shopping patterns..*#@....$$$$

Being in retail – the old saying is….‘if you could read the retail customer you would be very wealthy indeed’ We have noticed an interesting pattern with our clients - the 2 minute shopper falls in love instantly with an item that they have just got to have now and leaves with their goodies as soon as they have arrived…..the 10 minute client comes in store looking for a particular item and walks out after purchasing something completely different….the 30 minute shopper is just a browser…..walks around and looks at random items…..the 60 minute client has to try on everything, falls in love with everything…BUT can’t make a decision and leaves empty handed…then we have the multi shopper…...who is always popping in and always playing dress up, never purchases on a regular visit BUT one day will purchase something when they are passing by in a 2 minute shopping love fest on their way to have a coffee, lunch, dinner or just to feed their parking meter….

moving with the times......

It is always difficult in a time of hardship to be positive about tomorrow. I have noticed that some of our retailing neighbors have decided not to stick it out and instead have decided to close down their retail businesses. Handcut had a very successful autumn/winter fashion launch in April. The response to our clothing range for the season has been amazing. (Check out our website in the next week as the photos from the launch will be up on display) I have just returned from the rag houses in Toronto, Canada to source the product for the next years collections – the amount of clothing that has been thrown away always astonishes me – the sheer bulk of clothing displaying the original price tag, others that in most cases has never been worn – obviously purchased on sale or impulse - thinking it may have use in the wardrobe – the amount of money in clothing that we just throw away in these times, one would think that people would be a bit more careful and perhaps try and upcycle at home – adding new buttons, changing the style – but no they opt to discard. This however has been a great opportunity for us. The idea of designing and producing a more cost efficient range of clothing….keeping the style, design and manufacturing to our standard but not adding all the frills, like expensive reclaimed fasteners, buttons or pockets – but producing a range of clothing that keeps the pricing down. We will be launching this new range in store in June – and we are very excited about the prospects. I believe that people still want to look great and feel great about purchasing sustainable clothing and even in down times you have to be one step ahead of the game.

Looks Great; Feels Great ... is even Great for the Environment.

handcut - launch autumn/winter 2009 fashion parade

April 1, at 6pm – Mumu Grill, 76 Alexander Street, Crows Nest


The big hit across Europe and North America this year were simple tanker style-pullovers. Add them to any shirt or jumper and the bright, cheerful colors will look stunning, yet be comfortable to wear as the winter chill sets in.

handcut is bringing back the tanker-style pullover in 2009 ... but with one important difference.

We use premium reclaimed fabrics that make our tankers not only unique, but also friendly to the planet.

Our team of designers have scoured through the giant warehouses in North America to harvest the finest materials and then re-worked them into this year's fashion originals.

And these latest designs will be on show at the handcut autumn/winter 2009 fashion parade this week, at Mumu Grill.


handcut CEO Tanya Greenwood said: "Last year our customers around the world have helped rescue more than 85,000 woollen jumpers, 52,000 pairs of woollen trousers, 11,000 men's dress shirts and 7,000 trench coats. But even as important to our customers, we have proven that our fashion is not only unique, but at the forefront of today's fashion styles."

As well as the handcut fashion, for men and women, the show will also feature the footwear of Terra Plana, the sustainable shoe brand that has experienced remarkable growth in Europe and the US. Terra Plana is the brain-child of the Clark shoe family, and features high-end fashion shoes for men and women made from natural and recycled materials.

the male shopper

I have women in store all the time having a word or two to say about the males in their life - how they can't do two things at the same time, can never follow simple instructions and so they go on.....but I must say the male shopper is a very organised one, they know exactly what they want, what they like and do so in a few minutes...what!!! I hear you say...well let me set the scene...we had a female shopper in store trying on the new range of Juniper multi quilt shoes...we found the correct size and yes the shoes did look fabulous on foot but she wanted to know what other colour ways were available so I took a trip back to the shoe storage and collected several beautiful shoes in her size....and she was oh wow look at this colour combination...and look they are all different - even this pair are randomly different - but they are a pair......in the meantime a male shopper walks in and says do you have this shoe - the Vivo Barefoot Aqua in Petrol Blue in size 46..yes I replied...would you like to try them on?...yes he said...oh they feel great....I'll take them....this took about 4 mintes - meanwhile my female shopper was still pondering about what colours she liked in the Junipers...and had decided that there was too many beautiful shoes and could not make up her mind and said she would have to go away and think about them. So... the male may be able to think of only one thing at a time...but perhaps sometimes this to to their advantage......

another happy shopper

when clients who spend a lazy Sunday afternoon in your store - leave happy and then write about their experience on their blog - hey - you have got to share the love - click on the following link, scroll down to ethical shoes and read about Ben, Dani and our handcut girl - while you are there check out Ben's beautiful jewellry creations!

http://finchbird-finchbird.blogspot.com/

our passion is design and our philosophy is sustainability

Gee I am embarrassed – can you believe that it is February – and I have just realised that the 'Merry Christmas' ‘fun things to wear for that New Year celebration’‘what you can do to help the environment’ blogs I thought had been posted...... have just.....well disappeared somewhere - I thought I had followed my instructions carefully......anyways we will find them and post them later on in the year.
At the moment we are all very excited that our shop online facility is nearly ready to go live – photography and descriptions are just about finished. Once this task is completed we will have a fabulous range of autumn/winter knits available to shop online clients..... .it is so exciting – so if you live outside Sydney you can now have the opportunity to wear our great products.

Some items just talk...

A regular store visitor has been eyeing off the only Rex Rex hoody left after winter on our end of season sale rack for the last couple of days............she just loved the colors and textile combinations, the style was just perfect for keeping out that winter chill for her Christmas vacation abroad – the only problem, it was a gents size XL and she is normally a ladies extra small.

At the end of the day she just could not help herself – this Rex Rex hoody was going to a good home with a detour via the tailor to be adjusted to fit just right........some items just talk and become MUST HAVES........even better if they are on the sale rack!!!!