Holidays
Ten Ways to Keep Your Holiday Shopping Spirits Bright
By
Nov 20, 2007, 22:38

(ARA) - Ah, the holidays: the joy, the snow, the rush … the frustration, the crowds, the bad-tempers, the rudeness! ‘Tis the season to be jolly, but how do you survive the holiday shopping season while keeping your spirits bright at the same time?

Peggy Post, author of “Emily Post’s Etiquette” and 1-800-FLOWERS.COM’s etiquette expert offers 10 ideas:

1. Smile, Smile, Smile -- You can’t do it enough. Your face -- and your soul -- will thank you for it.

2. Lose the ‘Bah Humbug!’ attitude. Yes, it will be crowded and there will be lines, but don’t let that dampen the season’s joie de vivre.

3. “Please, Thank You and You’re Welcome.” Make this your mantra and you will smooth the way for better service and create a kinder, gentler atmosphere all around.

4. Be Gracious. You have circled the lot for the fifth time when you spy a space, only to see that someone else is already waiting for it. Be gracious. It’s the right thing to do.

5. A Little Patience, Please. Whether it’s the checkout counter or airline counter, the rules are the same: first come, first served, one at a time.

6. Friendliness. Say “hello” to the harried clerk behind the counter and don’t forget to smile. It will make a difference in her attitude and could be the best part of her day!

7. Complain to the Proper Person. Yelling at a salesclerk because a store is out of an advertised item only makes you look foolish and rude. Ask to speak to the manager. Frame your complaint clearly and simply and no venting, please.

8. Cell Phones: They’re useful when trying to find out your Aunt Mary’s glove size, but turn them off when you are working with a sales clerk or checking out at a register.

9. Shopping with Children: Don’t! It’s best to arrange to leave your children home when it comes to holiday shopping. If they must accompany you, make sure they are well-rested and fed, and bring along some small toy to keep their attention.

10. Don’t Forget the Lights -- traffic lights, that is! People are distracted this time of year. Stop at the red lights and use your turn signals to alert other harried, distracted shoppers.

Of course, you can always join the ever-growing number of consumers who are avoiding the crowds, are cozying up at their computers and shopping online. Best of all, you can still convey thoughtfulness with each gift. Sites such as 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, for instance, offer gifts that have a real personal touch.

“Flowers will convey your deepest emotion every time,” says Julie Mulligan, floral designer for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. Julie’s Glorious Bloom arrangement, for example, will show how much you care, while taking some of the pain out of holiday shopping at the mall. Make this truly a season to be jolly and take the stress out of shopping.

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