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Clothes shopping can be a rather expensive hobby. Nothing brings a brighter ray of hope for our dwindling bank accounts than sample sales. Sample sales are brands' last ditch efforts to earn a buck on the merchandise they couldn't sell in the recent and past seasons. Also, it's a great way to keep their clientele and industry connections satisfied.
Any person that shops on a budget lives for sample sales, but of course with something this great there is always a catch. Brands pit their sample sale days so close to one another that it will leave your head spinning and your pockets empty. Shopping the sale requires great fashion taste, being cognizant of your shopping list and necessities, and following your playbook to a T. Once you step onto the battlefield it's any man for himself. No joke, it is a battlefield, and you need the right strategy to get you out alive and onto the next fight. Here's our How to Survive Sample Sale Season Without Going Broke.
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Mark your calendar.
If you've just received news about your favorite brand's upcoming sample sale, odds are that your other favorite brand has an upcoming sample sale soon too. The sample sale schedule is not very convenient since dates and times overlap, but thankfully the information is released a few weeks in advance for you to properly prepare. Racked NY and The Choosy Beggar are great sources for sample sale dates, and if you want fast, up to the minute news then look for phone apps devoted to upcoming sample sales.
Diversify your shopping.
It's very easy to get caught up in a sample sale and ball out. It may feel like everything you have been looking for in a given season is finally housed all in one place, and though that may be the case, the smart thing to do is hold out. The sample sales you didn't know about always seem to be better than the one you actually went to. So instead of going ape by dropping your entire paycheck on one sale, make a list of all of the sales coming up and decide on how many sample sales you will be attending.
Reference last season's sale.
Not all sample sales are built the same. Some are open to the public or are VIP events, some carry multiple sizes while others house only their sample size. Don't be surprised if you are forced to wait outside for hours before you can actually peruse the sale.
One important thing to remember is that price points vary. Markdowns can go as high as 80%, but that is very rarely across the board. If you research the sample sale of the previous season, you can figure out how early you should get there, how long you have to wait, and how much you might spend. Information is not always set in stone, but it will help you gauge what you're getting yourself into.
Do your homework.
If your first time shopping with a brand is at a sample sale, you better do your homework. Don't shop blindly by picking up your usual size because they vary for each brand. A Steven Alan shirt is cut differently than a Thom Browne oxford, so size accordingly. If you're unfamiliar with a brand's fit, check for measurements online, call the stores and ask, talk to your friends that own a few pieces, or just go to the store and try things on. Trying clothes on at the sale itself should be your last resort. The time you spend playing dress up is better spent shopping.
Set up a game plan.
Sample sales are mad houses. You can try your luck by shopping aimlessly but odds are that the result will leave you empty handed, flat broke from over indulging, or being escorted out for fighting.
First things first, set up a budget and an allotment of time spent shopping. With your knowledge of last season's sale, decide how much money you're willing to spend and what day will be the best for you to go. If you're going to the sale to pick up one particular piece, make sure you go on the first day to pick it up. The last sale day is just as good, and at times, better than the first day because of potential further markdowns.
Make a wish list beforehand.
You know that blazer that you were eyeing last season that was sold out in a week? You know, the one you went looking online for until 3 a.m. to no avail? It'll probably be at the sample sale. The sample sale is your last chance to buy the piece you were dying to own first hand. Put your priorities and budget in order to make sure that you pick up the piece you absolutely need. Everything else you buy at the sale is collateral.
Bring cash money.
Ballin' out of control at a sample sale is too easy. The deals are substantially better than retail and regular sale prices, so prices can be hard to pass up. Having multiple credit cards on hand will be all of the convincing you'll need to buy everything at the sale. A good way to avoid overspending is to carry cash on you. After budgeting for the sale you'll be attending, visit the ATM to withdraw the amount of money you plan on spending. Carrying cash will curb your spending and really makes you think about a purchase. Also, cash sales mean you're in a good spot to haggle a deal.
Use the buddy system.
Hogging sample sales to yourself is bad karma. Share the wealth with your friends because they would do the same for you. If you shop in a group, split up. You can hit several corners of the venue and hoard more merchandise altogether. If your boys can't join you, keep them in the loop. Snap photos of the clothes you picked up to get a second opinion that you trust. Some highly exclusive sample sales may stop you from taking photographs so have a quick hand.
Stick and move.
Stay on your toes and keep moving. Everything for sale is on the radar so you need to pick through the racks quickly and move on before you miss out on some quality goods. If you go through the venue with blinding speed you should make a few laps two to three more times to see if you missed anything like any product customers passed on that went back to the rack, or if the sale staff brought out new merchandise.
Finders, keepers.
Be a hoarder. Pick up absolutely everything you like and keep it with you. Sifting through the racks quickly becomes an easier task when you refrain from second guessing an item. You may not like the piece when you give it a proper look over, but at least you would have taken the time to kill the curiosity.
Equate the markdowns.
We hope that mental math is one of your strong points. Pass on the calculator and stick with basic mental math as you shop. If prices aren't listed on the tags attached to the product then signs posted around the venue will fill you in on the prices of each type of item. Study this quickly so that you can tally up prices and have an idea of the value of clothing you have in your possession.
Skip the fitting room.
The one place you should avoid at all costs is the fitting room. Trying clothes on wastes an exorbitant amount of time that you should be spending shopping. Besides, you checked your shame at the door the moment you walked into a sample sale. If you need to try something on—it's usually quickest just do it on the sales floor, especially for tops like shirts, hoodies, and knits. Also, keep a close eye on what you have picked up at the sale. A sneaky thief may be lurking amidst the fitting room chaos just waiting to take a true sample you picked up. Move quickly, snap photos if necessary, and get back to shopping.
It's all right to return to the scene of the crime.
You don't have to buy something straight away. Sleep on it for a night and come back the next day. If it's gone, it wasn't meant to be, and if it's still there, then it might even be cheaper. Sample sales are notorious for getting cheaper as they go on. Sometimes it pays to play the waiting game.
Figure it out at the register.
Now that you have almost all of the entire sample sale merchandise in your possession, it's time to edit down your options to what you truly need and what you planned to pick up at the sale. Take as much time as you want and try your best to think independently. The cashier will probably chime in with their opinions and try to upsell you, but ultimately it is your decision and your budget so you have the final say.
The best pieces to leave a sample sale with are the coveted pieces of the season, the hottest pieces of last season, clothes you have been eyeing for quite some time, and samples that never went into production. Shop smart and you'll be ready for the sale without stress.