Is this warehouse sale worth going?

We have been bombarded by tons of advertisements these days from papers, flyers, emails..etc. Half of it is about an upcoming or another warehouse sales! I wonder how many of them are serious. The bold letters that read, 75% off, 80%  discount..etc, are they for real ? How many of them can prove that they are really going at 80% off their original selling price? or how many items are 80% off?? hmm....how much are they making? I can agree that items that are 10-50% off. If it's 80% off, just imagine their mark up??? I am referring to handbags as you may have already guessed it.

Eden told me about the handbags warehouse sales that happened over the weekend. Thank goodness none of us are fans of Coach and Katespade.  I was not at all surprised that many shops/departmental stores will be clearing out their older stocks to make way for new ones. Our shop does likewise, just a bit more subtle. We do have our special items, for certain bags and we make it clear what bags are on offer, whether current or past seasons and how much they are going for. You can call our shop to double check to make sure that you are not making a wasted trip. Our Celine bags are on further marked down. Check it out!

Model: 166153: $1200. Good as a sport bag or everyday causal

Ipad bag, Model: 167103, $1000



Model: 166393: $1000. As a sport bag or everyday causal



What kind of sales are worth waiting and going for? Well, I have some pointers for handbags bargain hunters.

Firstly, you need to know what bags ( brands, type, colour, $$) you are after. Check out if the desired bags are on sales. Call up before hand and ask about the model you want and how much they are selling and what was the original price. Else you will tend to spend on something else that you dont need or worse- don't like. Normally, the store will lure you to attend their massive warehouse sales without having anything good to offer except some really old, way-past seasons, dinosaur age or ancient items. Some pressure tactics,like 'last piece', 'best price', 'clearance sales', 75% off, once a lifetime offer...etc.  They will tell you what you want to hear, like all this super discounts, 'cheap cheap', 'must go', 'super good deal'. They will even show previous sales events pictures showing their customers loading up their merchanise as if they just bought the entire shop/warehouse. Some of them have warehouse sales every other month and recycle the unsold items from previous events.  These are some tell tales signs that these sales are not worth going. Some of our customers who went to these warehouse sales came back with a disappointed look. They told us that the discounts were not really good. Sounds familiar ?

Some kind warehouse sales are of cos worth going. I always wait for sales to buy bedsheets, toiletries and cosmetics. I like the Robinson Sales and there's one coming in May. These are the usual everyday items and I can always find alternative to that Laura Ashley bedsheets that I so craved.  No one is ever going to check if my bedsheets were past seasons or was 50% mark down. It is certainly a good bargain nevertheless. As for clothes ( size 6 or 8)  and shoes ( size 36), I can never find the right size during any sales, unless it's my lucky day.

Spend your money wisely and be a good steward. Go for something ( esp. bags)  that is unique, functional and most of all, it must be something you really like!

Bear Facts!

This post has nothing to do with bags. My friend David from the States sent me these photos. He told me that people living in Colorado Spring wondered why their collected rain water barrel was almost empty everyday. So they set up a couple of camera  and look what they caught on film.
Isn't nature beautiful???

I simply love this! Thanks David.

This is nature taking a break!
p.s: none of our bags are bear fur!

A worrying sign

This is certainly not a warning about an another flu epidemic, be assured.
I was concern about our choices of handbags. Someone actually know someone who has a collection of FAKE Coach bags! I was very shocked to hear that cos Coach is not an expensive brand of the lot. One fake bag is fine, you may not know what you are getting into; 2 fake bags perhap you really like the bag but its no longer on sales and you have to resort to buying a fake. 30 fake Coach bags sound like a serious problem that need immediate professional help, dont you reckon? It is like brewing a mental illness, close OCD, an obsession or fetish of FAKE bags.

What about getting yourself an alternative on how to lay your hands on an authentic bag that does not burn a hole in your pocket?

1) Find out how much the authentic bag cost vs the fake one. There are cheaper means and options these days, i.e thedeborahshop offers lower than retail prices and a wide range of selections. Some of the bags are very exquisite and you may not find it anywhere else in S'pore. We only carry authentic brand new bags, so you can be assured of the quality and craftmanship. In addition, we offer after sales-service. We provide free polishing and service the bags should there be any defects. Check out: http://www.thedeborahshop.com/

2) I won't recommend shopping online. They may be cheaper cos who knows if the bags are replica (a nicer way of saying Fake). You dont want to put yourself in a suitation where there is a balancing act between risk and return. It can never completely avoid the black sheep of the pack, if you shop online.

3) I can't tell you how much I love a brand new authentic bag. The feeling of owning an authentic bag is certainly worth more than 30 fakes. How to spot a fake? Find the seams are crooked or models that is not available in the boutique, is an indication that the bag is not genuine. ( come to our shop and we can further educate you on how to spot a fake). If a seller tells you that the stock be sold at a good price because it was an error during production, you should continue to look elsewhere.

Your risk of damaging your reputation is too great. So go look for authentic designer handbags at affordable prices.

What we do when there's no customers? - Party and Eat!

Farewell party

Besides fashion parading, eating is our favourite past time. We partied in the shop, played music, laughed with the company of food and friends. Last month, we had Lao Yusheng and this month we celebrated Eden's birthday bash in the shop. We welcomed new staff, Sarah and said our goodbyes to the old. This is just so much fun. Our favourite drinks- gong cha. Favourite food: pop corn chicken and anything from Eden's mom. :) * hint hint :)

We welcome our customers to join us for little parties like this. Hopefully the next blog title would be" what we do when there's customers?" We are a bunch of really fun-loving people. We are good at what we do-> selling bags, in addition, we (with the exception of me!) can offer good fashion advise, ranging from makeup, hair-style and fashion. And yes, you may also like ask where's good and cheap food, where to party and drinks, where to find solitude too. We like to talk. Treat us as the talking Yellow Pages. Remember these info are free, together with free polishing of handbags if you purchase from thedeborahshop!

Stay tune. More pictures?? hahha..oops!

What we do when there' s no customers ? - Bag Parade

Gucci, Balenciaga and YSL

When there is no customers in the shop, we will try on some bags and conduct our very own fashion show. There is so much fun, parading as if we are bag models. Here we are:

1) Gucci Bamboo- the iconic bag of the century. Very classic and it's a collectors item. This is the last piece in the shop.

2) The Patchwork from Balenciaga. Crafted in lambskin. Patchwork is less common as compared to the Twiggy series. Chic and classic at the same time. Selling at only $3000 in thedeborahshop.

3) YSL Muse bag in leopard print Ivory colour. If you really want to stand out. Only piece in S'pore. Simply love the calf hair. Leopard is always IN!  

I was comtemplating whether to post our pictures in the blog as I remembered my previous entry. Let me know if you like this. 

An Encounter on Valentine's Day

I scoured the stores in Square 2 this evening with a headache, looking for a Valentine's Day gift for Eden to cheer him up since he had to work on V Day. I intended to buy him a single stalk of rose, or perhaps a box of chocolate. Walked into a number of stores, not finding what I wanted. The florist only had big huge bouquet of roses and the chocolate shop had closed down. Was heading back towards thedeborahshop, tired from my failed mission..... Then there was this guy standing alone nearby beckoned me to move closer so he could speak. Slightly surprised, I turned and looked at him questioningly, half expecting him to ask me for direction.


Instead
Ang Mo Guy:  hey! you looked familiar.  
Me: *Raises eyebrows*
Me: I guess I work here and maybe you've seen me around.
Guy: No no, it's not that. You just look... pretty. And he shrugs and smiles.
Me: Thanks!.....( hurriedly walked away)


And I thought that was actually quite sweet. The comments coming from females are mostly sincerely appreciated, cos which female would tell another female (and a stranger too) something like that and not mean it?  But those coming from males are often insincere, out of fun to see how you would react, or with the intention of hitting on you - or even getting a positive answer to something close to a marriage proposal (yes that has happened before - for the record, I said no and laughed my head off thinking he was joking. He wasn't too happy about that. BTW,  that happened when I was overseas)
Maybe someone read my previous post about not having a date on Valentine's Day and pulled a trick on me.

This experience had taught me that I should be careful what I post in the blog. At least, I know someone is reading. So it is not that a bad experience afterall.
For all who are reading, visit thedeborahshop at Level 3, Novena Square and buy a bag!

HIS & HERs

I don't remember the last time I celebrated Valentine's Day. I am not complaining. I don't have a date on that day, or someone in mind to celebrate it with, or even a special someone in my life. I do envy seeing couples together, with or without children; young or old; same sex or not.

You know the Chinese saying, that every good things comes in pairs? There are so many HIS and HERs, ranging from mugs, towels, clothes, watches, rings even some showflats come with 2 sinks in the same bathroom. I guessed it is HIS sink and HERs sink. You never have to fight over a sink now. Perhaps someone conducted an experiment and it showed that couple do fight over who gets to brush their teeth first....!!!

I do see people wearing couple T-shirts, shorts, watches and even shoes. I wonder:-Why not carry a couple-handbag? 

Prada BN2013, $4200 for HIM



Prada BR4601, $3200 for HER

How to stand out the crowd? The unique look of this fringe bag is certainly it. Express yourself through fashion and dare to be different. You dont want to be caught wearing the same outfit. With this bag, you can eliminate the competition! Visit our shop and we'll give recommendations of HIS & HERs.   
I would encourage you to to get creative when it comes to how you present yourself to the world.

I do want to share my life with that special someone not just on Valentine's Day but for the rest of my life, to grow old together.   

Happy Valentine's Day to all who believes.

The Fashionista's Brief Pronunciation Guide

Working in the shop as a sales assistant, I need to know many designer brands ( by means of product knowledge) and learn to pronounce the brands that may sound like Greek to me. The spelling is in English alphabets, no doubt but the pronunciation can be quite tougue challenging. I do aspire to give these high-fashion designers at least that little respect by pronouncing their brandname correctly.

I chance upon an incident in the shop one day, when a customer asked if we do carry, Loewe (to be pronounced as  LO-ee-VAY).
" do you carry LOU-WE bags?
I thought to myself,
(panic stricken) " is this the Singlish nickname of LV these days? like how we Singaporeans tend to shorten our syllabus to sound more intimate. For example, how we address 'cher' instead of 'teacher'.

I replied confidently, trying to pretend I know what she meant at the same time correcting her since I do want to give designers some respect,
" oh mdm, we do not carry LV.
" No I meant LOU-WE.
" Er, yes, we don't carry LOU-WE. ( with a smile)

After 2 minutes of further enquiry, more explanations and descriptions, I realised I was mistaken. She meant LO-ee-Vay. zzz....

It never hurt to appear worldly and sophisticated, and smart when it comes to throwing foreign names around. In the interest of saving us some embarrassment, I decided to write " A dummy pronunciation guide to high fashion designers name"

Here are some common unpronounceable names

BULGARI: BOOL-ga-ree
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN: KREES-tyan loo-boo-TAWN
DOLCE & GABBANA: DOLE-chay & gab-AH-nah
GIVENCHY: jee-von-SHE
HERMES: air-MESS
LOUIS VUITTON:lew-EE vee-TOH
PROENZA SCHOULDER: pro-EN-za SKOOL-er
YVES SAINT LAURENT: EEVES san LAWR-on


p.s: I used to pester Kevin to buy me a Gucci bag. He will joke back, " of cos my dear, I will buy you a Gucci that spells GU CHEE!