Victoria’s Real Big Secret

Psss. Victoria has a secret, no not under her clothes or in her 900 retail stores across the US. And it’s not that the store is named after Queen Victoria, everyone knows that. No, hunny, Vicky has a big secret, and it’s all online…her best deals on clothing, lingerie, and shoes for this season are all up to 60% off. Now that’s a sale. It’s not their semi-annual sale that just skims the tax off in their retail stores and it’s not advertised on television, it is Victoria’s real BIG secret, and now it is out.
Now before you run online or search for your latest edition of Victoria’s Secret there are a few things that you should know. First of all, Victoria’s Secret is a retail marketer, not designer of Women’s clothing and beauty products, but is mostly known for her lingerie. This mega retailer with over 900 stores in the United States alone has over 2.4 billion dollars in net sales each year. However, the catalog division, Victoria’s Secret Direct, which is different from the retail stores brings in approximately 870 million dollars annually. A significant difference you might say; however, the secret is the catalogue is a whole lot cheaper. Needless to say, they may sale more in volume, but the price being cheaper means less dollar amount. Now with this in mind, you can not go to the store and try to pick out items and colors and find them in the catalogue. Although the items they carry seem similar they are not the same and the colors are a little different. Believe me, I myself have tried to keep from buying the $48 dollar brassiere in the store, so I just purchase the panties and order the other out of the catalogue. Needless to say, no cigar. The slight color difference is not a match.
Needless to say, there are great items for some times as much as half the cost online at Victoriassecret.com or with Victoria’s Secret Direct. As a true shopper with the catalogue I have learned a few of their trade secrets and developed my own tricks. First, all of the items are going to go on a drastic sale. This is totally different from the retail store, where items almost never hit the clearance rack. But yet, with Victoria’s Secret Direct they will, and it will be a great percentage off. However, the hard part is that you do have to wait. Right now, Victoria’s Secret Direct has winter coats for 50—60% off. Yes, you had to wait till after Christmas, but we still wear coats well into March. And beautiful, trendy and warm coats they are.
The lingerie items are a must. Inside the catalogue you will find negligees and teddies for half of what they sell in the stores. Picking up a quick $12.99 piece on a last-minute trip is always an option with the catalogue; however, this is not the case with their retail franchises. Also here is the place to look for some of the latest designer shoes. It’s like one store shopping for the stylish woman…you can purchase everything with just a point and a click. Victoria’s Direct has such shoe guru’s as Jessica Simpson, Diesel, Zinc, Bronx, Steve Madden, Hale Bob, Betsey Johnson and more. And unlike when these designer shoes are in respective department stores they sell out before they reach their best markdowns, you have a better chance of a great shoe sale with my girl Vickie.
Also keep in mind that when you wait longer for sales that the stock runs low and you may not get your size. As a rule of thumb, do not attempt this technique for out of town trips as sometimes they will say they have things in stock, but will send you an email two days later apologizing. If the item is a must have, than you must not wait. Remember, this is a secret that everyone does not know; it’s up to you to keep our secret just between us.

by Tiffany J. Prewitt