Shopping (and Shipping!) the Season

Ok, be honest, how many of you ate turkey by Christmas tree lights yesterday? Delightfully guilty here! For years when I worked on the visual team at the Nordstrom flagship on Michigan Avenue we would spend weeks prepping the store decorations. When you decorate a 400,000 square foot store the last thing you want to do is put up your own, so I learned a long time ago to put mine up early to enjoy the season a little longer!

As we face down the end of 2020, I ‘ve been thinking about all the extra challenges this year brings when it comes to shopping, so I’ve compiled some pro tips to help your holiday shopping go as smoothly as possible.

Online Shopping

We all know the benefits to shopping online from the comfort of our own home, but this year you need to plan on lots of extra time (or extra cash) to get it to you on time. Deadline for shipping anything via USPS is December 10th! Many retailers utilize all shipping partners, so it’s hard to know which company will be delivering to you. I recommend signing up for each services’ delivery manager service. UPS, Fedex, and USPS all have programs that allow you to receive text and email alerts about when you can expect to receive your packages. You can also easily redirect parcels to different locations or delivery days if you know you won’t be home. Porch pirates are real y’all! Click on the images below to sign up.

You can also save time and money on shipping by signing up for Shoprunner. Shoprunner partners with over 100 retailers to offer free 2-day shipping and free returns. Sign up now and you get three months free! Look for their logo next to items on your favorite sites like Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Bloomingdales and those items ship to you in two days. Login to Shoprunner later to submit any returns and get a free return label.

Lastly, why not make some money while you shop? Have you seen those Rakuten commercials? I admit, I was skeptical at first, but since I shop for a living I thought I’d give it a try. Last year I made a good chunk of change just from clicking a button! Sign up for Rakuten and install their widget on your toolbar. As you visit different shops, Rakuten will let you know if there is cash back available along with other coupons. Over time, your balance builds up and they send you a check once a quarter. Sign up with my link and we both receive $40 after you spend your first $40. Cha-ching!

Brick and Mortar

Love or hate holiday shopping, if you’re going to give it a go this year I suggest arming yourself with plenty of patience and prayers this season! Many stores are limiting capacity so you may need to be prepared to wait in line, not just at checkout, but to actually get into the store! Several places have already started their seasonal sales and I’ve been surprised at how many people I’ve seen out this week shopping so early.

If you don’t feel comfortable navigating the mall or boutiques, give me a call! Holiday shopping and wrapping is one of my favorite things. Let’s partner together to give your loved ones memorable gifts without the stress! I’m happy to offer my gift shopping expertise at a discounted hourly rate of $95/hour now through December 30th. Message me and let’s make your list! Let the shopping season commence!

I wish I would’ve said this!