Shop bargains this holiday season

Shopping for holiday gifts can be an expensive task, especially when you're looking for the latest trends for gift recipients. Holiday shopping can be even more pricey for those who wait until the last minute to scour the stores, as opposed to those who hunt for the best deals.

The savvy shopper can find bargains this holiday shopping season, like designer bags and shoes.

The savvy shopper can find bargains on name-brand duds and more if he or she knows where to look this holiday season. That is the main philosophy behind Duty Free Apparel, a designer discount store located in the heart of New York City's garment district.

Owner Joel Soren tapped into the potential of offering discounted designer merchandise to the public during his days as a retail wholesaler. His outlet store is overflowing with the current season's shoes, bags and accessories from top designers, including Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Tod's and more.

Soren and his staff stock up on items that customers will fawn over in the weeks to come. The company periodically travels to Italy for buying trips and returns with their finds. New merchandise is offered in the outlet each week, often before it appears in top stores across the country. The added bonus is that his items are priced 20 to 50 percent off retail price tags. How do they do it? Their European office buys directly from store stock. Thus, they eliminate the expensive middleman and intermediaries, who traditionally contribute to the markup of merchandise. Duty Free runs a modest shop; therefore, they can pass the savings of authentic merchandise on to you. It's an ideal place to visit if you'll be in town to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, attend a Broadway show or just hunt for holiday bargains.

For more information on Duty Free Apparel, including a sample of current stock, visit www.dutyfreeapparel.com.

BARGAIN HUNTING 101

You don't have to head to the big city for deals. It's easier than you think to find bargains right in your area or at your favorite store for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Here are some handy tips to keep in mind when shopping sales:

• Sample sales and overstock sales are great places to find discounted merchandise. Look for advertisements in your newspaper and by subscribing to stores' e-mail newsletters.

• Sales are generally held at the end of the season, so you can stock up on items you currently need or save them for the following year.

• "First come, first served" is the mantra of many sales. Get there early for the best item and size selection. Lunchtime is often the most crowded time of day.

• Outlet centers are a good place to find deals because they are able to buy in bulk and pass the savings on to you. When possible, "shop in stores with concrete floors."

• Sales on reduced merchandise are often final, so inspect items carefully for any defects, missing buttons, scuffs, etc.

• Sign up for mailing lists where available so that you'll get invitations to private "pre-sales," or just to be informed of what's currently in stock.

• A good tailor can a hem a pair of pants or sew a button. But sometimes if the merchandise is damaged beyond repair, it's not worth spending more on the repair than you did on the item. So pass it up, no matter how cheap the price.