Neiman Marcus - Is This Any Way To Market?

I have to say that in terms of marketing Neiman Marcus does just about everything right.
They have the stores, they have the goods and they have the sales staff.

Of course being too busy to go into the store, try on the goods and deal with the sales staff
I ordered this evening gown off of the Neiman Marcus website for the VRG gala.

On the website they had only one left in a size 4 and I snapped it up. I'd never bought an eveing gown online before but since I've worn Carmen Marc Valvo dresses in the past, I assumed it would fit. As it turns out the gown was cut a little large and I decided to return it.

Instead of sticking it back in the box and shipping it I decided to quickly pop into Neimans and return it in person and maybe see if there were any other dresses that I absolutely could not live without.

So there I was in the dress department waiting for someone to help me for more than 15 minutes. OK, so what's a little wait. I perused the racks and found a few fancy little cocktail dresses that had my name all over them...and god knows...I have the opportunity to wear fancy little cocktail dresses so often (not) but I am partial to them.

When a saleslady was finally available to help me she told me that because I had purchased the dress online I had to go to the top floor and return the dress to customer service. I was like really?

At any rate I trudged up the escalator with my long gown and returned it and then left the store to go back to my office.

So what's the issue?
If I had been able to return it in the fancy schmancy dress department, chances are that the sales lady would have been able to talk me into buying at least one other dress, and probably three, because there was an awesome sale and as I said before, I wear fancy little cocktail dresses so often, you know because my lifestyle calls for it...(not)
and because I just can't resist them at a good price.

Instead, she didn't didn't get the opportunity to up-sell me and Neiman's missed my business.

I ask you, is this any way to market?

Savvy Shopping - Gearing Up For The Gala

One of the most beautiful events that I attend every spring is the Patron Gala for the Friends of Virginia Robinson Gardens. Every year this organization honors a special person who has had a history of contributions to the community. This year is particularly special because they are honoring the Michael Kazanjian and his family's philanthropic organization, the Kazanjian Foundation and the Jewels for Charity program.

So now the party isn't going to be until the first week of May, I don't want to wait until two days before and make a rushed decision and end up spending too much. Like I wrote about earlier this week, I hate making shopping decisions with a time constraint. So if I start thinking about it now, I have a month or so to find the right thing.

I'd love an Andrew Gn or a Jenny Packham gown but I'd also like to just order something less expensive over the internet and be done with it

like this gown from Bergdorf Goodman

Diane Von Furstenberg gown at Bergdorf Goodman $825

the price is right, the color is gorgeous and it has such pretty detail on the back

I love this color. DVF calls it Indian Jade but since I've never seen actual jade in that color it looks more like teal to me

or better yet the color one of my favorite gemstones

Mozambique or Paraiba tourmaline

here is a Mozambique tourmaline, I love that teal blue hue

and here is a mother of all tourmalines, the Paraiba tourmaline with that magnificent electric blue color.

These stones are so rare and expensive in large sizes that it's difficult to find jewelry made with them...but if I could get my hands on a suite or a demi-parure in Mozambique or Paraiba, or even just one statement ring I would definitely buy the DVF dress.

Sapphire and Diamond Butterfly Earrings $4250

Another option, sans tourmalines, would be a few Art Deco diamond bracelets and these earrings, which just scream Spring to me.
Well that's one option and luckily, I have plenty of time to consider other outfits.