Unlock Hidden Savings: Why Shopping Directly with Brands Beats Retailer Sales
Hidden Savings: Why Brand Websites Beat Retailer Sales

Daily Mail journalists meticulously select and curate the products featured on our site. It is important to note that if you make a purchase via links on this page, we will earn a commission. You can learn more about this process. While many of us relish the opportunity to snag a bargain during major sales events—John Lewis, for instance, is currently running a fabulous womenswear and home sale—there is an often-overlooked strategy that savvy shoppers should consider: direct shopping.

The Power of Shopping Directly with Brands

Yes, large retailers offer the convenience of accessing numerous big brands under one virtual roof. However, this does not automatically guarantee you will secure the best available price. My personal secret to uncovering genuine bargains involves proactively seeking out sales and promotional deals directly from the official websites of brands themselves.

Beyond Price: The Added Benefits

Not only might you occasionally find the specific item you desire at a more attractive price point, but brand websites frequently extend discounts across a broader range of similar product models. For example, while you could find a good deal on a particular coffee machine or air fryer at Currys, or discover royal-approved fashion items on sale at John Lewis, the brand's own online store is likely to have a multitude of comparable items all significantly reduced.

Naturally, this is not an absolute rule; sometimes, the larger retailers do indeed offer the most competitive prices. Yet, in today's retail landscape, you will often discover that you can purchase what you need directly from the brand's site at an identical price, frequently accompanied by a superior warranty or customer service package.

Expert Insight into Deal Hunting

With years of experience writing about, reviewing, and rigorously testing products—including extensive coverage of major deal events like Black Friday—I am exceptionally well-equipped to identify these less-publicised offers on the items you truly need. Based on this expertise, here are my current recommendations for where to shop to find the best deals across appliances, homewares, fashion, and beauty.

Top Direct Shopping Destinations for Deals

ProCook

  • For discounts across cooking, baking, and dining essentials.
  • Soho Cookware set – Was £99
  • Malmo Dove Grey Salad Plate – Was £7
  • Malmo Dove Grey Deep Serving Bowl – Was £25
  • Barista Elite Bean to Cup Espresso Coffee Machine – Was £599

Le Creuset

  • For mega discounts on luxury cooking and bakeware.
  • Stoneware Set of 4 Mugs – Was £63
  • Cast Iron Shallow Casserole – Was £275
  • Toughened Non-Stick Sauté Pan with Helper Handle – Was £189
  • 3-Piece Essential Bakeware Set – Was £95

Appliances Direct

  • For home, garden, and small appliance deals.
  • Boss Grill The Egg
  • De'Longhi Magnifica Evo
  • Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer
  • Hoover H-Wash 500 Washing Machine

VAX

  • For home and floorcare deals.
  • Vax LiftOut Pet Vacuum – Was £249.99
  • Vax Blade 4 Cordless Vacuum – Was £219.99

Karcher

  • For indoor and outdoor cleaning, especially useful in winter.
  • Wet and Dry Vacuum WD 6 Premium – Was £249.99
  • Window Vac WV 5 Plus – Was £89.99
  • High Pressure Washer K 4 Power Control Flex Home – Was £279.99

Shark

  • For direct deals on vacuums and premium beauty technology.
  • Shark Upright vacuum – Was £269
  • Shark Power Pro – Was £249.99
  • Shark SpeedStyle Pro – Was £179.99
  • Shark VacMop – Was £129.97

Aspinal of London

  • For chic bags and accessories that exude an 'old money' aesthetic.
  • Hobo Capri Blue Pebble Bag – Was £395
  • Chevron Woven Leather Gloves – Was £225
  • Passport Cover – Was £85
  • Merino Wool Scarf – Was £190

Hobbs

  • For deals on comfortable and flattering winter fashion.
  • Foley Straight Jeans – Was £99
  • Audrey Jumper – Was £95
  • Dita Jeans – Was £119
  • Josie Shearling Lined Boots – Was £189

Charlotte Tilbury

  • For premium beauty deals and discounts on popular sets.
  • HYDRATION & RADIANCE SKIN DUO – Was £103
  • CHARLOTTE'S ICONIC MAGIC MINI SKIN SET – Was £48

Estee Lauder

  • For skincare and beauty products designed to maintain a youthful complexion.
  • Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex – Was £65
  • Advanced Night Cleansing Balm Cleanser with Lipid-Rich Oil Infusion – Was £46
  • Turbo Lash High Powered Volume + Length Mascara – Was £32
  • The Brow Multitasker – Was £30

The Verdict on Direct Discounts

Can you always secure better discounts by shopping directly? Not invariably, but you can occasionally discover a hidden gem of a deal or, at the very least, a price-matched offer equivalent to those from larger retailers. Furthermore, direct brand websites often run discounts on products outside of the typical major sales periods. Therefore, if you require an item and cannot wait for events like Black Friday or Prime Day, it undoubtedly pays to invest time in shopping around and checking the brand's own online storefront.