Speed Dial: How to Prepare for the Holiday Sales

and one very good sale ending Sunday

Hello!

Hope you’ve all had a great week. The holiday shopping season starts earlier every year and as you’ve probably noticed, it is already in full swing. While some retailers still stick to “traditional programming” on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, many have started trying to get ahead of shopping fatigue by having their big sales earlier. With so much opportunity to save, it can be overwhelming to make a decision or know what’s actually a good deal. I’m here to help, starting with some general sale advice, followed by tips for two specific sales-of-note (one of which ends this Sunday!)

General Things to Remember

• Pretty much every big retailer will be having a dedicated holiday sale, but they will also likely have smaller sales in addition, as they need to stay competitive. Some big beauty retailers that will (almost) definitely have sales are: Sephora, Ulta, Dermstore, SkinStore, Violet Grey, LovelySkin, Beauty Bay, Planet Beauty, Blue Mercury, SpaceNK, Credo.

• With that in mind, it’s helpful to look at overlapping brands at different retailers. Is something exclusive to one retailer or is it available at multiple retailers? A quick Google search can help you determine. Sephora, Credo & Violet Grey are exclusive retailers of many smaller brands that you won’t find elsewhere except the direct brand site.

• Always consider both the discount and the brand. In general, anything below 15% off is not a very significant deal, but some brands, like SkinCeuticals never exceed that. On the flip side, if you’re a Sephora Insider with only 10% off, check to see if the brand is sold elsewhere, as you’ll often be able to find a better deal. If the brand is exclusive to Sephora, then 10% off may be the best you can get.

• Use extensions like Honey or CamelCamelCamel to look at pricing and sale history. You can also set up alerts for when prices drop.

• Look at the return and price matching policies, as most places offer expanded policies during the holiday season. Some price match within their own store (if the price goes lower since you purchased), from a select group of retailers or from any retailer. Target is a good example. If you suspect something might go on sale for a deeper discount, wait to open it so you can return if you find a better price. Save all of your receipts and make a label in your email inbox so you can easily find. Check to see if Return Queen is in your area, which makes returns soooo much easier. This isn’t an ad, I just genuinely love the service.

• Where do you want to rack up rewards points? Most retailers have loyalty or rewards programs, so you can strategize about where to make your biggest purchases, especially if you shop at those retailers throughout the year. I particularly like the rewards programs at Sephora, Ulta, Dermstore and Credo.