HIGH street shop Next’s sale is legendary – but how do you find the best bargains?
Some savvy shoppers approach the fashion retailer’s sale like a military mission – planning their strategy and camping near the base.
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Next holds a main sale once every season, with the biggest one arguably being the Boxing Day sale where you can find up to 70% off.
But the summer sale also draws in crowds of shoppers, and with prices slashed by up to 50%, it’s no surprise.
The sale is expected to take place online and in-store on Saturday, July 9 and The Sun have spoken to Julian House, managing director of myfavouritevouchercodes.co.uk, to get his top tips.
But before buying, it’s also important to consider if you can afford it – and remember, it’s only a deal if you were looking to buy a similar item anyway.
Look online first
Julian points out that the most common mistakes shoppers make it comes to the Next sale is that they are not prepared.
The retailer’s sale always launches online first – and Julian said this is a great way to browse bargains before visiting the your local Next store.
He said: “Big sales at Next are always a hot topic among consumers, with clothing and homeware items set to be available with massive discounts.
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“In the case of Next, sales always launch online before hitting stores so make sure to keep checking.
“If you browse the website beforehand, you can save time later too, as you’ll know exactly what you want.”
Try before you buy
It may sound like extra work, but Julian says its definitely worth visiting your nearest Next to see what items you like and check which size you need.
He added: “If you’re planning on doing your shopping in-person, visiting your local store beforehand doesn’t do any harm either.
“Most people are predicting the sale will start on July 9, so you still have a little bit of time.”
Position yourself
On the day of the Next sales, eager shoppers head down to their nearest store in the early hours of the morning before they open at the earlier time of 6am.
While this may seen a bit excessive, Julian says getting down early does help you bag the best deals.
He said: “Once the sale starts, the most obvious piece of advice I can give is to put yourself in the best position possible – literally.
“You might not quite need to camp outside your local store with a tent for the entire night beforehand, but the earlier you can arrive, the better.”
He added that visiting stores when staff are restocking shelves can also help you find the real bargains.
“This varies by store, but typically happens around two hours before closing time,” Julian added.
When is the Next sale?
Although the exact date of the Next sale is yet to be confirmed, it is expected to take place on Saturday.
A shopper in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group has predicted the sale will begin this weekend.
The shopper correctly predicted the start date of last year’s sale.
The event is usually held online and in store – so you can browse which ever way you prefer.
You can find your nearest branch by using the Next store locator.
Your local store may have different opening hours to others, so it’s best to check with your local branch before going.
How can I get a Next VIP slot?
To receive a VIP sale invite, you will need to have successfully opened a NextPay credit account ahead of any event.
It’s too late to become a VIP for this event, but you can always sign up ahead of the next one.
Be careful when taking out a store card though.
Interest rates can be very high, so you need to make sure you can pay them off in full each month.
Otherwise, the amount paid in interest will counteract the savings you make in the sale.
Other requirements to become a Next VIP include:
- Having a Next flexible credit account with at least £250 credit available
- Placing and keeping an order from the Next Directory within the last year
- Having an up to date email address registered with Next, and being registered to receive sale and promotional emails
- Receiving a copy of the Next Directory
- Returning less than two thirds of the items ordered
All VIP sale slots are granted on a first come, first served basis, and they’re restricted to one per customer.
User have the best chance at getting amazing deals by accepting the first slot they’re allocated, because things can sell out quickly.
