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.