Category Archives: Shopping

Nov 27 0 comments
Casual, Shopping

Paying a premium to stay warm

For outdoor activities I am dubious as to whether I need to be spending £200 upwards on Mountain Equipment Jackets, there are some activities where spending that little bit extra may be essential but not for all. However for safety reasons, you should not scrimp money wise and leave yourself potentially exposed to harmful conditions, you need to fully research what you are purchasing.

Take skiing for example, do I really need to be spending two to three hundred pounds on a ski shell, if it is snowing then the majority of snow will bounce off as I ski down the slopes, if it is raining then I know I won’t be going out skiing that day, so cannot really justify spending such an extortionate amount of money on a jacket, as the Gore-tex properties would not really benefit me. Now ski pants, that’s another matter, not being a particularly proficient skier, Gore-tex trousers are a godsend (as I spend about half my time on my backside!).

Gore-tex ski jackets are probably the most expensive there is, however if you know you don’t need this supreme material, there are several other options out there that will not be so hard on the wallet, yet will serve the purpose you intend to use them for. Many manufacturers today have their own breathable and waterproof fabric that will be just as effective without breaking the bank, Marmot, Patagonia, The North Face and Berghaus to name just a few.

When out hiking or walking in all elements, I do not mind spending that little bit (or sometimes rather a lot!) extra on a jacket I know I will make full use of, one of my more extravagant purchases, though at £90 it wasn’t that expensive, was a The North Face Denali Jacket, a multipurpose fleece jacket that has taken a real hammering, but it is still as effective as when it was brand new. For someone who enjoys outdoor activities it is wholly comfortable to wear, without sacrificing functionality, it keeps me warm and protects me from the harsher British elements. It has the versatility that puts it way ahead of its competitors, and can handle varied weather conditions one experiences when outside, from the rather cold, to the milder climates, although in extremely cold weather I do tend to wear a lightweight shell over the top. Not only that, but away from the trail, the jacket’s fashionable enough to wear around town. So in this instance the extra money has been well spent, as it has proved to be durable with full performance maintained.

Another property of a jacket I feel is essential is its ability to keep the rain out when hiking or climbing, in Britain you can bet good money on a downpour during your voyage. Walking or climbing when saturated through to the skin is miserable and could even be life threatening, so this is another area I would insist on paying a little more. At the lower end of the market, you can buy a cheap (supposedly) waterproof jacket for as little as £10, however this is madness if you’re a regular hiker or even a novice if you know the weather situation is poor. Inexpensive jackets are not breathable, and while they will stop water from getting in, they won’t allow perspiration to escape, resulting in condensation inside and damp clothing, very unpleasant to wear and once you stop will make you feel cold very quickly.

Another old faithful is my battered navy Barbour, again not one of the cheapest options (but this was a gift 17 years ago, so didn’t impose on my pocket!), but it has certainly stood the test of time. Yes it looks well loved (worn), but it is still capable of performing its duties, though admittedly it has been well looked after i.e. cleaned as per manufacturers instruction and it gets re-proofed annually.
I think with many jackets you are paying for the technology, rather than the design and performance factors, you are also paying extra for the logo or brand name, and in some situations it really isn’t worth the extra money. Ultimately however it is the activity, style, fashion value, fit, personal taste and budget that will dictate which jacket an individual will purchase.

Nov 27 0 comments
Casual, Clothes For Occasions, Shopping

Help fund cancer research

In the UK, someone is diagnosed with breast cancer every 11 minutes and breast cancer charities are all committed to fighting the disease by performing research, campaigning and by educating people on how to check themselves and look out for the early warning signs. The ultimate goal of any cancer charities is to help to prevent people from getting cancer and this means spreading the word and reaching out to people’s generosity. This could be either in the form of donations or time spent organising or taking part in fundraising events such as jumble sales or fun runs.

Breast cancer charities campaign for all women to have access to a screening programme and to make sure that early detection takes place. They campaign for all patient’s that have been referred from their GP get seen by a specialist within 2 weeks. These campaigns cost a great deal of money but are so important.

Breast cancer charities need donations no matter how small in order for them to carry on with the magnificent work they do. They rely on volunteers to help out and fund raising is constant to ensure that the money is available. Everyone can make a difference by donating to charity. If you cannot afford to make a payment directly, then there are things like buying charity Christmas cards and choosing Christmas or birthday gifts from the charity websites or charity shops. The majority of charity shops now sell a wide range of brand new specially crafted items that are not available in other high street stores and that make fabulous gifts.

The most recognised breast cancer fund raising items are the “in the pink” items which range from pin badges through to special edition items such as pink GHD hair stylers where a percentage of the sales goes straight to the breakthrough breast cancer charity. Most major retailers sell a range of the in the pink items, including T shirts with the breast cancer pink ribbon on. Damart is one of the companies that sells clothing designed specifically to raise money for breast cancer research. These items are fashionable and will help to show your support.

Research is a huge part of any charity, and breast cancer charities need funds for their researchers to find out what causes cancer and how the cancer forms and grows, how cancer can be prevented and how it can be treated, and hopefully one day a cure will be found. Any new treatments need to be constantly researched and tested to make sure they are safe, and any side effects need to be researched. Without donations and fundraising, this vital research would not be possible.

Nov 03 0 comments
Casual, Celebrity, Clothes For Occasions, Shoes, Shopping

Celebrities and their business partners

Celebrities are very important to a large section of the public, especially the young. Some are only celebrities for a few weeks, but their moment of fame is no less significant. Using them to sell a company’s products and services can prove of great benefit and can significantly boost market share. Whether a company chooses to do so or not would depend on the product they are trying to sell or advertise and the expectations of the company.

A local celebrity provides a vastly more cost effective means of gaining publicity for a business. You can pay a few hundred pounds for a local hero or a few million for a national celebrity. This would clearly be way outside the budgetary constraints of most businesses.

A local slimming club that is very popular in the area may choose to use last year’s ‘biggest weight loss entrant’ to advertise what a great idea it would be to join them. That person could be a figure-head for the company who could spread what joining them had done for her. A number of book stores will get the author to their store for a book signing session. This has been known to significantly boost both interest and sales.

Whilst this could be a real boost for a local business, it is debatable whether this would assist a large public company. It is unlikely that sufficient market share would be generated to interest a Tesco or Woolworth’s. Their bottom line would not be impacted enough to get the interest of the powers that be.

It would also depend upon the type of company that is utilising the celebrity. It is improbable that a local accountancy or law firm would benefit greatly as most of the clients are wealthy individuals and other businesses. The entire basis of how the firm generates business is very different to a local store, gym or fitness club.

Webtogs are a new company which sells outdoor clothing and camping equipment. They sell brand-name footwear such as craghoppers & keen shoes, outdoor jackets, tents and rucksacks. They also have a ‘carbon neutral delivery’ policy in place.

May 22 0 comments
Shopping, Supermarket Fashion

Better to shop in a real store!

I personally feel its far better to go in store. It’s so frustrating to shop on line, get your item and find that it doesn’t fit. Then you have to return it and order a different size. But what then if the item is still the wrong size??

Its too much time and effort to put yourself through all that!! If you go to a shop you can take your pick of sizes, go and try them on, then purchase what fits you best. You then have peace of mind that you can take your clothes home and they are ready to put on and look great when you want them.

It’s far easier in the long run, plus you find many more offers to save you money in store. On things like sale rails or promotional offers, so it is easier but you could also save yourself cash too!!! Enough maybe for that extra top you’ve had your eye on!!!! In theory on line shopping is great, in reality it can be a nightmare!! So make a little more effort and go to the store, it will save you time and money in the long run!!

May 16 0 comments
Jeans, Shopping

Online fashion

Buying clothes online is assessable to most women these days and it can be great depending on which stores you buy from.

If you have bought clothes from a high street retailer in the past then you are more likely to know what size fits well from that store, making you able to purchase more easily online. The trouble comes when you want to purchase an item from a store you haven’t purchased from before as you need to decide how their clothes fit and what size you will be there.

This can be a minefield and sometimes the only way is to order two different sizes and see which suits you best when they arrive or the go into a store.

This can be what puts a lot of women off shopping online for new items from retailers they haven’t tried before, because if it doesn’t fit or look good then you have the hassle of returning the item via the post office or postal delivery.

So if you know the shop then brilliant if not be prepared to try a few sizes just in case.

Apr 22 0 comments
Online Shopping, Shopping

Fashion shopping virtual or real

It’s great to see so many shops have their wares online. It’s great to see size 8 models on websites looking oh so fabby in a lovely dress. Even better when they offer next day delivery. Yeah, that’s great – but does the item have a chance of looking so great when you arrive home to find it waiting there for you? Sometimes, eh, no.

I love web shopping, I do it quite a lot. I don’t have to put on any clothes to go out in the pouring rain to try on some new pieces.

That said however, I’ve had my share of disappointments. It looks great on the screen, even when I zoomed in to see the actual material and thread count. When it arrived – oh boy! Did I make a mistake?

I also love real shopping. Your feet get sore, you get fed up trying on clothes. You get fed up with people pushing past you in the isles and grabbing the last size 14 you needed in that purple satin bustier….However, you do get to try the item on in the shop, you do get to see the price ticket marked down as there is a very small (almost inconspicuous) little stain on one side. You get to grab the sense of real bargains that you couldn’t get online.

Apr 17 0 comments
Online Shopping, Shopping

Buy clothes online or in the shop?

The facility of the €˜one-click’ online purchase and the childish excitement of receiving a package in the post, along with the impression that the money you spend is not real are the undeniable attractions of online shopping.

When it comes to the purchase of clothes, however, is there not something lacking in this procedure? For clothes shopping can be a wonderful source of pleasure; a day out, with coffee breaks included of course, where you can toy with the idea of totally reinventing yourself as you eye the perfectly dressed mannequins slouching elegantly in shop windows.

What is more, as you try the clothes for fit and preen yourself in the changing room mirrors, convinced that this new outfit is the one that will attract your prince charming from the other side of the bar; you can turn to your accompanying friend for affirmation, or failing that to the patient sales assistant.