We recently read a marvelous article in the April 18, 2013 issue of the Wall Street Journal called "A Closet Filled With Regrets".   Written and researched by Ray A. Smith (a man! who knew!) the disturbing results discovered: While clothes seem great in the store, once home, they seem so wrong. In fact, people regularly wear just 20% of their wardrobe!

While this should come as no surprise to all of us, it appears that the bigwigs in the retail world depend on consumers having regrets on many of their purchases. Because you just bought it, you can't seem to get rid of it (and tougher return policies exasperate the situation), and so the item is delegated to a corner of the closet that just as well have a big sign marked, "Regrets"!

Mr. Smith points out that people shop for many reason other than truly needing something. Basically, there are three types of shoppers: the Sale Shopper, the Aspirational Shopper and the Emotional Shopper. Without a doubt, we ALL have made purchases where we fit into one or all three of these purchases. Here's the scoop:

 The Sale Shopper: The sale was irresistible...the mark down outrageous! How could this be passed up? I would regret it forever! Somehow, someway, I'll make it work with my wardrobe because it's such a deal!

Lovely Louis Vuitton!

The Aspirational Shopper: What a statement this will make! Wearing this designer will impress everyone! This label will show  I can afford the best and that therefore, I must be (pick one): successful, sexy, fashionable, etc.! 

Platinum and Diamonds!

The Emotional Shopper: OMG, this will cheer  me up! I'm so (take your pick): stressed, depressed, unhappy, anxious, fat, thin, unworthy etc. I deserve this because... see prior list. 

Interestingly, the "conventional wisdom that shoppers regret splurges isn't true". In fact, according to an article in the 2008 Journal of Marketing Research, "shoppers most regretted, over the long term, passing up an indulgence for something practical or less expensive"!!!

 How does this relate to Classic Collections? Well, get into your closet, go to the REGRETS Corner and bring that merchandise to us! Get it out of your life. Just because you no longer fit into something, can't figure out what you were thinking when you bought it, will never wear it regardless of how much you saved, we can alleviate your guilt and give you back some closet space and PAY YOU MONEY!

Our customers LOVE the idea of finding their own designer treasures that are deeply discounted and special! And, just in case  they don't wear it, it's NO BIG DEAL. In fact, we have some things consigned over and over again by successive consignors who just didn't use it, or wore it to a special occasion and really can't wear it again or put on/lost weight etc. Indeed, the mental process of consigning and then getting paid for the item and at the same time having it gone from your closet is so rewarding that you will wonder how you lived without Classic Collections.

So to honor all our consignors, Marianna Hurwitch of Classic Collections wrote this little poem:

Clean out your closet

And don't make a fuss

If it's not becoming to you...

It should be coming to us!