Shop the luxury designer brand sales
It isn’t a little known fact that luxury and designer brands too go on sale, just like every other brand. The only difference is that luxury brands do not advertise their sales with flashy advertisements and large banners proclaiming sales of 80% off! In fact, unless you know about the existence of the sale, you might not even be aware of it, even if you walk past the store or into it.
Here’s a few tips when shopping a luxury designer brand sale:
- Luxury brand sales happen twice a year - Generally, once in June/July and once in November/December. Look out for subtle ads in the newspapers or little plaques that say “Sale” in the store window.
- Items on sale are limited and are usually from past seasons - don’t expect to find the popular IT bags of the season. Those are either usually sold out or not on sale. Classics too hardly ever go on sale. Gucci for example, rarely has discounts on their classic Jackie O bags except for those with seasonal fabric, and the Celine Boogie bag hardly ever goes on sale.
- Discounts range from 30% to 60% - The general rule of thumb is that of a 30% discount in most brands. Gucci doesn’t usually go higher than that unless you are extremely lucky (and I have been!), Salvatore Ferragamo recently went up to 60% off on very selected items at Starhill.
- Don’t be afraid to ask the price - Sometimes you might be surprised at the amount quoted. Also, the price tag tends to be hidden away and it looks awful to be rummaging through the bag to look for the price tag.
- Do your homework - If you are lucky (and because stocks of luxury brands don’t move as quickly here) you might even get the season’s IT bag on sale, or something classic. Knowing your prices help too.
- Different stores may have different stock and designs - Because the designers have a few different stores around town, you might find that certain stores have some designs that others don’t. So, do shop around before committing. It was easier when there was only KLCC and Starhill to contend with. However, now that Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and The Gardens are up, the net is cast wider.
Over the years and through trial and error, I have amassed my designer handbag collection purely by scouring the sale racks and in the process scored some excellent bargains on full leather bags I could not afford otherwise. No matter how much I want them, I cannot afford the designer items while they are on full price, so waiting for the sale is the next best thing for me.
There is one caveat however. If you are hoping to buy a Louis Vuitton on sale, don’t hold your breath waiting. As far as I know, Louis Vuitton is the only designer brand never to go on sale at all, ever. Pity.
Tip: Shopping for festive decor and getting deals
If you love having Christmas or Chinese New Year any festive themed items around the home, you might have realised that they are really quite expensive to buy all at a go as the holidays or festivities approach.
So, the trick is to plan ahead. If you find and buy your festive or holiday themed item early, you are more likely to get them at a good price before they get snapped up, or before prices go up.
Alternatively, buy them just after the festive period or holiday season when retailers want to get rid of their excess stock. These holiday themed items are less in demand during the year and so retailers are likely to let them go at hefty discounts.
I bought these Christmas themed bowls from Tangs department store in Singapore just after Christmas at a hefty 70% discount. They ended up being something like S$2+ (RM8+) each. I also got a few sets of decorative snack plates at just slightly over S$7 (RM16) for a box of 4.
I plan to use them throughout the year because they look so festive and bright and cheery but I know they will come in handy next Christmas if I decide to hold a party then. Don’t you love deals like these?
Late night shopping deals
There are some things worth staying up for and late night shopping deals are one of them. Here in Malaysia I know of 2 times a year when malls hold late night shopping deals - once during the Mega Sale in the middle of the year and the other during the Year End Sale at the end of the year near Christmas.
On these days when there is late night shopping, the malls are open till midnight and participating stores too are open till then. What I don’t particularly like is that some of these stores/malls hold their late night shopping on weekends. To me it defeats the whole idea because most people are out shopping on weekends anyway.
Be that as it may I have only gone late night shopping twice this year and both times, I have managed to pick up some awesome deals because there are special discounts offered after a certain time. The best deal I have gotten is on a Selvatore Ferragamo clutch bag at Starhill Gallery which was further discounted by 5% after 9pm. 5% doesn’t seem like much, but when you are buying a big ticket item, it can work out to quite a saving!
So, the next time there is late night shopping, you can bet I’ll be staying up for them. Who knows what other deals I might find!
Picture Credit of Leona
