Decorate Like a Pro - 10 Foolproof Paint Colors - Details Interiors - Interior Design in MA

Tips for Shopping at HomeGoods Like a Pro

For the Love of HomeGoods

Oh, HomeGoods, how people love you.
Doesn’t everybody love HomeGoods?
Some designers may say “I don’t shop at stores like HomeGoods.”
They’re lying.
At first glance, HomeGoods sells items that are not in top condition or things that aren’t top brands.
But, dig a little deeper and you’ll find great deals on name brand, high-end furniture, and accessories.
True, there are other products sprinkled in there that are cheap or seconds.
Do not be distracted by those!
It’s true, shopping at HomeGoods can be really overwhelming!
Stay focused and follow these tips.

I’m going to share my interior designer secrets for shopping at HomeGoods.
As an interior designer and decorator, I shop at HG on the regular.
Funny story –
When I first started my business I was, of course, going to HomeGoods regularly. I was filling
large shopping carts with all kinds of great finds at least once a week.

After a while, the HomeGoods employees started to look at me a little funny, like maybe I had a serious shopping addiction. Eventually, I formed a relationship with my local HomeGoods manager. I introduced myself as an interior designer and decorator and told him I didn’t want him to think I was some crazy shopaholic. Chatting with him was the best thing I ever did. He gave me inside information about the store.
And, now I’m going to share that info with you, along with tips that I use to get the best deals on the best products at HomeGoods.

1. Stay focused. Go in with a plan –
Shopping at HomeGoods can be overwhelming and distracting for sure!
Keep in mind exactly what you’re looking for.
That said; don’t just go to that specific aisle.
If you’re looking for artwork, for example, don’t head straight for the art aisles.
Always start at aisle one. I go in an orderly fashion, from left to right in the store, up and down each aisle.
Just because you’re looking for art doesn’t mean you won’t find it in the kitchen aisle.
HomeGoods sprinkles art all over the store, art they consider bath art in the bath area, art they
consider kitchen art in the kitchen area. And there are the clearance sections. We’ll get to those later.
Picture what you’d like for art. Keep that in your head and methodically go through each aisle.
I’m so anal about this that if I’m shopping for two different clients, I go through the store twice, once with one client’s aesthetic in my head and then back around with the second client’s aesthetic in my head.
It just makes it easier.
It’s difficult to weed through at ALL that stuff. I find it much simpler to go through the store more than once.
You may find other treasures along the way, but always refer back to the items you were looking for to begin with.

2. Know when to shop –
HomeGoods gets new stock in at least 3-4 times a week.
If you want to stay up to date on new arrivals, there’s an app for that.
Download the HomeGoods app right to your phone and you can choose what stores you want to
follow. Stores post pics every day, of interesting new items on their shelves.

The easiest way to know when new merchandise will be in your store is to ask your store’s
manager. They’re happy to help. Plus, they may have what you’re looking for out back.

Check back frequently. If you didn’t find what you’re looking for on Monday, it may be on the
shelf on Wednesday. That’s why it’s important to find out when your store restocks the shelves.

Once you know when your local stores get their new merchandise delivery, you’ll know what days to head there.
But, head there early.
Go first thing in the morning.
But, avoid Monday mornings. Give your store time to regroup and restock after the weekend.
Try to avoid weekends.
Weekends can be very busy and all those people are distracting.
You’ll get frustrated and have a hard time finding what you’re looking for.

3. If you love it, don’t hesitate –
Make sure if you see an item that you want, you buy it right then!
If it’s a larger item, just ask an employee to bring it up to the front for you.
They’ll keep it there until you’re ready to check out.
You can walk down the next aisle, think about that great chair you just saw, and go back, and it’s
being carried to the front for another customer!
So, if you love it, buy it.
You can always return it.
HomeGoods has a generous return policy. Make sure you keep the tags and stickers on it and you can return it, with your receipt, within 30 days, for a full refund.

4. Search throughout for bargains –
Clearance items abound at HomeGoods.
And if the regular prices aren’t discounted enough, HG discounts items and fills the clearance aisles, end caps, and carts.
Be sure to look up for the red clearance signs hanging from the ceiling.
There are also end caps on aisles that have the red clearance sign.
Sometimes you’ll find a red cart in the middle aisles with clearance items.

Yes, you’ll have to go through each item and check for damage, but it’s worth it. Plus, if you find a gorgeous tray with damage on the bottom, who cares? Nobody will see the bottom of the tray.

If you do find something that’s damaged, that it isn’t on clearance, and want to buy it anyway, you can ask at the register and they will discount it for you.

Quick Tips –
– Be sure to look in the back of the shelf, move things around and check behind things.
– There are paper measuring tapes hanging on posts. If you need one, simply tear one off.
– Don’t be afraid to pull things out and place them in the aisle to get a better look at them.
– If you find an item at one HomeGoods and you want a matching item, you can always go to another nearby HomeGoods, or even the home section at Marshalls or TJMaxx. I’ve done this many times and found the matching or coordinating item that I needed.

Be sure to read the next blog post about my favorite items to shop for at HomeGoods.

If you have any HomeGoods shopping tips please comment below.

And, head over to the Details Facebook page to join the conversation about all things interior
design and decorating www.facebook.com/detailsfullserviceinteriors

From Drab to Fab