Shopping for Clothes for Women: A Guide for Women
Did you know the “Born to Shop bumper sticker?” It’s not something that you have on your car. You’re more of an “Save the Whales” type of girl. Shopping for you is a quick trip to Target to buy a new white T-shirt. You love the idea of leaving a shopping centre with armloads (reusable) of bags filled with cute clothes. But the act of buying them? You might not like the idea of buying them. However, you will also admit that clothes shopping doesn’t have to be as painful as shopping for your old bathing suit.
Even if your style isn’t the most fashion-forward, it can still be fun to shop for clothes with the right people. You might not enjoy shopping, so you should make a list of the people you’ll be going with. Spend it with friends who are supportive, fun, easy-going and friendly in the dressing room. This could mean that you have to say goodbye to your most frenemy, who is the one who loves your cheekbones but takes jabs on your cankles. A half-day trip might be a good way to get comfortable before you take on the full-day. However, an all-day shopping excursion is almost a righteous passage for women.
How to Plan an All-Day Shopping Trip
You’re at Grandma’s with the kids, your wallet is organized and you’re dressed in a cute outfit so you can go on your big day. You think so. Even the most avid shoppers can become a bit mall-worn after spending a day trudging through crowds, smelling sweet cologne spraying out of doors, and elbowing their way through hundreds of people. How you dress will have a huge impact on how your trip goes.
Let’s start by asking what you are shopping for. While you want to look stylish, comfort is what you need. You can look for blouses that are easy to button and unbutton. This will save you the hassle of combing your hair and putting it on your head. You might want to have a range of outfits so a maxi or sundress that you can put on and take off easily is the right choice. Shoes? Sneakers are not something you want to wear. You can take high-heeled heels with you if you buy a fancy cocktail dress. This will allow you to see how the shoes look with the outfit. Wear flats to walk.
Next, plan your schedule if there are many stores you wish to visit. If you are looking for a place to shop, you can save time and go to a shopping center or mall that contains all the stores. Map out the location of each shopping district if you plan on hitting a few. Realistically, shopping takes much longer than you might think, especially with a group. Therefore, it is better to plan your stops so that you have more time at each one than at the others.
It is important to take a break for lunch. Everyone needs to have a moment to rest and recharge. It’s also a good idea to pack some food. Also, remember to pack snacks and water. Shopping counts as exercise. You’ll need to keep your blood sugar high throughout the day.
The Best Day to Shop
On Saturday afternoons, prime time at the mall is around 2 p.m. You will feel more relaxed if you go in the morning or after they close. Sundays can be a bit quieter, however most stores are open for a shorter time so your “shopper-tunity” is significantly lower. Friday night is another option. Although most weekend sales are on Friday, most shoppers will be shopping in the evening.
Weekday mornings at the mall can be a great time to get in and out quickly if you have a flexible work schedule. It’s easier to find employees than mall-walkers if you go right before the stores open. The traffic slows down in the afternoon, although it can get busy during lunchtime. Independent boutiques are usually more laid-back than big department stores, at any hour of the day. You might want to plan an all-day shopping trip. If possible, start at the mall and have lunch. Then, visit the boutiques later in the day.
This is all a distraction during the holidays. If you aren’t comfortable with crowds, shopping can be a very miserable experience. Good news: There’s no bad time online to shop.
Shopping Fun with These Tips
Remember that shopping trips are about the journey and not the destination. This is the key to having a great experience. It’s as much about having fun with your friends as it is about buying new clothes. If you’re someone who likes to shop alone (or maybe you’re indecisive, and need to move between stores without disturbing others; or perhaps you’re embarrassed by the sight of your bathing suit on everyone’s face), you might consider shopping with your girls instead. You should focus on buying a scarf or bag.
Do not let your friends convince you to buy something that is too expensive. You can always find great deals at outlet malls or off-price shops like TJ Maxx if they are looking for designer purses. A lot of department stores also have sales so plan your trip around this. Swimsuits are at their best in the middle to late season, and you will find the best deals.
How to Open A Retail Store
Make a business plan and an idea
Your business plan and your idea are the first steps to opening a retail shop. First, decide what store you want. Answer the following questions.
- What is your business selling?
- Who is your target market?
- What prices will you set for your business?
- Which are the local and industry competitors?
- Who will make up your team?
There are many more questions to answer. However, opening a retail store is not unlike opening any other business. What you are selling and who your target audience is will be key factors in your success. It’s crucial to make sure that your retail store fulfills a customer’s need.
Juli Lassow (founder and principal of JHL Solutions), a retail management consulting firm, stated, “Know Your Competition.” “No one’s ideas are original today. Learn what choices your customers have regarding your offer and how you can best serve them. You might not have to do anything at all.
After you’ve analyzed your competitors, create your strategy to win. Is it price? On quality? What about service? Service? Be clear about what your competitive advantage is. Learn how to communicate this to customers through marketing and presentation.
Lassow points out that understanding your competitive advantage is key to your business’ uniqueness. Retail is competitive. You need to be clear about what your business plan is to succeed. It is the most important aspect in opening a business.
Lassow explained that losing one’s place in the crowd is a risk when opening a retail shop.
She stated that “you risk not standing out among a crowded marketplace.” “Consumers today have so many choices to learn about products. They have many options when it comes to where they can shop. They also have choices about how to purchase. Your product and marketing strategy must reach your customer. It should resonate with them.
Marketing ideas and funding are also important factors. Do you require business loans? Do you plan to invest in investors? What marketing channels will your team use? Is it necessary for your team to have people who are specifically trained in social media marketing? What online channels do customers use?
Your business plan should include marketing and business financing considerations. Researching business loans and how investors can help you get funding is a great idea. You should be familiarized with online marketing channels for marketing.
You should also consider all costs. You should compile a list with all of your fixed and variable costs. It can be easy to come up with a brilliant idea but then forget about the costs of hundreds of thousands. You might discover that opening a brick and mortar store is too costly for you. If this happens, it’s worth starting an online business to save up the money and eventually open your own small location.
Select a name to describe your retail store
Apart from the basics of creating a business plan you should also consider finding a good business name. Here are some factors to consider when deciding how to make a great business name.
- Meaning- Customers should see some meaning in the name. While this meaning might evolve over time, you will want to create a brand that is easily identifiable by customers.
- Simplicity. Choose names that are simple and short. Apple, Nike and Facebook are all big brands that are easy-to-remember. It’s not a good name for branding if your brand is too complex.
- Uniqueness Do not choose a name similar to those of your competitors. Be unique and authentic in the name you choose. It should reflect your business. Names are best created from your own ideas, and without any reference to other brands.