BY CATHERINE CASSIDY
As a personal stylist, I think it’s pretty ironic that I act
ually don’t really like shopping. What gets me through it is that I LOVE Fashion and making women look stunning.
And what really helps get me through it is streamlining the process so I can get it done as quickly and effectively as possible.
I’m giving away some great tools, so pay close attention!
Know your Stores
Have you ever noticed how the same stores can seem completely different? Meaning, you go into one Zara but it’s totally different than the Zara the town over you visited yesterday.
Allow me to explain. If a company is working intelligently, they don’t stock their store in Des Moines, Iowa the same as they do in Los Angeles, California. Even more, they generally don’t even stock two stores in the same city alike.
Basically, in order to maximize sales, store such as Nordstrom, BCBG, the Gap, etc. stock their stores according to the clientele and demographics of the area.
So, how can you know if you’ll be visiting the best store for your needs?
Feel free to call ahead and ask a few questions of the sales people:
( Bigger Budget = Higher Price Point Merch = Better Assortment)
(Meaning, A/B/C/D – companies label their stores and allocate assortment accordingly. Just as grades in school, these go from best to worst)
Plan your Route
Even if you’re going out of your way to find the best store, you should plan out your route.
Generally, I like to go to the furthest spot first and work my way back, but I’m also dealing with LA traffic. If that’s not a problem for you, you could always do the opposite.
Also, consider when traffic has it’s peaks and valleys. Here in LA, traffic starts to get worse by 2 pm on a weekday, so I try to get most of it in between 10 – 2. If you plan out your route and exactly the stores to hit this is perfectly possible. No dilly dallying! Don’t just wander in to ‘check it out.’ That’s only allowed if something specifically compels you and even then, check it out and get out!
That said, be very specific about the stores you want to get to. If something else catches your eye, make a mental note (or save it to your phone) and put it on your route for next time.
If you’re buying gifts or something for someone else, come prepared with some ideas – even if it’s a mental list. If it’s for someone else, don’t stress over finding the perfect gift. Simply start considering their personality and the things they like and I trust that some good ideas will come through for you.
As soon as you enter the store, take a look around and see if anything catches your eye. Maybe it’s a styled mannequin, a print, or a color. Whatever it is, use that item as a jumping off point for quickly walking through the store.Personally, I’m a stickler for quality, so you’ll see me touching all the fabrics to see if I really like it. You’ll also see me picking up the item and quickly assessing whether or not I like it (considering print, color, stitching/quality, and cut). Really, don’t waste time hemming and hawing. Either you like it or you don’t!
Ask for Help!
Hand in hand with having a list, don’t be afraid to ask for help! The salespeople are comfortable with the layout of the store and intimately know the merchandise. Do you think that can save you some time? Not to mention some headache?
If it makes you feel any better, I even ask for help from salespeople when I’m shopping for a client for exactly that reason – they can lead me to what I want quickly!
If you really want to kick it up a notch, then hiring a professional to tackle all of this for you (or teach you how to) is what you should aim for in the New Year. A great professional will teach you all the tricks and tools along the way so eventually you could do it on your own if you needed to (teach a man to fish approach!). She will also give you spot on and honest advice to make sure you’re not only maximizing your time and style, but also your money.
Happy Shopping! (Seriously!)