Vancouver is a great place to live if you like to shop.
There are amazing boutiques, fabulous department stores, and one of the most expensive retail shopping strips in Canada (Robson Street) – all within a few blocks of each other.
With so much selection throughout the city, I often find myself frequenting the same stores out of pure habit, one of them being WINNERS.
When I mention I regularly shop at WINNERS, people often respond with, “I can never find anything there,” or, “How do you do it? It’s so unorganized”.
This place has really upped their game over the past few years, especially since some locations have added “The Runway at WINNERS”. In this section you can find gems from the likes of Helmut Lang, DVF, BCBG and many more. Recently, I found this gorgeous Rachel by Rachel Roy blouse which had me thinking…
WINNERS is a great place to shop, but some people write it off because they’re not sure how to shop here. That’s why I’ve created a short list of tips to ensure a successful shopping experience at WINNERS:
Be open
WINNERS isn’t the place you should go if you are looking for something specific, for example, “I want a short, navy dress with a v-cut,” or, “I’m in need of a new pair of black, knee-high boots with a heel”. WINNERS is the place to go if you are looking for a new sweater in any colour, or just need a new pair of jeans. The less specific you are during your search, the more treasures you will find and the more pleasurable the experience.
Pick the right time
I would avoid going to WINNERS during “high-traffic” hours – think weekday lunch, after work or weekends. When WINNERS is busy, it can be complete chaos, so if you’re looking for a more relaxing shopping experience, try early in the morning or later in the evening.
Dress accordingly
Wear items that are easy to slip in-and-out of so you don’t have to struggle. I always make sure I am wearing slip-ons, so I can easily try on shoes without constantly struggling to get in and out of them as I walk through the aisles. Also, wearing a basic tank makes trying on sweaters and jackets outside of the change rooms easy and can further simplify your experience.
Go often
WINNERS is constantly getting new inventory, therefore you may go on a Monday and find nothing but by Thursday the whole store has changed. The more often you stop in, the more treasures you will find, so I’ve made a habit of just “stopping by”.
If you love it, grab it
Unlike other retailers who often have hundreds of the same shirt available in their stockroom, Winners only has a handful of the same items. Therefore, WINNERS isn’t a place where you can “Think about it” – if you love it, grab it because it might not be available tomorrow. Also, WINNERS has a great return policy, more so if you are part of their TJX Canada STYLE+ Loyalty Program, so even if you get home and realize you don’t love it, you have ten days to make a return.
Two of my most complimented WINNERS purchases:
For more information on Winners and where to find one close to you, click here. Also, check out #WINNERSFabFinds for your chance to win a $100 gift card for you and your bestie.
Do you shop at WINNERS? What has been your favourite find?
