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| Hot for the Holidays with the best promotions ever! | (image source) |
Abercrombie & Fitch has turned this Christmas into a desperate promotional frenzy, here in North America, to get you in its stores! Since Black Friday, November 25, the company has been riding a rollercoaster of sales 50% off, then 40%, then 30%, then 25%, and then again 30%, 40%, and now its back up to 50% off! It completely tops off last year in terms of promotions, and this is not even bringing into consideration all the guy models the Company is hiring to stand at the entrances of the majority, excluding abercrombie kids, of its 1,000+ stores.
However, the fact is that A&F is not the only one on the block doing this. Gap itself is offering even 60% off some its merchandise while other retailers are hovering between 30% and 50% off some, if not all, of their goods. Why? Because apparently "[retailers] are stuck with too much merchandise," so The New York Times reported. They stocked anticipating making higher sales rates. They also offered big on Black Friday and that made sales at that time that would have otherwise spanned out in December as typically is the case. (FYI, sales for Black Friday weekend were particularly strong, but then sales declined in the subsequent three weeks). Hence, the return of Black Friday's "hottest guys" and biggest sales days before Xmas morning. Abercrombie really, really wants you in the stores!
But slow down your consumer sleigh ride, people, because this not the end of the promotional craze...
The "Last chance!" thing is misleading. December 23 is only the last chance to take a picture with the models at the entrance. The discounts are continuing, nevertheless, and that's what we really want! This time around, Abercrombie & Fitch is extending its promotion of 50% off up to December 26. (Hollister's keeping it until the 28th)! After all, it's when everyone steamrolls in with their Christmas money, or with the money they got back from returning grandma's ugly sweater!
Also, all that left over Christmas 2011 merchandise is going to go on permanent discount by January. It's gonna get marked as "redlines" - clearance - as the Spring Preview merchandise rolls into stores. January is really the perfect time to snag the best of last minute deals. Of course, the chance is high that an item you wanted since November may not be available anymore by January. Merchandise will be flying off on December 26. But you never know if that one particular item you want will still be left over come January. For example, last year, I purchased a $280 USD coat, that I had been eyeing since November 2010, for $49.95 in January 2011!!! There was also this nice checkered flannel shirt that originally retailed for $88 during Christmas...I bought it for $18.90! Again, in January! If the item you wanted is not there anymore, there are still other great items, too. I also purchased for $28 a thin, v-neck sweater, originally $98, that I had never considered during my holiday shopping that year.
If your wallet is tight...be a smart consumer. You really can't beat 50% off so, if there's something you really outta have, then go for it completely! But if your holiday shopping budget gets exhausted, or you just can't make it to the stores, then there's always January for the redlines...
Stay FIERCE!
P.S. This will be the last post of this week before Christmas Day. Wishing you a very Privileged Xmas...The Sitch on Fitch!
Remember, such promotional offers by Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, and Gilly Hicks are only available to North American consumers. Discounts are not available at some high-volume North American locations (including A&F Fifth Avenue, HCo on Broadway, and HCo on Fifth Avenue, as well as others across the nation) and you should always check online abercrombie.com, hollisterco.com, and gillyhicks.com for official details and a list of the excluded stores.