Friday 8 January 2010

The Poodle's Steps to Sales Success



The Poodle apologises for the slight delay in posting – but if you were in Paris you will understand – les SOLDES have begun! And in France that’s headline news – on the metro newspapers at least! The French hold off for their sale fixes until the 6th January so since then the streets have been packed thanks to early morning opening hours...shopping has never been so serious!

Some boutiques have even been offering customers croissants and coffee – so chic, so français – it goes to show just how far the French will go for a January sales bargain – foregoing breakfast would never otherwise happen unless the shops were offering pastries on a plate!



With shopping fever reaching an all time haut (high) this Paris Poodle has been tempted, taunted and teased with shops offering 30%, 40%, 50% off... but as much as I’ve thrusted through the crowds, and lusted at the sale rail, I have stuck to some very important rules (after all in this country sale items are NON exchangeable – impulse buys have no get out clause)!

With promotions partout, and end of line stock slashed in price to a level of bulk buyability, it can get messy... allow me to share with you, the Paris Poodle rules to sale shopping success....

1. Dress accordingly. Simple, easy to enleve (take off) clothing is essential – think shift dress, tights and ballet pumps/boots for a quicker changing room turnaround.

2. Stay focused – sales shopping can be intimidating-ly chaotic – surtout a gay Paris where shopping isn’t just a nice thing to do with friends – it’s actually a way of life! The diehard sale shoppers will get to shops before opening hours to benefit (in theory) from first dibs on the bargain buckets. Don’t bother with buckets and head to the sale rails that have the most variety to choose from.

3. Think twice. Importantly, before buying any item, make sure that you like it – even if you can now afford to get it wrong (now there’s a 50% discount) there’s no point buying that pair of silk hot pants from Kookai just because you can – hold out for a better bargain that’s way more you!

4. Dedicate a day to sales shopping – or maybe 2– it’s a trial that we have to put ourselves through just for the peace of mind that we haven’t missed out – so you’ll need to take a full day to study the sales and get to grips with the discounts at every store.



5. If being selfish is one of your 2010 resolutions or even being more economical, buying pressies for oneself (and for others) during the sales, is the best way to make you feel great about yourself and your bank account – buying bargains now technically means saving loads of money to put towards those Jimmy Choos’ you’ve been fantasising over! It’s a win-win situation.

4 comments:

  1. I have often wondered if the discount perfumes in their sales?
    I would comment more but for some strage reason I have such a difficult time of posting a comment!
    Says my password is incorrect !!! Its not! Rrrrr
    LOL

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  2. I know perfume discounts exist in France but its primarily the unsold box set variety with the fragranced shower gel/ moisturiser to go with the eau de toilette. Unlike clothes beauty products aren't as violently slashed in price - I have a whole load of Sephora, Galarie Lafayette etc to poodle around in tomorrow so I'll report back my beauty bargain findings! I'd go today but in Paris shops are shut on Sunday! By the way - do you have a blog miss Jicky?

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  3. No I do not have a blog Ms Poodle. I love to read them - especially anything on Paris!! I know I should do a blog but... I am not computer savvey at all.
    I wondered if Guerlain would ever have those Jan sales and now I know - a big fat NO! Darn. Can you imagine if they did!
    I have to confess that I am a perfume nut and that is where I would rush to - the cosmetic dept. on a sale day! LOL

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  4. Been having a good poke around in Sephora and the like and there really are some great bargains to be had - I discovered a great new shimmering lipstick - perfect for upcoming nude lips trend and there is perfume a plenty discounted by up to 30% - as for Guerlain - the best way to get a discount is to work for them - my friend who works there has outrageous amounts of haut couture beauty products adorning her bathroom...lucky for me she sometimes has too much and I get the odd freebie! That is always a happy day!

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