Tips and Tricks: How to Work a Sale Rack

Tips and Tricks:

How to Work a Sale Rack  

I hope that all of you are having a blessed holiday season, enjoying time with family and friends, and maybe even hitting up a sale rack or two this weekend!

Ah the sale rack, a mom’s best friend and worst nightmare all at once: on one hand it’s a way to save a few bucks (every extra dollar counts when managing the family budget), but with everything cluttered and thrown together it can be a huge time-suck (not ideal if you have a toddler tagging along on your mall trip).  The lack of organization can also be overwhelming- where to start?  What to buy?  How do I dig through this vast pile of sweaters, dresses, and tops and find things I actually need?

The key to sale rack shopping is simple: be prepared, shop smart, and invest in pieces that work with your current wardrobe and real life.  To break it down, here are my top tips for sale rack shopping:

1.     Know what you need.  Do a quick scan of your closet and take a note of needs and wants.  Ask yourself questions- are you looking for a few new and updated pieces or just looking to refresh your everyday basics?  Is there anything that you particularly need, like new boots or a new coat?  Also think about any upcoming events you are attending, as this is a great time of year to find special pieces for weddings, showers, or other events at a deep discount.  This step doesn’t take a lot of time (just 5 or 10 minutes) but it will help focus your shopping and may keep you from buying things that you don’t need.    

2.     Choose a plan of attack.  Rather than wandering aimlessly from store to store, choose one or two of your favorite stores and focus most of your time there.  Also consider shopping at a store that might be slightly above your average price-point…since everything is on sale, your money can stretch a little further and put even designer items within reach.  

3.     Check for coupons.  Finding a coupon for your favorite store can take just minutes.  Great coupon resources: store websites, social media (like official store Facebook pages or Twitter), store email lists, or your local newspaper.  Most stores will even accept coupons via smartphone, meaning no dreaded coupon clipping (though check store policy before you go)!  Even high-end stores are offering extra coupons and savings this time of year, so it’s worth it to check.  If you can’t find a coupon, ask a store associate if there are any promotions or discounts going on.

4.     Shop smart.  Scan the sale rack for fabrics, textures, and colors that catch your eye instead of shuffling through each piece.  If you focus on one or two pieces that really catch your eye, you are more likely to love what you buy and not fall into the trap of buying things you don’t really want.  Love something but don’t see your size?  Check larger size racks and see if your size was misplaced (or hidden…people often hide things with the intention of coming back later to scoop it up).  Also check with the sales associate as there may be additional sizes in the back of the store, or even hiding out in a fitting room.  Finally, don’t be afraid to try a new style but limit yourself to one or two trendy pieces.  Keep the bulk of your purchases to items you love and investment pieces.  Which brings me to my last point…

5.     Buy designer or stock up on good basics.  Designer items (including handbags) can be marked down as much as 60-75% this time of year.  If you are looking for shoes, try classic styles like riding boots, pumps, or ballet flats.  Need a sweater?  Cashmere is on clearance everywhere. Invest in a beautiful sweater (or two, or three, or more) in a neutral tone- black, navy, camel, or cream.  You will have it for years.