will exclude certain items which is a bummer. Or you could be pleasantly surprised! Items might go on sale that you thought might not be included. I could still kick myself because last year J.Crew had this amazing leather jacket and the Black Friday Deal was 40%. Well the code actually worked for 40% off, which I was shocked that it did. I didn’t buy the coat and then they were sold out of my size for the rest of the year. I’ve been pleasantly surprised so many times that a code actually worked on an item I wasn’t expecting it to!
Shop Early
Popular items during the holidays sell out quickly. So if you want something just buy it! And make sure that if you are shopping online you pay close attention to the delivery dates. As we get closer to Christmas, the shipping window gets tighter. So you might have to pay for expedited shipping in order to get your gift in time.
Big Shopping Days
Early November– Lots of retailers have a Friends & Family Event in early November to “kick off” the season. These sales are happening now, so be on the lookout!
Thanksgiving Day, November 23– So many retailers are opening their doors now on Thanksgiving (which I don’t agree with!), but it gives you a jump start on the Black Friday deals
Black Friday, November 24– Shop early and be on the lookout for the doorbuster deals! I typically shop in store vs. online on this day because I love the buzz at the malls!
Small Business, Saturday November 25- Shop and support local businesses or Etsy shops you love. Small Businesses deserve love too!
Cyber Monday, November 27– One of the biggest shopping holidays for online sales. Most people shop in stores for Black Friday and wait for Cyber Monday to shop online. Retails will offer great deals on this day similar to Black Friday deals.
Giving Tuesday (day after Cyber Monday), November 28– Retailers pair up with charities and you can donate to their charity of choice. And lots of retails also extend their Cyber Monday deal for one more day!
Green Monday, December 12– The second Monday of December every year marks Green Monday which is the busiest shopping day of the year. It’s crunch time for consumers.
Free Shipping Day, December 18– Retailers offer free shipping and guarantee customers will get their items in time for the holiday.
Super Saturday, December 23 and Christmas Eve, December 24– I recommend shopping in store if you have waited until now to get gifts. You will pay a ton of money in shipping in order to get your purchase in time for the holiday. If you need. a quick gift, e-giftcards are always easy because they can be sent electronically.
I hope these tips help you with your shopping this year and you save tons of money! What shopping tips do you have for the holiday season?
xoxox Amanda
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