Back to School

Fall is approaching fast, and the staff here at Clearance Charms could not be more thrilled! I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina where Fall produces the most breathtaking colors splotched throughout the trees. Vivid yellows and reds overcome the mountain peaks and the air begins to fill with a touch of chill. Fall has always been my favorite season for so many reasons – crunching leaves, my September birthday, cool nights, and the return to school.

That’s right, I was one of those children who regarded Back to School as a Fall Christmas; it meant new clothes, fresh school supplies, and new experiences. My mother still clings to my ladybug backpack and huge bows I wore everyday in my hair, which are clear reminders of how time flies. As the years went by, school became more routine and less exciting to return to, until it happened – suddenly I had graduated and was off to college. Once again I looked forward to Fall with anticipation and fear – Was I ready for this?

College revived my love of Fall and Back to School. For all those entering college – cherish every moment! It is the time in your life where you have the freedom to become the person you have always wanted to be. It is intimidating at first, but we have compiled a list of Freshman Must Haves to help you look and feel your best on your first day!

Freshman Survival Guide:

• Cute totes – perfect for lugging around all those Gen Ed books
• Comfy flats and sandals – ideal for those long walks to across campus
• Layers – just as easy to throw on as a pair of sweatpants. Let’s not get lazy!
• Highlighters – an office favorite here at NewDreamz
• Planner – my lifesaver in college (no really, go buy one IMMEDIATELY)
• Fun jewelry – stand out from the rest and show your personality!
• A killer smile – be happy, be outgoing – make new friends!

(1. Clearance Charms Jewelry  2. Future Paradise sweater 3. Kate Spade planner and Sharpie highlighter 4. Kate Spade belt 5. The Addison Story dress 6. Tory Burch flats 7. Mar y Sol bag)

Obviously there are tons of essentials we’ve left off – but shower shoes and storage bins just aren’t as much fun! Remember that though it seems like a long time, it is over so quickly so enjoy it while it lasts! Join lots of clubs, take classes about things you would never learn about otherwise, and meet as many people as possible. Happy (Almost) Fall and good luck!

“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” – You’ve Got Mail

Question of the Week: How to Create an Account

This is a certainly a common occurrence, and an easy fix!

Problem 1: There is a difference between signing up for the Clearance Charms email list and creating an account. If you are on the homepage and a pop up appears, filling in the information will not create an account for you. The pop up is there specifically to sign you up to receive our promotions and notifications via email, not to add you to our accounts.

Solution 1: From the home screen click on MY ACCOUNT listed at the top of the page.

When the MY ACCOUNT page has loaded (refer to the picture below in Solution 2), please click the link to the left under ‘Create a New Account.’

Fill in your personal information and hit the ‘Create My Account’ button. You may now use the email and password you have provided to sign in and proceed to checkout.

Problem 2: If you have shopped with us before then simply login on the right side of the screen, entering your email address and password you have created

 

Problem 3: If you have created an account but do not remember your password, there is a link below the Sign In for forgotten passwords. Click on the ‘Forgot Your Password?’ link and it will ask you to give the email address used to create the account.

Solution 3: Upon hitting submit, your password will be emailed to the address provided. If you do not remember the email you used, please contact a customer service representative at 1-800-409-1772, or create a new account.

Now that you should be officially registered, please enjoy and happy shopping!!!

When Size Matters

Another week has come and gone.   Fall leaves and sharpened pencils are just around the corner.  And don’t be alarmed, but holiday festivities won’t be far behind.  As I cling for dear life to these last few glorious summer days, I can’t help but remember how quickly the holiday season flew by – just like these too short summer months.

In an effort to be ahead of the game this year, I’m already scheming away for the perfect gifts.  No last minute gift cards from me this year, no siree!  For all the ladies in my life, the answer is obvious; beads are highly gift-able.  For those woefully behind friends and family that are late to the beautiful world of charms, personalized “starter” bracelets are a lovely thought.

And of course, for ladies who already have beautiful designs, I’m starting to subtly discern what would fit well on their bracelet.  What charm do they need to balance that beautiful Faceted Crystal, for instance?  We are often asked questions regarding charm sizing.  For example,

How big is the Aqua Crystal Charm compared to the Pink Freshwater Pearl?

To help you determine how the size of a potential charm will work with your current design, we are adding exact measurements for every item to each product description.  You can see these measurements when you click on a particular charm and read the Product Description.  But sometimes relativity is key.  Below are a few images that display size differences among our most popular categories.  We hope this helps you determine which piece is best for you!

Our most popular Crystal Charms in various shapes & sizes…

 

In the mood to dangle?

 

The Silver Lining…

Can you see the difference between the Small & Large CZ Charms?

See how our most popular shapes shape up…

Don’t forget the Arm Candy…

Sizing General Rules of Thumb:

• Fimo Clay Charms & Semi-Precious Stones are the largest in width.
• Designer Glass Charms are usually larger than standard Murano Glass Charms
• Large CZ Charms have bigger stones than Small CZ Charms
• Spacers are skinny!
• Swarovski Crystal Charms are about the same size as Murano Glass Charms
• Signature Charms are on the whole a bit larger than the rest of the collection.
• Faceted Crystal Charms & Faceted CZ Charms are about the same size but Faceted Crystals are much lighter than CZs

And when all else fails, just ask!! We are happy to tell you specifically how one bead stacks up next to another!

Stand Out in a Crowd

Disclaimer:  what I’m about to say is going to sound completely egocentric.  But I assure you, it comes from an entirely self-conscious place, not from one of vanity.

Since moving to Charleston from Boston a few years ago, I’ve found people staring at me with much more frequency than one might expect.  I know, I know, you’ve already forgotten my disclaimer.  I swear it’s true – walk into a restaurant and BAM!  All eyes on me.  It’s downright disarming. 

At first I thought they were going starry-eyed over my incredibly handsome fella (no exaggeration necessary).  But then I started paying closer attention and realized this phenomenon of the eyes occurred just as often when I was alone.  I find myself to be a fairly average looking person, of average height and average skin tone.  I just couldn’t figure out what it was they found so intriguing.  I started panicking; is my hair a mess?  Is my skirt tucked into my undies?  Is there dog slobber all over my pants?  Once I added a more strenuous appearance inspection to my daily routine and realized it was still happening, I began to think it must be something about my overall appearance. 

Then it hit me.  I don’t dress Charleston. 

I still dress like I would to work in Boston, or to dinner in San Francisco.  That has to be it, right?  So I took to polling my co-workers the dreaded question, do I stand out here?   To add to my frustration, the answer was mixed.  As I sat debating how over-the-top my favorite Jimmy Choos are, one of the girls asked the ultimate question…

“Why do you want to blend in?”

What an obvious place to start that I had completely overlooked.  As vain as this might seem, I’ve spent my years perfecting a very personalized wardrobe.  I’ve scoured and saved for the shoes only a bold woman might dare to walk in.  I spend my days urging you to be dazzling in your choice of accessories – and I mean it.  So why on earth was I letting a bunch of strangers make me second guess choices that define not only my style, but my personality? 

I am (generally) a confident, successful, outgoing person.  How on earth did I get sucked into an utterly teenage-like vortex of self doubt?  I don’t know how I got there, but I’ll tell you one thing; never again.  I’ll say it loud and proud –

I LOVE ACCESSORIES!

I love my shoes. I love my bags. 

I love hair fascinators. 

I love Crystal Charms!

I love 4 bangles at once!

I’m more than a little ashamed that I was trying to be something I’m not, that I was trying to blend in.  The best dressers are the most inventive ones.  The people who can meticulously craft a look that is unique to them are the ones we pin up to our inspiration boards – not the women who play it safe.  I was so tickled to work for Clearance Charms because that’s what charms are all about, isn’t it?  It’s the sheer personalized nature of our bracelets that make them amazing (well, that and the sparkle).  Individuality is as paramount to a beautiful bracelet design as it is to fashionable dressing.

I swear to you hear and now, with beads as my witness, that I will always follow my own fashion path.  And I hope you will too.

xoxo

 

Question of the Week: Promotion Codes

I am trying to checkout but my Promo Code isn’t working on some of the items in my cart. I am also trying to use another $5 off postcard code that I received with my last order. It won’t accept that either, what gives?

We have many customer questions dealing with all aspects of our promotion codes. Let’s go over the basics so we can try to cover any questions you may have.

First, let’s start with where you enter the promotion code. You can find promotion codes on our site, through email, and via postcards once you receive an order. We love to give our customer’s the best deal possible and hope you enjoy these added discounts.

After you log in to your account and select your fabulous items, you will proceed to checkout where you will go through a few steps. First, you will need to enter your billing address. Step 2 is to enter your shipping address if it deviates from the previous address. In step 3 you will select your shipping method. Step 4 is where the promotion code will be entered. This is your order confirmation section, where you will go over the items you have chosen.

You will enter the promotion code in the bottom right hand corner where it says [Redeem a Gift Certificate or Coupon]. Type the code in this box and press the [Apply] button.

Remember – Promotions do not work on Clearance Items.

You can find these exclusions at the bottom of your email, below the actual ad:

On the Clearance Page: Clearance Sale Items are excluded from further promotion or discount and are final sale.

If you have a regular priced item in your cart for $24.99 and 3 clearance items and you want to use a postcard promo code it will not work. This is due to the subtotal requirement. All of our $5 off postcard promo codes must be a subtotal minimum of $30. This only includes full priced items. Here is an example: the Subtotal is $35.96 but the only full priced item only totals $24.99. Therefore, you will receive an error message: Your order does not meet the minimum order total excluding promotion products for this coupon code to be applied. Please spend another $5.01 first.

You need to add another non-clearance item of at least $5.01 to receive this discount. This is also true for other promotion codes that have a minimum subtotal requirement.

Remember – you cannot use more than one promotion code per transaction.

You are unable to combine promotion codes. If you have a promo for 40% off Silver Beads and Charms if you spend $50 with the [SAND] code you can’t use your $5 off postcard code [NewDreamz]. This holds true for all promotion codes including: postcards, email offers, daily deals, etc. You want to make sure you use the code that saves you the most money by itself.

Don’t forget to check out our Daily Deals that can be found on the homepage. They change daily!

 

How To: A Guide for Using Safety Chains

Our much anticipated Safety Chains have arrived at Clearance Charms! We are thrilled to offer these sought after items to our customers. The Safety Chains are comprised of a 2 ½ inch chain with a stopper on each side to protect you from losing your bracelet when the clasp opens. Using the guide below, you will be able to easily place the chain on your bracelet and enjoy the extra security it brings to you!

Note: You can find the names and SKUs of the items pictured at the bottom of the page.

Place one end of the safety chain on the end of the bracelet and push and twist to get it on, like you would a stopper. Slide the chain all the way to the end of the bracelet where it meets the clasp.

Before applying the second end of the stopper, fill your bracelet with the beads and charms you desire to have on your bracelet. Once you have all the charms on the bracelet, repeat steps 1 and 2 to put the second stopper onto the bracelet.

Once the second stopper is secure on the bracelet, you’re all set! Put the bracelet on your wrist open and then clasp it, allowing the chain to dangle and enjoy!

 

Voila! And now you’re ready to enjoy your beautiful design without the worry of losing your bracelet or charms!

 

Dear Fork…

Go ahead and giggle, I know you want to.

xoxo

A little Tuesday Glamour…

Just because we thought you (like us) might need a little dose of high glamour this morning. Take a five minute break and dream into a world dripping in lace and crystal…

Credit: Ellie Saab Couture, 2. tumblr_loz9043JUY1qatnp5o1_500  3. tumblr_lpmevgckqX1qatnp5o1_500  4.  Christian Louboutin.  5. http://www.clearancecharms.com/ 6. http://lifecanbeperfect.tumblr.com/   7.  http://pulchritudinous-x.tumblr.com/post/7850553496

Think Happy Thoughts…

http://www.clearancecharms.com/

Wishes & Whimsy

This Friday afternoon we encourage you to add a little whimsy to your weekend.  Embrace your days with childlike enthusiasm to make the most of your days off or new projects.

What are you wishing for?