A Shopping Wingman... eh Winggal?

You may have noticed the frequency of my blog updates have slowed (read... nonexistent) the last couple of weeks. Sadly, on September 18, I became a statistic of the economy. My company laid off eight people - including me. The flurry of a job search has taken priority over my fun lil blog.

Not that I have a job yet, but I do have a lot of things in order now so that I can deviate some of my attention back to the topic of bargain shopping. I know! Yay! Right?!?

Now on to the title of this post. A shopping wingman (gal just doesn't cut it - suggestions?). A fellow laid off coworker and I headed to the new Premium Outlet Mall on I-75 yesterday for interview outfits. This was my virgin voyage, and while there, I learned the importance and value of a good shopping partner.

It all started in BCBG - a store that I adore - and a certain sales associate named Sylvana. At first our relationship was great. She offered her help. I declined. Just how I like it.

Then she returned to offer her assistance again and asked... "Are you looking for anything in particular..."

That's when I did it. I made a fatal mistake. Like a shopping rookie, I told her my goal of finding an interview outfit. Dollar signs appeared in her eyeballs and cash registers dinged in her earballs. She was alight with the glow of a predator ready to pounce its vulnerable prey.

WHY OH WHY DID I TELL HER?! It's been a well known fact all of my life that you do not share the details of a shopping mission unless you want the misguided help of an over eager sales associate. I'm among the pickiest of the picky when it comes to shopping. My own mother can't even help me. Why on Earth would Sylvana think she is any different!?!

And then it started. The never ending flow of suggestions, jealous stares when other sales associates would approach me, and her streaming questions. Instead of shouting "let me shop in peace, lady!" I just took it. I took it all.

But then something magic happened.

Kristy - dear sweet innocent Kristy, my shopping buddy - filled the role of something I had never ever considered before. Wingman. She distracted and obstructed Sylvana's advances with skill and stealth. She fielded the questions, she looked at the well-intentioned suggestions, and did all of the talking. She even located a calmer, less abrasive sales associate when we actually did need help. With Kristy by my side, I could shop in peace and with ease.

So many lessons learned yesterday - but above all the magic of having a shopping wingman. On your next shopping trip, I suggest you try this strategy. Find your shopping wingman and enjoy your shopping mission so much more.

And avoid the Sylvana prototype. It may take ninja skills.

Cincinnati Premium Outlets OPENS TODAY!

Blue light special indeed. Cincinnati Premium Outlets opened today to a throng of eager shoppers - some of them punching in their time cards at 4:30 a.m.

Those that skipped out this morning may have missed some nice freebies including:

• Nike - $10 to first 200 customers (Oscar Robertson appearance at 1 p.m. and apparently, dancing/cheering employees all day)
• Ulta Diamonds - free pearl necklaces to first 100 customers
• Auntie Anne's - free coffee

Do I wish I could be there? Well, yeah, kind of. But there's work. And honestly, I'm a bargain shopper not a fighter. So standing in line at the crack of dawn for a free pearl necklace isn't my thing. Because (a) people are pushy and (b) I value my time.

Successful bargain hunting does not include elbowing people out of the way to impulse buy something I don't need and in the end probably don't want. That's why I stopped shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Hysteria isn't fun.

It does, however, look like a successful grand opening for a Thursday morning in August. Check out the photos and article from the Journal-News.

Follow @laurabaverman, @warreneditor, @journalnews on Twitter for the latest updates live from opening day at Cincinnati Premium Outlets.

Image source: Journal-News

H&M In the Tri-State

Hey kids! Great news - we're not getting just one H&M, we're getting two this winter. One on the southside of the city in Florence and the other in Kenwood.

Now I'm not sure how many of you have been to H&M, but it's quite the handy little store. I spent a semester in London where I learned to love it. (It's from the same folks who gave us Ikea - the Swedes.) I've been to an H&M in Chicago, and it was adequate. Not quite the squeal o' fun it was in London though.

HOWEVER, I'd say the quality and style runs a step above Forever 21 and Target designer lines. What would you compare it to?

I'd love to hear about your H&M fun ... or lack there of. Also, when you have a chance, check out the article with all the details on Cincinnati.com.

Nordstrom Rack in Cincy: dreams do come true!

- Why hello there, Nordstrom Rack.
- Yes, yes I missed you too.
- I realize it's been nearly three years since I visited. I left L.A. though.
- I know. I'm sorry.

- But I'm super glad you're coming to Cincy!

Oh how I do adore Nordstrom Rack. I can't afford to be a snob about it, and even if I could, I think I'd still go. It has all of the luxuries of Nordstrom at half the price. Think of it as THE T.J. Maxx for Nordstrom.

Speaking of which, with Nordstrom coming to town September 25, 2009 (not to be terribly specific) to Kenwood, we Cincinnatians also get the happiness of the Rack - opening its doors November 20, 2009 in Rookwood Pavilion. That's just one week before shopping's darkest day, Black Friday. Now I'm not going to discuss exactly how fair that will be to all of the newbie employees manning the Rack that day, but seriously, isn't it a little mean?

Check Nordstrom's new store openings and mark those calendars, ladies. It's going to be a shopper's paradise in Cincy this Fall.