As fall shopping approaches, I would like to give you some tips on how to maximize your shopping experience. It made me remember a conversation I had with a friend about how to avoid returning things we purchase. We often fall in love with something in the store and get it home and hate it. You think to yourself ” Why did I buy this?” We were trying to figure out why this happens and what we can do to prevent buying something we will regret. Then we realized this would be a great subject for a blog post! I am going to give you some tips to think about when you are shopping to help minimize those unwanted returns.
I really dislike buying something and returning it unless it is absolutely necessary. I think other people feel the same way and that is why we end up with items in our closets with the tags still on them. The main reason I dislike returning something to a store is because I worked clothing retail for years and a return had a great effect on our numbers for the day. Working in a retail environment will give you a different perspective. With this in mind, I really try to only buy things that I know I will keep and absolutely love.
1. To minimize your returns, first I recommend that you try to go shopping with certain pieces in mind that you want to add to your wardrobe. Attempting to do this will increase your odds of purchasing things that you will actually wear. If you shop with a purpose you will end up avoiding those impulse buys that become returns. I know it will be hard but trust me it works! You just have to be determined to only to buy what you set out to buy. Check out my Closet Sanity post for tips on how to go through your wardrobe to determine what you need.
2. You should try to avoid what I call “Emotional Shopping”. I just did this recently and ended up with 3 pieces that I did not like and returned them. I went shopping with some things in mind to buy and deviated from that because I just wanted to buy more. I was not having a great week and wanted the clothing to make me feel better. Well, I didn’t feel any better and I had buyers remorse. I even bought something red which is a no-no in my wardrobe! I have pink undertone skin and red hair; just not a good color for me.
3. Stick to trends that work for you! Try not to buy anything just because it is the new trend. Figure out what trend would work for your current style and your age. If you deviate too far from what you normally wear the odds are you will not wear it.
4. Know your style and colors. Everyone has a personal style and certain colors they gravitate towards. You will have no need to return anything if you are certain of these things. If you are not sure about your style or what colors look good on you take some time to figure those things out. Go try some things on and evaluate what you like and don’t like. Also, a great starting point is your own closet. Look there to see what your favorite things are that you actually wear over and over again. You can also call me to help you figure this out! I will have to write another post just on this subject.
5. Another consideration when shopping is your age. The most interesting point my friend made is that we need to learn to change our style as we get older. She is actually going through this right now. We can no longer wear the same things in our 30’s as we did in our 20’s and so on. We have to change our mind set on what is appropriate for our age. This is a very hard thing to do because we don’t often see ourselves at our “true age”. By knowing what is appropriate for our age we try to eliminate that unnecessary return.
6. This should really be number ONE but I saved it for last! The most important thing to remember to build a great long lasting wardrobe is you should only buy things that you LOVE and can not live without. Who cares if it is on trend or not, if you love it buy it, because you will wear it over and over again.
I hope the next time you shop you will consider these things and banish or at least minimize the amount of returns you do each season. The last thing you want is for the people you shop with to dread you coming in their store. Also, it will make your shopping more productive and less time consuming.
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