Bargain shoppers can get a rush from speed shopping offered by online sample sales Online sample sales offer deep discounts for the fashion-savvy shopper, if you can beat the rush By JENNY B. DAVIS http://www.star-telegram.com/living/story/1311207.html
Special to the Star-Telegram
When Jennifer Miller-Phillips sees a certain text message pop up on her cellphone screen, she knows she needs to act fast.
That text message, from a Web site called Ideeli, tells her that an online sample sale is about to begin, and the clock will start ticking on her chance to score designer gear marked down as much as 80 percent from the retail price.
At the appointed hour, this busy Fort Worth mom will compete with a select group of fashion-savvy shoppers across the country undoubtedly scouring the site at the same time for the same smokin’ deals.
Thanks to Ideeli, Miller-Phillips says she has scored a butter-soft leather Gustto bag and a cream leather hobo bag from the exclusive Parisian label Lancel, all at prices far lower than what was printed on the tags.
Welcome to the exclusive world of invitation-only online sample sales. Accessible only by the code-holding few, these Web sites stage single-designer sales styled as "boutiques" nearly every day. Some boutiques are open a few days, some only hours. Notification goes out to members up to a week in advance, and only those members can gain access to the luxury merchandise ranging from Valentino frocks to Balenciaga bags to Helmut Lang menswear and Lucy Sykes New York childrenswear. Also in the mix are sunglasses, serving platters, suitcases, lip gloss sets, candles and sheet sets, all discounted up to 90 percent.
How the sites work
The easiest way to become a member is to be invited by another member, but some sites offer the chance to join a membership waiting list. The upside of the exclusivity: A smaller number of shoppers competing for the deals. The downside: The group can be very, very motivated.
"You have to jump on it," says Abby Stark, a junior at Texas Christian University. "If a good boutique is coming up, there are three of us who will run to the computer lab so that we don’t miss anything, and then we’ll run back to class."
But both women say shopping these sites is well worth the rush. Stark appreciates the discount. "Everything is remarkably marked down — at least 50 percent — and I feel like I am getting a great deal," she says.
For Miller-Phillips, it’s about selection — many of the upscale handbags she covets just aren’t widely available in Tarrant County. The ideeli site "gets the designers who are not always known and some who are up-and-coming, but they also get the Fendis and the Guccis," she says. Not to mention the convenience of shopping at home. "With a 2 1/2 -year-old, shopping anywhere is a full-day event," she says. "This is so much easier."
The incredible selection — as well as the need for speed — will only increase as membership continues to grow, say those in the business.
Many of the sites, which used to focus on clothes, shoes and jewelry, are also branching out. For example, New York City-based ideeli now offers home decor, electronics, travel and entertainment, says founder and CEO Paul Hurley. It’s all part of giving buyers "access to things they want across all categories."
Online sample sales
Ideeli Typical savings: 50 percent to 80 percent
Boutique frequency: Eight-12 sales each week
Past brands: Celine, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, Michael Kors
Returns: Yes, on select apparel and shoes
Referral bonus: $25 credit upon the invitee’s first purchase
Why it’s fab: This site holds frequent giveaways — prizes have included designer handbags, concert tickets and vacations. While basic membership is free, paid memberships provide early access to boutiques and other promotions.
To join: Star-Telegram readers can use this URL: www.ideeli.com, code: fwst
The economic slump is still lurking store aisles across America, especially the swanky ones. February sales at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom (JWN: 19.96, -1.05, -5%) both showed staggering declines -- but neither as alarming as the 26% plummet at Saks (SKS: 2.84, 0.2322, 8.9%).
Senior fashion editor Lori Holliday Banks at Tobe Report, a fashion retail consultant and industry strategist firm, said stores should focus on customer loyalty programs to revive sales. These programs allow stores to collect data from member purchases to profile their customers’ activity and preferences. They could then further lure clientele by tailoring rewards and coupons to their fashion interests and shopping habits.
According to a 2008 study by First Data, only 12% of consumers belong to discount-store loyalty programs. However, these members actively use their membership rewards plan during 72% of their visits. Only 21% of shoppers belong to department-store rewards programs, but use their membership 83% of their visits.
While department stores have the strongest active shopping percentage of fashion retailers, specialty stores have the highest rate of signed members at 51%, who use their memberships on 75% of their visits.
While many chain stores offer credit cards, frequent shopper discounts or prize and monetary rewards, Banks said stores must create more innovative programs, and that “price alone does not bring about sales.”
Saks learned this the hard way when its 70%-off designer sales only resulted in a 15% drop and a $99 million loss.
“Loyalty stores need to bring about more unusual perks or benefits for their shoppers. Perks that appeal to people who are so busy. The more you can offer to customers who are looking to save and spend, the more they are likely to visit your store and bring you business,” Banks said.
Last month, American Express (AXP: 20.6125, 2.1825, 11.84%) teamed up with legendary designer Diane von Furstenberg to present a runway show during Fashion Week; some invitations were issued, but tickets were on sale exclusively for American Express cardmembers.
“The only people that could buy it are AmEx holders, so that gave them something special that no one could have,” said Banks. “It was an exclusive experience and a novel form of status.”
There are fashion-forward shoppers who must pinch pennies, but can’t abandon their favorite designers despite an economic storm. New Web sites such as The Gilt Groupe, Rue La La and ideeli are catering to their luxury needs. Members shop online fire sales that last about 24 hours and could sell out in minutes.
Members have access to 70% off premium brands and exclusive deals -- but also the privilege of being “in the know.” Emails and text messages alert members hours before the limited-time sales. While Gilt and Rue La La both started less than a year ago, ideeli launched in June 2007. Membership is now in the hundreds of thousands, and it expects to surpass the one-million-member mark this year.
“We saw no slowdown quarter to quarter, and by the fourth quarter in 2008 we doubled in size and revenue” said Paul Hurley, founder and CEO of ideeli. “I think it’s because we are helping brands to clear inventory, but we also do it in a way that is positive for the brand -- it is a discreet and exclusive offer.”
Some retailers refuse to trade down with deep discounts via red-tag signs on their front windows or a secretive shopping Web site. Steve Pruitt, senior analyst at Blacks Consulting/Blacks Retail Analysis, says that while fashion junkies are slowing down, they are still buying these labels.
Blacks Retail Analysis, which specializes in luxury retail, advises these upscale merchants to focus on constant flow of new goods. He advises on a lot of rotation in vendor structures, more private label goods and unique product.
“Stores should have a reason to call a customer or show off new goods in the window,” said Pruitt.
Blacks Retail also advises retailers to be in the know when it comes to what’s hot in a cold economy. For instance, collectibles are likely to sell in luxury stores, as buyers could mix and match separate pieces.
Many shoppers, of course, just look to the magazines and the icons. Michelle Obama takes Vogue’s front page this month, sporting designs by both Jason Wu and J. Crew.
Mandi Norwood, former fashion editor for Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, said a fashion statement from the First Lady is also a sign of the times.
“Her ability to mix mall accessories with designers commissioned to dress her shows great style is about spotting great pieces and combining them, irrespective of price or label,” said Norwood, also author of Michelle Style: Celebrating the First Lady of Fashion. “Mrs. Obama proves that you can wear affordable pieces without compromising on style.”
She added that while no one needs inspiration to shop smart, the times are certainly demanding it.
This Joe's Taryn Flat Tote is on sale at Ideeli for $104, $191 below retail.
Invitation-only luxury shopping websites, such as Ideeli and (redacted), seem to be popping up everywhere lately.
These retailers offer high-end designer goods for a reduced price to members, but the sales last only a limited time. Ideeli’s events have “secret starts,” which members are notified of a couple hours in advance.
I asked these questions and more of Robin Lawson of Ideeli.
Both websites buy their merchandise directly from designers and the brands themselves, so they are able to negotiate a price beneficial to both parties. Cutting out the middleman is one of the reasons why their prices are so low, Meriles said.
The sites attempt to recreate the frenzy and excitement of designer sample sales by selling goods in limited quantities for short durations of time. Like most designer sample sales, they are invitation-only.
Designer brands are very receptive to these websites, since it can be challenging for them to reach and engage an affluent audience, Lawson explained.
“They like how we [Ideeli] present their products, particularly the quality of our photography,” she said. “We are a marketing solution for them, not a discount site – so they can clear inventory in very high volume fast, but also get a measurable marketing benefit. This in turn helps us tremendously in scoring the best merchandise for our members.”
These websites also provide an outlet for small, up-and-coming designers to sell their products to the masses, she added. Usually, niche designers can only be found in boutiques in large cities.
Buyer beware, however, because many of these websites allow returns for merchandise credit only. When shoppers get caught up in the excitement of the exclusivity and limited-time offers of these shopping websites, they might not take the time to think the purchase all the way through. Make sure you check out the previews and know beforehand which items will match your current wardrobe/lifestyle.
Here is a quick guide to the invitation-only shopping sites on the web.
Ideeli – partners with over 300 brands and continues to add more. As well as sales, the website also hosts giveaways. Sales and giveaways have “secret starts,” but members can preview the merchandise that will be available up to 10 days in advance. Items are priced between 50 to 90 percent off. Ideeli offers two types of membership. 2nd Row, which is free, is their main membership. They also have a 1st Row membership, which costs $83.88/year. These members can shop sales one hour earlier than 2nd Row members, and they have access to 1st Row only sales. Today, Joe’s handbags and Cerruti 1881 cufflinks are on sale. Ideeli has provided Examiner readers with an invitation code, “Examiner.” To join, click here.
Do you know of any other invitation-only shopping websites? Please leave a comment and let readers know how they can get invited!
Brick and mortar expansion may have grinded to a halt during the “Great Recession,” but innovative new shopping mediums are still emerging across various distribution channels. With mobile commerce emerging the Web becoming more prevalent as a driver of purchase decisions, a new group of alternative sales models are emerging.
“Retailers looking to connect with customers via new marketing vehicles and media—(including in-store networks, new digital sign technologies, mobile marketing and m-commerce, and pop-up, temporary retail stores) --is among one of the most prevalent retail trends,” says Mary Brett Whitfield, Senior VP with Retail Forward. “The current economic environment is a powerful motivator for retailers to develop and test new business models that provide added value for customers.” Whitfield says these new models are especially important in an environment when retailers should be looking for ways to add value other than by instituting across-the-board cost cuts.
Analysts point to the changing media landscape as another driver of more innovative models popping up on online. “With traditional advertising vehicles like printed newspapers drying up and retailers increased desire to connect with consumers directly and more effectively, there is great interest in finding winning approaches to attract new and retain/grow existing consumers,” says Kevin Sterneckert, Research Director, Consumer Centric merchandising at AMR Research.
Ideeli: An invitation-only shopping community where shoppers can enjoy daily online events to optimize their experience, often at privileged prices. Ideeli offers products not yet available in stores, “finds” from abroad, giveaways and prizes, Ideeli offers members a forum for discovery, selection and engagement. Ideeli strikes the affluent and aspirational customer at the core with exclusive products and pre-season products offered to members before anyone else. Spotlighting brands like Dior, Estee Lauder, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Lacroix, and others, Ideeli holds online charity events with various charity organizations, during which a portion of the proceeds from these sales goes to a particular non-profit organization.
AMR’s Sterneckert expects to see a flood of these applications over the next seven months leading up to the 2009 holiday season. “Winners will be those that offer more than just item and price,” he says. “I believe the mobile platforms that exist today will foster an influx of new channels that consumers will have available to them to identify and purchase items that they want from the retailers that present the best offers.”
He advises that, although cool, innovated interfaces will drawn in the masses, those who offer social networking aspects, exclusive offers, comparative information, and other features that represent a different experience will have true staying power.
Retail TouchPoints readers can experience the invite-only Ideeli shopping community at this link using invite code "touchpoints" until May 1.
In the past few months, the online fashion shopping for fashion has been transformed.
While there are still sites out there that offer what's simply shopping that's much faster than a catalog transaction, the ones that are getting the attention -- and business -- have turned shopping into an online sport. Sites like Ideeli.com, have brought the thrill of sample sales to the Web and made them accessible to people outside fashion's inner circle.
Ideeli.com
Ideeli.com, which was the first of these sites to launch (in June 2007), prides itself on creating more than just a shopping site. It offers shoppers original editorial content and a community of like-minded customers.
"We consider ourselves a lifestyle site," says CEO Paul Hurley. "When you ask people what comes to mind when they think of our site, they say,"fun and great deals, community, editorial and brands no one else carries."
"We're invitation-only for members and their friends," he continued. "We have daily shopping events and offer spectacular prices -- brands [like Christopher Fischer cashmere, Dior sunglasses and IKE watches] an average of 60 percent off -- and we have a lot of giveaways for our members."
Ideeli.com also offers a premium membership called First Row, which, for an additional $85 per year, grants access to sales one hour earlier than those with free memberships. "We added First Row to give our best customers more flexibility; it made great sense to us," Says Hurley.
How do these sites offer such great bargains?
The economy is definitely driving consumers to look harder for values and bargains, which is increasing traffic to these sites -- but it's also making it easier for these sites to offer amazing fashions at a fraction of their regular retail prices.
When the economy took a nosedive, "Retailers were not able to cancel orders for spring," said Ideeli.com's Hurley. These sites stepped in to pick up excess orders from the designers. "So our members will benefit with the value in what they're getting from us. And we're helping brands clear out inventory, which turns out to be important these days."
He added, "Selling at a discount is not good for a brand, but for a limited time, it's okay, and many [brands] are reaching a new audience through us."
And if you love the hunt, but don't have a ton of time to do it, there's Shopittome.com, a Web site that allows you to enroll with your preferences, including desired brands and sizes. It will search the Internet and send you a daily "Sale Mail" that shows you what went on sale that day.
"It automatically shows you things that you might not even know you like," explains founder and CEO Charlie Graham. "This leads shoppers to spend money better and make the most of the money they are spending. You're buying things you need when [they're] on sale." He adds, "Now it happens to be a really good time to shop because everything is on sale. "
Follow this special link for MSN.com readers to join Ideeli.com: www.ideeli.com/in/media?mi=msn
The invite code is "msn" and is valid through the end of March. Readers can also go to ideeli.com and enter the code but it's easier to just use the URL.
Members-only retail site ideeli.com, which does all its business through special sale events, has recorded surging revenue growth since launching with e-commerce in May 2007, says CEO and founder Paul Hurley.
Offering up to three special sale events each day on fashion items like handbags and sunglasses, ideeli has leveraged exposure in social networks to build up a loyal base of customers who keep coming back for the deals and the fun in seeing and sharing information on new and unusual fashions, Hurley says.
In addition to the shopping, ideeli members have access to online fashion reports produced by professional writers and an online forum for discussing trends with other members. We think of our shopping experience as a media event, a source of entertainment and a place of community, Hurley says.
Ideeli offers free access to its site to anyone who registers with an e-mail address; for those who pay an annual fee of $83, it offers special treatment such as early access to sales.
The ideeli model offers operating advantages over conventional retail sites. Because it attracts a steady stream of member-buyers without having to carry stockpiles of regular inventory, ideeli usually sells out of its products without spending much on marketing, Hurley says.
He adds that ideeli may have been successful in the days before online social networks, but growth would have been slower and tougher to achieve. Our key tool is social networks as word-of-mouth grows about our great deals, he says.
Melissa Myles is ready for summer with a sassy new Ella Moss sundress and a halter neck top from Rock & Republic.
Although snow was falling as she clicked to buy these pieces, the wait to wear them wasn't important to Myles, 37, an accessories buyer for a collegiate bookstore in Oak Brook. When she saw the items offered at half off the retail price, she knew she had to act fast or they'd disappear forever, snatched up by one of the select, fashion-savvy shoppers across the country undoubtedly scouring the same site at the same time for the same smokin' deals on designer labels.
Welcome to the exclusive world of invitation-only online sample sales. Accessible only by the code-holding few, these Web sites stage single-designer sales styled as "boutiques" a few times a week. Some are open as long as three days, some only hours. Notification goes out to members up to a week in advance, and only those members can gain access to luxury merchandise ranging from Roberto Cavalli frocks and Balenciaga bags to Helmut Lang menswear and Waterford Crystal. Also in the mix are sunglasses, suitcases, day planners and sheet sets, all at discounts up to 90 percent.
The easiest way to become a member is to be invited by another member, but some sites offer a chance to join a membership waiting list. The upside of the exclusivity: A smaller number of shoppers competing for deals. The downside: The group can be very, very motivated.
Like Myles. "It gets sort of addictive," she says. "If something appeals to me, I'll grab it." Invited by her boss, she since has invited several of her co-workers. Myles has been to live sample sales in Chicago and New York City and also rummaged through big-box discount stores, but she says she prefers scouting deals online. The sites, she says, "provide the same aesthetic as a high-end boutique, and you don't feel like you're digging."
Then, there's the selection factor. "Some of these brands are hard to find at mainstream retailers, or the site will show 20, 30 or 40 things from the same designer whereas if you went into a store you'd only see a few pieces."
When Alexis Hillman, 23, of Lakeview recently logged onto (redacted), she had but a single goal: to snap up a piece of luxe jewelry from Chicago designer Dana Rebecca Designs at a sweet discount.
She had long coveted a friend's Dana Rebecca piece but wasn't able to justify the expense—until June she'd been an engineering student at Northwestern University. Then she saw the designer featured on the site, which her sister had invited her to join.
"I literally freaked out because everything sells out so fast," Hillman recalls. She placed an immediate call to her mom to secure graduation-gift funding, then quickly bought a black onyx and diamond cocktail ring for half of its original $1,600 price tag.
That need for speed will only increase as membership grows—and it's exploding, say those in the business.
Paul Hurley, founder and CEO of New York City-based ideeli.com, agrees. "Even if you have the money," he says, "it's more respectful to be discreet about your purchases because there are so many people in a tricky spot."
Ideeli.com
Typical savings: 40 percent to 90 percent
Open since: May 2007
Boutique frequency: 8-12 events a week
Past brands: Mackage, Christian Dior, Michael Kors
Returns: No
Referral bonus: Yes, $25 credit upon an invitee's first purchase
Why it's fab: This site holds frequent giveaways—past prizes included designer handbags, concert tickets and vacations. While basic membership is free, paid memberships are available that provide early access to boutiques and other promotions.
To join: Go to ideeli.com and enter the code chicagotribune.
Last year, Ideeli established itself as a model among the invitation-only online shopping sites that sell drastically discounted designer goods. With traditional retail sales plunging, we wanted to learn just how foolproof the discounted e-commerce machine is in a dicey economy. Paul Hurley, Ideeli's CEO, enlightened us on the consumer mindset for discount shopping, the sales results during this past-holiday season and his designs on social networking. If this illuminating interview sparks your interest, check out Ideeli's upcoming sales on Marc by Marc Jacobs watches (Tue Jan 13), Ungaro shoes (Wed Jan 14) and Chloé sunglasses (Thur Jan 15) using an invite code especially for you, our readers.
JC Report: How did you fare this holiday season?
Paul Hurley: We did very well. We've doubled our business in the last 90 days. We haven't seen any changes in purchasing patterns and our members continue to buy. Despite consumers being cautious about spending this season, we served up great values that got our members excited about holiday shopping.
JCR: With all the discounts this season due to the economy, will consumers expect discounts all the time?
PH: Not necessarily. It's true that in this post-holiday season, consumers are spending less with traditional retailers. They have witnessed deep discounts on massive volumes of merchandise, often on products and brands they cherish. The perceived value of many products and sometimes brands (for the smaller ones) has been tremendously shaken during the Fall and Holiday season. However, we do think customers will continue to spend at full price. They will spend in products and experiences that meet their newly redefined needs and priorities. Retailers must recognize this and understand how their customer priorities have changed.
JCR: Will Ideeli coast in this new deep discount economy?
PH: We think we have a powerful model to create strong value for our members and our brand partners. Quality, service and price do not suffice to create loyalty today. We're focused on creating a true community with our members to drive trust, authenticity and engagement. We go beyond the sample sale paradigm, and we think it serves our core business while driving revenue to the core channels of our brand partners.
JCR: How does this bode for Ideeli's sales efforts this year?
PH: Ideeli has seen tremendous growth this past year and shows no signs of stopping. We have hundreds of thousands of members now and expect to pass the million member mark in 2009. This continued membership growth will bode well for Ideeli sales this year.
JCR: Which brands/products sell the best on Ideeli?
PH: We've seen a range of products, brands and price points perform well, which is a testament to the merchandise Ideeli offers. Handbags, shoes, sunglasses, clutches and costume jewelry have all been standouts. We've seen amazing velocity of sales on brands such as Celine, D&G and Christian Lacroix.
JCR: What distinguishes Ideeli from other players in the space?
PH: We go beyond fashion and touch many lifestyle categories. Not only do women find the best of fashion and accessories on Ideeli, but also fragrances, skincare and experiences such as pre-sale concert tickets, fashion show tickets and travel deals. Ideeli also offers fabulous giveaways—members can win amazing products and experiences. Ideeli is a community first, a community where our affluent and aspirational members can socialize with other privileged shoppers. This allows us to create a forum to evangelize brands. Ideeli was the first invitation-only shopping website to launch in the US and has the most experience in its arena: our first event ran on the 1st of June, 2007—a Dolce & Gabbana giveaway.
JCR: How does the company plan to grow in 2009?
PH: Growth will continue to be fueled through multiple avenues. The invite-only nature has prompted friends to invite friends, making Ideeli incredibly viral. This will continue and expand with the introduction of new social networking and community features as well as new product categories and brands. Ideeli is situated at the intersection of shopping and social networking, all leading to great partnership opportunities.
As retailers cope with the aftermath of the worst holiday shopping season in memory, it's not surprising that both on- and offline retailers are mounting a last-ditch effort; some are touting discounts of up to 90% in hopes of luring post-Christmas customers. And the disintegrating economy, fears about job security and a new aversion to conspicuous consumption haven't kept those with the means—and a sweet tooth for fashion—from jumping on these presumably never-to-be-repeated deals.
A spurt of sales
Sample sales offering cut-rate designer duds are proliferating as name brands dump their overstock. Lazar Media Group Inc., which tracks sample sales in its Sales & Bargains newsletter, tallied 284 such events during the months of November and December, a 40% increase over the same months in 2007.
"In 20 years of tracking these sales, I've never seen anything like this," says Elysa Lazar, founder of Lazar Media Group.
Amy Berlin, fashion director at Shape Magazine, has been taking full advantage of the bargains. At a pre-holiday Sergio Rossi sample sale, the thirty something shopper purchased eight pairs of shoes for $50 each—six for herself and two for her mother.
"They usually sell for about $500," she says, "so the total is still cheaper than buying one pair at retail."
Online emporiums such as ideeli.com, with its limited-time, deeply discounted offerings, drew particularly robust crowds this season.
According to comScore data, online sales of apparel and accessories grew 4% nationwide in December, versus a 21% decline in overall sales in that category.
The opportunity for anytime indulgence is one reason that Laura Markofsky, 23, frequents these sites.
Half-priced fajitas and margaritas? No way. Thanks to the recession, chic restaurants such as Cube on La Brea and Riva in Santa Monica now offer early bird food-and-drink specials for the pre-dinner set. Nobu West Hollywood's bar and lounge serves tapas such as Wagyu beef with foie gras gyoza for under $12 after 8 p.m. At the Edison downtown on Friday nights, you can get 35-cent gin or bourbon cocktails and free grilled cheese with tomato soup. Might we suggest a new label for a frugal foodie: the gastronista?
Online sample-sale sites
Ideeli -- new online sample-sale site is cropping up at lightning speed, promising "insider only" bargains on items such as Judith Ripka fine jewelry and Habitual jeans.
These sales are anonymous, meaning that shoppers don't have to feel guilty about spending. And they also offer good prices and value, says Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst for market research firm NPD Group. The downturn in the economy has led to massive excess inventories.
"This is the one area of retail that will find enthused consumers and be a growth source for designers and manufacturers as they try to move canceled merchandise and keep their factories busy producing product," he said.
The dancing in the streets is getting old already, so here's where the dread takes over. (Dear wonderboy speechwriter: We could really use a "fear itself" about now.) Vacation homes are on the chopping block; the stores are closing; no one's ordering appetizers or desserts. Even the universe has slowed its expansion, scientists theorize, meaning everything really is connected to retail. You start clipping coupons and offering prayers to Saint Suze Orman. Flat is the new up, conspicuousness is the new sin. Nobody wants front-row seats anymore, because it's safer to be part of the crowd. Luxury customers are asking for plain paper bags.
Times are tighter than Michael Phelps's delts, which are out. Our daughters flee to the comfort of vampires. (Eternal life? Alabaster skin? In!) You start to feel good about how a prolonged recession could get rid of the things you most loathe (destination weddings, "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew"), but then hope against hope that the things you rely on will make it through the darkness (Madhouse Munchies potato chips, Nordstrom, Netflix).
Today is traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year, which is reason enough to stay out of the malls and safe at home in the warm glow of your computer screen. Need some added sale-rific incentives? Check out these awesome online deals.
Just five days left before 2008 gets the great kissoff and we usher in 2009 with boozy vows of self-improvement. So! One thing we know you'll need? A new calendar! Are you dying as much as we are to get this amazing ferret reenactment of Bay Watch pinned up on your bedroom wall? Calendars.com has them for as low as $6.49 (that's up to 50 percent off) during its clearance sale. Or maybe you'd prefer to look forward to a year's worth of jackasses ... or there's always puppies, puppies, puppies. Use code TFFS8 for free shipping.
Shop a potpourri of accessories -- from bags by Allesandro Dell'Acque to jewelry by Nava Zahav -- for as low as $64, during the Ideeli Red Sale. The event runs for three days beginning today (12/26) at noon. Not a member? Follow the link above and join for free with code lemondrop.
Stock up on business-casual basics your mom would be proud of: New York & Company's self-described "Big" sale has apparel marked down for as little as $5.99; accessories start at $3.99. Tack on free shipping with code 2678.
Because curvy girls have more fun, Torrid is offering $5 back on purchases of $25 or more with code TORRIDGIFT (expires 12/28). The site runs the gamut from outerwear to underpinnings, plus shoes, bags, workout clothes and more.
Declutter your makeup bag and start the year with a fresh set. Benefit will save you 15 percent off of online purchases with code PRETTY15 (expires 12/31). Or get free shipping on orders over $25 with code DECEMBER. (We'll leave you to do the math on which code saves more cash.)
Luxury Shame
Why even the very rich are cutting back on conspicuous consumption, By Johnnie L. Roberts | NEWSWEEK
,Dec 8, 2008 http://www.newsweek.com/id/171246
Multimillionaire Michael Hirtenstein used to flaunt his acquisitions of opulent real estate. "I collect homes because I enjoy it," he once told DansHamptons.com about his eight properties—which included a $27 million apartment on the 76th floor of Manhattan's Time Warner Center. In August 2007, the 45-year-old Hirtenstein, who made his fortune in telecommunications, regaled the New York Post with his plans for a $35 million, glass-enclosed duplex in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood, replete with suede-covered walls, three living rooms and a heated pool with built-in underwater video screen. Alas, the economy ground to a halt, and so did Hirtenstein's conspicuous consumption of real estate. He quietly reneged on the Tribeca duplex, forfeiting a hefty deposit. That isn't to say Hirtenstein is now selling pencils from a tin cup. "I could walk downstairs now and buy a Ferrari," he says from a suite at Wynn Las Vegas, which boasts a dealership. "But all of my friends are hurting. I don't feel like buying random toys."
Across America's upper strata, rich folk like Hirtenstein are experiencing an unfamiliar emotion: luxury shame. The late Coco Chanel, doyenne of 20th century fashion, long ago said that luxury is "the opposite of vulgarity," not of poverty. But in these recessionary times, it seems vulgar to flaunt one's luxurious lifestyle. And so the wealthy are going blingless and eschewing the spending sprees of the recent Gilded Age, giving new meaning to the phrase "embarrassment of riches." The trend is horrible news for the $175-billion global luxury market, which is already absorbing the blows of plummeting personal wealth. Just in time for Christmas, this new "embarrassment of riches" is cutting into sales of high-end retailers and brands like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, Bentley and BMW, Christie's and Sotheby's.
As hard-hit luxury advertisers scrimp, the sheen is dulling on the glossy, overcrowded, and once ad-rich collection of media that caters to the rich and famous. Ads in the December issues of major luxury magazines have plunged 22 percent from 2007, Media Industry Newsletter reports. Conde Nast—publisher of Vanity Fair, W and Vogue—is cutting issues of Men's Vogue and the new business glossy, Portfolio. Robb Report, the bible of connoisseur tastes that enjoyed years of prosperity during the era of hedge-fund billionaires, has watched its advertising freeze. At American Express Publishing, which owns Travel-Leisure and Departures magazines, among others, "ad sales just hit a wall" after years of growth, says Ed Kelly, CEO.
Unofficially, profligacy became passé on Oct. 6, when disgraced Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld appeared at a congressional hearing after the firm's historic $600-billion bankruptcy. He encountered a blizzard of scorn over his half-billion-dollar compensation and baronial lifestyle: a $21 million Park Avenue penthouse, a $25 million estate in Greenwich, Conn., and an estimated $200 million art collection. "I have a basic question for you: Is this fair?" asked Rep. Henry Waxman. Fuld only could muster sheepishness. (This month, he auctioned off $20 million of his art collection.) Not long after Fuld's public pillorying came the shameful disclosure that troubled insurer AIG had lavished top employees with a $440,000 spa retreat at a ritzy St. Regis resort—held after Uncle Sam stepped in with a bailout that is costing taxpayers $150 billion.
Now, up and down Wall Street, the rich are showing off newfound contrition. Last month, Steve Schwarzman of private equity firm Blackstone Group expressed regret for the $3 million he spent on his 60th birthday party in February 2007—an event that politicians and the press won't let him forget. "Obviously, I wouldn't have wanted to do that and become, you know, some kind of symbol of sorts of that period of time," he told a media conference in New York. Schwarzman, whose Blackstone stake totaled $8 billion in June 2007, is down to his last $2 billion to $3 billion on paper as a result of the stupefying drop in the stock market.
This new frugality is also taking the gleam off Tinseltown. "Would I go out and buy something showy? Not at a time like this," says one of Hollywood's richest moguls. "It would be like bragging. "At Disney, top film marketers reportedly are agonizing over the planned Valentine's Day release of "Confessions of a Shopaholic," about a young, brand-obsessed woman. They reportedly are considering reworking the ending of the film to address today's harsh economic realities. And Washington is suffering pangs of debt regret. One caterer there likens the current wave of inconspicuousness to an earlier time. "It feels like after we went to war with Iraq," says Mark Michaels, owner of Occasion Caterers. "It's not a wise thing to throw a big jolly party. "In real life, meanwhile, fashionistas are throwing on off-priced frocks and remodeling themselves as "recessionistas." Michelle Obama recently wore a $400 ensemble from J. Crew on "The Tonight Show," instead of a designer dress.
Calling this the Death of Luxury would be a grand embellishment. Consumers have taken a respite from opulence before—for example, when the Greed-is-Good era died with the '87 market crash, and after 9/11—only to shop with a vengeance after a respectable amount of time had passed. Natural-born shamelessness assures the survival of extravagance: Sean Combs, for one, would cease to exist were he to leave the lap of luxury. And why should the wealthy elderly, facing actuarial fate, embrace asceticism in their waning years? Some upscale purveyors believe luxurious living, like cigarette smoking, is an unshakeable habit. "It's very difficult to go downward... once you get used to this level of service," says Julian Niccolini, managing partner of New York's Four Seasons restaurant.
Patrons as unfathomably affluent as some of his regulars ( David Koch, $17 billion, estimates Forbes magazine; Ron Perelman, $9.5 billion) are seen by luxury goods marketers as conspicuous consumers of last resort. They are among the world's 10.1 million "HNWIs" (high net worth individuals) with $40.7 trillion in combined assets, according to the World Wealth Report 2008 from Merrill Lynch and Paris-based consultant Capgemini. "We're dealing with an area that's beyond wealth," says Bill Fischer, a luxury travel agent. "If someone loses a couple $100 million in the stock market, his lifestyle stays the same. They always want what they want when they want it."
So what are luxury brands and merchants to do in unpopular times? Cultured pearl master Mikimoto, for one, is downplaying glitziness and highlighting heirloom appeal. In early October, it launched a new campaign called "the Original," in which the 115-year-old company emphasizes its tradition by featuring the image of a single cultured pearl in an open oyster shell. "That was a statement that only Mikimoto could make," says Maureen Gribbin, its chief USA spokeswoman. "Back to basics." Curtis, CEO of the Robb Report's parent company, notices the change in tone. "Among the very highest end brands, we are seeing an appreciation for quality and the connoisseur, for pedigree and history over showiness," he says.
Other luxury brands are cultivating a guilt-free image with the timeless strategy of altruism. "You don't realize you've attended the launch of an automobile," says Marvet Britto, CEO of a New York PR agency, "because the vehicle is parked in front of a charity event." In the past, elite marketers like Prada and Masarati matter-of-factly donated deluxe goods to charitybuzz, which orchestrates high-end charity auctions. But lately, they want more exacting "details on the target audience of bidders for our events," says founder Coppy Holzman. "They want to get their brand message in front of top audiences." And in deliriously bidding small fortunes, he adds, the audiences also "address a guilt reality in their psyche." Profligacy is passé now at Charitybuzz, too, Holzman allows. Instead of a fantasy trip that fetches $100,000 bid, he'll opt to sell four trips at $25,000 each—"luxury, but not over-the-top obscene."
And making the scene now is a new style of luxury retailing that, oxymoronically, is introducing discretion and thrift to conspicuous consumption. How can spendthrifts get their fix without the guilt? One option: upstart online membership-only sites like ideeli.com, which hold first-come-first-served, deeply discounted sales of luxury goods in limited supply. The purchases arrive in the mail in unadorned boxes. Now there's a concept: conspicuous consumers who are in the closet.
Seven years ago, when it came time to give the Kardashian girls their Christmas gifts, their mother, Kris Jenner, knew exactly what to do.
“My mom gave the Cartier Panther watch to all the girls in my family on Christmas 2001, my grandma, sisters and me,” Kim Kardashian tells FOXNews.com. “That was the best fashion gift I ever got, because I’ll have it for the rest of my life!”
Celebrities (and civilians) may be tightening their belts this Christmas, but fashionistas like Kim still need to look stylish — no matter what! So FOXNews.com talked to stars and their favorite stylists to come up with four great tips on when to splurge, when to save, and how to keep the 2008 holidays celebrity-sexy.
Tip #1: Look for "Investment Pieces"
“The thing to remember is that jewelry is an investment,” bling expert Michael O’Connor says. “Higher quality or rarer gemstones retain value better than costume pieces. So in tougher economic times, you still want to buy the best you can afford.”
One of the hottest jewelry designers this season is California-based Dara Dubinet. Catering to celebs like Charlize Theron, Cameron Diaz and Leighton Meester, Dubinet works with colorful raw stones that, she believes, have healing powers.
“Aquamarine creates calm, fire agate ignites passion and topaz emanates compassion,” Dubinet says.
Theron and Diaz recently snapped up Dubinet’s turquoise moon ring and the morganite style in sterling silver. “These rings can elevate the energy in an entire room, make a statement and start conversations,” Dubinet says. “They are the ultimate party accessory, but they’re not for the meek.”
If the big stones are a bit much for you, consider a long, multi-chain necklace. “They're very 'now' and perfect for holiday gatherings,” says Katy Robbins, style expert for ideeli.com, an invite-only shopping website that you are now invited to - just click the link! “I especially love designs by Lee Angel, Gerard Yosca and Candace Ang.”
Petite women may prefer dainty chains. So look for an unusual pendant to add some drama. We especially like the edgy snake charm from the Olsen twins’ line Elizabeth and James, and the quirky shooting-star design by iconic jewelry designer Alexis Bittar. Either one can be layered with other necklaces for a fun, eclectic vibe.
Tip #2: Choose 2-in-1 Gifts
If you're trying to keep the number of presents to a minimum this year, scout out styles that will do double-duty. “I got a fabulous gift from my husband a few years ago,” actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon says. “It’s this enormous cashmere wrap. The great thing is that I can wear it with a dress, jeans or use it as a blanket when I’m on an airplane.”
But functional definitely doesn’t have to mean frumpy. Just look at Foley + Corinna’s enormous tote. Measuring 16” by 15”, the shopper is roomy enough to fit work papers, an iPod, and phone. Yet as the sun goes down, the tote actually folds up to become a chic clutch for evening!
Accessories aren’t the only multi-function items. The latest craze? Skirts that double as dresses. Made out of jersey, they’re comfy enough to wear on a Sunday and cute enough to throw on for dinner or cocktails. The best part? American Apparel styles start at $32!
Tip #3: Go Retro
Celebrities are flocking more and more to retro styles (perhaps in a desperate grab at the simpler times of yore?) One of the quickest ways to achieve today's retro look is with a bow blouse from the ‘60s or tie blouse from the ‘70s: especially in plaid. "Plaids are really hot right now,” says celeb stylist Pamela Watson, who has worked with Jessica Simpson. “And they can be added in small ways, like with a blouse or scarf, so they're not too over the top."
If bold prints aren’t your thing, you can try a traditional tie blouse. The style will instantly dress up an old pair of bootcut jeans.
Tip #4: Accessories Matter
“You can turn a T-shirt and jeans into a designer outfit just by adding the right sunglasses, belt, jewelry and handbag,” says ideeli.com's style expert Katy Robbins, who has also worked with Scarlett Johansson. “Exotic skin evening bags are really hot right now. And Carlos Falchi flat python clutches in bordeuax, rose, teal and green are the ultimate gifts.”
Looking for something a little less pricey? Consider one of the under-$100 handbags from Jessica Simpson’s line. We especially like the purple hobo. With short and long straps, it can be worn over the elbow or across the body as a messenger bag.
Another favorite of ours is the skinny bow belt from B-Low the Belt. In colors like fuchsia and chartreuse, the adorable cincher immediately draws eyes to one of the sexiest parts of a woman’s body: her waist!
Top it all off with the most personal of accessories: makeup. “I love the MAC makeup kits in the holiday packaging,” Kardashian gushes. “The travel brushes make them the perfect stocking stuffers.”
Don't forget to go to ideeli.comNOW to join the invite-only shopping site. This is a limited time offer for FOXNews.com fans!
When booking the trip, I was treated to a variety of services that would help me dodge the many bullets of business travel in 2008 -- surprise fees, late arrivals, missed connections, even cramped seats. The flower purchase, conversely, left many mysteries unsolved, e.g., what the bouquet would actually look like, or how long it would last.
For many categories, e-commerce has come a long way since the days when buying something on Amazon.com made you a pioneer. But others still seem to be stuck in 1996. Here's my roundup of which categories offer the latest and greatest features to make shopping fun, or at least painless -- and which ones still feel mired in 1990s features and service.
WIRED:
Footwear -- They said that people would never buy shoes online, but lately e-tailers have offered services and features that make it easier to click your way to a purchase than browse the racks at Nordstrom. Timberland and others let you design your own shoe. Zappos has a free return policy and has even been known to recommend a competitor's product. And my favorite innovation comes from Nike+, a brilliant offline/online hybrid that lets geek-jocks track distances run, calories burned and other measurements online via an embedded communication device in the shoe itself.
Fashion -- Today, even the highest-end couture is now available to anyone, no matter where they live, via sites like saks.com and emporioarmani.com. New services like Ideeli have even made discount shopping into a sport with text and e-mail alerts as soon as a coveted item goes on sale.
Travel -- It seems like every time the airlines throw a problem at you, a Web site pops up to help solve it. Buying the cheapest ticket humanly possible feels easy with discount alerts from all the major travel sites, and farecast.com will even tell you whether the fare for your particular route will rise or fall. Seat Guru will help you find the best seat, no matter which aircraft or airline. And sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp provide access to hundreds of reviews for any given hotel, airline or restaurant.
TIRED:
Flowers -- This category is plagued by the very problem the "wired" group has solved. Flower recipients rarely get an arrangement that matches the one displayed on the site; there are virtually no personalization options (unless you count adding a margin-building Vermont Teddy Bear to your flowers "personalization"); and selections feel dated, limited and homogenous from site to site. No wonder this category has been suffering from long term-decline.i
Real estate -- Despite novelty sites like Zillow, this category still feels woefully lacking -- especially surprising given the high level of involvement in this purchase. For Sale By Owner Listings are still listed separately from those controlled by real estate agents. And there is virtually no site that combines everything one needs to make an informed decision: listings, foreclosures, value estimates and neighborhood information. I'm sure there are hurdles, but this feels like a category where someone can still step in and offer a well-differentiated product.
Job search -- Basically, sites like Monster, CareerBuilder, etc., produce too many results and too many irrelevant results. Things are just as bad for recruiters, who are bombarded with resumes that have no relevance to the positions advertised. The result is an ocean of candidates submitting an ocean of resumes to people who don't have the bandwidth to assess them.
HOW TO GO FROM TIRED TO WIRED
So how does one wire up these tired categories? The answer lies in those cutting-edge e-tailers -- it just takes a little creativity and (as always) sensitivity to consumer needs. Following are a few suggestions that could help the categories above or similarly tired spaces:
Address pain points: How about digitally aging a bouquet to see what it will look like in a week -- or even three? Or links to vault.com on job search sites to let users find out more about a company, warts and all? Solve some of the scary mysteries for consumers and they will reward you.
Add some sizzle: Feature one-hour sales on limited stock items to create a sense of urgency, even competition. And spice up the merchandise: Martha Stewart and Vera Wang make flowers for my Great Aunt. But I know some young women that would appreciate a bouquet by Tom Ford or Muccia Prada. Heavy Web shoppers tend to be younger and hipper -- so should your product.
Introduce personalization: Consider giving users the ability to create their own floral arrangement. Or their own house, with an automatic e-mail that advises when one like it has become available. Personalization has already worked for categories (like travel and footwear) where the product was traditionally dictated by tastemakers. It's certainly not a stretch to introduce it to the tired categories as well.
Get to know the consumer -- Sites like Netflix have continuous feedback loops that let users rate their choices, so suggestions get smarter and smarter. Not perfect by any means, but at least helpful. The same technology can be applied to jobs (or job candidates), flowers or condos.
Basic message: Give consumers the information they want, make the shopping experience as painless as possible, and occasionally intrigue and excite your users -- the same stuff that works in the mall or the car dealership can win people over in the digital realm as well.
Mark Cregar is president and principal of Emerging Marketing Consulting. He has held senior marketing posts at Disney, Warner Bros., Coca-Cola and Nabisco. His views on digital marketing trends can be found at www.emergingmarketing.blogspot.com.
Marketers See Lucrative Niche in Membership Concept NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Those elusive, engaged consumers -- those who are actually still spending -- are a marketer's dream. So where are they hiding? Well, a slew of new members-only websites that clear excess designer merchandise at steep discounts contend they can be found there.
Sites like Gilt.com, Ideeli.com, HauteLook.com and RueLaLa.com that require members to be invited or sign up to view sales events are drawing substantial traffic. The sites have grown steadily since launching last year, said Matt Pace, director-retail and consumer products at Compete.com. Since January, the number of unique visitors has skyrocketed from less than 20,000 to roughly 160,000 per month at both Gilt and Ideeli.
The concept, at its core, is fairly simple. Consumers join the groups, mostly through invitations from their friends. Some of the sites also partner with media, like The New York Times or Lucky magazine, in the case of Ideeli, to extend invitations. Members then have access to sales events, which are limited in number and duration.
Intriguing niche
While members-only shopping is still a relatively small niche, the concept is intriguing, according to marketers involved with it. Ideeli, for one, has added giveaway events to attract marketers, as a means to branch out into new categories like prestige beauty and luxury travel that don't lend themselves to discount sales. Estée Lauder, which recently conducted a giveaway and plans more events with Ideeli, said that it has found a highly engaged, qualified audience.
"[The concept] is capitalizing on the fact that women like to be a part of a community today," said Meryl Truffelman Macune, executive director-online marketing and new media at Estée Lauder. "They also like to feel like they're being given an exclusive opportunity. [And it's] time sensitive, so they feel like they have to get it now."
Because the sales prompt a sense of urgency, shoppers are driven to learn about a product and make a purchase decision before the event begins, lest the item sell out. Ideeli, on average, sells out in 3 hours and 36 minutes.
Paul Hurley, Ideeli's founder-CEO, says that because consumers are engaged, there is an opportunity to better educate them about brands in a way that doesn't feel like advertising. "If you go to Ideeli, it doesn't look like there's any advertising. It's fully integrated, and it's structured in such a way that we can solve a lot of different types of very practical problems that marketers have," he said. "We run six to eight different types of programs, depending on what you're trying to accomplish in your marketing or clearing of inventory."
Chaos could offer advantages
And while sales figures at many retailers are plummeting, members-only shopping sites could actually benefit from the recent economic turmoil. Indeed, as the market tanks, Ms. Lyne says that Gilt has been breaking all-time revenue records. "There may be multiple reasons for that. It may be escape for some people, but I think it's also because of the value proposition we bring to consumers," she said. "I hope this crisis is over very fast for all the obvious reasons, but we may be uniquely positioned to feel it a lot less."
Maybe, or maybe not, said Compete's Mr. Pace. "Their growth shows little sign of slowing. However, given the economy, all bets are off."
The New York Sun New Invite-Only Web Sites Offer Deals to Fashion-Seekers, September 30, 2008, by DINA FIERRO
http://ninabucciarelli.blogspot.com/2008/10/just-in.html Sample sales were once exclusively the bastion of savvy (and determined) New Yorkers, but the markdown events have migrated from the showrooms of the garment district to the simplicity of point, click, and buy. A crop of recently introduced, invitation-only online shopping Web sites such as Gilt Groupe, ideeli, and HauteLook offer designer merchandise at a deep discount: Apparel, accessories, and home goods are sold at prices 30% to 70% below retail for a limited time only (generally between one and three days).
While the appeal to shoppers is obvious, online sales offer a significant benefit to featured brands as well: Namely, designers can clear end-of-season inventory discreetly, eliminating the stigma of merchandise sitting on the floor of an off-price retailer such as T.J. Maxx or Marshalls. Retailers always have excess inventory, and discounting product is inevitable. "The challenge is to do so in a way that reinforces brand identity, quality of products, and value of discounts," the marketing and communications manager for TheTopSecret .com, Reva McEachern, said. Invitation-only online sales bridge this gap.
There are other benefits as well. The designer of MRE Jewelry, Mallory Eisenstein, recently participated in a sale on HauteLook .com. She said that "access to a new base of consumers" was one of the primary incentives for working with the site.
Ready to shop? Here are the major players in the online sample sale arena, from A to Z:
Editors' Closet offers an assortment of merchandise from apparel to watches and sunglasses, even luxury pet carriers. With a predominantly European team in-house, the site frequently offers niche, up-and-coming designers. Forthcoming sales include Tom Ford Sunglasses. To join, enter e-mail newyorksun@editorscloset.com in the referral box on the site.
Another Web site, ideeli, bills itself as one that offers not only discounts on luxury merchandise, but also access for members to exclusive shopping events and giveaways. The company's chief executive officer, Paul Hurley, told The New York Sun, "We have created an environment that allows our members to discover the brand and the products — and we're the only site that does this with editorial, links, and community."
Ideeli is the only site to offer the option of membership levels; First Row membership is $83 a year and provides exclusive access to giveaways and first dibs on sale merchandise, while Second Row membership is free and by invitation only. Upcoming sales include Christian Lacroix. To join Front Row, go to ideeli.com.
Regent's Secret offers the most competitive rewards program in the online sales business. By inviting a friend, each member earns 5% of the value of that person's purchases for the duration of her membership. Upcoming sales will offer designs by Evisu, Taryn Rose, and Chip & Pepper. To sign up for membership at Regent's Secret, enter the code "secret" for access.
HauteLook.com creates unique content that includes streaming video and images. The site also boasts an online magazine that provides an inside look at the fashion industry, with contributions by top stylists, designers, and editors. "Many brands use HauteLook as not only a means to clear inventory, but a way to market their brand to a customer they may not already be reaching," the company's chief executive officer, Adam Bernhard, said. Upcoming sales include Frankie B, Black Halo, and Sass & Bide.
Owned by the same parent company as the discounter Loehmann's, Ruelala.com offers access to merchandise from the current season. The senior vice president of marketing for the site, Stacy Santo, explained that "unlike online sample sales, Ruelala.com carries a full size range and deep inventory levels." There is also a generous 30-day return policy — no questions asked. To join, click "invited by a member" and enter the e-mail address vip@ruelala.com.
Recently launched, The Top Secret is a sister site to Top Button, an online shopping guide. According to Ms. McEachern, The Top Secret "is not just about making fabulous purchases at deep discounts, it's about being the first one in the sale to get the hottest handbag or sunglasses, and then bragging about it to your friends. It's shopping entertainment." For more information, go to thetopsecret.com or topbutton.com.
A senior editor at Style.com, Laird Borrelli, offered wisdom for online shoppers: "Determine how much you have to spend before you shop, and try not to get carried away. In the heat of the moment things tend to seem more desirable than they are afterwards."
Shopping trips generally damage only your wallet, but shopping at sample sales can be bloodsport.
At the most private sample sales in the country, fashion industry insiders throw elbows in battle over Manolo Blahnik sandals and Chanel gowns priced at less than $200. With few exceptions, those dwelling between the East and West coasts hoping to score such coveted goods have been out of luck … until now.
Ideeli.com launched in December with high-end partners such as Oscar de la Renta, Celine, Zac Posen and Kooba. Items such as a $2,390 Oscar de la Renta handbag priced at $750 are sold daily at random start times and in limited quantities. There are also weekly giveaways that have included handbags from Balenciaga and Escada. Members, who pay a $7-per-month fee, gain access to sales an hour earlier than others, which is not a bad deal, since most events end within three minutes. These limited-time offers create the same snatch-and-grab mentality that prevails at brick-and-mortar sample sales.
And the thrill, users say, is part of the fun.
The savings at online private sales may not quite reach the 90 percent off retail prices reserved for the most exclusive insider sales in New York and Los Angeles, but a 50 percent to 75 percent discount isn’t bad. And for that, you don’t have to risk a limb.
The goods: High-end handbags, jewelry and more from designers such as Escada, Chloe and Yves Saint Laurent.
Good to know: Single items are offered for sale or giveaway each day at random times. Paid membership offers greater access to sales and merchandise. Get a $25 credit for any referred friend who becomes a buyer. All sales final unless item is defective.
Mention the words "designer sample sale" to any fashion lover and you'll generally get one of two reactions: eager smile or look of horror. The smilers are responding to prices usually slashed by at least 50 percent on true designer goods. The horror-struck are remembering semi-nude women changing in warehouse aisles heaped with discards, as well as a hair-pulling incident in which someone was called a name we tell our children not to say.
Although brick-and-mortar sample sales still exist, there's a new game in town: the online sample sale. Same designer merchandise, slashed prices and selection but without any hair pulling, name calling and views of someone's days-of-the-week underwear. More than a half-dozen such sites have cropped up in the last year, allowing the average shopper access to some very exclusive goods.
A silver lining to spending cuts: Now is a particularly good time to shop sample sales, because designers have more than their usual excess inventory. Beyond moving online, sample sales also have expanded beyond actual samples, which are garments used on the runway, in the designer's showroom or by sales representatives. Now, the inventory may include excess stock from the current or previous seasons. That means a selection that goes beyond the typical small sample sizes--a good thing.
We did your homework for you, checking out a few of the online sale sites. Shop till you drop, but take note of the return policies.
Profile: Women's fine accessories from Alexis Hudson, Kooba and Valentino, among others. Requires code to join; readers of this article can enter "tribune" in code box to access site. A first-row subscription costs $7.99/month and gives an hour head start on sales and access to giveaways. Prices: $45 to $3,795. Returns: All sales final. Refresh rate: 3 to 5 new sales per week. Our finds: Lamarthe Opium Sauvage purse in sable retails for $685; ideeli price: $385.
This Week's Sale at ideeli! April 20, 2009
Here are this weeks amazing designer sales that are happening at Ideeli. Ideeli is shopping by invitation only, but I have plenty of invites left! Don’t forget that you can currently enter to win one of 3 first row upgrades ($96 value) here on Chic Shopper Chick through the end of April, and be the first to have access to the best products and exclusive sales on Ideeli.
NICOLE MILLER
Tuesday 4/21
Up to 70% off
Prices Start at $120
Just because Greek mythology is set in the ancient past, doesn’t mean that sirens aren’t still out to play. Nicole Miller transforms present-day femmes into timeless temptresses every day. An American born to a fashionable French mother, Miller trained at both the Rhode Island School of Design and Paris’ Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. RISD ignited Miller’s wild streak, unleashing a rebellious side to her designs, while the French institution provided the young designer with a mastery of classic construction techniques.
JILL STUART
Paris Hilton wearing a Jill Stuart dress that will go on sale on Ideeli this week
Starts Wed 4/22
Up to 70% Off
Prices start at $144
“Dress” - it’s a small word for a garment of such monumental importance. No other article of clothing has the ability to balance function with femininity better and no other designer has mastered the art of this balance better than Jill Stuart.
CHRISTIAN LACROIX -accessory sale: handbags, jewelry, belts, and more!
Starts Thursday 4/23
Up to 64% Off
Prices start at $194
A woman’s sense of style is evident in her accessories, so they ought to be remarkable. Belts, whether florid or classic, should cinch your waist or beautifully accent your hips. Satin and leather bags should be impeccably crafted with luxurious accents including zippers, colorful handles, and embroidery. And jewelry must be dramatic and evoke high glamour. The best-accessorized women in the world choose Lacroix. Now it’s your turn.
Oscar de la Renta Giveaway April 17,2009
With winter quickly fading behind us, ideeli knows you're ready to trade snow white for summer whites, which is why they've paired up with this formidable designer to bring one lucky winner a one-of-a-kind handbag, straight from the runway! Made from white twisted raffia and calfskin, the "Indore Box" bag (named from the city in India) was carried by supermodel Agyness Deyn at Oscar de la Renta's SS 09 NYC Fashion Week show and adds a serious dose of glamour to any ensemble.
Join ideeli now for free, using this link, exclusively for Annechovie readers: www.ideeli.com/invite/annechovie and enter to win this fabulous bag!
ideeli is the first invitation-only shopping community. They create daily online events that provide their members with the ideal shopping experience: privileged access to the top brands and experiences, often at prices up to 80% off.Recent sales have featured brands like Oscar de La Renta, Christian Lacroix, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, D&G and have recently expanded into Home Decor.
Rebecca Taylor Shoes and Lambertson Truex Bags Start Next Week!
Everyone knows that online sample sales are the way of the future. ideeli is that and so much more…with exclusive giveaways like Marni necklaces and invite-only sales on everything from Fendi, Balenciaga and Oscar de la Renta to Marc by Marc Jacobs and Rebecca Taylor, ideeli is a must add to your top shop list. Click on the image above to become a member and receive special exclusive offers through life. love. couture. Be the first find out about rocking deals & join now through L.L.C.!
The “Ideel” Shopping Invite April 03,2009
I’m sure a lot of you have been to a sample sale or a form of it. You stand in line for hours, wait your turn to get in, and bamm now you and the Grandma in her “inspired” Chanel suit are fighting for the last pair of Jimmy Choo’s at 80% off. Ladies there’s no need anymore thanks to Ideeli. Ideeli has taken the sample sale, warehouse sale model to the 21st century by moving it online. No more waiting in line, no more hair pulling and waisting your time trying to find something. According to Ideeli: It’s an invitation-only shopping community which creates daily online events providing members with the “ideel” shopping experience: privileged access to the most sought-after brands and products, often at privileged prices. According to me: Ideeli is the best place on earth for samples sales, selling designer goods from the likes of Proenza Schouler, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, and Pratesi at up to 70% off the retail price. Plus there’s other perks like giveaways, try that at a traditional sample sale. How do I get an invitation? Don’t panic I’ve got one for you click the image below or here to get your invitation. Simply type in your email address and you’re on your way to shopping smart.
Happy New Year! Freeze 24-7 Giveaway Courtesy of ideeli! January 04, 2009
I couldn't dream of a better way to kick off the new year, than to introduce two of my passions to each other. Audience, meet ideeli!
Living on the West Coast, I feel constantly left out when I hear about the amazing sample sales in New York. I'm perpetually convinced that I'm missing out on the deal of the century. Now I fill that void with ideeli, an online sample sale extraordinaire!
Here's the thing... entry to an ideeli sale is gated. In order to gain entry, you need to be invited by a member. That's where yours truly comes in!
How To Enter The Giveaway:
This giveaway is hosted by ideeli and Freeze 24-7. Three winners will receive deluxe samples of the Freeze 24-7 Daily Essentials Skincare System complete with Skin Glace Daily Detoxifying Cleanser & Mask, IceCrystals Anti-Aging Prep and Polish and IceCream Double Scoop Intensive Anti-Aging Moisturizer. Also included will be deluxe samples of Eyecing and Instant Targeted Wrinkle Treatment! Retail value per kit is approximately $100!
For a chance to win, you simply must sign up for a new account to peruse ideeli online sample sales. Click HERE and enter the invite code "rouge". Then follow the prompts to set up your account. You'll only need to provide an email address! The code "rouge" tips off the fabulous people at ideeli that you are, indeed, a friend of ours... and entering that code is how you enter the giveaway! ideeli has reserved THREE kits for Raging Rouge readers, so it's important to use that code!
If you don't win... don't fret! Anyone can receive 30% off any Freeze 24-7 purchase through January 31st. Simply click here to shop and use coupon code "ideeli09" at checkout. Spend $150 or more and shipping is free, too. After all, isn't it about time you were ready for your close-up?
The Fine Print
Winners will be selected on January 10, 2009. Only one winner per shipping address is allowed. Sorry for my international gals, but this giveaway is for US residents only. Winners must be over 18, and must explicitly agree to a disclaimer. Raging Rouge reserves the right to substitute any prize with a prize equal or greater in value, if need be.
More About Freeze
The New Year is here! It's time for resolutions and for putting your best face forward. But too often, jam-packed schedules, daily stress and the passing of time can take a toll on your skin, making you feel less than camera-ready. Thanks to Freeze 24-7, however, this no longer has to be the case: its revolutionary patent-pending Age-Less Technology helps produce a nearly instant visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Freeze 24-7's mission is to be on the cutting-edge of product development, uniting the latest scientific and cosmetic advancements to make products that deliver on their promises. In fact, in an independent study, 100% of the respondents (everyone!) experienced a 50-90% visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles within ten minutes of a single application. These remarkable results have caught the eyes of leading beauty authorities worldwide and Freeze 24-7 has been featured in numerous magazines and television programs including Bazaar, InStyle, Lucky, Rachel Ray, Fox News and the Today Show.
What is ideeli™?
ideeli is an invitation-only shopping community which creates daily online events providing members with the "ideel" shopping experience: privileged access to the most sought-after brands and products, often at privileged prices. Members love it not only for the great products and prices. Brands participate because ideeli shopping events allow them to convey their brand story and value to affluent and aspirational women who are interested and paying attention.
A very special thank you from Raging Rouge to the lovely people at ideeli and Freeze 24-7 for making this giveaway possible!
Freeze frame by Aly Walansky on January 2nd, 2009
The New Year is has arrived: It’s time for resolutions and for putting your best face forward.
But too often, jam-packed schedules, daily stress and the passing of time can take a toll on your skin, making you feel less than camera-ready. Thanks to Freeze 24-7, however, this no longer has to be the case: its revolutionary patent-pending Age-Less Technology helps produce a nearly instant visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Freeze 24-7’s mission is to be on the cutting-edge of product development, uniting the latest scientific and cosmetic advancements to make products that deliver on their promises. In fact, in an independent study, 100% of the respondents (everyone!) experienced a 50-90% visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles within ten minutes of a single application. These remarkable results have caught the eyes of leading beauty authorities worldwide and Freeze 24-7 has been featured in numerous magazines and television programs including Bazaar, InStyle, Lucky, Rachel Ray, Fox News and the Today Show.
Now one of my favorite sites, ideeli brings this breakthrough brand to you! In this exciting giveaway, FIVE winners will receive the Daily Essentials Skincare System , complete with Skin Glace Daily Detoxifying Cleanser & Mask, IceCrystals Anti-Aging Prep and Polish and IceCream Double Scoop Intensive Anti-Aging Moisturizer. Winners will be chosen at random from the people who register for the site through this link by January 10: www.ideeli.com/in/media?mi=ebeauty
After all, isn’t it about time you were ready for your close-up?
INSTYLE From Street to Web and … from Web to Street! May, 2008 by Christina Shenahan Once reserved for industry types, fashion’s best bargainsources go wide on the Internet
ideeli
Ideeli.com
Launched: December ‘07
Featured designers: Alexis Hudson, Baccarat, Christian Lacroix, Gerard Darel, Kooba, M2, Design by Mary Margrill, Oscar de la Renta
After all the shopping that you’ve done this week, it’s time to reward yourself with something fabulous. ideeli.com will be giving away this Balenciaga Giant City Arena handbag in amethyst on Monday, December 1st. Its retail value is $1695 so this will be one special Christmas gift if you win! You have to be a registered member with ideeli to access exclusive offers like this and if you’re not, no worries. ShopDiary can hook you up! Simply click through this invite link, enter your email address and click submit. Or you can use Shopdiary as your invite code on Ideeli.com.
Of course, if you’re up for more shopping and like the idea of getting authentic luxury items for less, ideeli has got several members-only Cyber Monday shopping events to whet your shopping appetite. To be sure you don’t miss it, ideeli is releasing the start date and time: Monday, December 1st at 11:00am EST for 1st row members, noon for 2nd row members. Each sale event will run for two days. Check out the upcoming Cyber Monday shopping events after the jump.
Ginette ny 14k gold Charm Jewelry Save up to 65% off, prices start at $69
Croc Couture / Linea Pelle Wallets Save up to 64%, prices start at $89
This elegant Linea Pelle wallet comes stuffed with a $25 Linea Pelle gift card plus a $25 ideeli gift card for new members
Christian Lacroix shoes Save up to 72% off, prices start at $120.00
Lambertson Truex save up to 72% off, prices start at $98
ideeli: The Lifestyle Sample Sale Destination
by Miss Olive
The election is over… and hopefully we’re on our way to an economic recovery. But, even if it takes Obama and his advisers a few years to resolve the economic malaise, at least we have the burgeoning category of online sample sales as our savior.
Since October 20th, I’ve been writing about the new category of online sample sales (aka private sales or flash sales) for the BlogHer community. Similar to any online category, the key players within the online sample sale arena are varied and have their own unique traits and offerings.
This week we’re going to focus on ideeli. Paul Hurley, a serial tech entrepreneur, incubated ideeli in 2006. Hurley realized the untapped opportunity to help usher luxury apparel brands and accessories into the Web 2.0 sphere, thereby launching the first U.S. online sample sale in June 2007. Until the development of ideeli, innovative Web 2.0 viral marketing strategies and tools were slow to infiltrate the fashionista scene online. In 2006, the fashion world was knee deep in the blogosphere, but the development and implementation of an innovative community for fashion and accessories lovers seemed up for grabs. Alas, welcome to the world of ideeli.
When ideeli launched its first sales event in June 2007, the site’s main focus was events for apparel and accessory brands. Hurley and his team wanted to create the “ideel” shopping experience: privileged access to the most sought-after products and experiences, often at privileged prices. As an invitation-only, membership site, ideeli developed its user base by relying on organic growth and also reaching out to core fashionista constituencies. In a short period of time, the site grew to hundreds of thousands of members. Since launch, the site’s members have been kept on their toes as the exact timing for a sales event is kept private until the email or SMS announcement. In other words, an ideeli event may begin at 11:57am EST or 12:05pm EST. One never knows till the morning of an event. But, the ideeli user base is highly familiar with the quality of its participating designers and brands, such as Lamarthe, Marc Jacob, Estee Lauder, Dior, Celine, Christian Lacroix, Lancel, Allesandro dell Acqua and Oscar de la Renta.
As a byproduct of creating excitement for events and devising a trusted community, ideeli has been able to develop a compelling Giveaway program for luxury brands. At least once a week, ideeliholds a Giveaway event. Depending on the price of a product, there may be two or hundreds of units. For example, one week the ideeli community may be given the chance to enter to win a new bag from Chloe. And the next week, the ideeli community may be given the chance to enter to win a necklace from a prestige jeweler.
In addition to keeping the audience enthused by the prospect of Giveaways, ideeli is also focused on exclusively bringing new brands to the U.S. through its online platform. Rather than only focusing on established brands which currently have a footprint in the U.S., ideeli members enjoy learning about foreign brands and imports. Why travel to Canada or Europe to discover emerging brands when they can be found on ideeli? In short order, the fashion community has begun to rely on ideeli as a tool for special access and exclusive information.
In the fall of 2008, ideeli announced its plans to fully enter lifestyle categories. ideeli is quickly becoming the go-to place for a plethora of luxury lifestyle products. The list of categories at ideeli now includes fashion, accessories, fragrances, men’s accessories, home, skincare and access to special events. Special events include pre-sale concert tickets, fashion show tickets and travel deals.
Aside from being a lifestyle destination, ideeli is differentiated amongst the other sample sale sites via its core product offering. ideeli allows members to pay for 1st Row access. 1st Row access enables members to have early access to sales events. In addition to 1st Row access, a viable community has been built online at ideeli because of the message board functionality. Members are able to share their thoughts, experiences and are empowered to ask questions.
So, I’m off to begin my Holiday ’08 shopping. It’s nearly mid-November and I’m already feeling behind. Luckily, I can save time researching new brands and products at ideeli.
New BlogHer members who join ideeli will receive a $25 credit towards a first purchase within the next 30 days. Enjoy!
It's the day after Thanksgiving. The malls are packed. Lines stretch to the backs of stores. Desperate shoppers fight over messy piles of picked-over merchandise.
There are zero parking spaces in the packed lot. It's no wonder that some shoppers are giving up on Black Friday, historically known as the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, and beginning their holiday shopping sprees online the following Monday.
More and more online retailers -- almost 87 percent, according to a Shopzilla.com survey -- are offering "Cyber Monday" deals that rival the Black Friday sales at traditional stores.
Looking to buy your significant other a new watch for Christmas? Amazon.com is having a one-day watch sale, with select watches up to 65 percent off. For the fashion fiends in your life, you can buy Henri Bendel private label apparel on the store's Web site for 30 percent off. Online-only boutique ideeli.com is offering a Balenciaga handbag giveaway. Paul Hurley, CEO of ideeli, said that on December 1st, retailers have a unique opportunity to attract shoppers. "With Cyber Monday being the official start of the holiday online shopping season," he said, "this creates another level of engagement for our targeted group of buyers."
Countless other sites, such as Toysrus.com, BestBuy.com, Makeup.com, will be offering deep discounts, giveaways, or free shipping on December 1st. As the economy worsens, budgets tighten, and, unfortunately, holiday obligations stay the same, some Cyber Monday deals will probably be too sweet to pass up.
Will you stick to the online sales or head to the stores in person this holiday season?
Emails like this make me want to throw myself on the floor and cry that I don't live in NYC!!!! This email was sent to me from ideeli (which is a online sample sale site) to snag up VIP tickets to the Lucky Shops Shopping Event. The VIP tickets are $250 but you get a gift bag that values at $500 and half of the proceeds go to a non-profit organization (I can't remember what it was about... I was too excited to tell you about this)!!! I'm a very sad girl... the excitement I was feeling regarding the trip I'm getting ready to take to my local Target store just went down the toilet! If you live in NYC and are interested in attending this event, I would happy to extend my invitation to you (or at least try)!
Ideeli, the first invite-only online shopping community launched in the U.S. has partnered up with Morra Designs on an exclusive, 2-day only event to support Dress for Success Worldwide. In addition to snagging some of Morra's timeless accessories between 50-90% below retail - like the Vacation Watch ($200 retail) and the Convex Cuff ($185 retail) - you'll be helping women in North America, the U.K., the Netherlands, and New Zealand integrate into the workforce, thanks to Dress for Success.
ideeli also provides members with hand-picked luxury fashion, home decor, beauty loot, and lifestyle experiences like tix to fashion shows & VIP seating at sold-out concerts. The Morra Designs/Dress for Success event only lasts through tomorrow (Thursday, October 2 & Friday, October 3).
So visit ideeli.com...now!
Here's the link of the WABC New York segment -
Style.com When the privileged give back. September 25, 2008.
If you pride yourself on knowing about secret sample sales before anyone else and try to do the bulk of your shopping in foreign countries just so you can deliver the, "Oh, this? I got it in Essaouira," response to compliments on your fashion savvy, you've likely already heard of www.ideeli.com. An invitation-only shopping community that launched last summer, the site gives its members access to choice, hard-to-find products through specially curated shopping "events." Today's event is no exception. For the next ten hours, ideeli has partnered with Själ Skincare , to offer six different products from the luxury cosmeceutical company, with 25 percent of all proceeds going to Tibet House. In an extra step toward benefiting humanity, ideeli has taken a liking to Style.com and told us that we can invite a few friends to this exclusive party.
Click here for access to the site and tell the virtual bouncer that you're with us. The password is "Tibet."
Talk about "exclusive" -- one must score a personal invitation to join Ideeli, a members-only shopping community "for trendsetting women."
Active members, who pay a monthly fee to belong, are privy to high-end designer finds for 50-90% off their original retail prices.
Ideeli has deals in place with top designers and manufacturers, including Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, Martin Margiela, Miu Miu, Dior, and Valentino, that allows them to extend deep discounts to those lucky enough to be "on the list."
Leave your comments if you're a member, or know one. How did you or she get to be so fortunate?
A world improvement idea exchange forum, a go-to how-to site, and an exclusive deep-discount luxury shopping community.
ecopop: Conceived to "instigate positive change in an accessible, entertaining way," ecopop offers a forum for "free idea exchange," wherein visitors to the site are invited to join a conversation on how to solve some of the world's biggest problems. Users are encouraged to peruse the vast, pre-existing collection of "ideas too good to waste" (all of which are organized by category, including Advertising & Branding, Arts & Culture, Health & Beauty, Media, and Music, among many others) and subsequently weigh in on a conversation or two and/or add an original idea.
Quamut: Loosely derived from the Latin word for how-to and pronounced "kwa-mut," Quamut provides users with free, online access to professionally written and edited "how-to" guides covering a diverse range of topics, from "how to make a perfect martini" to "how to produce a podcast." The site, which is powered by Barnes & Noble, features a collection of over 1,000 "how-to" guides, across five different categories: House & Home, Hobbies & Leisure, Money & Business, Computers & Technology, and Mind & Body. All of the guides include step-by-step instructions, complete with brief historical tutorials and "what you'll need to get started" lists where applicable, and due to a recent partnership with Videojug.com, a growing number of "how-to" video tutorials are also available.
ideeli: While one must score a personal "invitation" to join this exclusive shopping community, active members are privy to high end designer finds for 50-90% off their original retail prices. Apparently ideeli has deals in place with top designers and manufacturers, including Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, Martin Margiela, Miu Miu, Dior, and Valentino, that allows them to extend deep discounts (and occasional product giveaways) to their carefully selected, and oftentimes first-waitlisted, roster of shoppers. Once invited, users can opt in to "1st Row" status for $7.99/month, for which they'll receive SMS sale alerts one hour before they go public to the greater ideeli community.
Without a doubt, the biggest new craze in online shopping is the plethora of Web-only luxury sample sale sites (a.k.a. flash sales). A trend that originated in France thanks to a site called Vente-Privee.com, flash sale prototypes in North America have proven to be just as popular and successful.
Sites like, Ideeli.com (my personal fave) and EditorsCloset.com are among the latest crop of members-only Web sites that sell deeply discounted luxury goods, typically up to 70% off retail for a limited-period of time. Once you become a member (you need to be invited by a member), you’ll receive a text message or email informing you when the next VIP sale begins.
Why the sudden wave of these so-called flash sites? With today’s shaky economy, unsold luxury goods are piling up in retailers’ stockrooms like never before. And since major department stores and independent boutiques are so desperate to sell stock before the arrival of next season’s shipments, flash sales have proven to be a great way to move inventory.
Due to the time-sensitive nature of flash sales (36 hours or less), die-hard serial shoppers, myself included, feel a sense of urgency and inevitably get pressured into buying the merch.
Flash site Ideeli.com, the savviest of these social networking newcomers, posts a digital time clock informing you exactly when a particular sale is over. Which reminds me: I only have 9 minutes and 5 seconds left to score those Valentino aviator shades I’ve been eyeing…
Buyers beware: as with any e-tailer, make sure to check return policies and shipping fees before you buy. Happy shopping!
Howzabout a free Balenciaga bag? Or some Lanvin, at 80 percent off? You don't have to be a celeb to snag this stuff, but you do need to know the right people. Ideeli, an invite-only shopping community that offers major markdowns on "it bags" and giveaways each week, has invited Go2 readers to join. Follow the link below and sign up for these amazing designer deals. Become a "First Row" member for $7.99/mo and receive early access to sales.
I went to the Planet Blue 75% off “VIP” sample sale last Friday night on Montana Ave in Brentwood. And it was complete chaos. There was way too much of last year’s reject clothes plus super long lines to get in and buy. I think I waited in line for an hour and a half.
So I quit “real world” sample sales. And if you feel the same way, don’t worry, there’s another way to save. Try out these sites to get notified on sales, samples, etc so you can avoid the in-person crowd, chaos, the risk of getting absolutely nothing, and thus wasting a ton of your valuable time.
Shop it to Me: choose your favorite brands and get emailed when items go on sale at shopbop, bloomingdales, yoox, free people, saks, etc.
Ideeli: everyday a couple sample sale items go on sale at a particular time. you get an email alert and if you’re interested you buy it.
Lisa Kline, Net-a-porter, and some more do it too. So if your fav brand isn’t partnered with the above sites, go to the individual ecommerce store and see if they send out email alerts.
I spent the last few days checking out this site, and it seems legit and pretty useful, so here it is! Ideeli.com is a site that showcases designer goods at discounted prices, and, if you're willing to pay a membership fee, selected goods to win for free. It has a pretty good collection of accessories that currently leans towards bags and sunshades.
You get tantalizing tidbits of a photo, description, and price of an item that will be going on sale within the next 60 days. The catch? You don't know when exactly it will go on sale, but you can sign up to get email notification when it does. From the few sales that have gone live since I joined, I'm happy to observe that things don't sell out within 3 seconds of being posted. That type of bargain free-for-all is stressful and tells me that the lack of inventory means more hype and empty fronts, than an actual marketplace with a good supply-and-demand balance. Here, the 10-hour sale window is large enough that you'll likely be able to get to your computer (and credit card) at your leisure, and things don't sell out overly quickly so you can vacillate a bit while justifying your inevitable indulgence. (I've found that if I ever get to the vacillate point, it means I want something enough that I'm ultimately going to get it. :) )
There's also a comment feature so you can discuss the item, but it seems to be more of a "Ooooh, I want this!!" type of comment, if anything at all. I have the feeling that some people would be reluctant to sing their praises of the item for fear that it would increase other people's interest in the product, and thus raise competition once it went on sale. However, I really would like to see conversations discussing the looks, functionality, or designer (a designer's particular taste and how it's reflected in the product) and hope that the comment section will become more like product-specific mini forums.
Membership is a "friend-of-a-friend" referral like gmail invite codes in the early days. So if you want to check it out, let me know! (I'm 'lauriel' at the beforementioned mail program.) (J, I would have emailed you already, but I didn't know if you had a specific email account you'd want to sign up with!)
There’s a new trend in online shopping: members-only websites that sell luxury designer items at deep discounts (sometimes more than 70%!).
Even if you’re not out to drop thousands, these sites can help you score the latest luxury goods. Recent “sales” at ideeli.com include an Alexis Hudson Madeline Clutch for $185 rather than its regular $395 price, or an Abaco Eternity Weekender for $195, 73% off of the original $735.
But buyer beware, most of the sites have strict return policies, so read the fine print. And after three days of emails advertising the latest! greatest! hottest! deal, without one being something I had to have, I've started ignoring the emails in favor of stalking my tried and true online sites, such as bluefly.com, where I can score amazing deals on this Stuart Weitzman patent leather shoulder bag ($263, was $525) and Cala clutch ($145, was $295).
Ready to join the action? Here’s how to get your VIP invite inside the velvet rope:
Ideeli.com: Invitation only, but you can email membership@ideeli.com and ask to be invited.
Member-based online luxury community Ideeli has hired two new executives. Rachel Barnett, an industry veteran who previously worked at Me & Ro, Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. and Oscar de la Renta, is Ideeli's new chief financial officer. David Manela is the company's new senior vice president of strategic marketing.
Ideally, you’d have access to every sample sale imaginable without having to wait in line or fight for sizes. Welcome to ideeli. The members-only shopping community offers access to handpicked, luxurious lifestyle items at up to 90% off.
The catch? Sales and giveaways are short-lived, and quantities (and invitations) are limited.
R.S.V.P. today for your free membership or go to ideeli.com and use code dc11. You’ll be notified by e-mail each time a sale starts. Plus, you’ll be entered to win the oh-so-unpretentious tote-with-the-most: the Lanvin Papillote Shopper. It’s the first of many great deals heading your way.
Ideeli, which retails luxury brands by invitation to registered members, has hired two retail industry veterans as senior finance and marketing executives.
New York-based Ideeli, which operates on the web at Ideeli.com, has appointed Rachel Barnett as chief financial officer. Barnett, who has worked with luxury and lifestyle brands for more than 25 years, most recently served as chief operating officer of Me & Ro Inc., where she managed retail and wholesale operations and expanded the company’s retail brand presence. Prior to Me & Ro, Barnett served as senior vice president of financial and business development at Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. Inc. and as chief operating officer at Oscar de la Renta Ltd.
Ideeli named David Manela as senior vice president of strategic marketing, responsible for leading such areas as user-acquisition initiatives, strategic partnerships, online advertising and public relations.
Ideeli was founded in 2006 by CEO Paul Hurley.
DAILYVISTA ideeli inc. names strategic marketing exec, May 14, 2008 by Pamela Henman * No link available, see pdf
ideeli, a new online shopping community catering to the luxury set, has hired a marketing executive to boost its strategy.
David Manela, the company’s new vice president of strategic marketing, joins ideeli from lifestyle brand Vivre. Manela spent more than 10 years at Vivre, where he led all strategic ventures, business planning and online marketing efforts.
In his new position at ideeli, Manela is responsible for the New York-based company’s user acquisition efforts, strategic partnerships, online advertising and public relations.
Founded in 2006, ideeli is a members-only network of fashion devotees and fans of high-end bags, accessories, jewelry, fragrances and other items. ideeli offers deeply discounted luxury items via alerts to its subscribers in text message or e-mail form.
In addition to Manela’s arrival, ideeli announced the hire of Rachel Barnett as chief financial officer. She comes from upscale jewelry designer Me & Ro, where she was chief operating officer. In that capacity, Barnett managed sales efforts and expanded the brand’s vertical retail presence.
“As ideeli continues to expand our brand partnerships and acquire members, we are thrilled to have two luxury retail experts join us,” founder and Chief Executive Officer Paul Hurley said in a statement. “Rachel and David’s deep experience building and growing brands is a vital asset as we increase ideeli’s presence in the social media market.”
ideeli spokesperson Meghan Rathman gave DailyVista more details on how the company currently works to generate awareness.
Rathman said ideeli’s users are both aspirational and affluent female shoppers aged from 22- to 49-years-old.
“Our average buyer is female, age 32, with a median income over $100,000,” Rathman said. “She tends to be a trendsetter, peer influencer and is usually a passionate reader of fashion media.”
Currently ideeli utilizes a mix of public relations, strategic partnerships with lifestyle and luxury media outlets, viral campaigns and direct marketing campaigns, Rathman said, adding, “currently our marketing efforts are yielding 100 percent per month membership growth.”
Rathman said that ideeli currently works with San Francisco-based Sparkpr for public and media relations, and the company handles its creative needs in-house.
ADVENTURES OF AN URBAN SOCIALITE Congrats to Amber and Some Ideel Shopping!
By Brooke Watson
May 14, 2008 http://urbansocialite.com/
Amber, from Naperville, IL is the lucky winner of the Star50 handbag contest! She wrote about visiting Jane Addam’s settlement house museum in nearby Chicago. Thanks again to everyone who entered and I promise will try to have more contests in the near future. Lucky for you, the trendsetters at Brandhabit are giving away a beautiful Denise Cox Cultured Pearls & Amazonite necklace. All you have to do is fill out the form on their site for a chance to win! Good luck!
Although I’m not technically giving anything away, I am about to tell you about a site that practically gives away brands like Doir, Lanvin, Vera Wang and Lagerfeld. Ideeli is an invitation-only community where you can get luxury handbags and more for 50 to 90% off. Plus they have weekly giveaways. You have to be sponsored by a member to get in, but I’m a member, so you’re in luck! Click here for your invitation to join ideeli… if that doesn’t work, email me and I’ll send you an invite! There are two levels of membership. . . “1st row” members get the best deals and first dibs on their amazing giveaways!
I love the concept behind Ideeli! Definitely a splurge-worthy site!
Ready, Set, Shop! Fast paced and limited quantity sales are the new hotness when it comes to brand name luxury goods. Several sites have popped up recently to cater to bargain hungry consumers. These sites often send out alerts as emails and text messages when a new sale on Prada or Gucci gets kicked off. Just like in the wild, the fast are rewarded while the slow go home empty handed. Such is the nature of the high end online discount sales machine.
Flash sales or one item sale sites have been around for several years in the tech industry, Woot! for example which provides a one deal per day closeout pricing on technology items. Many of these discount luxury goods dealers heighten the elegance of purchasing from their online store by going members only. In several cases the only way to become a member is to know a member, adding to the exclusivity. Sites like Ideeli cash in on the shopping frenzy further by charging an additional $100 for exclusive access to text message alerts.
the new invitation only, shopping site.
for the lucky ones, you can now buy Oscar de la Renta's amaizing "doctor" bag here, at a Very good price being an Oscar.
Mr. de la Renta is one of the last old school gentleman's of this world.
xx
alice
A few weeks ago, I became aware of the esoteric sample sale-esque website, ideeli. Ideeli has frequent giveaways, and members are notified by text message when they can enter to win free designer items. I AM SO PSYCHED FOR THE FOLLOWING GIVEAWAYS:
Last Christmas, I became obsessed with Amazon.com's Lightening Deals. Like clockwork, I would check the Web site every two hours to see if the next item to go on sale would make a great gift or had a Gold Box Price I couldn't refuse. Now the Christmas lights are stored away, Santa's back at the North Pole and I am still checking the deals at least once a day.
Now luxury retail sites such as Ideeli, are holding their own versions of timed sales for clothes, jewelry and other accessories, according to an article on on The Wall Street Journal's Web site.
Their members-only offers have become a game to well-to-do shoppers and quite profitable for the luxury e-tailers, some of which decrease overhead costs by not establishing customer service departments.
Ideeli has found yet another way to increase revenue and boost exclusivity. It sends early sale
notifications via cell phone to "First Row" members who've paid a $100 fee.
A couple of days ago I ran across an article in WSJ with the most engaging title “Gucci – Stalking: New Sites Make Shopping a Game”. I loved the idea - simple, yet brilliant and even more than that – tested out by Internet pioneers as eBay.
As a consequence of the tense economic situation the country is in, the storehouses are congested by piles of unsold luxury goods. All that is a perfect prerequisite for the best luxury sales ever hence the slew of brand-new, members-only discount web sites to provide “ limited-time “flash sales”, offering a new element, turning online shopping into online gambling.” Bargain-hunters of all demographics will even receive text-messages on their mobile devices in accordance with the main idea to create urgency with the flash sales, as consumers rush online to avoid missing out.
The sites overflow with videos, celebrity images and links to brands’ home sites, so it looks like no advertising at all when actually it is all advertising. The brands on sale do benefit as goods are largely items from the end of the current spring season that companies prefer to get rid of ASAP.
Another fascinating marketing aspect is the timing of the text notifications. In fact sales and giveaways routinely start at “times of the day when people tend to be with friends”. The implication being that people will not fail to share the “good news”!
The price of the discounts – no customer-service departments, severely restricted return policies, late shipping. Expect goods to be discounted at least 30% from store prices. Do you still need that pair of designer sunglasses?
ideeli.com is a red-rope online shopping community that connects luxury brands with the consumers who covet them. ideeli offers a curated selection of in-style luxury accessories at 50 to 90% off, plus weekly giveaways...for a limited time only.
Brands include Oscar de la Renta, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Burberry, Zac Posen, etc.
Here's how it works:
1. You need to score an invitation.
No worries. Second City Style has you covered. We have a special invite for our readers.
2. Browse.
You will begin to receive emails showcasing designer items (like designer bags, jewelry and the like) that will become available over the next 30-60 days. Several sales and giveaways take place throughout the week.
3. Select membership type.
ideeli's standard membership is free, however, if you want front row access (first crack) there is a $7.99 monthly membership fee. This elite status not only allows you to purchase an hour before everyone else, it entitles you to the giveaways.
4. Shop!
Once the item is available for purchase, act fast. There is only a limited supply of inventory. You can be alerted via email or a text message.
At Ideeli.com, Linea Pelle bags will be deeply discounted for the next few hours. Log on to Ideeli's Web site, and a digital clock ticks away the seconds of the sale.
This is luxury discount heaven. Or hell, depending on how you look at it.
In recent months, a number of members-only Web sites have been launched to sell luxury goods at discounts of as much as 70%, using the marketing techniques of Internet pioneers like eBay. The timing is fortuitous. Amid a jittery economy, unsold luxury goods are piling up in storerooms.
Are you willing to give up the hands-on service of a bricks-and-mortar luxury retail store for the clublike, limited-time-only access of Internet luxury shopping? Share your thoughts.
While the new sites don't have the vast inventory of catalog-style discount sites like Bluefly.com, their limited-time "flash sales" offer a new element, turning online shopping into online gaming. This can be distracting -- as I found out by testing several sites. If you enroll in several of them, the day becomes a fast-paced race from the Zac Posen handbag to the Dolce & Gabbana coat.
The sales pitches sound very everything-must-go: Kwiat diamonds! Available for 36 hours only, while supplies last!
And yet the sites are pitched as members-only exclusive, and the aspirational products, such as Nina Ricci sunglasses, are aimed at bargain-hunters of all demographics, including the uppermost. The idea is pure wish fulfillment: The purchase buttons to buy goods on Ideeli read, "I WANT IT!"
Ideeli, which launched in December, gives away chic handbags sweepstakes-style and sells premium access to "First Row" members who pay $100 a year to get early access to sales via their cellphones. "Ideeli is a private-sale game," says its technology-entrepreneur founder, Paul Hurley.
The brands themselves benefit from the discretion of a private sale. The goods are largely items from the end of the current spring season that companies need to get rid of as they prepare to ship their fall collections. This way, no one sees a telltale pile of unsold pants on a table to indicate that management messed up..
The sites dress this up with videos, celebrity images and links to brands' home sites. "When you look at Ideeli, it looks like there isn't any advertising, but really, it's all advertising," says Mr. Hurley.
Luxury brands largely missed the Internet revolution. But recent studies suggest that the wealthy are shopping online these days. A survey conducted last fall by American Express Publishing and Harrison Group found that 99% of wealthy consumers shop online, expecting goods to be discounted at least 30% from store prices.
During the weeks I experimented, text messages bleeped from my BlackBerry at inopportune times, such as a work dinner. During a week's vacation, my cellphone bleeped with sales messages so routinely that I came to know that the first morning's bleep meant it was lunchtime in New York. This isn't random, says Ideeli's Mr. Hurley. Sales and giveaways "start at times of the day when people tend to be with friends." The idea is that people will then talk excitedly about the sales.
Yesterday in the Wall Street Journal, I stumbled upon a lovely little write up by Christina Binkley about a new hybrid of luxury sales sites. These sites are mostly private, so you have to be invited, but they offer crazy discounts on high end luxury items. The sites mentioned in the article are: Ideeli.com and So here's the scoop, this is pretty sweet stuff but also pretty high end. I Anyway, so far nothing super exciting, but I will keep you posted if I get any crazy deals. In the past I have always been a little bummed by sites like Bluefly because the bargains just aren't that great. I have a much better time scouring the racks at TJX or Marshalls but that's just me. Nevertheless, if anyone is interested in becoming a member, drop me a line and I can send you an invite. Otherwise, as soon as I experience one of these blowout deals, I'll let you know. Honestly, I'm not holding my breath :) But Ideeli has a lot of giveaways like this gorgeous Prada Pouchette!
Delicious Harney & Sons jasmine tea and a blueberry muffin for breakfast: $4.65
Came back and received my unattractive Crocs from Zappos. But let's be honest, despite being ugly and orthopedic-looking, they're the most comfortable shoes ever. The impulse buy really came when I read about the "circulation nubs" that "stimulate blood-flow" and give you mini massages while you walk. I mean, who doesn't want mini foot massages while they walk?? So anyway, the shoes are amazing and I want to walk around on their cushy awesome nubbiness forever.
Then, after putting on my shoes and getting euphoric nubby massages, I got an email from ideeli. Ideeli is like this weird members-only shopping network that sells designer stuff for huge discounts. I joined after reading a New York Times article about their launch. So basically, they have this running list of all the sweet designer stuff they have lined up. Then, they send out emails about an hour before a sale starts... so people who actually pay for memberships get to shop first, and other folks get to shop an hour later. So I got back from lunch and went, omg, in five minutes I could buy this totally amazing bag that I could use for work this summer!!!
But no one was home, and I couldn't reach anyone, and then I talked to my mom at the last minute, and decided to buy the bag. So this was extremely rushed and might turn out to have been an awful idea. But I'm kind of in love with the bag. It's by Alexis Hudson, whose purses apparently have been seen being worn by Eva Longoria, Kate Hudson, Terri Hatcher, and THE OLSEN TWINS! So really, how do you say no to that?? Plus, it's normally $595, and I got it for $235 (including shipping). So, honestly, it's like I was saving money. Unless, of course, I get it and hate it and can't use it for work at all. More updates on that later.
Picked up a delicious chocolate muffin to snack on: $2.12
We’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard about ideeli, but have you scored an invite yet? The members-only shopping community offers privileged access to luxury lifestyle brands (the latest and the hottest handbags, jewelry and more) with prices up to 90% off.
The catch? Sales and giveaways last only a few hours, quantities are limited and membership is by invitation only.
Consider yourself invited by Stylefeeder! Click here to join, or go to ideeli.com and enter “stylefeeder22″ as your invite code. After you join, you will be notified by email each time a sale starts. You’ll save enough cash on those oversized Michael Kors shades to book that holiday in Anguilla.
Check out a selection of the type of merchandise available on ideeli in what amounts to a daily designer sample sale, with names ranging from upstarts like Olivia Gryson to stalwarts like Balenciaga.
Hurry! Ideeli - the fast growing, private luxury fashion shopping site, are offering My Fashion Life readers the chance to join and take advantage of their brilliant discounts. At the moment invitations are currently closed, so this is an exclusive opportunity (and one not to be missed). Click here to sign up. This offer lasts for just 72 hours!.
Our friends at Ideeli are offering a special code to Bag Snob readers, so that you can get in on these Gryson bags at ridiculously low prices. The Skye woven in Natural is only $420, and the Jasper in Navy Nylon is a mere $298. We love the Skye, and the woven detail is fabulous. I am considering the nylon Jasper as a gym bag; it is quite big at 21"W X 9"H, and for $298, why not? Ideeli is a private, invitation-only shopping site that sells luxury brands at clearance prices. Consider yourselves invited by Bag Snob to take advantage of this sale. If you're interested, go to the ideeli site (you must enter through this link to get in) and enter your e-mail address. Once you are in, click "The Latest" to see the Gryson selection. Let us know how you like it, and if you do, we will alert you to other sales.
Update from Tina: Hi all, thanks for being patient, please copy and paste the code above. I also found some great Oscar bags coming up for sale :)
In my continuing search for exclusive sites with great designer deals, I have discovered a secret world of fashionistas, in which you have to receive an invitation to join and membership is not guaranteed. This site offers authentic designer goods at a 50-90% discount, and by "designer" I mean the coveted must haves: Prada, Kooba, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, etc.. not, dare I say it, "mall" brands.
Ideeli has two rows of membership: a premium membership which they call "first row" and a "2nd row" membership which is free. For a meager $7.99/month which is less than the cost of a manicure (I know don't I sound like one of those UNICEF commercials?) lol , you will get mobile phone alerts about sales and "giveaways" plus have the privilege of shopping early when a sale is going on. For me, I would upgrade my current membership just for the "giveaways" - where they send you a text letting you know what item they are giving away-for FREE. Of course supplies are limited and these sales/giveaways are definitely not for the those with no fashion stamina. True fashionistas will claw their way to get their hands on authentic merchandise at 70-90% off. Hail to Chanel! As a first row member, Ideeli functions like a couture utopia where everyone gets a chance to win because they keep a running tally of the "giveaway" winners so you can't win twice.
With regular email alerts updating you on the hot sales and what merchandise will be "coming soon" you don't want to be the only fashionista NOT in the know. Although membership isn't also open, Ideeli luvs A.Fashionista and has given me my own special code: labellover so my readers can join. Once you get in, forward to your friends and get rewarded with a $25 credit. They are so friendly they even have a facebook application! What are you waiting for?
THE EARLY-BIRD DEAL Oprah Magazine, April Issue by Jasmine Chang
Enjoy
the cheap chic of a sample sale without the sharp-elbowed frenzy.
Ideeli.com sells incredible accessories, available for a limited time,
at sample sale prices-like this $2,390 Oscar de la Renta python-y-suede
satchel (below) that can be yours for $795 in mid-March. Alerts are
sent to your cell phone so you know when to log on; to get tipped off
to sales an hour earlier than those with the no-cost basic membership,
you can purchase a $7.99 First Row upgrade, which also allows you to
compete in weekly giveaways. Although the site is invitation-only, O
readers can join by just entering the code "Oprah" on the home page.
In these tough economic times, families are tightening their budgets
but shoppers still covet designer labels. We've found a way you can get
designer items at a fraction of the price without having to fight off
other shoppers, at least not in person.
Mary Cannon's closet in New Hope, Bucks County looks like a designer
showroom.
"This is Chaiken." Mary said. "The designer is Erin Snow, Alessandro
Del 'Acqua."
But Mary does not pay designer prices and neither should you. Action
News has learned how you can get a $625 Vivienne Tam dress for $198,
$295 Gucci sunglasses for $99 and a $1300 Prada handbag for free!
"They have everything shoes, bags, dresses, casuals, sweaters,
literally they have had everything," Mary said.
"We work directly with the brands and we choose items that we know our
members will really love."
Members of ideeli.com also love the selection.
"There's nowhere else you can go where you can get these kinds of
discounts on these kinds of items," said Danielle Fitch of Glassboro,
New Jersey.
"People can expect to get 40 to 75-percent or more off the original
price," said Paul Hurley, ideeli's CEO.
Like gilt, ideeli offers free memberships to shop on its website but
ideeli also offers a paid membership, called a first floor membership
for $7.99/month.
"As a first floor member you get notifications before anybody else."
Ideeli keeps the start times of sales a secret unless you're a first
floor member, then you'll be alerted to start times via a text message
on your cell phone. And only first floor members are eligible for
giveaways, like a free Jimmy Choo bag, free Burberry hat and free Oscar
de la Renta clutch.
And both ideeli and gilt deal directly with the brands which means they
guarantee authenticity and the merchandise is current.
Unlike at traditional sample sales you can get merchandise on gilt and
ideeli that are in season and all the merchandise is new, free from
defects and irregularities.
But both sites do have a couple of catches.
"You have to get there right at the start of the sale, items move very,
very quickly."
And both are exclusive clubs, memberships to gilt and ideeli are by
invitation only! In order to shop you have to be invited by someone
who's already a member.
SPECIAL INVITATIONS
Action News has negotiated with gilt and ideeli to offer special
memberships exclusively to our viewers for the next week, through
February 17th.
Here's what you do:
For ideeli:
Click HERE and put in the promotion code WPVI.
Again, this is a special deal exclusive only to our viewers and its
only good through February 17th.
NEW YORK — Social networking Web sites popular among the young and
affluent have made some luxury brands feel out of step. Ideeli.com, a
cross between YouTube or Facebook and Net-a-porter.com, was developed
for those labels.
The Web site, which is promoted as "a members-only shopping community
for trendsetting women," offers in-season and past-season luxury
products at discounts of 50 to 90 percent, as well as weekly giveaways.
The idea is about subliminal marketing and captive audiences. Here's
how it works: Ideeli.com members get a text message or e-mail that a
sale or contest is about to begin. That's the bait. Before they can win
or buy anything, however, they must read some carefully crafted copy
about the brand. Oscar de la Renta, Jimmy Choo, Burberry and Prada —
they're the hook — are among the labels that pay a fee and have used or
are now using Ideeli.com to reach customers.
Consumers who participate are prompted to spread the word, sharing
information much as they do on YouTube or Facebook.
"We found that there is a real need for [luxury brands] to respond to
the rise of social media and manage how they're perceived online," said
Ideeli.com founder and chief executive officer Paul Hurley. "The core
customer for all the top luxury brands is spending more time online
than less-affluent customers. They're using their peers' opinions to
help form opinions about what they like and don't like. [Brands] need
to engage this audience. Technology has made this more powerful."
While "everybody knows the top brands," Hurley said, recognizing a
luxury name and knowing a brand intimately are two different things,
and when it comes to high-end products, subtle design nuances and
details can inspire loyalty. "How do you get an affluent customer who
is time-starved to understand the key details of a new collection and
how they're different from competition," Hurley said. The site is also
being used by brands to drive traffic to stores.
Ideeli.com, which had a soft launch in May, in December received $3.8
million in funding from Kodiak Ventures and angel investors. The site
has more than 10,000 members, which Hurley said will rise dramatically
in the first quarter.
Premium subscriptions entitle a member to shop sale items for one hour
before all other members, and be notified of a sale or giveaway via
text message. The cost is $7.99 per month. Standard memberships are
free, but consumers quickly learn that if they want to get in on a sale
or win a freebie, they'll need that premium upgrade. "We use the
metaphor of a private sale to capture attention," Hurley said. "Members
can go to the Coming Soon section to see a list of sales, but don't
know when they will start."
"We want to maintain the image of scarcity," Hurley said. "Things sell
out very rapidly and we make sure we generate more demand than we
actually have."
Baccarat has participated in three giveaways on Ideeli.com. "We wanted
to introduce our jewelry in a new media setting," said Jaime Jimenez,
director of public relations at Baccarat North America. "Social Web
sites reach luxury buyers and they get engaged in the broader picture
of the brand. We have a link on Ideeli.com to our new ad campaign
[photographed] by Ellen von Unwerth. A lot of consumers check out the
jewelry we're giving away and then check out the campaign and get more
involved with the brand. We're reaching a younger customer who may not
be saying, 'I've got to walk into Baccarat and buy 12 [crystal]
stems."
Online shopping site ideeli aims to attract luxury brands by only
letting a select group of women through its virtual red rope.
"We want to make sure that our core audience appeals to our brands and
advertisers," said CEO Paul Hurley.
This means women who are willing to drop $995 on an Oscar de la Renta
purse but who are probably even more excited to score that clutch for
$259 during one of the site's sales.
The invitation-only web site isn't turning away investors, though. The
startup on Monday said it grabbed $3.8 million in its first round of
funding from Kodiak Ventures and angel investors.
Given the success of French members-only e-commerce site Vente Privée
and invite-only Gilt Groupe's recent funding announcement, a snobbish
trend seems to be emerging.
"I think that it [invite-only membership] can work both ways. It can
create an environment that appears exclusive and appeals to a certain
group of customers," said Patti Freeman Evans, a senior analyst at
JupiterResearch. However, restricting membership can stunt a site's
growth and keep it from reaching critical mass.
"It's sort of like having a restaurant without a name on the door,"
said Ms. Evans, who has yet to receive an ideeli invitation. "If you
become hot, it's okay. If not, it's not so good."
If you're deemed worthy of a membership, the New York City-based
startup offers women's luxury accessories at 50 to 90 percent
discounts, plus weekly giveaways. Similar to competitor Gilt Groupe,
items are available for only a limited amount of time. Unlike Gilt
Groupe, sales center on a specific item, like a Jimmy Choo bag or
Burberry bracelets, rather than a sampling of items from a specific
designer.
The limited sale times help the site maintain the sense of scarcity
that is important to luxury brands' cache, said Mr. Hurley.
Members can drool over the upcoming sale items in the preview section,
but in an effort to further amp up excitement, the site keeps sale
start times secret. Those who sign up for the free membership receive
email notifications when sales begin. For $7.99 per month, premium
members receive sale notifications via cell phone text messages and are
granted access to sales an hour early.
"We're changing office behavior," an ideeli representative said.
"People are bringing their cell phones into meetings because they don't
want to miss the text message."
Ideeli's blended business model of social shopping, premium
subscription, e-commerce, and advertising made it an attractive
investment, said Chip Meakem, general partner at Kodiak Ventures.
"There's a certain gaming quality to it," Mr. Meakem said. "Users love
it."
The site has attracted more than 10,000 members since its test launch
in May. And although the company claims rapid viral growth over the
last several weeks, it does plan to temper growth based on the number
of products available. Besides, it wouldn't want to ruin things by
letting just anyone in.
MARCIANO: Welcome back. Only eight more shopping days until Christmas
and if you have a few luxury items left on your list, well, our
Veronica de la Cruz has some interesting web sites to help us get the
goods and get them out on time.
DE LA CRUZ: Good morning to you. Do you know woot.com?
MARCIANO: Woot?
DE LA CRUZ: Woot.com. Do you know woot? It's something entirely
different. Woot.com is a web site that puts one item on sale cheaply
for 24 hours. That's it, you got 24 hours. You want to think woot.com
before these big ticket designer items. This site is called deeli.com
and it launched today. It described itself as a red rope online
shopping community. It offers members a chance to buy heavily
discounted luxury items. You want to think Prada. Christian Dior, Jimmy
Choo, and you have to think of it as shopping as a sport. Because,
you've got to be really quick. These deals are apparently so good, they
can sell out in a matter of hours and you can have the sale alert sent
to your cell phone. Membership is free but if you are willing to cough
up this 7.99 a month for this so called first row membership, you can
get those alert an hour before anyone else does.
There are also certain first row member only deals, Now, if you're not
interested in these luxury goods. Then here's another web site. It
might help you save. You want to check out priceprotectr.com. The
theory behind this side, lots of stores offer price protection
policies. If the price drops, then they'll refund the difference. You
just have to watch the prices. Price protectr does that for you. The
site lets you enter your past purchases and the store that you bought
them from. If the price drops within the protection period which is
usually about 30 days and then you'll receive an e-mail The site
monitors 72 stores including amazon, the Apple Store, Best buy and
Sears.
And once again, those web sites are deeli.com, that's spelled I-
d-e-e-l-I, that's the one for luxury goods. Priceprotectr.com, you want
to drop the e before the last r. So some good web tips there.
CHETRY: Cool, I just looked up woot because you just mentioned it.
There is one item and they only do one item.
DE LA CRUZ: Which one was it?
CHETRY: It's a Kodak digital camera and printer for $150. And it's the
only item on this website.
DE LA CRUZ: I was thinking of buying. $150.
CHETRY: The only item on this web site.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes. One for 24 hours, that's it. That's all you got.
MARCIANO: And the stuff is real. I assume, I mean, if you're buying
Prada, you spend...
DE LA CRUZ: What kind of question is that?
MARCIANO: All right. Thanks, Veronica. I just wanted to make sure
that's why I ask those questions.
CHETRY: We're going to take a quick break. We're going to get a final
check of our quick vote. We were asking people about whether or not
they're mailing holiday card this year. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KMART made a generation of bargain hunters react like starving dogs to
a ringing bell. Now Internet companies want to bring the blue-light
special to the cellphone — only this time, the bells are text messages
telling shoppers that Valentino clutches, Christian Dior sunglasses and
other luxury items are selling at more than 50 percent off.
That is the concept behind Ideeli, a Web site that will officially be
introduced Monday, offering members a chance to buy heavily discounted
luxury items — as long as they are quick enough. Some items sell out
within hours.
Ideeli is partly shopping as sport, but it also speaks to the
nervousness of retailers this holiday season. Because of economic fears
linked especially to the subprime mortgage trouble, retailers and brand
producers scaled back their inventories with early holiday promotions
last month amid concern that consumers planned to spend less.
That has proved to be a boon to sites like the online liquidator
Overstock.com, Bluefly and others that sell highly discounted products
— what is known in retailing as "distressed inventory."
For online shoppers, this has meant deals on items that are rarely
discounted until after Christmas, if at all, and deeper discounts on
other goods that would have sold out at higher prices in previous
years. And although the prices on some items may still be beyond the
ability of straitened shoppers, they could make other gift givers look
like heroes.
Bluefly.com, which also sells discounted apparel and accessories from
upscale brands, has had an easier time finding inventory this year than
in the past, said Melissa Payner, its chief executive.
Although she declined to name specific brands for fear of offending the
luxury manufacturers she counts on as suppliers, Ms. Payner said that
the flow of designer handbags has been so strong that the site has been
sending e-mail messages to its customers twice a week to promote new
bags. In years past, Bluefly has not had enough stock in this category
to justify a single e-mail promotion, she said. A quick check of the
site on Sunday showed that brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Furla,
Goldenbleu and Linea Pelle were being featured.
"We couldn't necessarily have gotten the selection in our designer
handbag and accessory areas," Ms. Payner said. "You may have seen the
same names there, but not the breadth or depth of assortment."
Patrick Byrne, chief executive of Overstock.com, said the supply of
distressed goods "isn't just limited to apparel." Electronic goods and
jewelry are also plentiful, with diamond necklaces flourishing on the
site.
"Retailers in general had a terrible Columbus Day so they didn't
reorder like they usually do," Mr. Byrne said. As a result, he said,
manufacturers began offering him items in November, well before other
years. That has put Overstock in the unusual position of carrying
discounted products that were still available at full price at Macy's
and Nordstrom.
Like Overstock and Bluefly, Ideeli works as a clearinghouse of sorts
for goods that did not sell elsewhere at full price. And, like Bluefly,
Ideeli limits itself to high-fashion goods. Unlike these other
companies, though, Ideeli is focused squarely on women, and it does not
operate like a typical retailer.
Users gain access to Ideeli through an invitation from the company or
from existing members. (The company said it would open memberships
until midnight Tuesday). The site sells just three or four products
over the course of a week, which members can preview. They then stand
by for e-mail or text messages saying when a specific product has gone
on sale.
Then comes the rush. Over the roughly six months of testing the site,
Ideeli's chief executive, Paul Hurley, said, items sell out within two
hours, and sometimes within 10 minutes. "We're careful to maintain a
sense of scarcity," Mr. Hurley said. "And women love this. There's a
whole sort of game aspect to it."
Shoppers who want to increase their odds of scoring a bargain can pay
$8 monthly to shop an hour earlier than general members. About 10
percent of the site's 10,000 current members do so.
There is, of course, a downside to scarcity. Because the site carries
enough of a given item to satisfy only about 5 percent of the customer
base, many customers will go away disappointed. But Sucharita Mulpuru,
a retail analyst with Forrester Research, said the strategy is
important for selling prominent luxury items. "This is a good way to
drive a sense of urgency without diluting the marquee nature of the
item," she said. "They're not just dumping everything on a site."
Ideeli just received $3.8 million in venture-capital financing from,
among others, Kodiak Ventures, which also backed ChannelAdvisor and
Groove Media. Those backers will not get rich selling four items a week
in limited quantities. Next year, Ideeli plans to more aggressively
sell advertising to brands that want to reach its fashion-conscious
audience. Premium memberships can also be expected to increase revenue.
In introducing a site that helps apparel and accessory makers find a
market for slower-selling items, Mr. Hurley's timing is good. He said
he has seen many manufacturers "having a tougher time this year, so
there's more product available."
Big offline liquidators, like Genco of Pittsburgh, said they too had
seen subtle changes in the market. Robert Auray, president of Genco
Marketplace, the company's liquidation division, said that while most
categories had shown little change, retailers and manufacturers of
apparel and consumer electronics were liquidating more goods than in
years past. "Super-high-end brands are doing fine," he said, "but
mass-affluent brands are having a tougher time, so more product is
available than there was."
Mr. Auray, whose company sells more than $1 billion worth of distressed
goods annually, said: "Retailers are getting more and more careful with
buying, so they may be canceling orders. Everyone's a little nervous
about the health of the consumer right now."
If you read that chick-lit classic Bergdorf Blondes (I'm proud to admit
that I did), you'll probably recall the scene in which the shopaholic
female protagonists hold a military-style planning session in advance
of the legendary Chanel sample sale--a chance for them to snag the
high-end designer goods at staggering discounts, the only caveat being
that hundreds of other viciously competitive Manhattan women were also
hoping to get their hands on the same stuff.
It was only a matter of time before that sort of upper-crust cutthroat
shopping hit the Web.
Enter Ideeli (pronounced "ideally"), which debuted Monday after several
months of soft-launch. Described as a "red-rope online shopping
community," Ideeli is an invite-only site that hosts high-speed sales
of luxury goods (so far, just accessories) at 50 to 90 percent
discounts and keeps its members in the loop through e-mail and mobile
alerts to let them know when a sale has started.
Quantities are limited and can sell out within minutes--if this sounds
familiar, it's because it's a model pioneered by rapid-fire sale sites
like Woot.com, which has built up an enviable cult following, and the
girlier Delight.com.
But as the luxury market warms up to the Web, the Woot model is being
applied to sites that are more Sex and the City than Star Trek.
Following in the vein of "velvet rope" social networks like ASmallWorld
(for the jet set) and Metrofunk (for the club set), Ideeli and similar
sites like Gilt Groupe (which hosts high-end online sample sales), are
invite-only.
Ideeli has some twists thrown in the mix, too. The site offers a paid
"first row" membership ($7.99 per month) that enables mobile alerts and
also allows for an hour of early access to sales.
It's obviously not for everyone. Even considering the discounted
prices, these are still luxury goods, and hence typically cost a few
hundred dollars at the minimum. Some pragmatic shopaholics aren't
willing to plunk down that kind of cash without seeing the item in
person, or with that kind of impulse-buying required. But some money
types are banking on success: Ideeli announced Monday that it has
secured $3.8 million in capital from Kodiak Ventures and a handful of
angel investors.
Snobbish? Totally. But so are Apple fanboys, for the record. We also
happen to have Ideeli invites available for readers: go to ideeli.com
and use "cnet" as your invitation code.
Hurry! Ideeli - the fast growing, private luxury fashion shopping site,
are offering My Fashion Life readers the chance to join and take
advantage of their brilliant discounts. At the moment invitations are
currently closed, so this is an exclusive opportunity (and one not to
be missed). Click here to sign up. This offer lasts for just 72 hours!
Our friends at Ideeli are offering a special code to Bag Snob readers,
so that you can get in on these Gryson bags at ridiculously low prices.
The Skye woven in Natural is only $420, and the Jasper in Navy Nylon is
a mere $298. We love the Skye, and the woven detail is fabulous. I am
considering the nylon Jasper as a gym bag; it is quite big at 21"W X
9"H, and for $298, why not? Ideeli is a private, invitation-only
shopping site that sells luxury brands at clearance prices. Consider
yourselves invited by Bag Snob to take advantage of this sale. If
you're interested, go to the ideeli site (you must enter through this
link to get in) and enter your e-mail address. Once you are in, click
"The Latest" to see the Gryson selection. Let us know how you like it,
and if you do, we will alert you to other sales. Update from Tina: Hi
all, thanks for being patient, please copy and paste the code above. I
also found some great Oscar bags coming up for sale :)
Hey my fellow fashionistas! Use the "labellover" code to join
ideeli.com and gain free membership into a world where online sample
sales with designer discounts of up to 90% are happening a few days a
week. Upgrade your membership to "first row" for a paltry $7.99/month
and get text message giveaways for fabulous designer handbags and
accessories plus VIP access to the sales - because everyone knows that
with samples sales, quantities are limited.
Invites will go fast so and I wont all my favorite divas to get first
picks. :-) Once you join you can invite friends and get a $25 credit
towards your first purchase. That is one ideeli deal if you ask me!
In my continuing search for exclusive sites with great designer deals,
I have discovered a secret world of fashionistas, in which you have to
receive an invitation to join and membership is not guaranteed. This
site offers authentic designer goods at a 50-90% discount, and by
"designer" I mean the coveted must haves: Prada, Kooba, Yves Saint
Laurent, Balenciaga, etc.. not, dare I say it, "mall" brands.
Ideeli has two rows of membership: a premium membership which they call
"first row" and a "2nd row" membership which is free. For a meager
$7.99/month which is less than the cost of a manicure (I know don't I
sound like one of those UNICEF commercials?) lol , you will get mobile
phone alerts about sales and "giveaways" plus have the privilege of
shopping early when a sale is going on. For me, I would upgrade my
current membership just for the "giveaways" - where they send you a
text letting you know what item they are giving away-for FREE. Of
course supplies are limited and these sales/giveaways are definitely
not for the those with no fashion stamina. True fashionistas will claw
their way to get their hands on authentic merchandise at 70-90% off.
Hail to Chanel! As a first row member, Ideeli functions like a couture
utopia where everyone gets a chance to win because they keep a running
tally of the "giveaway" winners so you can't win twice.
With regular email alerts updating you on the hot sales and what
merchandise will be "coming soon" you don't want to be the only
fashionista NOT in the know. Although membership isn't also open,
Ideeli luvs A.Fashionista and has given me my own special code:
labellover so my readers can join. Once you get in, forward to your
friends and get rewarded with a $25 credit. They are so friendly they
even have a facebook application! What are you waiting for?
EXCLUSIVE SHOPPORTUNITY FOR UPTOWN SCOOP SUBSCRIBERS! March 18, 2008 by Alice Bumgarner
Dear Subscriber, thanks to your loyalty and support, we now have
thousands of readers across the country. And when you have tons of
subscribers, retailers suddenly start offering you exclusive
promotions, giveaways and discounts - like this one from the ultra-hot
new site Ideeli.com. How cool is that?! Remember, at Uptown Scoop, we
work hard to find out what's hip, hot and new on the Net – so you don't
have to. Happy shopping!
You're not one to see other powerful women as "the enemy." Far from it.
In your view of the lipstick jungle, you're all fierce, beautiful cats
from the same den.
Unless, of course, you're at a sample sale.
Suddenly you turn into a tiger - jockeying for position, careful not to
establish eye contact with your rivals fellow shoppers as you elbow
your way to that Prada bag.
All well and good when competing over items in short supply, but, frankly, not very pleasant.
But now there's a new way to bask in the joy of a sample sale - without duking it out over luxury goods - at ideeli.com.
Every few days, ideeli offers a few, highly covetable designer
accessories, for a limited time and at deep discounts. Look for goodies
by runway regulars like Saint Laurent and Valentino, as well as fresh,
must-have items from the likes of Gustto and Alexis Hudson.
Upgrade to "First Row" membership, and you'll have first dibs on weekly giveaways.
Yep, as in, they'll give you a fabulous Burberry hobo or pair of Cavalli sunglasses.
Membership to this exclusive site is "by invitation only", but Uptown
Scoop subscribers can join by entering the code "uptown" on the home
page. (Offer good through Saturday, March 22.)
So log on fast. For bargain shoppers, it can be a real jungle out there.
Want to feel (and look) like a real fashion maven? Join Ideeli.com
where you can score luxury handbags, jewelry and accessories (shoes and
hard to find European labels to come) for up to 70-90% off. It works
like so: follow our special Sugar link to sign up and enter "sugar" as
the invitation code. You will then enter a world where Derek Lam
handbags are $500 and Baccarat jewelry is given away. Ideeli's standard
membership is free, but for $7.99 a month you are eligible for the
giveaways and can shop the sale items one hour before all other
members. You can check the site for updates and receive emails
notifying you when something new goes on sale. Now this is something
that motivates me to get my finances in order so I can pounce on a Fab
deal when the timing is right.
In 2006, the internet version of the spruiker hit our computers with
people flocking to a website for the deal of the day, selling items at
a huge discount. Woot.com was the inspiration for a number of
Australian versions, such as Zazz.
The latest version of deal of the day is New York-based Ideeli, which
is due to launch next week, reports Springwise. It is aimed at the
female market and found yet more ways to monetise its site.
Unlike Woot, Ideeli is a member-only site and new users need an
invitation to sign up. Members are alerted by email when sales start.
The more you pay, the better the service. Premium (1st Row) members
also receive a mobile phone alert and have access to sales one hour
earlier than 2nd Row members. And 1st Row members pay $US7.99 per week,
billed to their mobile. While in testing mode over the past six months,
10% of members chose to sign up for 1st Row access.
Ideeli also takes advertising with sponsors providing products for
weekly give aways or pay to have Idelli put their sample products in
with customer purchases.
Are you a person who loves high quality designer items? If would love
to own an Oscar de la Renta clutch, but don't have $1,050 to spend on
an accessory or would love a pair of Gucci sunglasses but for a
reasonable price, ideeli is for you. They have deals with top
manufacturers and designers to provide members with amazing products
for 50 to 90% off their original price. There are even giveaways you
can enter by cell phone to get some of the items for free! The
potential for a free designer bag that was originally $1,350 on a
regular basis? Sign me up! Items are selected by their editors from
this and last season's designs. Products go quickly at these prices, so
if you want to be the first in line to know about which items are to be
up for sale or given away, you can become a 1st row member for $7.99
per month, billed to your cell phone. This also gets you into a lot
more of the giveaways, and if less people are first row members, you
have a far greater chance of winning those fabulous items. It is a
closed community, so you have to either be invited by a friend or get
your name on the waiting list. They also have a promotion for New York
Times readers with the code available from the front page that allows
you to enter right away, so check it out if you want some remarkable
discounts for some designer items.
In their own words "ideeli is a members-only shopping community for trendsetting young women.
We offer authentic luxury items for 50 to 90% off their original price - plus giveaways every week."
Why it might be a killer The incentives are great for becoming a 1st
row member, since you get into more giveaways and have a greater chance
of getting the items you love. Also, people who will be shopping on
this site most likely will be people with a bit of money to spare since
items are still expensive despite discounts, so $7.99 per month is a
deal. They also have a well thought out business plan, and their items
are definitely quality.
Some questions Why do they continue to keep membership private, if
anyone can sign up using the passcode from the front page? Will they
put more items on sale at a time for people to purchase? How often do
they change items being sold, since the more often, the more people
will be checking back to the site to see what's new for sale?
We first covered "a deal a day" websites in 2006. Since then, the
concept has proliferated, with niche and regional players joining the
field. Nonetheless, Ideeli, which is due to launch next week, caught
our eye.
Like Woot and others, Ideeli creates buyer excitement with deep
discounts and by only selling one item at a time. Unlike Woot, Ideeli
is members-only and new users need an invitation to sign up. Members
are alerted by email when sales start. Premium (1st Row) members also
receive a cell phone alert and have access to sales one hour earlier
than 2nd Row members. The subscription service provides an additional
stream of income for Ideeli-1st Row members pay USD 7.99 per week,
billed to their cell phone. While in testing mode over the past 6
months, 10 percent of members chose to sign up for 1st Row access.
Besides making money through subscriptions and on items sold, Ideeli is
also supported by sponsors looking to promote products. Brands can
sponsor weekly giveaways or have Ideeli include samples with customer
purchases.
The New York venture is focusing on the female market, selling luxury
handbags, sunglasses and jewellery for 50 to 90% off the original
price. As Ideeli puts it: "It's like a sample sale, but no getting
elbowed."
Have cell phone; will find bargain! An interesting New York Times
article, 'A Quicker Resort This Year To Deep Discounting,' mentioned
that online luxury retailers Ideeli, Overstock.com and Bluefly.com use
text messages to inform their loyal customers that new merchandise had
come in.
This phenomenon might just be an offshoot of the lucrative holiday
season or the fact luxury items are not selling in the department
stores, but selling fast when deeply discounted.
There are two observable facts in the New York Times article: (1) the
use of text messages to inform customers; and (2) deeply discounted
luxury items are selling like hotcakes.
The first one - selling through texting demonstrates that we truly live
in a wireless world; that mobile phones are truly ubiquitous and
mobility is a need not a want. Silicon Valley denizens predicted this
when WAP 1.0 (Wireless Application Protocol) was just being developed.
But, texting to sell is something that probably did not enter the
programmers' minds as one of the uses of WAP.
Yet, it is a development that is not a surprise at all. After all,
we can surf the web via our cell phones, download music, and play
games, so why not do some shopping also? We already have twitters
wherein friends can leave us text and voice messages from websites.
Your favorite e-tailer sending you a message that an item in your wish
list is available is so natural after all these.
Currently, only the internet discounters are using text messages as a
selling tool, but don't be surprised that in the near future,
mainstream retailers from Target to Neiman Marcus will use it.
The second one - deeply discounted luxury items are selling like
hotcakes, is almost a no-brainer. Everyone loves a bargain. If a
high-end bag like Valentino or Christian Dior is selling for half
price, it will be snapped up as soon as it hits the shelves.
Yet, this is also a symptom of the eroding U.S. economy and the
uneasiness of consumers to pay full price for luxury items. According
to the New York Times article, the reason why the discounters are
getting more merchandise compared to last year is because the
department stores did not reorder, hence manufacturers are forced to go
through their secondary sellers to move the stock.
So, the question is - why are luxury items selling at full price not selling in department stores when last year, they did?
Is it because consumers are just skittish about the economy? Are
luxury items, which are usually made in Europe priced too high
currently because of the euro/dollar exchange rate? Or, luxury items
just priced too high, period?
These questions can only be answered by an in-depth study of the luxury
industry. Yet, using a layman's point of view, I believe the answer is
that it is combination of the three reasons mentioned above.
eBay supporters around the world can tell you right off that it is
addicting once you start...yet, you read about fraud and you wonder if
it is worth it...well, Ideeli, launched yesterday and is creating a
stir for all fashionista's out there that want a steal of a deal, but
don't want a fake. The luxury site is offering designer items (which so
far looks like mainly accessories) for 50-90% off-similar to a sample
sale...plus, giveaways...amazing idea...we shall see how it takes off.
I signed up for the site updates today. If you are really interested,
you can pay to be one of the first notified about items that go for
sale. A lot of great options on the site, very of the moment, I give
the site and the idea **** and I can't wait to see how the site comes
together! Snaps to Paul Hurley for the idea;)
As if we need another way to spend money on luxury item Ideeli comes
along and makes it that much harder to say no. This morning's NYT
reports that this retailer is taking luxury to the next level: the
airwaves. Apparently when you sign up you get text messaged when Ideeli
is offering a bargain that might be appealing, like a Valentino bag at
50% off, and it can be yours-- if you move quickly. According to chief
executive Paul Hurley items can sell out in less than 10 minutes.
That's some fast money.
Ideeli, a new website that offers deep discounts on luxury goods for
women is creating a big stir and they haven't even officially opened
yet. The company, which deals in purses, jewelry and other designer
goods will operate like similar sites we have seen for gadgets and for
wine in which a product is offered for a limited amount of time and
once it is gone, it's gone. Ideeli will operate on a membership only
basis with invitations coming either from the company or existing
members. They will sell just three or four specific items each week.
Shoppers who want a VIP upgrade can pay can pay $8 monthly to shop an
hour ahead of the general membership. Ideeli just received $3.8 million
in venture-capital financing.
Another company with a similar agenda, Gilt Groupe, also recently
received $5 million in funding. So it looks like these two will be
battling over the same market. The question is whether or not there is
a big enough market for two sites to flourish. With the "it bag" on the
wane and aspirational consumers spending less and less it will be
interesting to see how these two companies do.
Christmas is coming, and at any given company, "cash" is likely to be
high on the corporate wish list. So Ideeli is doing quite well, having
received $3.8 million as something of an early holiday present.
Ideeli debuted its "red-rope online shopping community" on the same
day, turning this is an important time for the company. Things will be
all the more make-or-break since it intends to attract a rather elite
crowd.
We're leaning towards the "make" side of the continuum, however, as
Ideeli's executive team has connections to Ralph Lauren and Gucci.
Also, an invite-only structure should maintain an air of exclusivity
(and hopefully not emptiness).
"ideeli's multiplatform shopping experience provides more than just an
opportunity to get luxury goods at great values -- it's engaging and
fun," said ideeli founder and CEO Paul Hurley in a statement. His
shopping experience might also be valuable to outside corporations;
Hurley later continued, "We've been able to translate member excitement
into a deeper connection with established and up-and-coming brands."
The floundering economy might act as a bit of a damper, but otherwise,
we foresee those connections growing as fast as the invite-only system
allows.
There is no shortage of online retailers; from technology to apparel
and accessories. So what is it that made the new online luxury retailer
Ideeli special enough to receive $3.8 million in venture capital
funding? Perhaps it's the fact that Ideeli has targeted the fashion
elite and sells luxury goods to die hard fashionistas; Ideeli knows who
its target audience is and serves them well.
Caroline McCarthy of The Social noted aptly that the exclusiveness of
Ideeli is further reinforced because luxury goods tend to be expensive
and not just anyone can afford them, even with discounts. McCarthy
likened Ideeli to a Woot with more of a Sex in the City edge and a
"velvet rope" clientele. Currently, membership is open for a limited
time after which, it will return to being by invitation only. Those
wanting even more exclusivity can pay a subscription to become a first
row member and gain access to giveaways and early notification for
sales.
One thing that could be a definite draw for many fashionistas out there
is the possibility of not only getting discounted luxury items, but
also knowing that few people will have them. High fashion designer
samples are not mass manufactured and are often one-of-a-kind.
According to the New York Times, Ideeli only stocks enough of its wares
to supply about 5 percent of its customer base, and when an item goes
on sale, it sells out fast. Thus the challenge becomes clicking your
mouse before someone else snags what you want.
So it would seem that the driving force behind Ideeli is the age old
market principle of supply and demand - or rather a low supply of goods
for which there is a high demand. What fashionista doesn't want rare
wares at discounted prices? In a society where high fashion and design
are not only for the rich and extravagant, Ideeli has certainly found a
great niche.
Have you seen ideeli.com? This reminds me a little of woot.com (yes,
women woot too!), but for fashionistas - and with giveaways. I spotted
this on Mashable this morning, and it piqued my interested, then got to
check it out just a little while ago. And I signed up for the 1st run
immediately. Tons of fun for the shopping addicted! The long and short
of it is that they have deep discounts on luxury goods (bags,
accessories, jewelry, ect.) - and announce them to their mailing list
as they go up for sale. You sign up for the limited spots in the
giveaways or you can purchase the sale items while available. The 1st
run membership allows you an early peek at the items as they go up for
sale (and giveaway), enabling you to have a first dibs on products that
will likely sell out very quickly. Make sense?
Normally the membership is invite only, but they have created a code
just for you lucky b5media readers! Go sign up here, and if you would
rather sign up at ideeli.com, use the code b5m to get in. Check it out
and let me know what you think! And certainly let me know if you win
something!
Women spend countless hours and days and most of your money hunting for
deals on designer-brand clothing and accessories. The odds are pretty
good that you've been driven over the edge on several occasions thanks
to day-long trips to the local mall. What if there was a way that your
girl could easily get the best deals on the hottest apparel and
accessories without wearing your patience and wallet thin? Ideeli is
just that. In a nutshell, Ideeli provides web and SMS alerts notifying
lucky ladies of high-end designer products or lines as they go on sale
on the site. The date and time of each sale is withheld until just
before it starts and sales are first come, first serve a la woot.com.
Premium members are given a one-hour head start as a thank you for
their $8/month membership fee. Standard membership is free. Ideeli's
web service launched earlier this year and is currently invite only,
too. With the recent completion of a funding round the service may
become more accessible in the near future, but for the time being,
you'll have to find a current member to get your hands on an invite.
But I may make exception for the competitive shopping at ideeli.com. An
invite-only shopping community, at ideeli you compete for 50-90% off
luxury goods, plus giveaways like this Jimmy Choo bag.
The New York Times published an article today introducing us to a new
website called ideeli that has just launched. Shopping on the web for
discounted luxury items isn't a new concept, however ideeli adds a
little twist - products are only available for a limited time and for
some items you have to be a "1st row" member to purchase. There's the
free membership wherein you become a "2nd row" customer, and then
there's the "1st row" member that I mentioned. You have to pay $7.99 a
month to be in this 1st row...
ideeli is building this perception of scarcity that we're all pretty
familiar with. If you've ever shopped at Delight.com, attended any kind
of sample sale or been at the release of a fashion designer's
collection for H&M, you know what I'm talking about. ideeli also
adds another dimension to it in that consumers are notified on their
cell phone of when a sale or giveaway (yes!) is about to start.
Is ideeli changing the way fashionistas shop on the web? I see the
company as another one of those gatekeepers that can help luxury brands
secure this idea of exclusivity while taking advantage of the
technology available in "Web 2.0". The idea of giving my cellphone
number did make me wonder if there was a privacy policy. In the
F.A.Q.'s, ideeli makes these promises:
NO requirement to take some third party offer to get these great deals (a la "Free Ipod").
NO hidden charges
NO selling your personal information to third parties
NO telemarketing
NO spam of any kind
ideeli also guarantees that all the products are indeed authentic. With
a backing of $3.8 million in venture capital from Kodiak Ventures, I
think we can safely say that this isn't one of those companies that is
going to take your money and run.
1. Search Wikia could go live by Christmas, to take on Google
2. Nick Denton, the nemesis of Silicon Valley, makes himself editor of
Gawker
3. DocStoc, fresh with cash, gives away $50 Amazon gift certificate
daily to user uploading best quality docs
4. AdReady, the Seattle advertising startup offering online banner ads,
raises $10M more
5. Why Google is going after Wikipedia
6. EyeQ, tracks contributions of developers to projects
7. Ideeli, a invite-only Web retailer for high-end goods, gets $3.8M
Ideeli, a invite-only Web retailer for high-end goods, gets $3.8
million - This new service has the feel of gimmickry too it, though its
exclusivity might appeal to high-end consumers. Ideeli features luxury
products typically valued at between $200 and $700, and it informs its
members when products are about to go on sale the coming week. The New
York company notifies its members both on the Web and with SMS alerts.
Members, so far about 10,000 of them, get to see the sales prices, but
only those members who pay a $7.95 monthly subscription see the sales
early - and so have an advantage in the mad dash to buy while
quantities last. The company launched in May. The funding comes from rs
from Kodiak Venture Partners and angel investors. Oscar De La Renta and
Baccarat have signed up as partners.
Ideeli.com, an online shopping community that connects luxury brands
with the consumers who covet them through computers, emails or cell
phones, has secured $3.8 million in Series A funding from Kodiak
Ventures and angel investors. Ideeli is a New York-based company of
seasoned Internet and fashion leaders from companies like Oracle, Aveo,
Gloss.com, DoubleClick, Ralph Lauren and Gucci. www.ideeli.com
Ideeli, the closed shopping network where consumers get the scoop on
luxury brands at discounted prices, has just secured $3.8 million in
Series A funding, led by Kodiak Ventures and angel investors. The
network operates by alerting members to sales across its site, email or
text message, the shoppers get the excitement while the retailers get a
more engaged user base (and cleared inventory).
Combined with pre-sale editorial coverage and giveaways, ideeli's
shopping site has a social component to its site as well as a good
amount of appeal to its main demographic. Set up as a tiered service,
ideeli also offers a premium account option for those that would like
early notice of products for sale.
This elitist approach to a privileged group seems to work very well
with this type of shopping network. With Internet shopping becoming
more and more commonplace, even more types of shoppers, retailers and
business models can take advantage of e-commerce. Gilt, another closed
network shoppers delight, was recently received funding as well, while
Jellyfish's social shopping model was very attractive to Microsoft.
What happens when you combine the concept of personal shopping, luxury
goods such as Kotur and Etro at deep discounts with the web and SMS
alerts? You get Ideeli, a web service from an eponomously named
start-up based in New York City that has just raised $3.8 million
dollars from Boston-based VC firm, Kodiak Ventures and some angel
investors. The company that soft launched in May 2007 will announce
it's most recent round of funding on Monday.
"Ideeli is an invitation only shopping community, says Paul Hurley,
founder and chief executive officer of the company. "Think of it as an
advertorial that combines mobile, e-commerce and community." By keeping
the service invitation only, Hurley says, Ideeli is an attractive
option for designer labels who want to maintain exclusivity but want to
tap the web for its commerce potential. "We have built this from a
brand owner's perspective." Oscar De La Renta and Baccarat have already
signed on as partners. Why not? The service has a precedent, and is
inspired by super-successful French site, vente-privee.com.
The website offers luxury goods such as clutches and bags from high end
designers at discounts of between 50-to-90 percent. Ideeli sends out
the members an email every week letting them know what products are
going to go on sale in the coming week.
Then, every day a single such product (or brand) goes on sale, and the
date and time of the sale is kept a secret. The members of Ideeli are
sent an SMS alert or an email when the products go on sale. In
addition, the company also offers weekly giveaways, typically one
exclusive item. In order to become a member of Ideeli, one needs to
invited by a current member.
There are two tiers of service - the basic service called Second Row.
The premium option that costs $7.95 a month is called First Row and
entitles you to get SMS alerts and a one-hour head start over others as
far as sales are concerned. The First-come first-serve nature of the
service is one of the reasons Hurley believes people will sign-up for
the premium SMS alert option. So far, they have seen about 10%
conversion among their beta testers. (Warning: ideeli doesn't work with
T-Mobile for now.)
The company plans to expand into other verticals sometime in the
future, but for now they are focusing on the Cosmopolitan-set. When I
showed the service to some of my lady friends, they approved the
selections on offer, though were quick to point out that some of the
stuff wasn’t that au currant. Would they bid? Of course .
What's my prognosis on Ideeli? If they manage to get the viral growth
they are hoping for, they will have suitors in big fashion-oriented
publishing houses: CondeNast, Hearst, Hatchette and even Time Warner.
