FabSugar

Stock Up on Summer Basics at James Perse's Sample Sale Starting Now

FabSugar — Fri, 20 May 2011 07:01:10 PDT

Looking for the perfect tee, tank, or dress for Summer? James Perse is hosting a sample sale today with discounts ranging from 40-60% off. ShopStyle has the exciting early access to the sale and we are thrilled to be able to share this with you all starting now. We can't think of a more perfect time to stock up on sexy v-neck tees, comfy shorts, and light-weight sweaters. You don't want to miss out on this one - check out all the beautiful basics and buy away.

Stock Up Now: Built by Wendy's Online Sample Sale

Noria Morales — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:04:02 PDT

The crisp, slightly preppy basics on the Built by Wendy online sample sale are screaming for your Spring closet. True to its sample sale name, the prices are cheap for Built by Wendy's signature tailoring and cute details. Warm weather uniform: we love these Military Shorts ($35, originally $117), paired with a Little Yellow Camisole ($32, originally $108). Visit Built by Wendy to check out the sample sale for yourself, which ends Monday, April 11, so no dillydallying.

Make eight1six Your New Affordable Jewelry Destination

FabSugar — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:00:22 PDT

There's Gilt Groupe, there's Rue La La, and HauteLook - they occasionally sell jewelry, but mostly ready-to-wear. Now there's a sample sale site solely dedicated to bling. Hooray!
eight1six provides access to an edited selection of jewelry, all sold at affordable prices. Sales, which are bi-weekly and open for 48 hours, feature 30 new pieces each time. The very first sale opened this week with some of the below eye candy, ranging from $22 to $36. Sign up and start blinging.

MyNines.com: All Sample Sales, All in One Place!

FabSugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:00:22 PST

If you're like me, you love to find great bargains via online sample sales. Now there's a one-stop shop thanks to MyNines.com, a free service that aggregates products from various sample sale sites. There are clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry, as well as categories for men, travel, beauty, and wines. Currently my favorite brands are Filippa K, Zimmermann, Acne, and Mint. It's adding new sites each week, so be sure to check back regularly.

Children's Sample Sale Sites Feed Moms' Shopping Needs

babysugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:22 PST

Mamas who love spending dough on their lil ones know how quickly a barrette here and shoes there can add up. While some save cash by shopping at discount or consignment shops, others can't give up their love of designer duds for their tots. Over the past year several online sample sale sites have set up shop offering significant price reductions on clothing and gear for expectant moms and tots.

The Mini Social, bTrendie and Zulily all send daily emails to members, informing them of the one or two sales they are hosting that day. Sale products tend to focus on boutique brands – such as celeb baby favorite Splendid Littles, eco-friendly toy company Plan Toys and baby gear giant Graco to name a few – and prices can be as much as 50 percent off of retail stores. But interested buyers have to act fast and be willing to compromise. The sites tend to only have a limited supply of the goods that can sell out in a matter of minutes, and the available colors and patterns may not be the most current.

Do you shop the children's sample sale sites?

Fab Flash: Designers Partner with Gilt.com

FabSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:00:22 PST

A new partnership has just been formed that will allow sample sale fans to get their fix from the comfort of their own home! The Council of Fashion Designers of America has joined with Gilt.com to give CFDA members - think Marc Jacobs, Nanette Lepore - the option of doing their sample sales online.

Already, Marchesa, Rachel Roy, and Bulgari have teamed with Gilt Groupe's Gilt.com for the site's one-day designer-specific online sales, and Behnaz Sarafpour and Sari Gueron have upcoming sales in the works. Gilt Groupe offers 3-4 online sales per week - for sale access, you must be a referred member, but once accepted, there are no fees involved. Everyone loves a sample sale, right?!
Source

Fab How-To: Sample Sale Shopping

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 07:14:44 PST

Now that we've shown you a peek into Spring, as well as some of the new Fall 2007 looks, if you are anything like me, you've already begun to clean out your closet to ensure there's ample space in there for what's to come! Stores are still having major sales and private brands are conducting their own and much awaited sample sales.

The slashed price tags can really make your tail wag, but beware! You don't want to wind up with a closet full of junk...no less, last season's junk. For a few helpful tips from a shopping junkie on how to tackle sample sales,

Lesson One: Try and resist the need for an item simply because it seems like such a good deal. At the time it may seem like a fab purchase, but if realistically you are never going to put it on, then put it down!
Lesson Two: Don’t buy it if it doesn't fit you while you are in the store. I can't tell you how many times I thought, "this will look great after I lose the weight I've been meaning to shed." If you never get around to losing the weight, the item will never fit. Also if something requires a costly alteration, consider if it's really worth the investment.
Lesson Three: Slow down shopper! If you are rushing but want to buy something so you feel a sense of accomplishment, chances are that you won't make a good choice. Shop when you've got the time to give your purchases proper smarts.
Lesson Four: Look for quality, not quantity. It's better to own a few nice investment staples than to own a closet full of trendy and shoddy items that will soon be out of style and will fall apart. Train yourself to splurge on timeless pieces.
Lesson Five: Spring clean before you go to a sample sale. Have an idea of what you need so that you won't be tempted to buy just anything that catches your eye. Your goal should be to get rid of anything that you haven't worn in two years (and that's a cushioned rule since I'm sentimental).
Tip: An additional helpful hint: make sure you wear clean, cute underwear that you don't mind others seeing. Often times sample sales are in huge warehouses or auditoriums with open changing rooms or none at all. Showing up commando at a sample sale is an etiquette and fashion DON'T!

Free and Inexpensive Ways to Treat Yourself

OnSugar Blog — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:05:49 PST

Sometimes we just need a break! OnSugar blogger Everyday Baby Steps shares free and inexpensive ways to treat yourself.

The other day I wrote about how my new hairstyle has improved my outlook. I also mentioned that I'm fortunate enough to blog for a wonderful local hair salon, and I'm able to trade my writing services for hair and beauty treatments. It's an awesome exchange! Even if you're not lucky enough to have your hairstylist on retainer, there are still tons of ways to treat and pamper yourself, as well as your family, without spending a ton of money. These are tough economic times. Throughout my working life, I've had various periods of ups and downs with my finances. The times when I was the least happy were the ones in which I constantly denied myself. Living in a mindset of lack or want is not healthy. It's no good for you, and it's no good for your loved ones. So I'm going to get you started with a list of things you can do to add some fun and pampering to your life without spending the big bucks that so many of us just don't have right now.

Health and Beauty

Going to the salon and buying beauty products can really take a chunk out of your budget. Consider these ways of pampering yourself on the cheap.

Budget-Friendly Hostess Gifts and Other Hits of the Week!

Nancy Einhart — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 03:08:00 PST

Merry Christmas, SavvySugar readers! Just in case you missed any of the holiday goodness and other fun on Savvy this week, here's a pretty package of links to enjoy. Best wishes for a happy holiday and a prosperous New Year!

Ten budget-friendly gifts for your favorite hostess.
Office-themed jewelry gifts to add workplace charm.
Nine alternatives to expensive holiday traditions.
Start saving for next year with our best money-saving tips of 2011.
While you're at it, pick out a cute new planner for 2012.
What life lessons we can learn from Taylor Swift songs.
Five tips for resisting all those seemingly irresistible sales.
Plus why you should say no to free samples.
Be prepared: Ten steps to take before a job interview.

Say No to That Free Sample! The Rule of Reciprocity

LearnVest — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:30:56 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!
There are little tricks businesses use to get us to buy.

Some are pretty obvious, like sales and coupons.

Others are more subtle and nefarious, and may prey on the very good spirit of our human nature. A tad dramatic? Maybe not.

Recall those free address labels from the Disabled American Veterans? In the 1970s, they decided to send potential donors personalized labels in the mail, while soliciting donations. Their generous approach? They told people to keep the labels even if they didn't make a donation. After they did this, the number of people who made contributions nearly doubled - jumping from 18 to 35 percent.

Why was this marketing tactic so successful? Because of a little phenomenon called the rule of reciprocity.

It's not the end of the world if you end up donating to a great cause, but chances are you've been suckered into buying some random stuff you don't need because of this really powerful psychological phenomenon.

The Rule of Reciprocity: The Law of Give and Take

Made popular by Robert Cialdini's book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, the rule of reciprocity is the deeply ingrained human instinct to repay a debt.

According to Steve J. Martin, who coauthored the book Yes! 50 Secrets From the Science of Persuasion with Cialdini, the rule of reciprocity is fundamental to human nature. Every culture and ethnicity trains its children to abide by the rule of give and take. If someone gives something to us, we feel obligated to repay that debt. This rule operates not only with people you know, but also with strangers

Read on for more on free samples and reciprocity.