Secret Shopper UK: Designer bargains at the click of a button
Pakistanis may love their designer labels but, until recently, the only way to buy top end designers in Pakistan was at a handful of over-priced boutiques. Online outlets like The Outnet may sell discounted designer clothes and accessories but they don’t ship to Pakistan. Flash sale sites such as Vente Privee offer designers like Missoni for under £100 but again, don't ship to Pakistan.
Pakistani entrepreneurs are now starting to bring the concept of private shopping sites and flash sales to Pakistan. For example, Secret Stash holds flash sales of overstock from the likes of Sania Maskatiya and Nida Azwer. They also offer new and used designer accessories that are being sold by clients.
Secret Shopper UK, run by expat Lahori Bushra Taimur, goes even further. It offers a wide range of luxury designer accessories from the likes of Jimmy Choo and YSL at brilliant discounts. Based on a Facebook group, the company only sells genuine designer goods direct from retailers. It sounds too good to be true but Taimur’s credentials are impeccable.
“My reputation is my fortune. My entire business is based on trust and we only sell authentic designer accessories.”
Fashion lovers abroad know that you don’t have to pay retail for high-end designer labels. Savvy shoppers take advantage of sales, special promotions and outlet malls for the best deals. Taimur started out taking advantage of these deals for friends and family and slowly, by word of mouth, her little enterprise has grown into a proper business.
“It really started when I was in Lahore once and a relative asked me to pick something for my mother from a designer boutique there. Not only was I shocked at the prices, which were exorbitant, I was stunned to see fakes being passed off as authentic designer pieces.”
Apart from the question of authenticity, Taimur realised that the prices in Pakistan were way higher than those that she could get in London. Taimur set up Secret Shopper with an ex-accountant Hina Maryyum, who also moved to England from Lahore. As her clientele has grown, she has developed relationships with stores and outlets in the UK and can thus offer year-round discounts although there are more deals available in sale season.
Secret Shopper also sources designer goods from Europe and the US, taking advantage of reputed flash sale sites and outlet malls abroad. Anyone who’s shopped at Bicester (near Oxford) or The Mall near Florence, knows the phenomenal deals that you can get from such places and Secret Shopper brings those deals right to your Facebook news feed.
Recent bargains included a Alexander McQueen baby blue leather knuckle clutch for £685 down from £1200. Secret Shopper’s prices include Customs Clearance and Duty so the buyer only pays for shipping to Pakistan, which ranges between £5-30.
When they have a deal from a retailer, Secret Shopper posts pictures on their Facebook page. Customers can also give them a wishlist and a budget – for example, one customer wanted a Gucci purse in under £500. Secret Shopper sent her pictures by Whatsapp, allowing her to choose what she wanted.
A key feature of the business model is trust. The Facebook group is a closed group and you can only become a member through a reference,
“We don’t hold stock. Everything we buy is discounted and thus non-refundable – if a customer backs out, then we are stuck with it. Having a closed group gives us an added level of comfort because everyone has been referred by someone we know. Similarly, our customers trust us more because we have mutual acquaintances.”
Secret Shopper UK is no fly by night affair. Taimur was a banker for 11 years and started this venture when she was visiting Pakistan on Maternity leave. The company is registered in the UK and has an affiliate in Pakistan. They accept payment through Paypal, Online or through their bankers in pounds or rupees.
Secret Shopper also offers a personal shopping service, charging 10% or between £10-50 per item. For customers who want a lot of items, they offer bulk deals.
“We will have customers who want a certain number of things from Primark, pieces from Zara and other stores. We will liaise with them on Whatsapp and then charge them a flat fee.”
While some customers use Secret Shopper UK to stock up on high street items, others will hire them to purchase big ticket items on which there is no discount. Items such as Chanel or Hermes bags never go on sale but people will buy them through Secret Shopper simply for the convenience of having them delivered direct.
While personal shopping may be an inspired add-on, it’s Secret Shopper’s brilliant discounts that keep shoppers clicking on their Facebook page. It’s sites like Secret Shopper that are bringing the concept of online outlet shopping and private sales to Pakistan. Exclusive names at huge markdowns? What’s not to love!
All photos have been taken from the Secret Shopper Facebook page.
Salima Feerasta is a freelance journalist and the creative force behind style blog www.karachista.com. Follow her on Twitter @karachista