On-Line Shopping Trends

The convenience of on-line shopping doesn’t stop at the retailer’s website.  You can shop thru apps to comparison shop and search for active coupons at specific retailers.

By doing a little research you can save yourself a lot of time and often money too.  Instead of going site to site, let your research narrow down your selection.

You can comparison shop, find your size and preferred color and check for coupon codes before you even have to visit the retailer’s site.

There seems to be an endless selection of shopping sites with new ones popping up weekly.  The latest trend I just heard about is renting your dress!

Rent the Runway

I was at my hairdresser’s yesterday and she was telling me about an annual gala that she will be attending this weekend.  She needed a spectacular dress for the event so she rented one from Rent the Runway.  I had never heard of it so I was immediately intrigued.

You can rent designer dresses at a fraction of the cost of the retail price.  You can search by designer, body type, color, etc.

This elegant Carolina Herrera gown retails for $3490 and the rental is $70.

Per their website, here’s how it works:

1. FIND IT: Search their collection of dresses and accessories for your rental date (they recommend 1–2 days before your event), then filter by designer, price, length — even style — to narrow down your favorites.

2. BOOK IT: Once you’ve selected your items, book for a 4-day or 8-day rental period. They also offer all the essential extras like Spanx and Fashion Tape.

3. WEAR IT: Your order will arrive by 8PM on your delivery date via UPS (or by courier in NYC). Time to slip it on and shine!

4: RETURN IT: After your night out, send back your items in the easy pre-paid envelope provided — They’ll take care of the dry cleaning.

This appears to be a great resource if you need a smashing dress for some big event in your life and don’t want to shell out thousands for a dress you will wear one time.  Men have been renting tuxedos for years.  Why shouldn’t women have the same luxury?

The Find

The Find’s motto is One Search.  Any Store.  Any Product.

In need of a leopard belt?  Just type it in the search bar and you will find what’s available.   It’s a great resource when you are trying to find a specific style or item.

Their items are not just limited to clothing or shoes.  You can search for housewares, garden accessories, etc.

You can also search by bar code and comparison shop.

The Find is available via an app or you can also access their site from your computer’s web browser.

The Hunt

I have not used this service but thought it sounded interesting.  The Hunt is a community that tracks down the items you covet when you don’t know where to find it.

It’s both a website and mobile app that will help your search for those items.   You can start a Hunt by posting a picture and the community will solve your Hunt by posting links to stores where you can purchase it.

I remember once seeing a gorgeous sweater on model Cindy Crawford and a beautiful dress on Giada De Laurentis in a magazine.  This app would have come in handy to submit those pictures to have others help me find those items!

Different Hunt types:

This Exactly –  Start a Hunt for a must-have item that you need an exact match for. Whether you’ve seen a look you love on Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram or your favorite blog – Start a Hunt and our community will help you!

Similar To This – Start a Hunt for an item you love and need a similar version of. For example, if you’re looking to find a cheaper version of a high-end item, or if you want to find a pair of boots but don’t mind if they’re in black or brown, select this Hunt type.

Catalog Spree

The Catalog Spree is free for the iPhone, iPad or can be accessed through the web.  They work with hundreds of retailers to bring you all your favorite catalogs in one place.

Catalog Spree is a collection of every catalog you can think of.   You can search for your favorite stores or by products including clothing, beauty products, electronics, home goods, etc.  It allows you to go green and paperless and not have those catalogs cluttering your home.

Watch this quick video for a demonstration.

If I am shopping for clothes, I much rather view a catalog which is the retailer’s “look book”, with the models showing the outfit, complete with accessories.

I also like that you are looking at their current season.  Retailers websites can be overwhelming with thousands of items and you may just want to see what’s new and trending.

Retail Me Not

Retailmenot.com is available via an app and the web.  If you know where you want to shop, you search by the store to see what current coupons are available.

Here’s an example of a Kohl’s coupon.

I have used this app a lot and have been able to save on shipping as well as get a full cart discount.  It’s my go to coupon site before making an online purchase.

What are some of your favorite on-line shopping apps?