Shopaholic? Me?

The point of purchase displays is to sell sell sell or is it to buy buy buy? I don’t know but what I do know is the amount of extra bits I seem to collect as I head to the till. They all catch my eye and I find it hard so hard to resist especially when they are adapted to my needs eg wrapping paper and tape at Christmas time or Chocolate eggs for Easter.

Talking of chocolate eggs, when picking mine… if not Lindt… make it Cadbury’s!

Wouldn’t it great if I could make a living from shopping. Ok  know there are shopping consultants but I don’t think I have enough shopping experience to be one. Yes, I can admit that. And besides you would need to have the contacts (ie people with enough cash to pay you to shop – and if you have enough cash, why not shop yourself?)

Nor do I think I could be like Trinny & Susannah. Besides having a touch of public speaking anxiety, I would hate to publicly make a fool of myself like they do. And personally I have seen them do some atrocious things (like their own dress sense). Imagine being constantly examined because you berated others on TV!

Today is the traditional day that sales start. So happy hunting!

Wish I were in London to hit the sales!

My favourite bit about a new year is the second day when sales start and you can really find a bargain. It is not unheard of that shops open at 4am or that people camp outside a store for the first day of the sales so they can grab that special bargain. However this means sale time can be very cut-throat. So my advice if you are hitting one of these stores is to take along a supply of medical equipment including sterile scissors, plaster and oxygen (you need your breath and with everyone in the store – it can prove impossible). If you can treat yourself in store, then you don’t need to head to A&E and can keep shopping till you pick up all your bargains.

Another tip is to take a wheeled luggage so you can stuff in all your shopping without having to carry all the weight!

Happy New Year. May this year be prosperous and full of sale bargains despite the VAT increase!!!

Although not traditionally the day for sales, but many sales start today… so good luck with your bargain hunting!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Hope you enjoyed your christmas gifts. Not that I should be advocating anything but many shops will happily let you swap your Christmas ties, socks and soaps for things you might actually want!

I am on my way to Oxford street to do my last minute Christmas Shopping. Obviously I will be hitting

• Hamleys, the most notorious toy shop that I know,
• Fortnums & Mason, for their luxurious items,
• John Lewis,
• Monsoon,
• Ann Summers,
• Selfridges,
• Gap

and who knows where else (at least it will make a change from warehouses in  metal buildings). What I do know is that I am so going to suffer with carrying all my shopping back home!

Then heading off on Holiday for Christmas. Will let you know all about it when I come back. Meanwhile, hold tight… I will be back!!

With all todays political correctness, we have lost some of our sense of being. As humans we build protocols and social routines and our policital correctness is putting a stop to that.

For example, in the past, when a baby was born, the father would share out cigars on hearing the news. Can you imagine that happening in a hospital today? Do you know what my hubby did when my babies were born… he got out his Android Phone and posted on Twitter!

On the plus side, he was with me supporting me during labour. Perhaps I ought to buy him the upgraded phone instead of Cigars (did I mention that he does not smoke!)

It is Christmas and so it is all sell sell sell. I was actually impressed today how many stores had cardboard display units particularly for Christmas wrapping and tags. I guess it must really help promote sales and be a cheap way to prepare a sales unit for a particular stock. I guess the only issue would be how disposable they are with all the global warming issues there are. Mind you, here in IOM it all gets burnt and turned into energy so not too bad I suppose!