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| | Strategist editor Sam Daly. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers | | Welcome to How I Pick My Picks â a kind-of-regular newsletter series where we check in with the Strategist staff on the stuff theyâre using day to day, the products theyâre testing for stories, and the things their friends and family wonât stop asking them about. Consider it a peek into the always-whirring brain of a Strategist writer. Today, we talk to deals editor Sam Daly. |
Iâve been the deals editor at the Strategist for just over a year (and reading it a lot longer). Iâve found that the secret to spotting a good deal comes down to knowing our site really well. In my personal life, I know a fair bit about home décor, fashion, and beauty, but I heavily rely on the careful research of my colleagues when I want to suggest which on-sale frying pan or wireless earbuds you should buy. So, when I catch word of a sitewide sale at Dermstore, Iâm not overwhelmed by the thousands of discounted items. My eyes glide across the pages, I can spot our best-in-class dry shampoo, micellar water, and tinted sunscreen. |
My other tip for hunting down a bargain? Get organized. I start my mornings by scrolling through my tried-and-true hit list â like Amazon, Nordstrom, REI, and Sephora â to see if any new discounts have cropped up overnight. Iâll also check my Google Calendar, where I keep running tabs for the start dates of any âspecialâ sales happening that day, like a warehouse sale at Ban.do or a birthday sale at Brooklinen. |
And if you want even more deals beyond my daily posts on our site, I also write our Friday Sales newsletter. Each week I rustle up five more sales just for our email subscribers â and you can count on some Strategist-exclusive discounts in there, too. |
Whatâs the product that friends and family always ask for your advice on? |
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Even before I began writing for the Strategist, I was rarely anywhere except the sale section. While my friends often ask me to keep my eyes peeled for certain products, Iâm the one bombarding them with texts and links if I see a particularly good sale. Like, âHey I know youâve been looking for a new pair of ballet flats â Camperâs are 30 percent off right now,â etc. |
| Camper Ballet Flats, 30% Off » |
Whatâs the best way to get a good deal on, say, a pair of jeans? |
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Donât settle for sales that are less than 20 percent off. Itâs so easy to find denim from staple brands like Leviâs and Madewell for at least 30 percent off; you just have to have patience. I got my first pair of Leviâs Ribcage ankle jeans on sale for $28 (theyâre normally $98). As I write this, Leviâs is having a sitewide sale through March 14! |
| Leviâs Wedgieâs, 30% Off » |
What sales are you currently keeping tabs on? |
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Iâm keeping a running tab of mattresses and vacuums that are on sale each month. My scientific conclusions: Nearly every mattress brand runs a year-round sale (with minor adjustments, like an extra 5 percent off or a set of free pillows with your purchase); and you can always find at least one robot vacuum from Eufy or iRobot on sale (and though you may not get all the bells and whistles, you also arenât paying more than a couple hundred dollars). |
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Whatâs the last thing you bought? |
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I just purchased this stretchy two-piece Youswim swimsuit (in Saffron) from Depop last week. Iâve had the one-piece version (in the color Espresso) for about four years now, which I love dearly and I always get compliments on. Iâve always hated swimsuit shopping because my body shape seems to fluctuate every year, but these accommodate several sizes in one so you donât have to worry about that. And theyâre just so comfy! |
| Youswim Eva SwimSuit, $149 » |
Whatâs the most expensive product that you own? |
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Definitely my mattress. It was on sale, like most mattresses always are â which I wrote about here â but only by about 10 percent (which hurt my deals-editor heart that it wasnât discounted even more, but what can you do?). Still, thatâs $100 I got to spend on something else instead! |
| Brentwood Home Mattress, 10% Off » |
If you had to spend $1,000 at Nordstrom, what would you buy? |
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Even as someone whoâs been online shopping for their job for nearly seven years, Iâm surprised at just how much stuff Nordstrom carries. The beauty department is always excellent â itâs where I found my new favorite perfume â and nearly always a few Strategist-approved things on sale. Iâd also pop by the home and designer department; I could definitely go for Paloma Wool knitwear or a Marimekko duvet cover. |
| Malin + Goetz Cannabis Eau de Parfum, $92 » |
What are some open tabs on your computer right now? Whatâs on your list that you canât bring yourself to buy just yet? |
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I have a very long wish list in my Notes app, which has cut down the number of tabs I have open considerably. I revisit the list a few times per month to check for sales and ask myself if I really wanted that Isamaya $100 eye-shadow palette after all. (Turns out: I did not.) I am currently eyeing this lock necklace from Marla Aaron, as well as this sport skort from Girlfriend Collective. I have it in black already and practically live in it during summertime â Iâm just debating whether I want to get another neutral like the Earth shade or go for something fun like Prism. |
| Girlfriend Collective Sport Skort, $62 » |
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