Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Being a Smart ShopperBeing a Smart Shopper

Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Making the Right Making the Right

PurchasePurchase

Prepare AheadPrepare Ahead

Gives you shopping confidence and Gives you shopping confidence and reduces errorsreduces errors– Fashion consciousFashion conscious means being aware of, and means being aware of, and

wanting, new fashionable items, usually for wanting, new fashionable items, usually for self-expression and peer approvalself-expression and peer approval

– Money consciousMoney conscious refers to staying aware of refers to staying aware of how much each item costs and of individual how much each item costs and of individual monetary resourcesmonetary resources

Just as important as doing the actual Just as important as doing the actual purchasingpurchasing

Evaluate past purchases in terms of price, Evaluate past purchases in terms of price, care required, and wearing qualitiescare required, and wearing qualities

Prepare AheadPrepare Ahead

1.1. Make a listMake a list2.2. Gather InformationGather Information

– Consumer aids offer information put out by Consumer aids offer information put out by fiber producers, pattern companies, fabric fiber producers, pattern companies, fabric stores, and trade group associationsstores, and trade group associations

– Estimate the costs of the needs on your Estimate the costs of the needs on your shopping list by studying catalogs and shopping list by studying catalogs and advertisementsadvertisements

– Information about the latest apparel trends Information about the latest apparel trends can be gathered by reading fashion can be gathered by reading fashion magazines and newspapersmagazines and newspapers

3.3. Evaluate AdvertisingEvaluate Advertising– Purpose of advertising is to sell and to informPurpose of advertising is to sell and to inform

Choosing Where to Choosing Where to ShopShop

Price versus quality and Price versus quality and servicesservices– Store policies are rules of Store policies are rules of

a retail establishment, a retail establishment, often for the safety and often for the safety and protection of shoppersprotection of shoppers

– Wise consumers make the Wise consumers make the decision to buy when the decision to buy when the find the best planned item find the best planned item at the best priceat the best price

Location and store hoursLocation and store hours– Near your home or place Near your home or place

of employmentof employment– Additional shopping hoursAdditional shopping hours

Types of merchandiseTypes of merchandise– The purchase of The purchase of

expensive items should be expensive items should be spaced out, so those spaced out, so those purchases are not made purchases are not made all at onceall at once

– It is wise to put more It is wise to put more money into items you will money into items you will wear constantly then in wear constantly then in items you will only wear items you will only wear once or twiceonce or twice

Advertising or loyaltyAdvertising or loyalty– Some people prefer to Some people prefer to

always patronize the same always patronize the same stores because of loyaltystores because of loyalty

Deciding When to Deciding When to ShopShop

For a wide choice of styles, colors, and For a wide choice of styles, colors, and sizes, shop early in the seasonsizes, shop early in the season– ““Top of the SeasonTop of the Season” shopping usually has ” shopping usually has

higher priceshigher prices For lower prices, shop late in the seasonFor lower prices, shop late in the season Many stores are almost empty from 6:00 Many stores are almost empty from 6:00

to 7:00 p.m.to 7:00 p.m. Stores are busiest on weekends and near Stores are busiest on weekends and near

holidaysholidays Shop for shoes after you have been Shop for shoes after you have been

walking a while or in the afternoonwalking a while or in the afternoon– Allows for a good fit over normal foot Allows for a good fit over normal foot

expansionexpansion

The Actual ShoppingThe Actual Shopping

The best way to do serious shopping is to The best way to do serious shopping is to do it alone or with a knowledgeable do it alone or with a knowledgeable relative or close friendrelative or close friend

Don’t give in to Don’t give in to impulse buyingimpulse buying– Making purchases that are sudden and not Making purchases that are sudden and not

carefully thought outcarefully thought out Exhibit Exhibit sales resistancesales resistance

– Have self-control to avoid making unplanned Have self-control to avoid making unplanned purchases while shoppingpurchases while shopping

Demonstrate good Demonstrate good shopping mannersshopping manners and and don’t shopliftdon’t shoplift– Shoplifting is the stealing of merchandise from Shoplifting is the stealing of merchandise from

a storea store

Hangtags, Labels, Hangtags, Labels, and Packagingand Packaging

HangtagsHangtags are detachable “signs,” often hung are detachable “signs,” often hung from buttons, buttonholes, zippers, belt loops, or from buttons, buttonholes, zippers, belt loops, or underarm seamsunderarm seams– Provide promotional informationProvide promotional information

LabelsLabels are small pieces of ribbon/cloth are small pieces of ribbon/cloth permanently attached to a garmentpermanently attached to a garment– Provides information, most of which is required by lawProvides information, most of which is required by law

The fiber contentThe fiber content Country of originCountry of origin Care informationCare information The manufacturer or distributorThe manufacturer or distributor

– Registered number indicates the identification of a Registered number indicates the identification of a “responsible party”“responsible party”

PackagingPackaging is the covering wrapper or container in is the covering wrapper or container in which some merchandise is placedwhich some merchandise is placed

Government Government LegislationLegislation

Flammable Fabrics ActFlammable Fabrics Act– Requires flammability or burning, standards for fabrics and Requires flammability or burning, standards for fabrics and

clothingclothing– Especially concerned with children’s sleepwear.Especially concerned with children’s sleepwear.

Fur Products Labeling ActFur Products Labeling Act– Requires that clothes with animal fur have labels that lists the Requires that clothes with animal fur have labels that lists the

animal(s) that produced the furanimal(s) that produced the fur– Must tell if the fur has been bleached, dyed or otherwise treatedMust tell if the fur has been bleached, dyed or otherwise treated– Must tell the country of origin for imported fursMust tell the country of origin for imported furs

Permanent Care Labeling RulePermanent Care Labeling Rule– Requires manufacturers to attach clear and complete permanent Requires manufacturers to attach clear and complete permanent

care labels to garmentscare labels to garments– Labels must give clear and complete instructions for care and Labels must give clear and complete instructions for care and

maintenance of the itemsmaintenance of the items Textile Fiber Products Identification ActTextile Fiber Products Identification Act

– Requires labels to tell what fibers are in textile productsRequires labels to tell what fibers are in textile products Wool Products Labeling ActWool Products Labeling Act

– Labels must specify the percentage of each type of wool in the Labels must specify the percentage of each type of wool in the fabricfabric

Consumer Rights and Consumer Rights and Government Government ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities Standards are criteria set by Standards are criteria set by

authorities, such as those at testing authorities, such as those at testing labs or government agencies, who labs or government agencies, who judge productsjudge products– Most government consumer Most government consumer

laws are enforced by the laws are enforced by the Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade Commission

Consumers, as a group, have “voting Consumers, as a group, have “voting powers” with their money and powers” with their money and purchase choicespurchase choices

Comparison ShoppingComparison Shopping

Comparing the qualities and prices of the Comparing the qualities and prices of the same or similar items in different shops same or similar items in different shops before buyingbefore buying

Evaluate apparel purchases in terms of:Evaluate apparel purchases in terms of:– Good design and constructionGood design and construction– Durability of fabric and ease of careDurability of fabric and ease of care– Suitability to you and your lifestyleSuitability to you and your lifestyle

$16.99

$19.99

$24.99

Judging Value and Judging Value and QualityQuality

Quality refers to the level of Quality refers to the level of performance of a productperformance of a product– Has a lot to do with long-term Has a lot to do with long-term

performance of appearance, fit, performance of appearance, fit, and wearand wear

– Buying the best quality you can Buying the best quality you can afford is a good investmentafford is a good investment

– Overall quality Overall quality High qualityHigh quality garments have the garments have the

best construction, materials, and best construction, materials, and designdesign

– Emphasize cut, line, and fabricEmphasize cut, line, and fabric– Have an extra button of each Have an extra button of each

size sewn inconspicuously inside size sewn inconspicuously inside the garmentthe garment

Medium qualityMedium quality garments have garments have reliably good construction, reliably good construction, materials, and designmaterials, and design

– Usually quite durableUsually quite durable Low qualityLow quality garments have only garments have only

fair standards of construction, fair standards of construction, materials, and designmaterials, and design

Value is the degree of Value is the degree of worth or measure of worth or measure of benefit of somethingbenefit of something– In clothing, the best In clothing, the best

value is the highest value is the highest quality of materials, quality of materials, construction, and construction, and fashion for the fashion for the lowest pricelowest price

– Better quality Better quality clothes are usually clothes are usually more expensive but more expensive but may be better value may be better value buysbuys

Specific Points of Specific Points of QualityQuality

Being cut on the proper grain enables garments to hang well without Being cut on the proper grain enables garments to hang well without twistingtwisting

Plaids, stripes, and other fabric patterns match at the most obvious seams Plaids, stripes, and other fabric patterns match at the most obvious seams and edgesand edges

Interfacings are extra layers inside garments to support certain parts or Interfacings are extra layers inside garments to support certain parts or stylesstyles

Quality checksQuality checks– The fabricThe fabric– The cutThe cut– StitchingStitching– The hemThe hem– ReinforcementsReinforcements– ZipperZipper– FastenersFasteners– ButtonholesButtonholes– CollarsCollars– LapelsLapels– WaistbandsWaistbands– PocketsPockets– LiningLining– Trimmings and decorationsTrimmings and decorations

Evaluate Evaluate Proper FitProper Fit

Determine your size categoryDetermine your size category– Apparel sizes are, in general, categories Apparel sizes are, in general, categories

by figure types of silhouette and proportionsby figure types of silhouette and proportions Know and use your measurementsKnow and use your measurements

– Double ticketing is garment sizing that combines two or Double ticketing is garment sizing that combines two or more specific sizes into general categories, such as more specific sizes into general categories, such as small, medium, and largesmall, medium, and large

– A shirt sleeve measurement is from the back center A shirt sleeve measurement is from the back center base of the neck, across the shoulder, and down around base of the neck, across the shoulder, and down around the bent elbow to the wristbonethe bent elbow to the wristbone

– If your top and bottom are different sizes, it is probably If your top and bottom are different sizes, it is probably best to wear separates most of the timebest to wear separates most of the time

Try on garmentsTry on garments– The garment industry uses uniform sizing but because The garment industry uses uniform sizing but because

each manufacturer uses different body proportions and each manufacturer uses different body proportions and amounts of ease, their garments fit differentlyamounts of ease, their garments fit differently

– Wearing ease is the room you need to move comfortablyWearing ease is the room you need to move comfortably

Trademarks & LabelsTrademarks & Labels

Private label Private label – Brands that can Brands that can

be sold for less be sold for less because stores because stores buy them in buy them in quantityquantity

– Not advertised Not advertised nationallynationally

Designer labelDesigner label– Gives status to Gives status to

the wearerthe wearer– Adds to the retail Adds to the retail

price of an itemprice of an item– Usually a mark of Usually a mark of

qualityquality

TrademarkTrademark is a product’s own brand name, is a product’s own brand name, often represented by a logo, that identifies often represented by a logo, that identifies it as belonging to a particular seller or it as belonging to a particular seller or manufacturermanufacturer

Evaluate BargainsEvaluate Bargains

Shopping at salesShopping at sales– Bargains are favorable purchases that provide a high Bargains are favorable purchases that provide a high

value of merchandise in exchange for a relatively small value of merchandise in exchange for a relatively small amount of moneyamount of money

– Evaluate sale merchandise in terms of whether it fills a Evaluate sale merchandise in terms of whether it fills a genuine need for yougenuine need for you

Types of salesTypes of sales– General sales General sales are often held throughout stores during are often held throughout stores during

holiday timesholiday times– Clearance and inventory sales Clearance and inventory sales clear out old stock to clear out old stock to

make room for new merchandisemake room for new merchandise– New items are sometimes put on sale to encourage New items are sometimes put on sale to encourage

customers to become acquainted with themcustomers to become acquainted with them– Some stores have mail or newspaper coupons that are Some stores have mail or newspaper coupons that are

only valid on certain days or at certain itemsonly valid on certain days or at certain items

How to PayHow to Pay

Buying is the exchange of money or credit for goods or Buying is the exchange of money or credit for goods or servicesservices– Cash purchasesCash purchases occur when you pay the full amount of the occur when you pay the full amount of the

purchase with money, which also includes checks and debit purchase with money, which also includes checks and debit cardscards

Overdrawn means that an account has checks written against it for Overdrawn means that an account has checks written against it for more money than it containsmore money than it contains

– Layaway purchasesLayaway purchases allow stores to put items away for a certain allow stores to put items away for a certain length of time while the buyer makes periodic paymentslength of time while the buyer makes periodic payments

No finance charges but usually a nominal fee to complete a layaway No finance charges but usually a nominal fee to complete a layaway purchase purchase

– Credit purchasesCredit purchases are a promise to pay for goods or services at a are a promise to pay for goods or services at a later datelater date

Credit rating is an evaluation of someone’s financial standing based Credit rating is an evaluation of someone’s financial standing based on past records of debt repayment, financial standing, etc.on past records of debt repayment, financial standing, etc.

Credit limit is the maximum financial amount a person may have Credit limit is the maximum financial amount a person may have outstanding on a charge or other credit accountoutstanding on a charge or other credit account

Installment plan is a credit arrangement by which a down payment is Installment plan is a credit arrangement by which a down payment is made toward a specific large purchase, and a contract specifies the made toward a specific large purchase, and a contract specifies the periodic payments and finance chargesperiodic payments and finance charges