The Outlet Shops
Most brands will nearly always manufacture or order too many pieces, whether it be crockery or sunglasses. Other items from a collection may not sell well with items being left over at the end of a season. Traditionally, designers either hold a bi annual sell off or sell their overstock at a their own outlet store.
These are based on the same premise as the online secret sales (see below). Outlet stores are located all over the UK and are full of hidden treasures! Here are two outlet chains that we recommend.
Shopping Villages is a chain of outlet and discount villages throughout the UK. Each village consists of a collection of shops that offer their goods at heavily discounted prices. Biscester Outlet Village is a treasure trove of shops and we have visited many times. We are always amazed at how many bargains there are. You can choose from Tod's accessories, Max Mara jackets, Ralph Lauren childrens' clothing and pajamas from Petit Bateau. The men can also have fun at Ralph Lauren and Church's to name only a few! All heavily discounted.
McArthurglen
McArthurGlen is another chain of shopping outlet stores. They have 7 outlets in the UK from Edinburgh to Ashford.
For an online outlet store, take a peek at dress-for-less. You need to have a discerning eye but you could find a hidden gem!
The Online Discount Stores
The rise of internet shopping has given rise to a new phenomenon called Online Secret Sales websites. This entails designers selling their stock to online stores who then in turn hold 'secret sales'. The public are invited to take part and purchase these items over a period of time. FCaNK has picked out the cream of the crop for you to check out! Needless to say, all the listed websites sell only genuine stock. This works in well with FCaNK's policy of saying no to counterfeit goods!
Vente-Privee is one such sale site. Vente-privee is a 6 year old French company that has taken the internet by storm. It takes it's name from invitation only sales that were conducted in big warehouses in Paris. It is a private club and you may become a member by being referred by someone. That said, I became a member after finding a link on the internet inviting me to subscribe. Members are invited to take part in sales of brands for a limited time. Members are given 48 hours notice of a sale. The sales start at 6am GMT on weekdays and continues for 2 days. Weekend sales begin at 8am GMT.
Vente Privee has a useful blog as well as well as up to date news of what is happening at the website.
The website it classy and inviting with the products merchandised well and clearly described. You are given live stock levels and colour choices. It is a very easy site to use and we quickly purchased a pair of trainers for one of the husbands! A word of caution. The trainers took a few weeks to arrive. We don't know whether this was due to the Christmas run.
Other sites that are worth checking out are:
Secret Sales describes themselves very well as a free club which organises online private sales of designer brands. Like Vente Privee, they sell branded products at between 30-80% off the retail price. They sell everything from crockery to hoisery.
Members receive weekly emails advising them of the coming week's sales. Each sale begins at 8am and lasts for about 7 days. Secret Sales state that they work closely with the brands and their suppliers to ensure 100% service and quality. All items offered for sale are genuine.
Secret Sales also has a fashion blog plus newsy articles on what the stars are doing and wearing now. Very frivolous but fun!
Like Vente Privee and Secret Sales, Brand Alley is a members only club that offers private online sales of designer goods at between 30-70% off the retail price. Again, you either need to register or be referred by a friend.
Billion Dollar Babes (which Regents Secret merged with) is a slightly different concept to the other secret sales sites. They are an online American store for designer sample goods. The company ships to the UK and other countries. They do warn that there may be import duty to pay on items. The website and the selling process follows much the sale formula as the secret sales websites.
Fashion Confidential is a little bit different again. It is a style website offering style tips and news to it's subscribers. It also has some online private designer discounted products and designer sample sales at designated locations (usually in central London).
Again, one needs to register to become a member. The member will then received weekly emails telling them of upcoming online or in store designer sales.
FCaNK likes Fashion Confidential. It is our kind of shop - both on line and off line!
Koodos
Koodos is a FCaNK favourite. The site is much like the rest of the online private designer sale sites. The website is fun, flashy and easy to use. We love them as they now offer a Mini-Koodos site with discounted designer childrens' clothes. So Fur Coat!
Useful Books
by Patricia Davidson. It is packed with lists of online shops and usefully rates each shop for things like site useability, price range, delivery area and returns policy. Ms Davidson divides the fashion chapter into luxury brands, fashion online (which includes the high street), knitwear, tall and plus sizes, sportswear, accessories, lingerie and footwear - to name but a few! Take a look. You won't be disappointed with this font of information.
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