Tricks-of-the Trade Retail Shopping Tips

Where’s the first place you head when you walk into a big box store like HomeGoods, World Market or Target?  If you’re not shopping for something specific do you start at the front of the store and make your way around the store or do you head to your favorite department first?

  I have a system when I walk into one of these stores, a system that comes from having worked in the retail industry for over 20 years.  My years working in a department store, as a buyer and retail executive have given me an insider view of the tricks-of-the-trade that most retailers use when it comes to merchandising products.

Today I’m going to share a few of those tips with you so you can find the best deals and avoid the retail traps.

Let’s start with Target.  When they receive a new collection of product, one of the places they display that product is on the front end of an aisle also known as a End Cap.  This product placement allows shoppers to see what’s new at a glance before they head down the aisle to take in the full offering of merchandise.

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While seeing what’s new at the front of the aisle is always good, it’s the back of the aisle, the back end cap that will usually yield you the best bargain shopping. The back of an end cap is typically where stores place their sale items and once items are part of a markdown cycle this is where you’ll find your best deals.  Target is currently in the midst of taking markdowns on lots of home décor items and some good clearance deals are landing on the end cap.  Here are  few bargains I spotted earlier this week.

This black and white duvet cover was a great deal at $21.98 for the full/queen

I loved this mustard yellow quilt.  It was on clearance for $19.48 for the full/queen

Fun wall plaques for under $5.00

Geometric pattern embossed lamp shade for $ 9.48

This was a great looking wood and metal tray for $17.48.  Great for a men’s gift.

This gorgeous peacock blue glass jar was marked down to $31.48

I shared these rattan tables on Instagram.  They were clearance priced at $34.98 and were are stuury with a nice tight weave. (The Northpoint Target had about 10 of them in stock)

And there were lot of picture frames marked down and all under $10.00.

Another tip for shopping big box stores is to look in multiple places for trend product and new collections.  Many stores like HomeGoods and Target will double expose products that are a seasonal trend statement in a group with related pieces and also in the specific department where those items are housed.

Lampshades may be merchandised with a collection of items and also in the lamp department/aisle.

A third tip to remember is that not all stores are created equal.  When major department stores take a markdown on an item that markdown typically happens at all stores across the country.  Most product that come into a big box store are coded with a barcode that includes the receipt date.  This receipt date is usually the trigger for when a markdown is taken.

If one store received an item weeks earlier than another, one store may have the item marked down while the other still has it at regular price.  I’ve seen this happen a lot at Target and typically if you bring it to managements attention the store with the full price item will look it up and honor the sale price.

This point is also good to keep in mind because with different receipt dates triggering markdowns, you may find the same item on sale and also in the regular price section.  The sale item will be towards the back of the store or on a back end cap because the store hopes you’ll pick up the regular price piece first without ever making it to the sale area.

It’s been proven that the majority of people turn right when they enter a store (because most people are right handed) so retailers often place new item displays or even more expensive items to the right, inside the door.

Did you know that in many stores, especially clothing stores that sale racks are kept messy on purpose.  Stores don’t want to make it easy for you to shop the sale area hoping you’ll get frustrated and shop the regular priced, well-organized and well stocked racks.  This trick works on me more times than not.

The trill of the deal can only last so long before I need to move on to calm and clutter free!

And the final shopping tip I want to share with you has to do with the cash register area.  The impulse items placed near the cash wrap are there because they are proven to be items that people will pick up without much thought.  Sometimes you can find some bargains in this area but most of the time this area is planned as an easy add-on sale for the stores.  TJMaxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls are the master of cash register sabotage and I’ve fallen into the trap by picking up a roll of gift-wrap, stationery, paper products and even a treat or two (just yesterday as a matter of fact) 🙂

I hope you enjoyed these tips.  The next time you get caught at the register with an impulse item, leave me a comment and let me know what you bought.

Happy shopping and happy first day of spring!