'Tis the (Shopping) Season
Deals, offers and how I handle the inbox overwhelm
Oh hi there … hopefully this email lands safely in your inbox in among the thousands of others landing right now. In Retail Land, November is now Go Time. What started as a fun shopping weekend in the US has translated around the world to a very competitive selling month for anyone working in store and online. I get that this development can be equal parts annoying and exciting. Or maybe that’s just me. HAH.
You see, I straddle both the selling and the buying parts of this push-pull Black Friday equation. I’ve got my own small ecommerce business AND I’m a self-diagnosed shopping “enthusiast”. Yes! I’ve been madly setting up for our own Black Friday sale (shameless plug: it starts Sunday) and I’ve been strategically planning out Christmas (and other) purchases as my favourite brands go on sale.
If there were a phd in shopping available to undertake, I’d not only complete the research in record time, I’d be top of the class. Not to humble brag. Much. While I don’t have a dissertation to share with you, I thought it might be helpful if I shared some of my sales shopping tips.
Set up an email account specifically for store emails. I’ve been doing this for years now and it helps to both control the overwhelm but also make it super easy to skim and find anything you really might want to know about/shop for. I DO want to hear from stores that I buy from and engage with. By setting up a dedicated email account, I can dip in and out of it as I choose, rather than it taking over my regular inbox. Social media is hit and miss and being subscribed to stores means I’m always in the know. Changing over A LOT of email addresses might seem like a huge task to undertake, but really it’s as simple as clicking on each store email that comes into your current email account, scrolling down and finding the link to “update preferences” and swapping over your email address. This is actually a good time to set this up as you’ll be receiving emails from a tonne of stores, including ones you didn’t even know you were signed up to! While you’re organising your store emails, unsubscribe from any stores you’re longer interested in - trust me, this form of decluttering is as cathartic as cleaning out the proverbial “third drawer down”.
Decide where you stand on SMS marketing. SMS marketing has exploded in the past 12 months. Whether you like it or not is such a personal thing. Probably the most annoying thing is receiving a text from a brand you’ve never agreed to accept SMS marketing from? Here’s the thing, if you don’t want them pinging your phone, unsubscribe immediately. Me? My phone is typically already a hot bed of notifications so texting is something I see as personal, a channel for friends and family. So, I’ve chosen to keep SMS marketing to a few key brands.
Get clear on what you want to buy before the barrage of marketing starts rolling in. When it comes to clothes, you know my thoughts: be considered with your purchasing. Be mindful of building a wardrobe that suits your style personality and lifestyle - this should be your mantra whether you’re shopping at full or discounted prices. Yes, it’s absolutely ok to treat yourself but do so with consideration, knowing that what you’re buying will have great longevity in your wardrobe.
Shopping online? Add to cart any items you’re thinking of buying then walk away. Maybe the brand you’re looking at isn’t on sale yet? This is a way to get your cart ready, asking any sizing questions to their customer service team and be ready to go once the sale starts. If the sale has started, weigh up whether you might miss out on the item at the reduced price before you close the browser. If you’ve had your eye on it for some time and keep thinking about it, it’s probably a sign to complete the purchase! You might even receive a re-targeted email from the brand offering you an extra discount code.
Check the returns policy before buying. You should do this at any time, not just in sales time, but during sales, often the returns policy is tighter and you may not be able to return or exchange. If the item is marked as “final sale” then make sure you’re 100% sure it’s the right size/shape for you before buying. Good customer service people should be there to help before you add to cart!
Shop small where you can. As a little guy playing with the big guys all year, this time of year can hit especially hard. Know this: the big guys buy in extra stock at huge volumes especially for this time and in doing so can easily discount and still make a profit. Not so small independents. So if you see your favourite small businesses going on sale, please support them where you can. It really does bring on multiple happy dances and extremely good vibes.
It’s not a bargain if you never wear or use it! Don’t buy anything unless you LOVE it or you know the recipient will LOVE it. It’s so, so easy (guilty, as charged!) to get caught up in a buying frenzy at this time of year but it is 100% ok to step away and really assess whether what you’re adding to cart will add value to your life or the life of the person you’re buying for.
If all that’s been of help to you, please keep scrolling and check out some great offers from some of my sponsors. I only work with brands that really align with my values and who I think you might like to hear about, so supporting them really does help my business.
Thank you!
Nikki
xoxo
Une Piece: save up to 30%
I recently reviewed some new styles from one of my fave swimwear brands, Une Piece (check out the video below). Une Piece’s Black Friday sale is on now - save up to 30% site wide. Enter my discount code IKNOWNIKKI at checkout for extra savings!
Stitch and Hide: save 30%
The cat’s out of the bag (pun intended!). I’m proud and excited to announce I’m an ambassador for eco-certified leather goods brand Stitch & Hide … Stitch & Hide has an incredible global following borne out of its Byron Bay origins and has recently become part of the Bohemian Traders family. Enter code Nikki30 at checkout to save 30%.
ShooAway: save 10% on all twin packs and up
You know I don’t do entertaining or any form of food prep in summer without my ShooAways (because who wants to share their food with pesky flies) but the brand’s new re-chargable units are a game changer! No more rummaging around for AA batteries because someone forgot to check her ShooAways were charged! Enter code SY2024 and save 10% on all twin packs and up.
Blue Illusion: save $40 on full-priced items (minimum purchase $150)
Blue Illusion is your one-stop shop this party season, with clothes and accessories from its Etoile collection that will take you from a casual catch-up with friends to a sparkly night out. Shop in store or online with my $40 discount code: STY40
*T&Cs: Voucher is valid until Tuesday 03 December 2024, 11.59pm AEDT. Offer redeemable on any full price clothing, shoes, homewares, and accessories. Minimum purchase $150. Not redeemable for sale items, cash, skincare & beauty, gift cards, or lay-by. For online redemption, apply promotion code at checkout and voucher will be deducted from eligible items. For in-store redemption, voucher must be presented. For David Jones online redemption discount will be deducted automatically at the checkout. Redeemable one time only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Nala: 35% off site-wide (if you add my discount code)
You know my love of Nala runs very deep - if you’re not on board with their strapless bras, then this is your sign! My latest love are their bodysuits. Nala make THE BEST bodysuits. And now, my full brief loving friends, they’re available in both the brief and gee options. Nala is currently on sale at 30% off site-wide but if you add my discount code STYLINGYOU5 at checkout, you’ll get a further 5% off the original price.
Alemais at La Sirena Boutique: save 10%
If you are thinking of investing in an Alemais piece, shop small with Jamie at La Sirena boutique. Add code stylingyou at checkout to save 10%. In the meantime, you could win one of two $200 gift cards from La Sirena boutique. Hurry, the competition ends at midnight tonight (Friday, November 22). All the details are in the caption on my video below.
