Retail paradise! (Next)

Member Name: Grimsbygal

Product:	Next
Date:	20/07/01 (317 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: can grab some bargains

Disadvantages: having to get up early, clothes quite expensive generally

It’s coming up to that time of year again. The money is saved, the nails are sharpened and the night arrives. It’s off to bed early, alarm clock set and the next thing we know you are awake again. Not to worry though, on any normal day the alarm clock would be out the window and your head would be under the pillow but today is different. Today you are excited. It is five o’clock in the morning and the adrenalin is pumping and you are actually pleased to be out of bed.

You jump into your car complete with your purse and speed off into town. You manage to find a place in the already busy car park and rush off on your mission. The blood rushes to your head and you spot in the distance a big red and yellow sign revealing the word SALE! The queue building up outside doesn’t put you off. You can sort them out once inside.

You join the end and concentrate on the door calculating in your head how much money you can afford to put on that credit card. You become interrupted as the doors open and people begin to bombard the door. Suddenly it’s every woman for herself. People rush in different directions trying to get the best bargains. The truth is everything in the shop is a bargain.

I had my first Next Sale experience on Boxing Day. Before then I laughed at anyone mad enough to get up so early. I couldn’t quite believe why people did it and only went then because my sister in law didn’t have anyone to go with. I didn’t have anything to do for the rest of the day so I decided to go and sleep later on. I came out of that shop with over £300 worth of clothes. The good thing is it only cost me about £120. As the next sale is at the end of the month I am going to give you some tips and advice that will make your trip worth whilst.

· Accessories – All you need to take to a Next sale is yourself and a purse, preferably full of money. Don’t bother taking a handbag, this will just get
in the way and cause more arguments.
· Get there early – The earlier you get there the better choice you will have. I don’t mean take your sleeping bag down the night before but I would advise you to get there for the opening at 6.
· Trying clothes on – Unfortunately you cannot try clothes on for the first two days of the sales. This is because of the large amount of people in store. They do allow you to take things back for a refund though. Don’t let this put you off. Just grab what you like and worry about the fit later.
· Children’s clothes – If you are after bargains for the children you may be best to fight your way through the children’s section first as this often tends to be the busiest.
· Queues – Be prepared to queue. There are big queues in and outside the shop and be patient after all you are guaranteed bargains.
· Arguments – It is well known to see arguments in the sales as everyone grabs at everything. I had been after a pair of trousers I had spotted in Next a few weeks before and decided to wait until the sale. Me and another lady grabbed them at the same time. I was crafty by saying oh look they are damaged, she let go, and I pretended to put them back and rushed off with them.

The staff are always friendly at the sales and I am sure when I went they tried guessing how much we had spent before adding up the total. Someone goes around the queue offering mints out to everyone.

The thing I find most exciting is calculating my savings. My sister in law always loves this bit and likes telling people.

Remember every item in the shop is on sale and most are half price. It is completely different to other sales I have been to before where half the shop is still selling normal priced clothes.

The thing is during the year I hardly buy anything at Next. Since the sale I haven’t bought a thing. I have had my eyes on a few things that I am
hoping are in the sale though and with the money you save I think it is worthwhile waiting.

Next sell really good quality clothes that last and wash really well. In the last sale I purchased a few tops that I have only just begun to wear so it has saved me money shopping elsewhere as well. Men’s clothes are just as cheap and often cheaper. I bought my fiancé a few t-shirts for less than £5 each that should have been £15 and £20. At this price you can afford to have as many tops as you like.

So go on isn’t it time you enjoyed a bit of retail therapy. Go shop for England!

*UPDATE*
Me and my family had a very successful shop in the latest sale. I got £250 worth of clothes for £110. They all look great and will last my for ages. My fiance spent £113 and my mum spent £160. Well worth getting up at 5 o'clock for although I am still recovering now!

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