Ever get the feeling that Zara employees know something we don’t? Where are the best sale items in the store? How often do new shipments arrive? Is it worth it to order items online? Who’s responsible for the elegantly dressed mannequins at the front of the store?
Well, the secrets are out: here are things about Zara you’ve always wanted to know.
The Best Time To Shop At Aara Is Before Noon
It’s no surprise really that stores tend to get busier in the afternoon. But at Zara, the lines get substantially longer as soon as 1 p.m. hits. The busiest times are weekdays in the afternoon when people are trying to squeeze in some shopping during their lunch break, and of course, weekends.
Most Zara Stores Don’t Carry Everything That’s Online
Naturally, Zara’s online collection is worlds larger than what they are capable of carrying in-store. The items that sell the best online, are first in line to be shipped to stores.
New Shipments Of Merchandise Come In Biweekly
Every two weeks on Monday and Thursday morning, before the store opens, the new shipments are received. Most of the new stock, however, won’t make it to the floor. On top of that, sometimes throughout the day, the store may receive smaller shipments.
All Zara Employees Get 25% Off Everything In Stores
But here’s the real kicker: Not only do staff receive 25% off regular items, but sale items as well. A little goes a long way.
There’s A Reason Purses Are Displayed On The Floor Next To Shoes
You might’ve noticed that purses are always set up on the floor next to where shoes are normally displayed. The reasoning behind this one is simple. They want everything to be in-reach, and as visually accessible as possible.
The Sale Items Are Arranged In The Store By Price
The most expensive sale items are located at the front of the store, in hopes that they are the first things to be sold. But, the further into the store you get, the better the deals are.
Zara Has A Team Of Styling Experts Called “Visuals”
Every morning the “visuals team” rearranges the items on the floor, and puts new outfits on the mannequins. But because every store has a different team of visuals, every store will have different displays, based on that individual store’s visual team’s taste.
You Can Ship Your Online Purchases To A Store For Pick-Up
If you’re trying to avoid costly shipping and handling fees, you can ship your online purchases to your nearest Zara location, and pick them up there, instead of having them delivered to your home.
Stained And Damaged Items Get Put Aside And Sorted Into What’s Salvageable And What’s not
Throughout the day, employees are supposed to keep an eye out for items that are stained, ripped, or damaged, and pile them in the back where they are sorted by what needs to be cleaned, repaired, or disposed of.
Zara Doesn’t Offer Discounts On Stained Or Damaged Items
Although they don’t offer any sort of discount on stained or damaged items, if you do still choose to buy it, you can request that they make a note on your receipt that indicates what was wrong with the item, allowing you to bring it back for a full refund.
If Items Don’t Sell Well, They Get Shipped To Other Zara Stores
If items don’t seem to be selling well, they’re shipped out to a warehouse in New Jersey, sorted, and then rerouted to new Zara locations, in hopes that they do better there.
Beware Of Sizing
This Zara secret will help you nail down the proper sizing. If you see Trafaluc on a Zara tag, then you should go up one size. All of the items in this collection are made about a size smaller.
Pay Attention To The Sections
At Zara, you’ll find that there are three main sections in the ladies’ department which are Women’s and Women’s Studio, Basics, and Trafaluc. If you find something you love in the Women’s Studio, typically pieces that are over $200, be sure to grab them! These items won’t get restocked after it’s sold out.
Ask If You Don’t See Your Size
Typically, items like dresses, shirts, shoes, etc., have a certain number of sizes that are on the floor. So, if you don’t see your exact size, it’s definitely worth it to ask a sales associate if they can check the back stock for additional pieces.
Mark Your Calendars For The Semi-Annual Sale
We all know and love Zara’s massive Semi-Annual Sale where you can grab all of the basics and trendy items at a major discount. Be sure to keep an eye out for when it starts, which is usually the week after Christmas and then in June, so you can get first dibs.
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Wearing face masks have become the new norm and are mandatory to wear inside public spaces. A bunch of Canadian fashion brands have stepped up to the plate and are manufacturing face masks, along with new businesses focused on this specialty.
If you’re going to purchase a face covering, you might as well shop and support Canadian businesses, right? Remember to wear a mask and be considerate of others when social distancing!
Now, here are some of the best face masks made by Canadian brands.
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Apple is a multi-billion dollar company, with over five hundred store locations. That means there’s probably a lot of things that we don’t know.
Luckily, former employees were able to give us the full scoop on everything there is to know about shopping and even working at Apple.
It’s really hard to get hired by Apple
Unsurprisingly enough, Apple’s hiring process is a bit of an intense one. They have a lower acceptance rate than Harvard. So, if you’re planning on applying, you better make sure your resume is top-notch.
Instagram/ @techs_bikes
The employee benefits are awesome
Although the pay isn’t amazing, their benefits package certainly is. Employees receive part-time health benefits, $100 a month for commuting to work, 201K match, and an employee discount on all products.
Employees aren’t allowed to talk about their job on social media
Apparently taking pictures in the Apple work uniform is a big no-no, and because of this, a few people started up an underground, anonymous Apple staff Twitter account called “Genius Bar Tales”, where they can go to vent their frustrations. The account now has over 13K followers.
Instagram/ @mirelledutra.santos
The employees can see the comments you leave on surveys
If you decide to fill out the online survey about your in-store experience, the employee that helped you will get a chance to read it — so tread lightly.
Certain words are off-limits to sales employees
For example, instead of telling a customer “I don’t know”, they would have to say “Let’s find out together” instead. Or, instead of saying “unfortunately”, they would swap that for “as it turns out”. They are also not allowed to point at products, or at screens when they’re trying to indicate something to a customer. They must use a pen or a pointy object as an extension of their hand.
Instagram/ @iphonecase_sss
All apple headphones and chargers are covered under a one-year warranty
Apple headphones and chargers have a tendency to fall apart quite quickly. But at least if it’s within the first year of purchase, you can return them for ones in mint condition.
You can self-checkout at the store
This not-so-well-known feature could really come in handy. Considering the Apple store is almost always flooded with people, making it almost impossible to get the attention of an employee, and check out your items in under 20 minutes. Using the Apple store app, you can scan the barcode and pay through your Apple ID. The downside to this feature is that it’s only available for smaller less expensive items, like headphones and other accessories.
Instagram/ @budvicapple
Every store has free workshops
Every day Apple holds workshops to help customers learn and take full advantage of their Apple products. For example, things like how to draw or paint using an iPad, how to edit photos on an iPhone, and how to edit videos on a Mac. These workshops are free of charge, and you can attend as many as you want, as frequently as you want.
Everyone can get a student discount
In store, you will only be able to get a student discount if you can prove you’re a student by showing your student ID. However, if you make an online purchase, you won’t be asked for any type of verification. So, you can lie to your heart’s content.
Featured image: Pexels
Food, rent, clothes: choose two. Now that we’re firmly in the millennial era of side hustles and skyrocketing costs of living, it can be hard to spare a second thought for replacing that pair of leggings you ripped a hole in that no one can really see if you’re careful. After all, you have more important things to buy, right?
Here’s how to shop for clothes on a budget, while staying on-trend with Instagram influencers who make it all look so effortless.
1. Look For Discount Codes
Pexels
Instagram influencers are great for getting ideas from, but the stuff they wear isn’t always accessible to the average budget. However, the secret to nabbing your favourite piece on a budget is a discount code, which your chosen influencer might have available in their captions or bio. Hold onto those codes and stack them on top of key sale times, and you can grab a bunch of clothing at once for way less than you’d pay at full price. Make sure to always peep who they tag for hints on which brands they’re rocking!
Some companies that have codes and discounts (and include plus sizes!): Fashion Nova, Pretty Little Thing, and BooHoo.
2. Grab Honey
Honey is a life saver (#NotSponsored). Whether you choose to install it on your browser or use it as an app, Honey scans every coupon, discount, and sale code available once you hit checkout on your haul. If you already have the best deal, Honey will tell you. But if you don’t? Watch Honey comb through tons of discounts you didn’t even know existed to get you the deal you deserve. Whether it’s a percentage off, or free shipping (especially helpful when buying from companies outside of Canada), Honey can save you money – maybe enough for just one more pair of slides.
3. Get Into Thrifting
Fast fashion (quickly, cheaply made pieces) has made clothing borderline disposable. Things go on and off trend so fast that people tend to get rid of things without a second thought. That’s where you benefit. Heading to more densely populated areas will net you some really good finds at their thrift stores, as they will have more selection and a bigger size range.
4. Shop Sales
Waiting for certain times of year can be extremely beneficial to your bank account. We all know that Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Boxing Day are all good sale days, but American companies, in particular, have random sales based on holidays year-round. Look for days like President’s Day (the third Monday in February), Memorial Day (the last Monday in May), Independence Day (July 4th), and Labour Day (September 1st). Those days are often used to either clear out old stock, offer free shipping, or briefly discount new merchandise.
5. Buy Off-Season
The best time to buy what you need is definitely not when you need it. While summer calls for swimsuits, it doesn’t exactly call for swimsuit sales. But early fall or even winter are great times to pick up deeply discounted swimwear. Same goes for winter coats -who needs one in April, as the spring blooms? (Unless you live in Edmonton, in which case you will probably need that coat until May or so.) Buying a winter coat after winter will guarantee you save at least a few dollars.
6. Carefully Curate Your Pieces
Instagram/@commonsort
One key to keeping your wardrobe low-cost is to be selective about what you buy. Look for good quality items that you can be sure you only have to buy once. While it may be tempting to buy a couple of the same shirt from a cheaper place, buying one good one for the same cost as those few will save you more money in the long run. A good example is leggings: rather than buying a bunch of cheap ones, I invested in a single $50 pair (which I only paid $30 for–thank you, sales) from Aritzia ten years ago. That same pair is still my go-to leggings to this day.
7. Find Inspiration, Then Start Shopping
One of my favourite things to do is window shop (but from the comfort of my own home, online, in my PJs). I often end up looking at gorgeous pieces that I know I’ll never be able to afford, and then I start hunting. Finding dupes of high-end clothing is not only a fun challenge but a great way to keep your wardrobe current and affordable. Forever 21 is a great place to start that journey, as they are quick to keep up with trends and turn out new product constantly. The key with this strategy is to be patient: you may not find what you want immediately, but you never know when the right jacket may cross your path.
Hopefully, some of these tips will help you build a wardrobe you can be proud of!
Featured image: Pexels
Some of our most popular articles published over the last few months have discussed Dollarama’s new major competitor Miniso and their ambitious expansion plans. Essentially Miniso put Dollarama on notice, and if this was a rap beef, Miniso would play the young cool rapper looking to overthrow the established rapper who’s had massive recent success.
But alas, this is retail and not a rap beef and the competition between Miniso and Dollarama isn’t so black and white. Industry insiders do point out that Dollarama shouldn’t be concerned with Miniso for several reasons. Firstly, Miniso and Dollarama have a completely different customer base. While they do sell overlapping products like electronics and accessories, Miniso and Dollarama appeal to very different types of consumers.
Miniso is going for the lifestyle shopper and tries to refresh products every seven days to keep the “novelty” shopping experience. While Dollarama appeals to the everyday shopper looking to save money.
While industry insiders think Miniso might shake up the Canadian retail landscape, they also believe that Dollarama will be fine as their offering is broader and attracts customers from every retail demographic.
A perfect analogy of how they compare is Miniso = Uniqlo and Dollarama = Walmart. While both stores may attract the same shopper, the shopper goes to a Uniqlo or Walmart for very different reasons.
All in all – Dollarama isn’t worried about Miniso and even though Minsio is aggressively going after Dollarama. Shots have been fired. Dollarama shouldn’t care.
Do you think Dollarama is in trouble?
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I recently heard that millennials can’t afford to invest in real estate because they’re spending all of their money on avocados. Although we are the Guac Generation – and are willing to pay $1.50 extra for it – one of the many reasons why I personally can’t afford a home is because of my Chanel wallet on chain. And yes, if you’re wondering, my recent purchase was not actually a handbag, it’s a wallet… on a chain.
For those who follow the Kardashians, know that nothing screams “2017 chic” more than dusting off your velour Juicy tracksuit from 2003 and pairing it with a designer bag. Although clearly oxymoronic, fashion today means that any outfit, no matter how casual, can look instantly rich with the addition of a designer bag. With this realization, my quest to invest began.
And this is how an entry-level, twenty-something did it:
Tip #1 – Treat your search as a business decision
With a quick scan of my closet, I realized that nothing was of any value or could stand the test of time. In today’s overly saturated fast-fashion market, it’s easy to spend a lot on stuff that won’t last. Considering the majority of my wardrobe consists of pieces from Zara, Forever 21 and H&M, I don’t anticipate wearing items for longer than two years given the trendiness and mediocre quality.
I recognized that I want to own something with more longevity than an avocado but more realistic than a house- and of course, I wanted to look good doing so.
As I’ve learned from my sibling who works in the fashion industry, purchasing a designer bag is similar to buying a home- it’s a long-term investment with huge resale potential. Not to mention that the cost of Chanel bags is steadily increasing year-over-year and like a fine wine, the bags get more valuable with age. (Read more about that here.)
Although I could’ve gone with a lower price point brand, Chanel is timeless and will never go out of style. Not to mention that my kids will one day thank me for such a magnificent inheritance.
Image: Instagram/@to.esselle
Tip #2 – Make money by spending money
Let’s face it, no one uses cash anymore. The rise of e-commerce has made it almost required in today’s retail environment to own a credit card. Do your research and select a credit card company with a desirable loyalty program so that you can actually make money while spending money.
From the moment my Chanel itch came to fruition, it took about one year to rack up hundreds dollars of ‘free’ money from my credit card’s loyalty program. Knowing what I already wanted, and where I could get it from, I cashed out my points in gift cards to Holt Renfrew. Although minimal in comparison to the overall cost, it was very helpful saving on a very expensive purchase.
Tip #3 – Shop vintage and look out for sales
My golden rule of saving is remembering that everything goes on sale. Keep track of those items you’ve been eyeing at Zara and hold off on purchasing until their bi-annual sales in the summer and winter. That way, you’re saving on trendier pieces that you won’t want by next year anyways.
Lastly, I highly recommend vintage shopping. There are tons of great vintage stores across Toronto where you can find really rare pieces for cheap. Not to mention that these stores are filled with endless amounts of vintage athleisure wear which is much more authentic than buying from Urban Outfitters.
Like any millennial, I often wonder if I’ll ever make, or save enough to invest in real estate. For now, I’ll capitalize on my largest asset, my Chanel wallet on chain. And hey, at least if I ever become a bag lady, I’ll look good doing so!
Do you know any tips on how to save for a designer piece? We’d love to hear from you!
Featured image: Instagram/@shyfashion
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Last year, Cyber Monday became the biggest online shopping day in history globally. Adobe reported that the Monday shopping holiday hit a new record of $3.45 billion spent online, surpassing Black Friday’s online sales numbers by over $100 million.
But that isn’t the only indicator of a shift in consumer shopping trends, especially when it comes to Black Friday. In a weekend full of deals to kick off the extensive holiday shopping season, many people no longer feel obligated to shop these arbitrary holidays seeing retailers offer sales of comparable value before and after these dates.
With the rise of online shopping and other unique ways to get great clothes such as the rental clothing market, personal shoppers and shopping through curated apps, getting up at the crack of dawn to wait in line for hours for a single sweater is no longer enticing to some.
It’s also important to note that the Black Friday deals in Canada fail in comparison to those markdowns in the United States. In fact, the discounts on Cyber Monday seem to be more worthwhile all together as buyers can still get a deal without leaving their own home. But regardless, do Canadians even care about either holiday anymore?
It feels as if the novelty of it all has worn off and with only slight discounts, taking part in Black Friday or Cyber Monday isn’t really worth the hassle anymore.
According to DIG360, a Vancouver-based think-tank, only 30 percent of consumers participated in Canadian Black Friday in 2016. DIG360 also reported that online Black Friday activities have caught up to in-store purchasing; out of those Canadians taking advantage of Black Friday sales, 40 per cent bought or browsed in-store only while 39 per cent shopped online exclusively. The remaining 21 per cent did both.
The report also showed how the overall idea of Cyber Monday is becoming less relevant to Canadians given the amount and variety of Black Friday deals being offered online – 13 per cent of Canadians bought Cyber Monday promotions while two-thirds of Black Friday buyers were finished shopping by Cyber Monday, citing they either didn’t participate or browsed without buying.
Of course, people are still going to shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, however, those days are no longer the be-all-end-all of holiday shopping. Rather so, Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have since expanded into a two-week shopping period, making it more convenient for consumers to get products they want at sale prices without having to deal with the madness that overtakes malls on these two highly-publicized days. Avid shoppers are smart and have come to realize there are other sales of nearly equal value happening continuously throughout the holiday shopping season.
There’s also the trend of millennial-friendly brands taking a stand against Black Friday and its capital undertones that has added to its disillusionment. American retailer REI will close its doors on Black Friday for the third time in a row, online retailer Everlane doesn’t offer any sales but donates all proceeds from the day to its wellness program for factory workers and last year, Patagonia donated 100 per cent of its Black Friday sales – $10 million – to nonprofit environmental organizations.
To contrast, some Canadian retailers see Black Friday as an opportunity to entice shoppers to buy closer to home, rather than travelling across the border in search of deals. But it’s the difference in markdowns that has Canadians looking elsewhere. A recent study by consulting firm Colliers International found that 36 per cent of products offered by Canadian chains received deeper discounts on Boxing Day than on Black Friday – while in the U.S., this stat is reversed.
All this points to an obvious decrease in the overall interest of the two notorious shopping holidays among Canadians. But if you still get a rush from the traditional way of scoring deals IRL, it’s safe to say the lines are probably going to be a bit shorter this Black Friday weekend.
Do you think Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals are still relevant? Let us know in the comments!
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If you are a regular reader of this website, you’ve probably done some online shopping. According to a 2016 Canadian e-commerce study, online shopping in Canada will be a $40 billion industry by 2018.
With that in mind, it’s clear that Canadians are taking the plunge online, but what exactly are we buying and searching for when we shop online?
If you’ve ever had the same questions, you might be interested in the fact that Estately.com just did some of the research through Google Trends that measure Canadian internet searches using the google option and discovered some interesting information.
We can tell you one thing, the searches might surprise you, what should not surprise you is that Canadians can be weird, especially with their online shopping interests.
Here are some interesting highlights:
- People in Alberta love dog costumes.
- British Columbia seems to have an aging population and they like Ivanka Trump Jewelry.
- People in Manitoba still rollerskate – who knew?
- People in New Brunswick are big time into ballet?
- Nunavut and the Yukon are the only provinces/territories with “normal” searches for the region.
- People in the Northwest Territories dream of warmer climate with bikini searches
- People in Newfoundland and Labrador search for male condoms – guess the local store is out of them?
- Ontario Searches perfectly sum up Toronto millennials – Weed, Tattoo Sleeves and a Baby on Board stickers round out the top 3 searches. Also Coyote urine… Really?
- People in Nova Scotia are very interested in their familial lineage and Mankini’s.
To see the full list of searches, check out the Estately article here