New York Shopping
SHOP LIKE A NEW YORKER!
By Anne Campbell
If you love shopping, New York is an endlessly fascinating city full of delightful surprises. While I consider myself a black belt shopper, it would take two lifetimes to visit every store in my own hometown. And, like so many New Yorkers I’m obsessed with sales and bargains and I’m passing along some of my top tactics for scoring a terrific price. Jump into bargain hunting and I can promise you adventure, fun and perhaps a killer deal. However, if you need a specific item right away, head for a department store like Bloomingdale’s or Macy’s.
* A word of advice for shopping in New York: pace yourself and wear the most comfortable pair of shoes you own, even if they’re a beat up pair of sneakers.
* Shopping consumes a tremendous amount of energy so be sure to prioritize. When it comes to sample sales and large stores, plan to hit your favorite ones early in the day and avoid the crowds during lunch time.
* I also recommend buying all necessities for your cruise, including clothing, at home (see the "Cruise Bargains" section on "Pre-cruise Shopping" for tips on saving money). Shopping in New York should be viewed as entertainment!
Get Advance Notice of Sample Sales
Subscribe to newsletters that tell you the dates and locations of sample sales or just visit the web sites before you head into the city. You’ll arrive in New York with your own list of stores and showrooms to visit. Plan to visit the top showroom sample sales early in the day to find a good selection of the best merchandise and avoid lunchtime. It’s important to wear comfortable shoes. Many sample sale showrooms don’t have changing rooms, so wear a leotard or undergarments you don’t mind displaying in public.
Here are my favorites sample sale resources:
· Top Button
· Lazar Shopping
· New York Magazine’s Best Bets Daily
· The Budget Fashionista
· Daily Candy
· The Bargain Hotline (opt for the $8 one-week subscription rate)
*** Editor’s Pick: I recommend a shopping tour for visitors who want to visit sample sales and the trendiest shopping areas. Shop Gotham offers daily walking tours of Soho and the Garment Center’s sample sales not open to the public. I suggest skipping the Fifth Avenue tour (the best stores have moved to Madison Avenue) or the Big Store Tour (you can visit Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s on your own).
 DISCOUNT DEPARTMENT STORES
New York is home to a handful of discount department stores. The merchandise constantly changes and while I occasionally score a fabulous buy, I often leave empty-handed. So many merchants have dropped Italian clothing because of the dreadful dollar/Euro exchange rate so the days of discount luxury European clothes is a thing of the past. Still, it’s loads of fun just to browse these enormous stores, occasionally stumbling on a real find.
Editor’s Note: Listed are links to stores’ web sites for information on addresses and store hours. New York stores are generally open every day, including Sunday.
· Gabay’s A popular discount store since 1940, this store does offer fine Italian clothing for men and women, including overstock from Bergdorf Goodman and Henri Bendel discounted at 50 – 80% off retail.
· Century 21, located across the street from Ground Zero, is so popular it can feel like a battle zone. This huge store has clothes for men, women and children plus house wares and electronics. I suggest avoiding the store during lunch hours when the crowds are greatest.
· Loehmann’s has two Manhattan stores full of discount shoes, clothing and accessories for men and women.
· Filene’s Basement has several New York stores with several high end brands; shoes and clothing for men and women
· Daffy’s has seven stores scattered around Manhattan; the largest with the best selection is located at Herald Square (34th and Broadway)
· J&R Electronics is the mother of discount stores for cameras, computers, movies, games, music, software and household electronics. Located in lower Manhattan, it’s the first place most New Yorkers head for when seeking big discounts. Should you discover an unbeatable bargain you don’t want to lug on a cruise ship or carry on an airplane, they’ll be glad to ship it to your home.
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