CHARITY SHOPS THRIVE DUE TO RECESSION

Did someone say recession? What recession? One area that is flourishing due to the terrible state of the economy is charity stores. Canterbury's Shelter has benefitted from the current economic climate It seems that the recession has led the people of Canterbury to search for cheaper places to spend their money, with most turning to charity shops. In fact, the boom in business has lead to charity shops breaking records across the UK. One of these is the British Heart Foundation (BHF) which netted over £26 million in their stores across the country last year, that is an 18% rise in profits from the year before. One charity shop in Canterbury...

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TWITTER YOUR WAY THROUGH THE RECESSION

How many times do you turn on your television to see adverts saying you can "win £1,000 by answering the following question..." or "just text a, b, or c to ***** to win a trip to the Caribbean"? Many of us simply roll our eyes because we know the chance of us winning is literally one in a million. However, one breed of competitions which is becoming exceedingly popular are Twitter competitions, and you'll be surprised to learn that you just might win something.... The tooth fairy may not be real, but is the freebie fairy? Canterbury Christ Church University student, Kimberley Young, has been entering competitions on Twitter for a while...

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VINTAGE FAIRS

In the current economic climate it is exceedingly difficult for businesses to survive, never mind opening a new one. However, one person who dreams of opening a Vintage clothing store is the founder of Lemon and Ginger Vintage, Nicole Cobbs. Nicole has had to compromise because of financial constraints and luckily she has found the perfect solution... Vintage fairs.  Vintage Bazaars; cheap, fun, and addictive Nicole started doing fairs when she finished university in Brighton because she had a lot of vintage clothing she didn't wear. She said: "I did one fair, really enjoyed it, and just carried on buying stuff really. It's quite addictive."...

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TOP 3 APPS TO SAVE MONEY

Do you have a smart phone? If so these three apps will help you save a substantial amount of money whilst getting some much needed retail therapy... SHOP STYLE VOUCHER CODES SHOP SAVVY ...

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ONLINE SHOPPING: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE CONVENIENT

Online shopping seems to be defying the doom and gloom of the recession, with e-commerce sales rising year by year. Fashion for less analyses the benefits and drawbacks of shopping for clothing on the internet. Do you enjoy shopping online? According to research carried out by IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group), despite the recession the UK e-retail market is currently growing at a rate of 16% each year. In 2011, over approximately £65bn was spent on online shopping in the UK, making it the biggest e-retail economy in the whole of Europe. The online market shows no signs of slowing down either, with Boxing Day breaking online shopping...

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THE RECESSION'S IMPACT ON STORES IN CANTERBURY

The recession has been a lingering dark cloud over many businesses in the UK. Over one million people have lost their jobs and big companies such as Woolworths and Prinicipals have been forced to shut down because of economic difficulties.  These signs have been much more familiar since the recession began in 2007 'Fashion for less' found out how clothing stores and fashion boutiques in Canterbury have found it during the recession and what tactics they've been employing to ensure we still splash our cash.....

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TOP 10 ONLINE CLOTHING STORES

Internet shopping has experienced a massive boom over the past few years, with over 37 million people in the UK shopping online. 'Fashion for less' took to the streets of Canterbury to find out their favourite e-retail clothing websites. Here's Canterbury's top 10 online retailers (in reverse order) based on a survey of 65 people living in the city. Participants were allowed to select as many e-retailers as they wished. 10) THE VESTRY"The finest quality and most unique designs"  The Vestry sells a wide range of clothing; including their own range and items from other popular brands such as Vero Moda, Rare, and Iron Fist. The e-retailer...

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PARTY LIKE PIXIE: TOP 10 PARTY DRESSES

Last night popular pop-star Pixie Lott turned 21 and boy did she do it in style. The singer wore a gorgeous grecian-style gown with loud gold sequins to give the look a contemporary twist. Pixie's catwalk worthy outfit inspired 'Fashion for less' to pick our top ten AFFORDABLE party dresses (after all... not everyone has Pixie's purse). Here's our top 10 party dresses in reverse order... 10) 'CLARISSA DOGTOOTH BODYCON DRESS' - £12 FROM BOOHOO There's no better way to stand out from the crowd then to wear a statement print. This dogtooth patterned bodycon dress will ensure that all eyes are on you. Team with a bold pair of fuchsia pink...

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GET THE LOOK: LAUREN POPE

The world's sexiest DJ, glamour model, and TOWIE star, Lauren Pope, was spotted looking gorgeous at a premiere last night, and luckily for you her outfit is available in Canterbury's high street stores. Pope was named the 'world's sexiest DJ' in Nuts magazine 'Popey' swapped Essex for Kensington as she attended the premiere of 'Cirque Du Soleil'. It seems the DJ had a great time as she took to her Twitter page throughout the evening to express her thoughts... Cirque Du Soleil got the thumbs up from Lauren She was clearly loving the evening, but do you want to know what we were loving? Her outfit! The 28-year-old wore a fitted leather skirt...

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VINTAGE STORE OPENS IN CANTERBURY

'Vintage Warehouse' is a unique retro and vintage clothing store which has recently opened in Canterbury. It is like no other in the city; the clothes are individual, the shop is brimming with personality, and the experience is a treasure. Promo clip for Vintage Warehouse In the current economic climate it is often hard to stay fashionable whilst on a budget, luckily vintage clothing offers a way to make this easier. It is becoming exceedingly popular because items are one of a kind, fashion-forward, and generally very cheap in price. The goods on offer at Vintage Warehouse certainly reflect this criteria, ranging in price from...

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HAS THE RECESSION HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU?

Our carefree attitude and love for a bargain has made us unable to cut down our spending on clothing during the recession, according to world-leading market intelligence provider Mintel. Can you resist a bargain? Mintel compiled a detailed report stating that rather than stopping spending during this difficult period we have not changed our shopping habits at all. The company states that young people in particular drive the sales because of their love for fashion. Another factor is our need to buy in special offer periods and our inability to resist a bargain. However, the people of Canterbury generally disagree with Mintel's conclusion. Most...

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