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 that has benefitted from the state of the economy is Shelter. Stacy Gore runs the store and has certainly noticed a stark difference, especially during the Christmas period...
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 now, here's what she had to say....
Fashion for less was still slightly skeptical, so I decided to investigate and try Twitter comping for myself.
Some of the competitions Fashion for less entered
Throughout the month of December 2011 I took ten minutes out of each day to enter whatever competitions I could find on the social networking website, and when I received my first "Congratulations you've won..." I couldn't believe my eyes. These messages would be a lot more frequent than I initially imagined. In the space of a mere month I won the following...
Not the most exciting freebie but certainly the most useful
Not only was the thrill of receiving something free in the post exciting, but the freebies really came in handy. Things such as face wash, nail varnish, and fake tan, saved me money as they're stuff I would usually buy.
You may be wondering why so many companies are giving out free goods? Well it is all about free advertising, Twitter competitions involve re-tweeting their messages, so if one person re-tweets a message then all their followers see it and so on and so forth. Competitions where you can pick an item of choice are also really good for businesses, because sometimes when people don't win they end up buying the item anyway.
Why not give it a go yourself?
So how do you get started? My advice would be to follow a Twitter account which is solely dedicated to comping, one of the best ones is Competition Club (@competitionclub). They will post all competitions they find on the social networking site, all you have to do from there is click 're-tweet' on the tweet of the competition you want to enter and that is it - it's really that simple. Make sure you're following the companies whose competitions you're entering, otherwise they won't be able to get in touch with you if you win. A little tip from me would be to look at how many followers the company has on Twitter, the less followers they have the more chance you have of winning.
So they're you have it - Twitter comp your way through the dreaded recession. Make sure you leave a comment below and let us know if you win anything. Happy tweeting and good luck!
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." And that's where Lemon and Ginger Vintage all started, "I chose the name Lemon and Ginger because I love lemon and ginger tea and I also dye my hair ginger, I was having a cup of tea one day and thought the name was quite cute."
Quirky name... Quirky clothing...
Lemon and Ginger Vintage Canterbury Bazaar in 2011
Although her dream is to open a shop, she admits that because of the recession that dream will have to wait for a while. She told Fashion for less: "I still eventually want to open a shop. Unfortunately, this is quite an expensive dream and in the current economic climate it is quite risky, so I plan to carry on with the fairs and markets and see how it goes."
Cheap shoes? So we can buy five pairs instead of one right?
Nicole believes that not only have vintage fairs helped her during the recession because they cut the costs of running an actual store, but the fact that she only sells vintage has factored in as well. Vintage clothing is becoming more and more popular and Nicole feels this is because people want to stand out and put their own stamp on what is fashionable. "In 2012 we don't really have 'a look' in comparison to the 40s, 60s, and 80s, so I think it's fun to recreate past fashions and combine all sorts of eras together. We live in a time where anything goes and vintage fashion enables us to make the most of that," she said.
There's no need to fork out money for rent, electricity, gas etc, in a courtyard!
Emulate past fashion eras
Nicole believes that Lemon and Ginger Vintage is different from other companies selling vintage because she sells her stock at low prices. "Vintage used to be cheap but these days most vintage shops charge way over what it's worth... I try to keep my prices low because that way it's a fairer sale. I think if you buy cheap, you should sell cheap."
Fashion for less enjoyed rummaging around the £2 trunk at the latest Lemon and Ginger Vintage fair
So if you're looking for a true vintage bargain then head to the next Lemon and Ginger Vintage fair, which will take place in Canterbury on the 28th January. The location is yet to be announced but if you keep an eye on their Facebook page you'll find it on there.
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 records. According to Experian Hitwise, on December 26th 2011 Britons spent a staggering 13m hours shopping on the internet and e-commerce websites hits were up by a massive 19.5% compared to the same day last year.
The manager of marketing at Canterbury Christ Church University, Loris Clements, had her say on why she thinks online shopping is growing so rapidly...
Why are we shopping more online?
Research also shows that clothing is the top e-retailing sector in the UK, with the likes of River Island, ASOS, Dorothy Perkins, New Look, and Topshop, all making the IMRG Experian Hitwise Hot Shops List in 2011.
ASOS was no.14 in the Hot Shops List
It seems we simply can't resist the lure of online shopping, but are there any drawbacks to buying our fashion items off a computer screen? Let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of shopping for clothing using an e-commerce website.
ADVANTAGES
Convenience
The ease of shopping online is one of the main reasons people love it so much; you don't have to wait around in queues, walk from shop to shop, in fact you don't even have to get ready.
Variety
The likes of River Island and Topshop won't sell everything they have in their warehouse in your local store. However their e-store will, meaning the choice of products available online is absolutely massive. At present New Look have over 1,000 different products in the sale alone on their site. When you compare this fact to the size of the New Look store in Canterbury it's quite a remarkable difference.
Local New Look
No closing times
You can buy goods at any time of the day, whether it be three o'clock in the morning or ten o'clock at night. This means you don't have to plan ahead or waste a whole day shopping, it is also extremely helpful for those who work during the hours high-street stores are open.
Compare prices
There are so many clothing stores available online and the majority of them sell the same, or similar, products. You can compare the prices of these different goods manually or by using a comparison website. This will literally take five minutes and you can find yourself making substantial savings which you wouldn't have if you were shopping in store.
moneysupermarket.com is one of many comparison websites available
Consumer reviews
Whilst shopping online you can easily see consumer reviews on the product you are considering purchasing. Quite often previous consumers will not only express whether they were pleased with the product but they will also give advice on whether to buy a bigger or smaller size.
Example of a review from boohoo.com, click on the picture for a clearer view
DISADVANTAGES
No changing rooms
Obviously you can't try things on over the internet, therefore there is no guarantee that the product you are buying will fit, or that you will even like it. The majority of websites offer a refund over a certain period of time, however this can be time consuming and you will often have to pay the postage costs.
Delivery
When buying online you will have to pay for the delivery of your items. Depending on where you are shopping the amount you will be required to pay varies significantly. The UK's most popular clothing e-retailer, ASOS, offers a free saver delivery, which may take longer but will not cost you a penny. The average delivery cost for most companies is usually around £4. Whilst £4 isn't a huge amount of money it is an added cost, and can make a difference especially if you are only buying one item.
No instant help
If you are in need of any help or advice there is no-one there to aid you instantly. Most websites have a contact email and promise to reply within 24 hours, however you won't receive the direct personal customer service that you would do in store.
Doesn't feel like your spending
It literally takes a click of a mouse to buy the items you want. This can often lead to people spending more money then they intended to because it doesn't feel like you are actually spending anything at all.
Security
As is the case for buying anything online you need to be extremely careful about fraudulent sites and entering your details. There are several ways you can make sure your transaction is a safe one, such as making sure you use a secure site and using a bank click-safe safety protection.
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...
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 has a lot of perks, including free returns and free delivery on all orders over £45. The majority of the clothing they sell is evening wear and there's a huge selection of party dresses, so if you're in need of the perfect dress for a night out The Vestry is the place to get it.
(Left) Rare silver sequin embellished dress £45, (centre) metallic gold cut out platform heels £20, (right) Only Tess long sleeved double sweater £20
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 pump heels and a funky beehive up-do to emulate a real 60's vibe.
For only £12, what's not to love?
9) 'JOSEPHINE BODYCON CUT OUT DRESS' - £7.50 FROM MISSGUIDED
Bodycon dresses are perfect for girls who want to show off their figure and allude confidence. The cream colour of this dress is simple, yet the cut-out panels at the side make it interesting. I'd team this dress with a pair of gold heels and a statement ring to ooze subtle sexiness.
Who said cream had to be boring?
8) 'COLOURBLOCK BODYCON DRESS' - £17 FROM MISS SELFRIDGE
Colour blocking has been the trend of 2011 and it's set to run riot again in 2012. Why spend hours trying to mix and match different colourful garments when you can buy a ready made colour blocking dress all in one? I'd team this dress with a pair of grungy heeled shoe boots and a quiff up-do to edge up the look.
Nothing says 'making life easy' like a colour-blocking dress
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 from H&M, a loose white blouse from Zara, and stunning show-stopping leather print heels from Lavish Alice.
Bringing high-street to the blue carpet
H&M and Zara are both located in Canterbury's Whitefriars, whilst Lavish Alice is an exciting online boutique which delivers to the city. It gets even better... the brown leather skirt is a bargain at a mere £14.99. Whilst the leopard print heels are only £35, which is cheap for a pair of statement shoes.
'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 around £10 to £25.
Vintage Warehouse offers a range of diverse retro clothing
The store also sells a selection of shoes and accessories
The shopping experience itself is a delight, you feel like you're walking into a fashionista's closet from the 60s or 70s. The quirky old building and funky dressing room all add to the personality of the store, and the clothes are as intriguing as the little shop itself.
The building personifies the old-school clothing being sold inside
Fashion for less gives you a peak inside the exciting store
The owner of the store, Bobby Harvey, individually sources all the retro and vintage stock from warehouses in London and Barnsley. Each item is chosen with care and consideration and that is evident by the diverse and exclusive selection on offer.
Retro denim hot-pants are one of many popular items in store
Try on clothes in the funky retro dressing room
It is obviously a huge risk opening a business in the recession, yet Harvey says business has started well and he feels it is because he offers something different by selling 'real' vintage.
Harvey explains what sets Vintage Warehouse apart...
Click here to check out the Vintage Warehouse Facebook page.
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 people stated that whilst they still shop on occasion, they spend a lot less than they previously would have and they are a lot more cautious with what they spend their money on.
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