In theory, it would be grand.

In theory, communism works.

Flash forward to a Friday afternoon; the storm clouds are rolling in and we’re moving quickly to pitch the tent and load it with our sleeping necessities. As the first drops of rain begin to sprinkle the campground we unfold an additional tarp to keep us dry. The wind picks up, the rain intensifies, and we just barely set the tarp to cover our tent from rain and wind before the heavens unleash a torrent of rain.

Inside the tent, my fiance and I were entertained by reading books together and drinking a shit ton of beer. Lightning and thunder punctuated the entire first day of our trip, but we were drunk on beer and good feelings. The sun began to set and I laid down to relax.

“Uh, Matt?” she asked me, “The water from the lake is coming towards the tent.”

I sat up straight and looked through the tent window; yep, the buckets of rain were flooding the lake. The water was merely a few feet from our tent, threatening to drown us.

“Shit,” I said. Isn’t that just the universal phrase all men use when something unpleasant and unexpected happens?

What followed was a mad dash of cooperation and teamwork as the two of us undid all of our hard work. We untied the tarp, pulled up the stakes from the tent, and dragged everything another twenty feet from the water’s edge. Lightning crashed in the distance and thunder rumbled so hard I could feel it shaking the muddy ground.

Our campsite now moved to a more secure location, we dove back into the tent and spent the next few hours naked, trying to dry ourselves off with damp towels.

Call me a masochist, but this kind of beginning to a camping trip is a portent for a great weekend.

The rest of our weekend was filled with windy weather, intermittent rain showers, and tremendous heaps of laughter, but the highlight of it all was the jambalaya.

My favorite meal in all of creation, jambalaya is a weekly dinner in my home. With a lot of trial and error, we’ve come up with a pretty damn fine recipe. We excitedly brought the ingredients with us and cooked it for the first time on a campfire. It was smoky perfection, and was a perfect cap to our weekend of camping.

I’ll give you guys the recipe for it. Feel free to take credit for it as your own secret recipe if you’ve got people to impress. But if you do, you’ve got to make me a promise.

Promise that you’ll go camping sometime soon, and you’ll cook it over a fire with a few beers in your belly. It’s the best way to enjoy this filling and delectable recipe.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup bell pepper,diced
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 2-4 jalapeno, diced (while camping, I grilled the jalapeno and added them whole to the jambalaya)
• 1 cup tomato, diced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon creole seasoning
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg (or cinnamon)
• 4 bay leaves
• 2-4 cloves of garlic, minced (up to your taste)
• 1/2 cup dry rice (white works better than brown for this recipe)
• 1 lb chicken, diced
• 1/2 lb chorizo sausage
• 12 ounces chicken stock
• 12 ounces of beer

You’ll need three bowls for prepping the recipe:

• One bowl for the peppers, celery, and onion
• One bowl for the tomato, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic, and bay leaves
• One bowl for the meat, nutmeg, and creole seasoning

Preparation

• Dice the peppers, celery, and onion and add into their own bowl
• Dice the tomato and mince the garlic, adding them to their own bowl. Add the sauces, the bay leaves, and the garlic
• Cut the chicken into cubes and add the sausage. I prefer buying chorizo sausage links and removing the casing. The meat seems less oily and greasy. You can also cut the sausage into a coin-shape if you prefer. Add these to a bowl and mix together with the nutmeg and the Creole seasoning

  

Cooking

• Add oil to a large saucepan and cook the peppers, celery, and onion on high heat for about 3-4 minutes
• Add the contents of the bowl containing the tomato, bay leaves, garlic, and sauces, reducing the heat to medium
• Stir the contents of the pot and add the 1/2 cup of rice
• Pour in the chicken stock and the can of beer, stir to mix ingredients
• Cover the container and cook for about 15 minutes, until the rice is just starting to become tender
• Remove the cover and add the meat to the pot, cook for about 10 minutes until the meat is done

Tricks for Cooking While Camping

• We precooked the rice at home and added it to the almost-finished jambalaya
• Save yourself some trouble and do the prepping (dicing vegetables, cutting meat, etc.) at home
• Bring a good quality hot pad for moving the cast iron pot

All done! This jambalaya pairs well with a hoppy IPA and good company, and it tastes best when the ingredients are from your own garden.

Enjoy!

The post Campfire Jambalaya: The Next Time You Go Camping, Try This Recipe appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Because with new collections being pumped out constantly, there are bound to be some great options. But for every good piece, there are generally at least twice as many bad ones. Luckily, a few fast fashion retailers have stepped up their game, and consistently release solid collections month after month.

So if you’re just starting to test the waters of the menswear scene, you might want to consider looking past your usual stops in favor of these minimalist menswear powerhouses.

Uniqlo

Uniqlo is one of our favorite places to shop, and their clothes have a place in almost anyone’s collection. Whether you’re just starting to develop your own sense of style or you’ve got an established wardrobe to add to, Uniqlo’s lineup offers consistent quality on a massive selection of styles.

We can’t think of anywhere else that has a better pair of basic black jeans for the price — especially considering how long they last. Their oxford cloth button down shirts come in a wide range of colors, fits, and styles, and they’re perfect for casual wear or for dressing up. From socks to rain jackets, Uniqlo’s impressive quality control keeps us coming back, and we’ve yet to be disappointed.

Muji

Muji’s minimal aesthetic and great value stem directly from the name. The brand started out under the name “Mujirushi Ryohin,” which translates to “no-brand” and “quality goods.” Today, they still stand by their mantra of “No brand branding” which gives their products a distinctive look, and minimal packaging, advertising, and marketing helps keep costs low. While Muji’s price point is a bit higher than Uniqlo, the higher-quality materials and unique shopping experience more than justify that jump in price.

Topman

Even if you’re not all that interested in fashion, chances are you’ve been inside or at least walked by a Topman/Topshop outlet at some point in your life, especially if you’re reading this from across the pond. While we’ve definitely come across some, shall we say, less desirable pieces at Topman, we’ve also found some gems.

We’d recommend stopping by Uniqlo for your basic tees, jeans, underwear and whatnot, but if you’re looking to add a little something extra to your repertoire we suggest you give Topman a chance. They make up for their lack of consistency with a wide selection of perfectly cut shirts and jackets in a variety of styles. From simple brown aviator jackets with classic fur collars to thick flannel over shirts in cozy fall tones, Topman is bound to have something interesting you can work into your closet without breaking the bank.

COS
The last brand we wanted to mention is a bit lesser-known than the rest. They go by the name of COS, which stands for Collection of Style. Launched in 2007 in London, COS is one of H&M’s five individual concept brands. Their minimal designs are inspired by architecture, graphics, and design. The style is defined by more timeless characteristics to stray away from the widespread on-trend inspiration seen in many popular labels.

That being said, they have recently collaborated with various artists and high fashion houses such as Donald Judd and Jil Sander. The seamless design at COS’s 139 stores is replicated in their repertoire of refined menswear classics like pleated pants, Mandarin-collared button downs and perfectly cut tee shirts.

Discover why you should not get your fashion and style advice from GQ.

The post Minimalist Men’s Clothing Shops With Prices to Match appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Most people assume that the size on the tag is all they need when shopping, but that’s far from the truth. Whether it’s a shirt, pair of pants, shoes, or even a jacket, there are so many factors other than the tag size that determine how a piece of clothing will fit on you.

It’s important to understand the basics of fit so you don’t end up looking like you borrowed a shirt from your retired dad’s ’80s-era work wardrobe.

T-Shirts

Owning a well fitting tee can make a world of difference in the way your outfit comes together, and it’s always worth spending a few extra bucks to find one. There’s a fine line between too tight, a good fit, and too big. When you’re shopping, try to make sure the shoulder seam lines up with the edge of your shoulder; this will ensure the proper sleeve length.

The fit of the sleeves is up to you, but tight sleeves on bigger biceps can look disproportionate, while loose sleeves on skinnier arms can make them look even skinner. The hem of the tee should sit just past the button on your pants.

Button-Down Shirts

Finding a button-down shirt that fits perfectly can be tough, and might require a bit of shopping around. The collar should be fairly snug, but not tight.

If you can fit two fingers between your neck and the buttoned collar, you’re set. Just like t-shirts, the shoulder seams should line up with the edge of your shoulder. The sleeves should be fitted, but not tight around your bicep or loose around the forearm. The cuff should stop where your palm starts, and it should be tight enough to not fall down your hand.

Finally, the length should be long enough that the shirt doesn’t untuck if you put your arms behind your head, so the hem should end around the middle of your pant zipper.

Pants

The fit of your pants can make or break an outfit, so it’s important to find a pair that is comfortable and well-fitting.

First off, you should never need a belt to keep your pants on your hips. You definitely don’t want your pants to restrict your movement, so you should avoid overly tight pants or jeans. Slim and skinny are good, skin tight is bad. With that being said, don’t do the opposite and go too baggy. Slim in the thigh, slim or tapered from the knee down is a good guideline to go by.

In terms of length, aim to have the pants break once at the top of your shoe or not at all.

Jackets

Jackets can be kind of tough since there are so many different styles, each designed to fit differently.

Rather than going through every style we can think of, we’re just going to throw down some general guidelines that you can easily refer to. Similar to shirts and button downs, you want to aim to have the shoulder seam line up with the edge of your shoulder. This will provide a baseline for the fit of the rest of the jacket, while ensuring that the sleeves aren’t too baggy or too short. Moving down, check that the jacket doesn’t pull across the chest when it’s done up, this indicates that it’s too tight. With that being said, if it feels baggy or loose when it’s done up, expect it to look a lot worse if you plan to wear it open.

While there are plenty of variables that determine how a garment will look when worn, there are a few vital measurements that really make a difference. If you can abide by the points mentioned above, you can drastically improve the look of your outfits, regardless of the occasion. If you’re still unsure or feel that there’s room for improvement, take a trip to your local tailor. Their job is to make your clothes look good on you and they’ll gladly work with you to make sure they fit you perfectly.

The post Don’t Forget the Fit: Dress Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Food Cooler

Some might say I’m a little obsessed with cooler maintenance. But seriously, I value preserving the integrity of my food and my cold beverages. Have you ever opened a cooler to find your bacon floating in a pool of greasy ice water? To prevent this travesty:

1. Acquire two or three large wide-mouth plastic jars with air-tight lids.
2. Fill the jars 3/4 with water and freeze. These will provide a contained ice situation for the first part of your trip.
3. When the ice melts, you can drink the water or use it for washing, and then refill the containers with party ice or, preferably, small hunks of block ice (see “ice pick” on the packing list). Keep all ice contained, thus preventing the bottom of your cooler from filling with treacherous water.

Another idea: make soup or sauce at home, freeze in screw-top  plastic container (the snap top kind may leak), and pack in your cooler. You’ll conserve ice while freeing up more camping time for lazing around.

Beverage Cooler

Always bring a separate cooler for beverages. This is particularly important if you’re hanging out with beer-drinking buddies who open the cooler every five minutes. If you keep your coolers segregated, you’ll conserve ice and prevent your food from getting rifled. You’ll want to buy ice for your drink cooler from the get-go, but add a couple of frozen water bottles to make it last longer.

Cooler Packing List: 

2 coolers

3 frozen water bottles

2 large plastic jars of frozen water

extra Tupperware for leftovers

ice pick

Permanent Portable Camp Kitchen

Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you should resort to savagery and subsist exclusively on burnt hot dogs. Camping can be a fun time to do some leisurely cooking. (Tip from a pro: Everyone will be way more impressed with your culinary talents because people have lower standards when camping.) To save the headache of packing, keep a trunk or storage bin packed with a summer camp kitchen, including cooking oil and a box of spices. (You don’t need to spend a ton of money on this–most of these items can be found at yard sales or in your own overstocked home kitchen.)

A note on plates:

I try to be environmentally conscious, but dishes can get out of control if you’re camped in a spot with limited facilities. For larger groups I go with paper boats, which are sturdier, easier to balance, and more versatile than paper plates. You can get a good deal on a huge stack at Cash-and-Carry or another restaurant supply place. Or you can order online (they also have an unbleached version).

Other cool equipment:

1. This koozie is at once functional and pleasingly stealthy.
2. If you’re keeping your eggs in the cooler (a good idea if there’s wild animals around), consider this egg case, which is far superior to a disintegrating egg carton.
3. Luci solar lights are small, lightweight, waterproof, and put out a lot of light. Bonus: save on batteries.
4. I haven’t tried this particular model, but stretchy camp chairs are the best. (The more chairs you have the fewer people will be sitting on your beer cooler.)
5. Kitchen scissors are great if want to avoid dirtying your cutting board.

Ultimate packing list:

barbecue tongs

tinfoil

kitchen scissors

paper towels

heavy-duty Ziploc bags

heavy-duty garbage bags

plastic bin for washing dishes

folding dish rack and/or towel for drying dishes

dish soap

scrubby

2 large frying pans

large cook pot

cutting board

coffee cone

coffee filters

mugs

metal cups

paper boats

Tupperware bowls

extra-large Tupperware for mixing and/or salad

colander

2 decent knives

2 small cutting boards

forks and spoons

2 spatulas

large metal spoon

camp stove

lighter

ice pick

can opener

wine/bottle opener

salt

pepper

spices

cooking oil

drink koozies

pot holder

dish towel

optional (if you’re fancy):

vegetable peeler

cheese grater

kettle

cast iron dutch oven

food tents to keep the flies away

small cooler specifically for drink ice

cocktail shaker

simple syrup

bitters

The post Packing the Ultimate Camp Kitchen appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

After multiple test runs with different VR devices, I can safely break down the VR categories into digestible bites. Let’s dig in.

The Hobbyist

If you’re looking for a simple escape from reality or to kick back in your own virtual home theater, check out the new Google Daydream View. Priced at a very reasonable $49.00, this is a great introductory foray into virtual reality.

Made from breathable fabric, this headset is relatively comfortable to wear and looks the least clunky, but there have been complaints about light leakage through the sides of the device. Attach your 5 inch or 5.5 inch Google Pixel smartphone into the slot on the front of the View and connect to the headset via NFC, or Near Field Connection. Once connected, use the provided remote to navigate through the Android companion app. Download compatible games or search for other apps like Netflix VR and Youtube VR.

Keep in mind, this headset only works for Google’s Pixel phone lineup and has a limited compatible app library. However, VR is becoming a larger and larger focus for Google, so be on the lookout for massive increase in compatible apps for this device.

The Enthusiast

With a much larger compatible app library and a more secure fit, the Samsung Gear VR is the next step up at a reasonable $99.99.

Working at Car-Tel Communications, an Authorized AT&T Retailer, and owning a Samsung Galaxy S6, the Gear VR is the headset I have the most experience with. Compatible with the Samsung Galaxy lineup starting with the S5 through the S7 Edge, the Gear VR is the most widely applicable virtual reality headset on the market.

The Gear VR fits snugly against any size head, allowing little to no light to leak through the sides. Although it comes with a trackpad and clickable buttons built into the side of the device, any serious mobile gamer should purchase an external Bluetooth controller to get the full experience the Gear VR has to offer.

Connect your compatible Galaxy device via micro USB and clip it to the front of the Gear VR. Once you select your app, whether it be Netflix VR or GunJack, make sure you sit down; I’ve personally seen one or two customers fall over within a few seconds.

The Gamer

For the casual gamer looking for a new challenge, the PS VR was made for you. Unlike the Google Daydream View or the Gear VR, we are now in the tethered virtual reality sector. Video processing has now moved from the headset to a stand-alone computer, or in this case a Playstation 4.

If you don’t already own a PS4, the grand total comes to about $1000 for a 500GB PS4 and the PS VR Launch Bundle, which comes with the headset, VR controllers, the Playstation camera, and the VR Worlds game.

With the higher price-tag comes a much better experience. The total resolution of the PS VR is 1920×1080, or 960×1080 per eye, so right off the bat you are getting a much higher resolution than any virtual reality experience that a cellphone can provide. Playstation also provides more mainstream VR titles like Ace Combat, Batman Arkham VR, Resident Evil 7, and Gran Turismo. These are not simply older games played on a VR headset; all of these games have been optimized for the PS VR system so you can expect seamless integration with the sight, sounds, and controls offered by the PS VR.

The Zealot

For those accustomed to bottles of Mountain Dew, gaming sessions that last till dawn, and “Rigs” that run so hot they need to be water cooled, the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive are the top of the line Virtual Reality headsets on the market today.

If you are looking to venture into this space, be warned, you need a serious gaming computer to play these games how they were meant to be played. I own an Asus ROG with a 2.6Ghz Core i7, a Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M GPU, and 16.0 GB of RAM and I don’t even meet the lowest benchmark for Steam’s HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift. Before you buy, run a diagnostics check through Steam or download the diagnostics program on Oculus’ website.

If your Rig is up to snuff, then you probably don’t need my two cents, but for those who are thinking about making the $1500 to $2000 investment in a quality gaming computer plus a HTC Vive or Oculus Rift there are a few differences you should know about. Both have 2,160×1200 OLED resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and 110 degree viewing angle. The main difference comes in the software and sensors. The Vive spouts 37 sensors and a front facing camera providing a Chaperone feature that outlines potential hazards in your physical space within the virtual reality (like the Matrix, but blue!) What the Oculus lacks in sensors it makes up for in games with a 53 and counting VR compatible game library.

Personally, I am waiting for the next generation of virtual reality devices to come out. The available headsets are either too expensive, too clunky, or rely on my phone (which is not quite there in terms of the pixel density for me.) I’m willing to wait and see what comes next, because I have a feeling that the next generation of VR will make us question the nature of our reality.

The post The Do’s and Don’ts of VR: A Virtual Reality Breakdown appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

“I had to wear a helmet in PE during elementary school, and I was made fun of for it, incessantly, in the cruel way only children can really do. But the moment I tackled those incidents on stage and got a laugh — not at me, but with me — a lot of the residual pain disappeared.”

My legs visibly shaking, I walked to the stage and immediately bumped my face on the mic. “My first crush as a child was Levar Burton. He set a high bar… He knew how to read…” and when the audience laughed, my brain filled with the most incredible adrenaline rush. I think I almost started crying, which wasn’t the look I was going for.

Almost a decade later, I’m still performing all the time and loving it.

I’d been wanting to try stand-up for years but was scared to be on stage alone, so I ventured into improv comedy for a year. I quickly realized improv requires teamwork and allowing other people to get the punchline. I really wanted complete control. So finally, I got the nerve to stand on stage by myself and be judged for my ability to make people laugh.

When people find out I do stand-up, the two most common responses I hear are “I’ve always wanted to do that!” or “My friends tell me I should be on SNL,” though, that last one might not necessarily be a compliment. Because you know, most of the time, SNL really isn’t funny.

But here’s the thing about stand-up: anyone can try it. And it’s important to remember that tragedy, plus time, equals comedy. That’s where the whole “too soon?” cliche comes from, after all. Sometimes, our biggest fears make the greatest comedy because they’re really powerful emotionally. For example? I had to wear a helmet in PE during elementary school because of a vision issue and was made fun of for it, incessantly, in the cruel way only children can really do. So because I I waited a long time to talk about it because I was embarrassed. But the moment I said something on stage, and I got a laugh — not at me, but with me — a lot of the residual pain disappeared. It was incredibly cathartic.

So if you’re carrying around some residual pain, and want to try stand-up comedy? I have a few tips.

1. Write some jokes. No seriously. Write some jokes. If you can make them funny, even better? Try to stay away from tired tropes that involve violence, sexism and racism. It’s been done. Be original. Be you. Figure out what your point of view is. What do you notice that other people don’t?

2. Do not tell other people’s jokes. This should be obvious, but don’t steal other people’s material. You will get busted, and no one in the community will trust you again.

3. Go watch a few open mics to see how it works. No matter what city you’re in, if you google comedy open mics, there’s likely one near you. Introduce yourself to the person running the show. Be respectful and watch the show. Notice how the performers use the microphone. Do they hold it in their hand or keep it in the mic stand? Do they lean on it? How you use the space and objects around you can add or take away from what you’re saying. Pay attention to how they use movements or act-outs to create a bigger reaction.

4. Get on stage. There is absolutely no substitute for being on stage. The more you do it, the better you get, the more comfortable you’ll be. Open mics work in numerous ways. Some you need to sign up for in advance, some you sign up when you arrive at the venue. The best way to find out is to talk to someone involved. Many cities have Facebook comedy groups and many have listings of all the local open mics.

“Comedy exists in every crevice of the human experience, from birth to death. Mine your memories and make your dreams come true.”

5. Don’t worry about your “image” or “brand” or business cards at the beginning. I’ve seen many people get too caught up in the dream of worldwide success without having any content to back it up. Write, perform, revise, repeat.

My favorite part about doing stand-up is the moment a joke really works and the audience laughs at all the right spots. It’s an emotional high and motivates me to keep writing so I can keep getting those laughs.

So, what do you have to lose? Get a notebook and start writing down some of your best jokes or observations and head out to an open mic.Comedy exists in every crevice of the human experience, from birth to death. Mine your memories and make your dreams come true.

The post The Time is Now: Here’s How to Get Started Doing Stand-Up appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

A friend of mine bought a fancy set of knives for himself, but noticed it was too flexible, and while cutting anything it would start bending towards the other direction. I pointed out that he had bought a whole set of serrated bread knives, pity. While good knives do cost, always pick carefully. People usually go for the branded ones that are good looking, and knives with some celebrity chef’s signature. And then, they buy the wrong blade and ruin it. Men try crushing a chicken bone, use a tile as the cutting board and even use the wrong cutting technique. These can ruin a delicate blade, and the delicate blades are the best. You don’t care much for your knife? Don’t care for cutting techniques? Go ahead, buy a boring mass-market blade. But if you’re looking for efficiency and flair, and know how to treat your knife, quality blade is what you need in your kitchen arsenal.

While buying a knife, I suggest either a Japanese blade or a German one. A Japanese style knife has a thinner blade hence it is sharper, but at the same time needs more care as it can be less robust. German blades are stronger, have thicker blades, need less care but are nowhere near as sharp as Japanese blades. The Japanese blades are unique. Unlike the common knife, which are cut from metal sheets and then processed and sharpened to get a decent blade, many of the knives of the east are hand forged, and delicately hammered out and sharpened.

Now how does one tell what must one look for when selecting a blade to meet your sharp specifications? Where in the world, apart from Japan, can one find a nice ninja-like Japanese blade, forged by blacksmiths who have been practicing the skill for generations? There are a very few outlets to buy from in North America. One of the most exceptional names in Japanese hand-crafted knives is Masakage Knives. Masakage have their craftsmen hard at work in Japan and supply them via various retailers around the globe. The knives are designed by chefs, and make the strongest blades out of select metals.

FactoryTwoFour sought out expert advice on Japanese knives and a connoisseur on the subject was in need. We contacted just the right person who has great passion for knives, Kevin Kent.

“When choosing knife it’s best to buy from a place you trust has expert knowledge and can help you through the process. Find a store that has a large selection, helpful staff and sample knives to let you test drive the knife before buying.”

And Mr. Kent owns such a chain of knife shops, Knifeware, which meets these excellent standards just as he has described. There you get a chance to test out the blades available for sale. Like the start of any good relationship, one must go on a date first. Right now if you wish to try out, or ‘date’, the various Japanese blades at Knifeware you would have to go to one of the various Knifeware shops in Canada, or maybe, soon, a new Knifeware shop in Japan.

“If you don’t have a shop like that near where you live the internet is the next best option. Good suppliers will have a toll free number so you can call any time and talk to an expert to guide you to the perfect knife. The perfect blade for you is just that, perfect for you.”

So what exactly is the protocol to follow when purchasing a knife? Kevin goes on to tell us…

“Everyone has different needs. First question is what kind of steel? Stainless steels are a great option for people who want easy maintenance. They will stay sharp for a good long time and will not rust. Carbon steel however can rust but will stay sharper longer and give a silkier feeling when slicing. Some knives, my favourite, have carbon steel core wrapped with stainless steel. The maintenance issues are less but you are still cutting with carbon. It’s the future! The nest consideration is the handle. Western handles with a full tang and rivets are heavier and super rugged. A traditional Japanese handle is much lighter and the knife will have a forward balance. I prefer Japanese handles. After that it is all about the right size and the looks. I say grab a knife that you think looks great. You are going to be using it everyday after all, you should look forward to cutting with a sexy blade. The size of knife you should buy is the size you currently use the most often. Easy peasy.”

The post How to Buy a Quality Kitchen Knife appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Knowing how far stores discount is important. Some higher-end, small shops that specialize in certain items may only discount up to 30%, but department stores, such as Barneys, may discount up to 80%. The further the discount, the more regular sizes like Smalls, Mediums, and Larges will be sold out.

Check out the buzz around the item. If people are expecting the item to go on sale, they will wait patiently and attentively. Be careful because these people are vigilant and will pick up the sale item before you.

Use common sense. If the price is right and the item is in stock in your size, buy it. There is nothing worse than getting too greedy, coming back the next day and finding that the item you thought would get discounted even more is sold out. You have to use common sense to know when to give in to the sale. Plus, if you really wanted the item, you would have been saving, right?

If it was sold out before it went on sale, it will sell out once it hits the sales. Normally if items are sold out and then restocked before a sale, the store knows the item will sell. Plan ahead for the sale and make sure you aren’t waiting for nothing.

The post Shopping for Sales appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.