The Shopping Test I Swear By

I really am not great in the sales.
In fact I am not great shopping. Period.

I still think twice before buying anything for

myself. I guess I still have my Mum's dulcette

tones ringing in my ears when she gave me these

wise words.

" Go home and sleep on it. If you are

still thinking about it 48 hours later, that means

you really want it" (but not necessarily need it of course).

YSL oversized bag. Passed the 48 hour test ;-)

I have used this technique so many times and 

you can be sure 24 hours later, I can't even

remember what it was I wanted to buy ;-)

Something I promise I would never forget in 48 hours (Valentino)

I think it's great to remember that what we 

buy represents how we see ourselves, and how we

wish for others to see us.

You're a smart cookie and let the world know it.

Would love to know your thoughts on shopping.

Are you an impulse buyer?

A throw-away-after-one- season kind of girl?

Do you go armed to the sales knowing exactly what

you want (list in hand, body armor on!) or do you

decide when you see it?

When was the last time you had buyers remorse?

I would love to hear 

xxxxxx

Save Your Haggling For Morocco

OK, here's the thing that's been bugging

me for some time.

Many of my wonderful friends are creatives

of some shape or form.

We are all creatives in some way I think.

So it really bugs me when people feel they have a right

to try and barter our prices down, or haggle

over a product they want.

Hey! I love a good bargain, but I would never

barter with small businesses or creatives.

In the same way if I was having something bespoke

made, I would never haggle. I know that the reason

the price is higher than Target or Walmart is because

I am buying into the whole "process" of something 

being created just for me.

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Hayden Williams

Even if you are a stylist, people are paying to tap into

your knowledge and for you to create a look for them.

Therefore, we should respect that and NOT haggle or

negotiate over the price.

I find it really offensive sometimes.

You see I get between 5-10 emails a week from

bloggers asking me for FREE products!

Some of these "influencers" have NEVER even read my

blog, certainly never commented. So never having taken the

time to build a relationship with me, but then they feel

they have the "right" to ask for a free product as they

are a "fashion influencer"? Am I missing something here?

Some have blog stats that you can count on one hand!

But that's not really the issue for me. It's the fact that they

feel I should be "privileged" that they "found me" on the

Internet.

I was always astounded by their audacity.

A couple of times I turned the tables and said

they could have a product if they show me

their stats, or they can have a product

if they pay the trade price.

Of course you never see them again for dust!

They just wanted the freebie.

Here's the thing. When you give someone something for free

 (and it's not given as a gift from you), you de-value

your product/service/time.

People never appreciate something they are

given for free. Even if they have to pay a

nominal amount, they will value the object/

service/person MORE than if they pay nothing.

Other times I have had customers who contact

me saying they like a particular piece, but THEY think

the price should be X!!!

Whooooooa! Hold on Tiger!

 Are you serious?

Would they walk into Neiman Marcus or

Selfridges in the UK and say to the store manager

they would like to purchase X but only if the price is

what they think it should be?

C'mon people get a grip!

If you want to haggle then go to your local market

or ebay (Morocco is also a good place if you like

haggling ;-)

But if you are buying from an artist who is selling their 

product or service that they live, sleep and breathe through,

then don't haggle.

If you want cheap and mass-produced, then there

are places where you can buy such products with

prices that reflect this.

So this holiday season my wonderful friends,

don't let customers negotiate your worth.

You have set your price for a reason, and if

that sets you apart from the mass--produced

tat that some of the bigger stores sell, then

be proud about it. 

The RIGHT customers

who know value, and who know your worth

WILL find you and they will never negotiate with you.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this (whether you are a creative

or a even "professional haggler ;-"- 

I know they exist. My sister is one of them ;-)