sample sales are shopping fails

now, don't get me wrong, i love a bargain as much as the next person - particularly when it comes to fashion. i love tk maxx - always have, always will. it's the thrill of the rummage, filled with hope of finding a one-off gem amongst the mountains of poorly displayed tat. it's no frills shopping at it's best and what really sets it apart from primark and the like is that you can purchase quality fashion at a reduced price which you are unlikely to see everyone from your 13 year old cousin to your great aunt sporting in the same week. this is the same reason i adore charity shop shopping - it's the thrill of what you might find. amongst my favourite charity shop finds are a brand new black versace cocktail dress for £11 (british heart fund shop, st andrews) and a handmade purple evening dress for £2 (oxfam, dalston).

and so it was with this in mind that i thought i would have found this morning's french connection sample sale thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding. after all, i'm a big fan of french connection - i like the combination of modernity and femininity which is central to their designs but often find their price point is just beyond what i'm willing (or able...!) to spend on regular wardrbe refreshment. having started a new job last week, however, i am keen to expand my 'smart/casual' collection.

with this is mind, i set my alarm and got myself along to french connection's camden offices bright and early on this bright and cold saturday morning. and i wasn't the only one hopeful of grabbing a bargain at the brand's sample sale. the queue snaked around the building and luckily i was there reasonably early and so only had to wait for around twenty minutes before getting into the building.

to say the sale was a disappointment would be an understatement. it's not that there wasn't plenty of choice, because there was. and the reductions were significant - not jaw-droppingly so, but significant nonetheless. instead of the exciting, treasure hunt-style shopping trip which i'd imagined, the whole experience was pretty rubbish.

despite the fact that we'd been standing in the freezing cold for the best part of half an hour, we had to leave our coats in the cloakroom. which would have been fine, except the sale took place in the building's studio, which was pretty cold too. clothes were strewn everywhere, signs and staff enforcing the 'no trying on' rule were in full force and there were way too many security guards for my liking.

i fully understand that managing and staffing the sample sale for such a popular brand must be seriously difficult and this being my first sample sale, i don't think this negative experience would be particular to french connection.
i do think, however, that for such a brand, the humble sample sale just goes to show how many other factors influence purchase decisions. i generally love shopping in french connection - their stores are spacious and well-lit, the clothes are always displayed nicely and attention to detail is clearly always paid when it comes to in-store publicity and packaging. strip these elements away, and there is no way i would consider paying full price for these garments. and obviously this is how a sample sale works. and i did buy a couple of garments which i had previously admired in store but found the spend difficult to justify. i bought a nice navy jumper for £20 and the above tee for £10. in retrospect, perhaps my decision to buy this top was representative of my feeling at that precise moment in time...!
and while i am happy with these two purchases, i don't think i'll be hurrying along to another sample sale anytime soon - at the end of the day, you're simply buying out-of-season high street garments at a slightly cheaper price. but you can't try it on first. and you can't exchange or refund the garments under any circumstances. in my view, shopping shouldn't come with so many conditions and snags.

give me the rummage at tk maxx or oxfam anyday.