The Next summer sale is just around the corner and the time has come to go crazy and grab a bargain.
In fact it's just days away.
This year's sale is thought to be the biggest yet with less than half price reductions on items across the board.
So the Liverpool Echo have a chat to a Next ex-employee to uncover the useful tips and tricks that will help you grab the best deal possible.
When is the Next summer sale?
For 2018 the Next summer sale starts online on Friday July 6 and is rolled out across stores on Saturday July 7.
Stores usually opens at 5am on the first day of the sale.
When is the best time to go to the sale?
Believe it or not, mid-morning is the best time to go, according to a former Next expert, who did not wish to be named.
He said: "Personally I would hold off from queueing unless there is something in particular you are desperate to get or unless you need a whole new wardrobe. If you are looking to queue I would say from 3.30am or 4am.
"Try and have a rough idea of what you want - just because a top isn't in the top section doesn't mean we haven’t got it, it could mean it’s been dropped by a customer elsewhere."
What sells out first?
The home section, womenswear and kids tend to sell out first.
"Customers go crazy in the morning," said a former Next staff member.
"The home section gets really good stuff, it can go less than half price. But with the furniture sale I would hold off for a few days because they normally drop again in price by five per cent each week. So a sofa that’s been dropped from £800 to £400 that’s just not sold in two weeks time then it will be dropped again in price."
How can you spot a potential sale item before it hits stores?
It is easy for staff to recognise what's going to be in the sale but is it for customers?
Well, the trick may be in looking out for the small notes on the barcode.
"You can always tell what’s going to be in the sale," said an ex-staff member.
"Staff write a letter and number in pen or pencil next to the barcode. For example say a t-shirt may have R8 on it that would mean red and £8. So if the barcode has a small letter and number written on two weeks before the sale it usually means it's going to be in there.
"Some customers may not realise that we do get stock in, some customers return sale items later that day too."
Other top tips?
Here are some other top tips from a former Next expert:
- Be nice to staff - "we have got sale stuff in the back, some customers used to speak to us poorly which didn't make us want to help them but we will always try and do our best."
- Bring water - "You need water, it gets really hot. We once had a woman fall and a child faint and be sick, so be careful."
- Get a VIP slot - for more information click here
- Remember online - "if you don't want the hustle and bustle of the sale in store, you can always do it online from the comfort of your own home." Visit the sale here
You can find your nearest Next store here.
Happy shopping!
