I have a pair of shoes that makes my heart swell with happiness whenever I look at them. It’s not just that they’re beautifully crafted black leather pumps; it’s also the memory of my blissful experience of walking into a gorgeous downtown Calgary store right after they’d been marked down. I can’t put them on without thinking, Score!
Shopping luck is great, but like any kind of luck, you can make your own. Chatelaine has rounded up three savvy shoppers who count on knowledge, tenacity and confidence to get the best buys. Whether you’re a label maven or a discount diva, the tricks and tips on these pages are sure to hone your hunting and gathering skills.
For Vancouver’s Lorelynn Hart, negotiation comes naturally. “It comes from my parents, who are from the Philippines,” says Lorelynn, who remembers shopping with her mother as a child and watching her ask for better deals wherever they went. Now, she does the same. For example, when she and her husband bought their first home last year, they found several pieces of furniture they wanted at one shop. “We told them we would buy all of the furniture if there was some type of discount,” says Lorelynn. “They agreed to 10 per cent and threw in free delivery. It never hurts to ask.”
Sarah Clark loves to shop, and she particularly likes getting a deal. A regional public relations co-ordinator for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Vancouver, she has the opportunity to travel frequently, and some of her best finds have been made on her trips. “The two Armani skirts I bought for $10 each were definitely a high point,” she says.
End-of-season (and off-season) bargains:
Clothes and shoes You’ll save the most from January to February and July to August. Anna Wallner, co-host and executive producer of W Network’s The Shopping Bags, tries to avoid hitting the stores until these deeply discounted times. “Stick to fashion magazines in the meantime so you know what’s hot,” she advises.
Running shoes Pick up a new pair in December or June, Wallner suggests, when stores are making room for next season’s styles.
Cars Shop for a new set of wheels in August and September. That’s when car manufacturers are revving up to introduce new models.
Real estate House hunt in the winter. According to Chris Johnston, principal and senior consultant of Canadian retail and marketing consulting firm JC Williams Group, most people prefer to move in the summer, so cold weather means less buying competition.
Travel Avoid peak seasons, such as March break, when prices climb. Instead, book off-season, paying special attention to all-inclusive deals to destinations such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic. And if you have the option of taking off at the last minute, shop the week before and you could see your savings double.
