Christmas shopping season has arrived. It is time to hit the stores for gift buying and get a bit of cheer.
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Tis the Season
Tag: shopping tips
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Now On My Radar
I got invited to an event from the Superdry’s public relations team to check out the store, look over the pieces and choose what I would like to wear. Who turns down free clothes?Admittingly, the brand was not on my radar. I met the team at their event in Florence at Pitti Uomo, yet for some reason I never followed up on the relationship. The British brand was founded eighteen years ago. According to the press agent, outerwear were the key pieces of the brand’s early years, mainly parkers. The two story Kurfürstendamm Berlin flagship store on has a wide selection of mens and women’s wear styles. A person could spend hours trying on pieces. There is even a vintage sportswear section.
Vintage Section 
Active and Fitness Wear 
Hoodies
Going over the mens fashion, Superdry is influenced by American and Japanese styles, varsity jackets layered with graphic prints. There is no shortage of monogrammed hoodies and t-shirts to match with denim wear.
As I was not familiar with the Cheltenham base company, the sales assistant showed me around. Granted being a press invitee I expected a well mannered staff, but the genuineness was authentic. Even saying “ask me anything, I know the whole collection.” Shockingly, she did. Her knowledge made it easier to decide what to choose.
Superdry logo on Oxford Shirts 
Denimwear 
Parkas
Superdry advertises itself as a premium brand not the typical ready to wear high street retailer. The black jeans I have are comfortable. The green jacket is stylish. However, longevity is judge of quality. For me, if I can wear clothing for over a year without major wear and tear, it’s good.
Stay tuned for follow up stories.
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Black Friday Shopping 2021
To do the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome is insanity. Einstein
For the second Christmas in Berlin the city has been placed on Covid restrictions. Did it work last year? It’s according who you ask. Back to where we started from in 2021. The difference from 2020: 2G and 3G, show proof of vaccination and identification to enter shops.
Xmas Market 
Galeria Kaufhaus 
3G at the train station
On the busies day shopping days of the year the consequences of these new policies. The possible death of brick and mortar retail in Berlin. The make or break Christmas Buying Season can mean up to 50% of annual retail profits.
In the German capital, malls and retailers have struggled during the crisis, resulting with many chains closing branches and reducing hours.
This past Black Friday Saturday I visited local shopping areas and stores. The cold weather and rain would put off even the most devoted bargain hunter, add to the inconvenience waiting in line outside in gray 5 degree celsius weather.
Wet and Cold Wait
I drop in to the Alexander Platz anchor store Galeria Kaufhaus. Thankfully, I went to the old TopShop entrance to avoid the crowd. The line only took 2 minutes. After walking around for 30 minutes, I would not call the 5 floor location “wall to wall busy”.
A messenger at the KaDeWe 
Inside the KaDeWe 
KaDeWe
Next, The boutique shopping district Hackersham Market. All the stores had the 2G sign in the windows, but not so many shoppers in the stores.
Jumping on the Sbahn, next stop KuDamn, the main shopping street in the West with all its posh stores.
The luxury department store KaDeWe had a long line, but this time, unlike last year, there was a bit of assurance the line would move fast mixed with entertainment the 2G line would move fast.
After entering, my first thought, where was the crowd? I expected a lot more for the Berlin’s shopping mecca. Making my way up stairs, the food floor was jammed, clearly visitors were more interested in a bite to eat than the 50% off fashion promotions.
As for or Mitte’s Galeries Lafeyette and Potsdamer Platz Mall of Berlin in the late afternoon, the throngs of buyers went missing.
Physical Christmas shopping will suffer these days, no doubt. I went shopping on the day the Omicron variant became a global headline.
This writer ended up buying a bottle Champagne.
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Fast Fashion Part 2
Part 2 of the Before Tacky Podcast talks about Fast Fashion and buyers behaviours. What do consumers want? Is “buying better” a trend or only a social media slogan? The panel goes in depth on the subject.
Click below to view the latest episode.
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My Online Shopping Experience
In the New Normal I started a new behavior pattern. I finally caught up with a trend that exploded years ago. I have been shopping online. Buying clothing via screen. I resisted this because physical store shopping is more fun. Going to a location, trying on clothes, talking to sales people then getting tips were all part of the experience.
Screen time bargaining hunting is a full time chore. Continually checking websites before Christmas, stores mark down items all the time. But, this year because of Covid, lockdowns and customers cutting back, the discounts are fast and furious.
The same question rolling around in my mind looking at pieces, “Will it fit?” Seeing a coat on a 13 inch screen is very different from wearing it the first time. It’s the same as watching adult films, a sort of visual deception. Using certain camera angles to entice viewers, objects appear bigger than they are in reality.
My first try at buying online was ok. I got a nice sweater and pants from a Milan based brand I know. I decided to roll the dice a second time by ordering a coat and jacket from two high labels. This did not work out so well. The coat fit in the shoulders and arms, but the body hung in an awkward way. What happened? The coat looked great on the model. The puffer jacket was too small. I thought medium, it should have been a large.
Hassle Free?
Now let’s make it a bit more complicated, the “hassle free” return. Checking retail stats, 40% of online purchases are returned compared to 10% for in-store purchases. I reboxed the coat, filled out the form. I walked to not one, not two, but three carrier drop offs. The first could not take it because the destination was out of the country. The second was the same. The third drop off point, well the return account is free, however, via express. The Spatkauf could not take the package cause of the account category. I would have to walk 2 blocks to the official post office. Lesson learned. Returning boxes requires planning.
Will I shop online again? The jury is out.
After Christmas, the sales season starts. This year many local stores and independent fashion brand/designers face challenges. Please show them your support with your purchases.
