Tangs and Takashimaya

I'm no stranger to online shopping (hears scoffing in the background). In fact, I love online shopping, especially in the hours that I can't sleep. However, I've been conditional online shopping recently. Instead of buying makeup from the US and having them shipped over, I've been looking at buying them locally where possible. I still shop online for the brands or products which are not here yet.  

One reason is that I've realised that online shopping is not as cheap as it looks, even when I shop during sale times. The international shipping charged by consolidators can be high if you're only getting a few items. And there's the wait. 

Another is that more beauty brands have established themselves in Singapore, taking the distance out of overseas brands. We still don't get the full collection (for example no eyeshadow palette from MAC's All About Orange collection) nor all the shades (for example Revlon's ColorStay Foundation) but things have been improving.

I love to wander around the beauty halls of departmental stores but I spend much more time at these two compared to the rest.

MAC All About Orange collection launched in Singapore before US/UK

Tangs (I go to the Tangs Orchard store) stocks Aveda, Sulwhasoo, NARS, Giorgio Armani, Burberry Beauty just to name a few brands. Tangs holds members' closed door sales a few times every year where they give a whopping 12% rebate off your purchase. In their recent members' sale, they were also giving away a $25 beauty voucher with a minimum spend of $250.

NARS GWP offer at the Tangs members' closed door sale

Other than the usual departmental suspects (Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Dior, Lancome, etc), Takashimaya stocks several Japanese brands. Think Albion, Lunasol, Kanebo, Cosme Decorte AQMW and Kose. There's also the Watsons flagship store, Aveda/The Body Shop/Kiehl's/MAC stores within Ngee Ann City which is a 2 mins walk away from the Takashimaya departmental store.

Lunasol GWP offer at the Takashimaya sale

I wasn't able to make it down when Tangs did their members' closed door sale earlier this month but I made my way to Takashimaya on the first day of their sale (members enjoyed an additional 10% off all prices during the first 3 days of the sale). 

Cosme Decorte GWP offer at the Takashimaya sale

It was then that I realised that although the beauty brands had published their GWPs offerings for the sale, the brands were having discounts/rebate vouchers alongside which was not stated in the brochure. One brand was offering a $15 voucher with every purchase of $100 and another was doing 20% off with a minimum spend of $500. And Takashimaya cardmembers got to enjoy an additional 10% off on top of these vouchers/discounts. 

Considering that the 2 brands having the offers were brands not found at duty free stores in Singapore, it was an amazing deal! I was mighty tempted to stock up but stopped myself by insisting that I shop my stash before I get any pricey products.

It's easy to support the local retail economy when stores like these are getting really smart with their pricing and offerings!

Takashimaya Sale May 2013

Takashimaya's newsletter on their sale in Mary 2013 should have reached all their cardmembers by now. 

The sale starts from Fri 24 May to Sun 16 Jun 2013 but there is a Takashimaya Cardholders' special for the first 3 days where cardholders would receive an additional 10% off on top of the promotional prices or sets. 

I've scanned the entire beauty newsletter, do drop me a note if you wish to see what beauty offers are available at Takashimaya. 

I enjoy shopping at Takashimaya and will be there on Friday with my card at the ready!

Mothers and babies

I just don't get how some retailers structure their promotions. 

Given that Mothers' Day falls in May, there are a zillion Mothers' Day promotions. Most of them center around what gifts to get for a mother. 

But Amazon clearly has decided to go its own path. The Amazon Mom Appreciation Event uses a promotional code (BABY0513) to save 20% on selected baby products. Yes, baby products. 

How does buying baby products show appreciation for moms, I wonder?

Sales in Singapore - May 2013

The departmental stores in Singapore are starting to kick off The Great Singapore Sale season.

Robinsons

15-17 May - Cardmembers' Preview of The Great Singapore Sale. The DM sent to cardmembers came with coupons for 

a) $10 voucher with mini. purchase of $100

b) $30 voucher with mini purchase of $180

c) $50 voucher with mini purchase of $250

Isetan

17 May - Private cardmembers' sale.
Additional information can be found here.

Like the private sale in March, 10% of purchase amounts would be given in the form of vouchers for beauty purchases.

Update: Just found via facebook that Ettusais will be giving away luggage as GWP upon purchases of S$180 of ettusais products. The luggage looks lovely and is likely to go out in a dash! 

Takashimaya

Quite frankly, I am waiting for the Takashimaya members sale (also known as Taka Day in late May, typically after Mother's Day). 2013 is Takashimaya's 20th year anniversary and I do believe they might go beyond the usual discounts. 

Recap of sales in Singapore - March 2013

I haven't been paying close attention to the shopping seasons in Singapore, but sorting my mail and throwing old mail, I realised March is actually a good month for beauty shopping in Singapore!

Tangs
14-15 March - 12% rebate for Tangs cardmembers and Citibank credit & debit cardmembers as part of Spring 2013 campaign. They were also having special beauty deals/sets/GWP/PWPs and giving away a $25 beauty voucher with a minimum spend of $250.

Takashimaya
14-20 March - a mini beauty fair. I threw the flyer away but am certain of Lancome's promotion (because I went to the Lancome counter).

Purchase at least $200 and receive a 6-piece gift set (worth $177). Top up to a minimum buy of $280 and get an additional lipstick or eyeshadow set. The eyeshadow the sales associate showed me was the Tresor Hypnose Ombre Monos which were released for Christmas 2012. The lipstick set was 3 individual lipsticks, full-sized.

Top up your purchase to $320 and get a $30 voucher on top of the gift set and lipstick/eyeshadow set. It was very tempting, if I wanted to get Lancome products.

*Bi-annual Takashimaya Baby Fair was from 6-24 March 2013.

Isetan
28 March - Private members' sale. 10% of purchase amount given in the form of vouchers for beauty purchases. Each time, the Isetan private members' sale has been jam-packed. I remember going once with a colleague a few years ago and it was simply insane!

OG
20 March - Cardmembers sale of 20% storewide. At OG Orchard Point, they were offering 20%+10% off.

This was the queue outside Orchard Point 30 mins after the store had opened. One line was simply not moving at all!

Watsons
27 March - Members only closed door sale. Makeup/skincare brands were going up to 25%+5% off. 25+5% off brands: Boujois, BYS, Canmake, KATE, L'Oreal makeup, Majolica Majorica, Maybelline, Pupa, Revlon, Sally Hansen, Silky Girl, Star Lash, ZA, Bio-essence, Ginerva, Formula 10.0.6, Skin79.