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Top retail shopping mistakes you must avoid

Industry News 5 October 2021

The retail space provides a wide array of shopping outlets that cater to different needs. While these retail stores are rarely short of much-needed products, the onus is on the consumer to find the best possible product at the right price.

Guzzle is a reliable retail catalogue platform that over 700 000 users rely on each month to plan their shopping.

Below are some commonly committed retail shopping mistakes you need to avoid:

Not researching

Failing to research the general retail dynamics such as prices, product availability, and even store locations can cost you.

Without due diligence, you are likely to pay more for products when you can buy them cheaper somewhere else. You should be deliberate, by taking the time to check relevant information sources so that you can make informed purchasing decisions.

Guzzle assists many shoppers in this regard by featuring hundreds of deals and specials in one centralised location.

Failing to budget

Failing to budget translates into poor financial management and often failing to use your money on priority matters.

Budgets assist in aligning available money with priorities. As you budget, it’s also important to differentiate between needs and wants so that money is allocated properly.

Wants are things you desire but may not need, while needs are things you definitely can’t do without. The online space has several budgeting tools which can assist you in this regard.

Opting for name-brand items

It’s common knowledge that many retail shoppers consider store-branded products as inferior compared to big-name branded products.

This is not true because most store-branded products are manufactured by big brand companies. Store branded items are cheaper,
something that will save you some money.

Buying more to save

Retail shoppers often come across those buy two and get one free deal. There are also bulk pricing deals that are available now and then.

The downside to this is that you end up buying more than you need, and often some of these items go to waste, especially perishables that have expiry dates.

In-season purchasing

In-season buying refers to the latest trending products, especially clothing, that are available to shoppers for purchase.

The only thing is that in-season clothing can be very expensive. You will therefore do yourself lots of good and save money by looking out for clearance sales which normally happens weeks or months after the products hit the shelves.

Buying on impulse

The media space is flooded with all kinds of ads. From the television, radio, mobile phones to computers, ads for products can be found everywhere. Under such an environment, the temptation to buy things you never planned to buy is very high.

This however is a mistake because you are bound to buy beyond your means and the chances of ending up in debt are
very high just to satisfy the impulsive urge to buy. No matter how good the ad may look, avoid buying on impulse.

Ignoring catalogues and flyers

Catalogues and retail flyers are a common feature in our neighbourhoods and around retail premises.

The constant availability has led to many retail shoppers believing that there is nothing new in them.

On the contrary, retail catalogues and flyers are often updated with the latest products on sale. By capitalising on them, you will save some good money.

Guzzle uploads approximately 800 and 900 catalogues every month with product specials from leading retailers. During month-end weeks when most shoppers get paid, Guzzle uploads about 300 catalogues while 200 to 220 are uploaded per week outside month-end or payday weeks.

Not shopping online

Brick and mortar stores for the longest time have been the reliable and secure way to do shopping. The world has however changed with online shopping being the in thing.

Avoiding online shopping limits a shopper’s options and often leads to spending more and buying what may not be the best products available due to the limited availability of products at brick-and-mortar stores within reach.

Guzzle broadens shopping options by making available print and digital catalogues with the latest deals from retailers across the country. Retail shopping should be stress-free, cost-effective and secure. This can be minimised by avoiding the common mistakes listed above.

Guzzle Media