A book that treats the bargain hunt as a subject worthy of serious investigation. Mark Ellwood writes with a journalist’s eye for detail and a shopper’s instinct for a good deal, and the result is an entertaining and genuinely useful guide to the retail world. It earns its place on the shelf of anyone who has ever wondered whether the discount in front of them is real.
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It is an investigation into the world of discount shopping. The book examines how American consumer culture became permanently discount-driven, how retailers use pricing strategies to shape what shoppers perceive as a good deal, and how shoppers have become more savvy in response.
Mark Ellwood is a journalist and television producer. He has reported on retail for the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, W, GQ, The New York Times Style magazine, and Travel + Leisure. He studied English Literature at Cambridge University and earned a Masters at the University of Chicago.
It is for general readers who want to understand how retail and pricing actually work. It also suits business students, marketers, and anyone who works in retail or consumer goods. You do not need a background in economics to follow the arguments.
Yes. The book explains the tricks retailers use and the ways shoppers can respond. It covers topics like sample sales, couponing, flash sales, and how to identify when a discount is genuine.
It combines investigative journalism with practical insight. Ellwood interviews shoppers, retailers, and industry insiders, and he travels to places like Istanbul's bazaars and Florida's couponing heartland. The result is a book that is both informative and entertaining.
