Shopping Simplified: Fab.com Lives Up to Its Name

Posted by Hilary Adleberg / Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Hello,  shoppers!

The app is free to download. (Photo courtesy apple.com)

Fab.com is a members-only website featuring designs and sales that satisfy shoppers scouting out a great selection of good deals. This shopper-friendly website is a one-stop shop to find anything from art to fashion, furniture, cookwear, stationery, tech gadgets and much more all at a discount of up to 70 percent off the original retail price.

Amid the many sale notifications, Fab.com also compiles an archive of inspirational photos of fashion, design, accessories and celebrities that entertain the creatively curious side of shoppers. Also available as a mobile app, Fab.com has received excellent feedback from Apple users.

Fab features well-designed products across multiple categories and price points. (Photo courtesy of Fab.com)

Sales and design inspirations are posted daily to the site, with new uploads appearing every minute on the site’s live feed. There is even a calendar, listing upcoming sales to notify users of the impending deals to look forward to in the coming week. Sales are categorized by new and old, warning customers of a soon-to-be-expired bargain. Consumers also have the option to shop sales by genre and price.

Fab products are hand-picked by a team of design experts and enthusiasts. (Photo courtesy of Fab.com)

Customers are not only welcome but encouraged to give back to Fab.com. A customer can snap a photo of a newly purchased product from the site and upload it to the inspiration wall to earn a $5 credit.

Happy shopping!

–Hilary Adleberg

Can’t-Miss NoVA Sales This Weekend

Posted by Natalie Kaar / Friday, February 10th, 2012

Germaine II Chair in Sunbrella Indoor Polka Cafe; Regular Price: $1,420, Sale Price: $925. (Photo courtesy of The Nest Egg)

Hello there, shoppers! Happy Friday!

It’s looking like cold weather — seriously cold — is heading our way for the weekend, but don’t think for a second that hibernation is an option. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, bargains are begging for our attention all over the area.

A few fine examples:

First, let’s not forget about all of the pre-V-Day sales at Market Common Clarendon tomorrow, which Hilary clued us into earlier in the week.

And on the other side of the beltway, a few of our favorite Fairfax Corner shops are doling out some stellar deals. For example, at The Nest Egg, it’s floor sample sale time (the deals are live at 11 a.m. today), with significant savings (25-50 percent) on all kinds of fabulous furnishings.

Also, just down the street — maybe enjoy a dark hot chocolate at Caribou Coffee for an intermission — Undeniable Boutique is tempting us with a sweet and sexy Valentine’s Day sale. Today through Feb. 14, the store is offering a 50-percent discount on vintage-inspired chocolate bars and 10-percent discount on red, leather and lace items. Plus, all of the store’s fall/winter merch is now 40-50 percent off.

The Dandelion Patch, which opened an outlet this week in Tysons, is offering a BOGO deal on Trollbeads at the Vienna and Reston stores; through Tuesday, buy three beads, get the fourth one free.

And, have you checked out this week’s Fresh Cuts at Anthro, in Tysons Galleria and at Reston Town Center? Be still my heart.

Happy shopping!

–Natalie Kaar

After Turkey Thursday Comes Black Friday

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, November 25th, 2011

Occasionally Cake holiday goodies

Are you one of the obsessed Black Friday shoppers waiting in line at 3 a.m. this morning?

If so, all the power to you. I, on the other hand, can 100 percent guarantee that I’ll be passed out in my bed in the heaviest turkey-gravy-stuffing-pie food coma of the year as I sleep in, dreaming about eating leftovers for breakfast.

Either way you choose to spend your post-Thanksgiving Friday morning, a couple of Friday mid-day treats await you.

The Little Washington Winery will be serving a special holiday tasting with warm mulled wine and bonus bottle deals in the Gallery from 11 a.m. till the sun sets (that’s 4:53 p.m. for you less abstract minded). At 2 p.m., they’ll be making yule logs — because on post-Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas season also officially starts.

Occasionally Cake in Alexandria will be serving free hot cocoa and coffee as well as a 20 percent discount on holiday cakes and cookies (to name a few: vanilla chocolate-chip pound cake, brown sugar pound cake with Virginia whiskey glaze, pumpkin pound cake with maple glaze, peppermint candy-cane cake truffles, hand-decorated sugar cookies, chocolate-dipped macaroons, gingerbread men, and sugar plum, gingerbread pumpkin pie, candy cane and Mexican hot chocolate cupcakes).

-Julia Harbo

Soiree: Celebrate with Gossip

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Claire Cocktail Dress, $58 (gossipon23rd.com)

Hello, shoppers!

Here’s an event you won’t want to miss! Arguably NoVA’s top resource for bargain on-trend apparel, Gossip on 23rd, is having their four-year anniversary celebration on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., an all-day soiree chock-full of discounts and giveaways! Also included in the festivities: At 8 p.m. Tortoise & Hare Bar and Grille, across the street, will host a fashion show with complimentary appetizers and drink specials!

RSVP by Nov. 4 to Katherine@gossipon23.com with the number of guests you’ll be bringing and the names of those lucky plus-ones! All guests will receive a free raffle ticket for a gift bag worth $50 or more upon arrival to the party so it’s very important that you do RSVP.

Have fun, shoppers!

– Lexie Ramage

ExSIGHTing Sales

Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Revenue in a down economy

By Colleen Sheehy Orme

Courtesy of Jesse Lefkowitz

What business or salesperson wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to increase sales? Vorsight (www.vorsight.com), based in Arlington, is doing just that, thanks to the vision of co-founder and CEO David Stillman and co-founder and chief content officer Steve Richard. Their clear corporate mission has allowed Vorsight the same type of substantial growth they are providing their clients.

The company launched in 2005, initially as an outsourced meeting scheduling firm for business-to-business sales meetings and business-to-government meetings. Their clients were so impressed with the results that they asked Vorsight if they could train them as well as set their appointments.

“We started as an outsourcer, but people came back to us and said, ‘Wow, you are outperforming our sales team,’” says Richard. “Customers began to ask, ‘What are you doing over there? Can you teach us what you are doing?’ When we started training people on prospecting, people kept telling us, ‘This is the best sales training I’ve ever been to.’”

Six years and 33 employees later, Vorsight offers five services: meeting scheduling, sales prospecting training, sales coaching, inside sales consulting and speaking engagements. Their customers span a wide array of industries including: legal, consulting, software, biotech, telecom and professional services.

What exactly can Vorsight do for you? They will set your sales appointments. Their clients boast a 25- to 100-percent increase in first sales meetings. They will also train your sales force so that they can harness the same results. They have helped hundreds of companies and trained thousands of sales representatives. They will even hire and train a sales team for you.

With 40 percent of their business coming from referrals of satisfied customers it is easy to see why in 2010 Steve Richard was named one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People in Inside Sales” by the American Association of Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP). It also reinforces that Stillman and Richard are correct in their belief that the initial part of the sales cycle must be mastered in order for the outside sales to translate. This is the most captivating aspect from a business perspective. Vorsight has focused intently on the beginning of the sales cycle and, in doing so, they have not only perfected it but they have shed significant light on the sales process.

Many companies traditionally combine marketing, inside sales and outside sales, but does this combined effort translate effectively into sustainable, qualified sales leads that generate into viable sales? By taking a step back and focusing on what Vorsight considers the most critical aspect of the sales cycle—the beginning—they may be changing the way businesses conduct their sales organizations.

Vorsight also utilizes an exceptional approach to that beginning process. They hire young Gen Y’ers to connect the dots between traditional sales and social media-impacted sales. Richard explains: “One thing that is really different is they grew up in a world of transparency and sharing, and that comes back to the interconnectivity of this generation.” In essence, Vorsight is harnessing the skills of the younger generation and their strong ability to connect with others. Uncovering the strengths of a more modern sales climate rather than fighting it, they’re increasing outside sales appointments.

“Most people approach social media from a marketing standpoint,” says Richard. “We approach social media from a selling perspective. There are salespeople who are getting this, and those salespeople are getting rich.”

(October 2011)

Top o’ the Mornin’ Sales

Posted by Natalie Kaar / Friday, September 30th, 2011

(The Old Lucketts Store) Don't miss this weekend's Design House event Sept. 30-Oct. 2

Hello there, shoppers!

Congratulations! You’ve almost made it through the work week. To celebrate, here are some sales that will help you hold onto that paycheck.

Today Calvinklein.com is offering everything – in men’s, women’s, kids’, underwear – at 40 percent off!

Also today only, my online obsession, ASOS, is offering several of fall’s must-have items at up to 50 percent off!

Then again, if you don’t have plans tonight or have been putting off making photo books for way too long — remember those Mother’s Day IOUs — you may be interested in a BOGO offer from MyPublisher. Use the code FALLBOGO to buy one, get one free or buy two, get two free. This offer also ends today.

Want to update the ol’ abode? Now is definitely the time! Anthropologie has discounted a whole bunch of home goodies. Also, this weekend is a Design House weekend at The Old Lucketts Store. And The Cottage in Leesburg, another vintage paradise, is having a big sale in honor of their 6th birthday!

Happy shopping!

–Natalie Kaar

Hot Hump Day Sales

Posted by Natalie Kaar / Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Nine West Arnell , $99 before discount code (piperlime.com)

Hello there, shoppers. You deserve something special for sailing through the first half of the week without too much complaining. Why not reward yourself with some guilt-free sale shopping?

A few places you may want to start:

Toys R Us: Save 25 percent on all sandboxes; $30 on all Power Wheel cars; 25 percent on all Kryptonic skateboards, skates and ramps; and score other amazing end-of-summer deals.

Banana Republic: Today is the last day to save 25 percent with the code BRAUG25.

Piperlime: Get must-have booties and shooties for fall at 20 percent off today, with code H3J7FZTQCZ44.

Saks: Hit the high-style store for 30-percent savings on contemporary yet classic summer clothing for men, women and kids that will still look cool next year.

And, of course, move that mouse on over to our very own Specialicious, where today you will find deals on massages, teeth whitening, personal training and more!

Happy shopping!

–Natalie Kaar

H3J7FZTQCC44H3J7FZTQCC44

Sales of Farmed Virginia Oyster On The Up

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

(Image: Shutterstock/areashot)

Oysters are kind of a thing right now. First I saw them getting served up to a healthy sized crowd in the blazing heat of Brooklyn’s Smorgasborg, and now they’re popping up at fancy new D.C. eateries like Lincoln and Blackbyrd Warehouse.

All of this even though it’s August, and if my grandfather has any say in the matter, by God it’s too hot for oysters, s’wrong with you?

Regardless of what grandpa had to say, sales of farmed Virginia oysters jumped up 34% in 2010, according to a report from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Between 2009 and 2010, sales of Bay oysters went up from 12.6 million to 16.9 million, and the Daily News’ Deadrise blog reports, watermen suspect an even bigger jump in sales this year.

There are a few factors contributing to the increase in oyster sales, and their current status as the hip bivalve of choice isn’t one of them. The first is the tough nature of the farmed Chesapeake Bay oyster, which are fast growing, disease resistant and protected from predators (except us). Lingering damage from the BP oil spill has also contributed to the increase in sales, as Gulf oyster reefs have still yet to fully recover from the damage wrought on them last year.

I also suspect that that episode of Mad Men where Roger Sterling eats two dozen oysters and then throws up has something to do with it, but that’s just a hunch.

- Kris King

Shopping Simplified: Shopittome.com

Posted by alexandra / Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Hello, shoppers! Online shopping can be difficult, between finding your size, browsing store to store and worrying about shipping costs and prices. Personally, I always feel like I find out about a fantastic online sale… right after it ends. That’s where Shopittome.com comes in.

www.cravebeauty.ca

Even if you hate online shopping, you’ll have a hard time resisting this site. When you register, you’ll be asked to check off some preferences: clothing and shoe sizes, favorite brands, categories of clothing and more. After that, shopittome.com does all the work.

Based on your preferences, you will receive a customized e-mail every day that lets you know about great deals, including special promotion codes, markdowns and VIP sale events, so you’ll never miss out on a sale again.

The site checks out over 200 retailers daily for deals on clothing, shoes and accessories for all sizes, ages and genders.

And all you online shopping addicts, the site hasn’t forgotten about you. You can shop on the website for anything you’re interested in (ie. boots, jeans, sundresses, etc.), and you’ll be given a list of results that matches your preferences.

You can even filter these by price and discount range or by category and add new brands and clothing preferences any time.

Shopittome.com also lets you know about any special or deal a designer is offering for any item you search. For example, search jeans and find free shipping on $200 orders from Nordstrom or get $30 off your entire order of $150 from any bluefly.com item.

Happy Shopping!
–Alexandra Scarfone

Sizzling July 4th Weekend Sales

Posted by Natalie Kaar / Friday, July 1st, 2011

Shutterstock.com/Marilyn Volan

Hello there, shoppers! Can you believe it’s July 1 already?! This summer is going crazy-fast! It’s already time for July 4th festivities, and you know what that means: the hottest of summer sales.

This week I saved over 60 percent on a Nicole Miller dress for an upcoming wedding and paid just $45 for a  pair of J Brands! Fashionistas, now is the time to get the looks you love for far, far less.

A few places you may want to start:

Pretty People Vintage’s grand opening this weekend in Old Town Alexandria means 15-30 percent off plus free jungle juice, animal-themed treats and, as I mentioned yesterday, a chance to win a Marc Jacobs clutch!

Alexandria’s La Cuisine has several picnic-perfect deals. Speaking of deals, in honor of their anniversary, save 20 percent on any one purchase July 15-Aug. 31 with the code summer2011.

South Moon Under in Clarendon, Reston and Fairfax Corner has all summer items, including bathing suits, marked up to 50 percent off in stores and online.

Periwinkle in Del Ray and Shirlington Village has a summer sale going on with 25-50 percent off summer merchandise.

Kate Spade’s sale is on sale. Save an additional 25 percent on sale items this weekend in stores and online with the code SALE25.

Banana Republic is offering an additional 40 percent off sale items this weekend with the code BRSTARS.

Happy shopping!

–Natalie Kaar