6 Hip Online Shopping Sites

Written by Katie Silivos Wednesday, January 27 2010

Sales without all the shoving – that’s the beauty of online shopping.

In addition, cyber-shopping is fast, convenient, and opens up a whole new world of merchandise, services, and, best of all, sales.

You and that hidden craving to shop online are not alone, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Consumers spent $26 billion online last year. What’s more: 88 million consumers will shop from home today, and more than 13 million will shop during their workday (Shh, don’t tell the boss).

Invitation Only Sample Sales
We’ve all heard of savvy New Yorkers waiting in line for hours to push, claw, and elbow their way to the latest “it” sample sale. But since the advent of private, invitation-only sale sites, throngs of fashionistas now gladly remain in the warmth of their homes to shop online. Although the merchandise is deeply discounted, these sites can still be a bit pricey because they are, after all, discount designer. A few of our favorites are below:

Rue La La
Rue La La is an invitation-only online shopping destination that offers top brands within a timed private sale.

How it works: Rue La La acquires slow-selling or overstocked inventory from high-end retailers and offers it at reduced prices to members. To be a member (which means you get to shop), you must be invited by a friend. Examples of designers previously featured: Dior, Tom Ford, Puma, Corum watches, Judith Leiber, and Antik Denim – upscale to say the least. Email reminders arrive daily to members, announcing the latest sales, each of which lasts only 48 hours. A big blinking clock at the top of the page gives you the thrill of the hunt as it counts down the seconds until a sale is over.

Gilt Groupe
Much like RueLaLa, Gilt is like competitive, speed shopping. A daily email at noon Eastern time reveals which designer sales will open that day and last for 36 hours. Items sell out quickly, so here are a few tips to make the most of your “membership:”

• A private registration/membership pass for Womenetics readers can be accessed here: www.gilt.com/womenetics.
• Monitor the weekly listings of designers. If you are unfamiliar with certain brands, research the usual cut, style, and pricing of the designers, so that you will be ready when the time comes.
• Sign up for weekly emails.
• Log on before the sale of your choice.
• Have your up-to-date credit card ready and prepare your fingers for some quick clicking. Gilt Groupe allows items to stay in your shopping cart for 10 minutes only.
• Buy a lower-priced item early on to become familiar with the process.
• Make sure you note that most sales are refundable only for “store” credit. The trick is to be smart while trying to resist the temptation to buy everything in the sale.
• Ways to keep the “gilt” from setting in? We suggest hunting for classic, staple pieces that can be enjoyed for years to come.