CLIPBOARD : HOW TO SURVIVE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
The battle cry for beleaguered Christmas shoppers is on the tip of the tongue: Bah, humbug!
There are only 26 shopping days left until Christmas. The country is in a recession, and there are too many people in your family, too little time and too little cash.
But there is help for people who dislike the crowds and have no patience for the madness: personal shoppers.
Personal shoppers are those wonderful people found in some of the major retail stores--Nordstrom, Broadway and Saks Fifth Avenue--who will do your shopping for you. They can put together or add to a wardrobe for men, women and children, accessorize, gift shop and otherwise keep trips to the store stress-free for non-shoppers.
“Our Personal Touch Department provides services throughout the year. They can do anything from helping a customer who is unfamiliar with the store to shopping for people who have limited time,” said Linda Luna-Franks, public relations director for Nordstrom.
They can also be a life-saver for people who are not into the Christmas shopping frenzy, are simply too busy to shop or who are not very imaginative when it comes to gift ideas.
“Some people will already have their Christmas lists made up when they come into the store, along with brief descriptions of what their tastes may be. They drop their lists off and come back either that day or the next--depending on the availability of the personal shoppers,” Luna-Franks said.
Adhering strictly to the budget you set for them, the personal shoppers will do your shopping and have selections ready and waiting for you when you walk into the store. If the selections aren’t to your liking, they will do it again.
“Even if someone only has $25 to spend, we’ll be glad to work with them. We’re not Scrooges,” said Billur Wallerich, publicity director for Saks Fifth Avenue in South Coast Plaza. “The whole point is to give service and make it easier for the client--we like to accommodate any situation.”
The service for personal shoppers is free, and, like many other services, it’s good to have an appointment. When you come to the store, the shopper will sit down with you and assess your needs. The shopper will pull several appropriate items from the store’s inventory and have them available for the next time you come in. You can make purchases from the suggested items or start all over again if none is to your liking.
Here is a list of some of the stores in Orange County with personal shoppers on staff:
The Broadway
Huntington Center
7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach
(714) 892-3331
The Broadway
Laguna Hills Mall
24100 Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills
(714) 586-1901
The Broadway
Newport Center
701 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach
(714) 644-1212
The Broadway
South Coast Plaza
3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa
(714) 540-5211
Nordstrom
Brea Mall
500 Brea Mall, Brea
(714) 549-8300
Nordstrom
MainPlace Santa Ana
2820 N. Main St., Santa Ana
(714) 972-2020
Nordstrom
South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol Ave., Costa Mesa
(714) 549-8300
Saks Fifth Avenue
South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol Ave., Costa Mesa
(714) 540-3233
