Retail Therapy: Shopper's boon

THE recently launched shopping pamphlet The Good Deal Directory is now available on annual subscription. With a recession-hitting, make-do-and-mend philosophy, it provides shopping tips varying from interesting ways of purchasing near-perfect (or last season's) clothes from factory shops to Viz-style handy hints. For example: 'Fed up with your home, but can't afford to change it? It's amazing what a difference rearranging the furniture can make.'

But some of the money-saving information is extremely useful. Here are a few of the factory outlets listed where you can buy discounted end-of-line and old-stock garments:

Levi Strauss recently opened the Big L Factory Outlet, selling items including jeans (pounds 18.99-pounds 25.99), T-shirts, sweatshirts, shirts and jackets, mostly seconds and end-of-line stock as well as last season's perfects. 34 Commercial Street (opposite the Carlsberg Brewery), Northampton (0604 603022). Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm.

Jaeger factory shop is at The Courtyard, off the Marketplace, Belper, Derbyshire (0773 821320). Tues-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-1pm; Burberry's is at 29 Chatham Place, London E9 (081-985 3344). Mon-Fri 12.30-6pm, Sat 9am-1pm. Aquascutum factory shop has last season's stock, returns, rejects and clearance goods for men and women. Cleveland Road, Maylands Wood Estate, Hemel Hempstead HP2 7EY (0442 248333). Mon-Thurs 10am-4pm, Fri 10am-1.30pm.

Nicole Farhi has a tiny factory shop in London's East End selling some of this season's stock but mainly last season's. 75-83 Fairfield Road, Bow, London E3 (081-981 3931). Tues, Sat 10am-3pm, Thurs 10am-6.30pm, Fri 10am-5.30pm.

Sandersons Clearance Outlet Shop, 2 Pollard Street, Ancoat, Manchester M4 7DS (061 272 8501). Seconds in furnishing fabrics from discontinued patterns, lines and end of ranges, wallpaper and ready-made curtains and duvet covers. Tues-Sun 10am-5.30pm, Thurs 10am-7.30pm.

The Good Deal Directory is published monthly except in January and August and the annual subscription costs pounds 15 (special introductory price). From The Value for Money Company Ltd, Freepost (SW 6037), London SW10 9YY (071-352 8976). Make cheques payable to The Value for Money Company Ltd.