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The September Issue
856 pages of fashion goodies |
We are at the last vestiges of summer and the sale season is also coming to an end. We see designers and retailers rolling out Fall/Winter collections. Fashion magazine publishers have also filled the news stands with their own version of the bumper "September Issue". You may not know but this could be the best time to find bargains.
It's probably best to have some bargain hunting strategies or else you'll end up all over the place and missed out on some really good deals. Just like a few weeks ago I was at the mall with the intent of getting children's clothes for customers. But the "back to school" sale left many of these shops in disarray. Every rack was picked through and items strewn all over the floor and on display shelves. It was an overwhelming sight so I left empty-handed.
With Labor Day over and everyone recovering from sale fatigue, it was time for me to hit the mall again. This time, many of the stores were running "final cut", some up to 80% off as they needed to clear inventory. I was able to snap up items that were marked for clearance with an additional 20% off taken at the cash register. It's like they are asking you to take it out of the store quickly so that they can stock the racks with new merchandise that were already piling up in the store.
For example, a toddler PJ set was marked down and tagged $3.99 (clearance price), take another 20% off and add taxes and the set will set you back about $3.50. In the words of the sales associate, "You can't go wrong with that price".
This time around there was hardly anyone at the stores (on a Friday no less) and I took my time to go through the racks which while over stuffed with merchandise didn't look like they were picked through. As the fashion industry cycle through another season even high-end designers items were on sale, Christian Dior summer dresses marked down to $600 (from $4,000) and you get to take another 70% off at the register (so that'll make it about $200?) or Dolce & Gabbana dresses (marked down from $5,000) were going for another 60% off.
And shoes, how can we forgot those lovely footwear. As we are heading into boots season (dreadful!), summer shoes and sandals are going for a song.t's important to buy off season, so now it's probably not such a good time to buy that pair of boots you've been coveting or a new cashmere sweater as you change out your wardrobe and get ready for Fall.