Category Archives: Shopping

Shopping Harrods in London

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Shopping is one of the top things to do while visiting one of the major cities across the world. Each city has its own personal flair. New York has its Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s and London has its Harrods. Harrods has been around since 1834 in London’s East End. It all started with Charles Henry Harrod, who opened up a grocery wholesale store selling his favorite merchandise which was tea, of course. Years later he decided to move from his inner city location and get a piece of the Great Exhibition action in 1851 and moved to a small shop in Knightsbridge near Hyde Park.

From the small shop, between 1851 and 1880, Mr. Harrod built his store from two assistance and a messenger boy to a large retail store selling the finest in all available things. Like many buildings in London, at one point or another, the store burned down in December of 1883. But that didn’t stop Mr. Harrod from delivering all of the promised Christmas deliveries, which brought in a record profit and funded the new building, in the same location.

His store and service extended some firsts for the industry with extending credit to his best customers like the British Royalty and other famous and wealthy. In 1898, the first moving staircase in England was in Harrods. This escalator was made of a woven leather conveyor belt an mahogany wood, silver plated and glass balustrade. Some of the customers were a nervous wreck by the time they made it to the top so they were offered brandy to calm them down.

Today, there are over 330 different departments in this historical building. All with their own style. There are 28 restaurants serving all types of cuisine. One can find a personal shopping assistant by appointment. There is also a beauty salon and day spa, a bank and pharmacy for when one needs a little something to accept how much money they have spent in the store. This store could take weeks to search through each area but if you don’t have a week, better give it a good full day. It is the definition of glamor.

Las Vegas Shopping – THE Place to Shop

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Many things come to mind when thinking of Las Vegas. Sprawling casinos, world-class shows, a hotel strip like no other in the world – and lots and lots of fabulous shopping. From the glamorous Forum shops with top designer names to the open-air Premium Outlets with great deals on brand-name merchandise, shopping in Las Vegas is as fun and unique as the city itself.

Some of the hotel shopping on Las Vegas Boulevard is an absolute must, as much for the surroundings as for the boutiques themselves. A great place to start on the strip is the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (3500 Las Vegas Blvd S.) Even if you don’t spend a dime you will enjoy the architectural details of this famous shopping venue. Designed to reflect the grandness of a Roman street, this shopping arcade features marble statues, a massive atrium with a domed skylight, and the much-copied sky painted ceilings that make it feel like you’re outside even though you aren’t. The shopping is also pretty remarkable. There are over 160 stores including mall favourites such as Gap, Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch, alongside top international luxury brands like Gianni Versace, Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli. Notable boutiques include the chic fashions in Nanette Lepore, the incredible bags by Balenciaga, and the trendy pieces in Intermix. You will find fashions for your home as well, from the handcrafted crystal at Baccarat to the sleek designs at Nambé. If you hit the jackpot, the Forum Shops are the place to splurge – and so is the extraordinary collection of boutiques at the Wynn Esplanade in the Wynn Las Vegas (3131 Las Vegas Blvd S.) Oscar de la Renta features classic couture and shoe lovers particularly will enjoy the sexy styles on display at Manolo Blahnik. If you REALLY hit the jackpot you could even treat yourself to a shiny new car at the Penske Wynn Ferrari Maserati dealership.

For more great shopping and opulent settings, head to the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort & Casino (3355 Las Vegas Blvd S.) It has a canal complete with crooning gondoliers, cobblestone walkways and a re-creation of Venice’s famous St. Mark’s Square. Shoppers are serenaded by musicians, jugglers and various entertainers as they stroll along the canal. There are plenty of luxe labels to browse including Burberry, Jimmy Choo and the stylish and sexy designs at bebe. If you want to pamper your skin, the luxurious soaps, lotions and fragrances at Acca Kappa are simply divine. Other highlights include the one-of-a-kind porcelain designs in the Lladro boutique, and the acclaimed panoramic photography in the Peter Lik Gallery. Other notable shopping on the strip can be found at the bustling Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (3663 Las Vegas Blvd S.) which offers hip stores like H&M, Marciano and Ben Sherman.

There are some gigantic malls in Vegas and shopaholics should prepare themselves for a shopping extravaganza at Fashion Show (3200 Las Vegas Blvd S.) At nearly 2-million-square-feet with more than 200 stores, this shopping centre is one of the biggest in the US. Located in the heart of the strip, this mall features an 80-foot retractable runway for the fashion shows that run regularly. You’ll find renowned department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, and Bloomingdales, and cutting edge shops like Zara, Betsey Johnson and Ed Hardy. And there are plenty of popular chains like Hollister, J. Crew, and Ann Taylor. More in the mood for Old Navy than Emporio Armani? Then check out The Boulevard (3528 South Maryland Parkway.) Just minutes from the strip and downtown, it is the second largest mall in the city after Fashion Show, and features a Sears, JC Penney, and many other mall favourites.

Off the strip, head downtown to the Las Vegas Premium Outlets (875 South Grand Central Parkway.) This open-air shopping venue has over 150 stores with a mix of brands, many of which are unexpected for an outlet. The uber-trendy on a budget will love browsing through the fashions at Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Kors and A|X Armani Exchange. Need to accessorize? Head to Kate Spade, Coach or Cole Haan. From sportswear at Adidas to crystal at Swarovski, this is outlet shopping that really delivers the designer goods. There are also lots of upscale finds at the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas (32100 Las Vegas Blvd S.) located about 40 miles south in Primm, Nevada. Shuttles are available from the MGM Grand Hotel, the Miracle Mile and Fashion Show (round-trip fare is $15.00 and includes a coupon book.) Highlights include Neiman Marcus Last Call and the Williams Sonoma Marketplace, which is worth the trip itself for deep discounts on high-end kitchenware.

Live Green – Shop Online

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Green living is about changing the way we use things. It is about practicality and being conscious of our actions. It is about changing our shopping habits as well as shopping for green products – although marketers and the advertising world might have one believing differently. Clearly the trend is to buy “green”. There are many products out there marked “green” and certainly most are generally better quality items – meaning that they contain ingredients that cause less damage – or what exactly does that mean – “green”? One should not instantly trust the word “green” on the label: it is important to read the ingredients and to understand why something is called “green.” Are those items really harmful or not? It useful to do research online: compare and study products and ingredients before actually buying; labels can be deceptive.

Another concern is – where is that item made or grown? This is easily researched online as well. Obviously, the closer to home something is the less you pay in shipping and the less toll on the environment. Another thought is that if something is purchased online it does not have to be shipped all the way to the store before it is sent the distance to the customer…

Our actions need to be “green” in addition to our product purchase and usage. Living green is about practicality and being conscious of our actions. The online shopping mall is conducive to green living because it is a great way to save gas, money and time: one doesn’t have to go from store to store to store… The UPS or mail comes every day anyway and you can get free shipping on many sites nowadays. Shopping online easily becomes a favorite way to shop: save a ton of money and time. When considering time for shopping think of what the hourly wage is? How long does it take to drive to the store and back? Is this really less than the cost of shipping? What is time worth? Even when the learning curve is considered, much time can be saved by shopping online. Once the online shopping cart is loaded it can be saved for future orders as well – this is so easy for commodity items that can be reordered instantly.

There are shopping mall sites that have hundreds of stores, thousands of items, extra coupon offers, discounts and bonuses for shopping at their “one stop shop.” The shopper can easily save money at this kind of online shopping mall by getting the best price for all the items on their list.

How often does one really stick to their list anyway? When in the store, shoppers are frequently enticed to buy extras from those beautifully enticing shelves that one must go around to get to the next isle (end cap displays). Those items that are conveniently placed next to the item on the list become “must haves” enticing the shopper to spend more than he normally would. The checkout counter is powerfully enticing as well.

Obviously, having made the points above, one can save time and money by shopping online and feel good about living green.