Strategic Shopping 101: A Simplistic Guide
With Spring only a couple weeks away, many of you have likely begun to comb through your closet and deciding what new purchases you’ll be adding to your closet for the upcoming season. But with prices on the rise, new trends emerging and fashion ever shifting how do you get the best value for your dollar without depleting your accounts in the process?
I’ve spent the last couple years preaching about how to be a smart, savvy and educated shopper. Going over where to spend vs where to splurge and great places to invest in quality basics. Surprisingly, I still hear from people who either lack the skills to manage their time and research items before making any purchases or, effectively understand how to effectively maximize their budget and get the most value out of an everyday purchase.
Let me start off by saying this smart shopping is the best way to determine rationally and realistically what you truly need vs shopping on a whim. So many guys fall into the habit of only really shopping for an event and end up building a wardrobe that’s completely un-transitional for everyday life. Financially, there’s nothing to lose by doing your research and taking the time to make sure you are making the right decision.
So today I want to discuss a couple of strategic shopping habits I personally swear by. Let’s get into it.
Avoid Online Shopping
In theory online shopping is a no brainer. Check out some web sites, put the item in your cart and wait for delivery. But if the item doesn’t fit well, you change your mind or happen to come across a cheaper version of the item than your screwed. If I do, make an online order it must meet these 2 very specific requirements:
I can get a complete refund. No store credits, or price adjustments.
2. Simplified return process
Coming from a retail background I can’t tell you how many times I dealt with customers that purchased an item without doing the necessary research only to learn that that the item they purchased is final sale and they can’t get a full refund or will have to settle for a store credit.
Pro Tip: If the item is already marked down and there’s an online promotion also going on that item is a final sale. However, if you go into the store and place the order through an associate, they will grant you a grace period for and exchange and sometimes a full refund depending on the repour that’s built.
Be Intentional
I mentioned this earlier, but when it comes to fashion, you’ll only see many men shopping for the following reasons:
- Shopping because of a new product drop, usually new sneakers.
- A certain store is having a big sale
- There’s an event coming up and the must get something new to wear
Most men do a horrible job at building a quality day to day wardrobe. There’s often a lack of consideration for how new items could be re-worn, or intergrated with the existing items in your closet. I’m confident that if I went into the average man’s closet it would consist of 70% athleisure 10% formal pieces and 20% items that no longer fit, or desperately need to be updated. It’s important to get out of that mindset, and I encourage more men to sit down and really craft a list of items they might need in their wardrobe. Doing this will help reduce any overwhelming feelings you may have when you’re shopping.
Shop Around
Fellas, Zara is not the holy grail of fashion. I’m so tired of seeing guys buying damn near everything from a single boutique. It’s lazy shopping. No one should look like they walked into a shop pointed to a mannequin and said, “I’ll take all of this!” That’s it, I really don’t think this one requires further explanation.
I hope you’ll take these tips to heart before you begin your Spring shopping. What strategies do you have going into season shopping? Is there any store you always must hit up? As always let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below.