New Study Debunks 3 Shopping Myths

Conspicuous consumption is everywhere, yet it’s surprising how little we know of our own shopping habits. The word myth suggests something fantastical and unbelievable – like Jack and the Beanstalk – or an urban legend like McDonald’s manufacturing chicken nuggets out of pink slime. After studying the behaviour of 1,500 clothes and footwear shoppers, Harvard Business Review has concluded we’re as clueless about our own retail habits as we are about what happens behind the counters of fast food joints.

MYTH ONE: SHOPPING ONLINE IS A TIME-SAVER

A trip to Oxford Street may take a whole day, but research suggests that shopping online actually takes longer. Take into account how many websites you browse (Net-A-Porter Topshop, Farfetch…) and when (lunch breaks, the commute, etc.) and then consider how many physical stores you visit and how often before making a purchase in a bricks-and-mortar retailer. While digital browsing and shopping may offer convenience it’s likely that the whole process is longer. Consider your next trip to Westfield justified!

MYTH TWO: THE LABEL DOESN’T MATTER

We like to think that we aren’t sartorial snobs, that our trend nous allows us to see past that designer label. Yet the study revealed that direct-to-consumer stores and websites (i.e. any shop that stocks a single label) generates 86% more money than multi-brand retailers. Sorry ASOS but it seems we’d rather go directly to Nike for those shiny new sneakers.

MYTH THREE: WE LOVE NEWNESS

They say history repeats itself and that’s quite literally true with our shopping habits. Sure new trends seem exciting and alluring, but in reality, we’re mining shops for pieces we already own or very similar items. Researchers found that 83% of shopping journeys are repeat purchases. Sure, basics like jeans and plain t-shirts and necessary buys like gym wear make up a substantial amount of repeat purchases, but who could have guessed it was this much

Shop: Grazia's Holiday Wardrobe Wishlist