Page 10 | <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>2016</strong> CITYMATTERS.LONDON by JM Barrie devised by the Companies ‘Unforgettable. Magic’ Guardian ‘Superb. Inventive’ Daily Telegraph Until 4 Feb South Bank, London SE1 A co-production with Photography by Sam Robinson
CITYMATTERS.LONDON <strong>Christmas</strong> <strong>2016</strong> | Page 11 Shopping <strong>Matters</strong> 11th-HOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IS UPON US Final festive fling LEFT your <strong>Christmas</strong> shopping until the last minute? You’re not alone. Almost half (45%) of UK adults still have shopping to do, with 11th-hour purchases averaging £66 according to American Express research. But if you thought you were doomed to spend <strong>Christmas</strong> Eve fighting the crowds on Oxford Street, think again. The Square Mile is full to bursting with last-minute gifts ideas you can grab on your lunch hour – you just need to know where to look… FOR THE CLOTHES HORSE / One New Change The <strong>City</strong>’s largest shopping centre has a good mix of high street retailers that can sort you out for fashion, accessories and shoes. Those up for a game of chicken would do well to wait until <strong>Christmas</strong> Eve, as some stores are predicted to slash prices by an average of 54%, according to accountancy firm Deloitte. You could also be in with a chance to win a whole host of prizes as part of One New Change’s 24 days of giveaways, with everything from high tea to party dresses up for grabs. 1 New Change EC4M 9AF FOR THE ONE WITH EXPENSIVE TASTE / Royal Exchange Buying for someone who prefers the cool and crafty: Old Spitalfields finer things in life? With more than 30 luxury retailers, the Royal Exchange should be your first port of call. Check out some of the British heritage brands for a sure-fire treasure trove of gift ideas – from an embossed leather day planner from Smythson to a personalised enamel snuffbox from Halcyon Days or an original fragrance from Penhaligon’s. 3 Royal Court EC3V 3LN FOR THE COOL AND CRAFTY / Old Spitalfields Market A huge range of independent market traders makes Old Spitalfields the go-to for unique handcrafted gifts. Once a Sunday morning mainstay, traders fill the historic marketplace seven days a week, spruiking cutting edge fashion and interiors and original artworks. Grab a bespoke handbag made with upcycled leather from accessories label Yildiz & I, menswear with a dash of panache from Patch by Panod, items to pamper your pooch from Edwyn UK, and novel-inspired prints from ABookOnOnePage. Brushfield Street E1 6AA FOR THE FOODIE / Leadenhall Market It might be the smallest of the bunch but Leadenhall Market’s collection of special food retailers are a one-stop shop for stocking fillers. Visit Amathus Drinks for a unique range of fine wines, port and Champagne plus an unrivalled selection of spirits and liqueurs, or check out Bedales for a wine workshop with a difference. When in doubt, Cheese at Leadenhall has over 200 cheeses from Britain and Europe to choose from and what owner Sue Cloke (aka the ‘Duchess of Cheese) doesn’t know about dairy really isn’t worth knowing. Stop by Leadenhall any time this week between midday and 2pm to catch live entertainment from Jack Foley, Charlie Carter and Rob Houston. Gracechurch St EC3V 1LT Your chance to win LUXURY eyewear brand Cutler and Gross is giving one lucky <strong>City</strong> <strong>Matters</strong> reader the chance to win a voucher to spend on a brand new pair of hand crafted frames. The winner will be able to book a personalised style appointment in the Spitalfields store, where assistants will help them choose the perfect frame from Cutler and Gross’ timeless designs. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is to tell us in what year Cutler and Gross was founded. Answers, along with your name and phone number, should be sent to editorial@citymatters.london by 30 December, with the winner notified in the new year. *Terms and conditions apply. Voucher is valued at £310 and cannot be exchanged for cash. Change will not be given if purchase does not reach value of voucher. Winners drawn at random, only successful entrants will be notified. One entry per person. intimidated: a study has shown women are put off by attractive shop assistants Women will dodge stores with attractive sales staff NEARLY 70% of London women are “too intimidated” to ask shop assistants for advice, new research has revealed. A survey of 2,000 UK women aged between 25 and 40 found that 43% of women admitted avoiding a store and instead shopped online because they were put off by “more attractive” sales staff. The research, carried out by jewellery brand Stella & Dot also found that 56% of women were deterred from shopping because salespeople were “more stylish,” and 45% avoided shops because the staff members were “younger” than they were — which caused them “anxiety.” Some 70% of the respondents said they preferred not to speak to shop assistants at all and would rather just browse without being asked if they need any help. Most said they would turn to friends for style advice. Stella & Dot’s jewellery and accessories lines are available exclusively through in-home trunk shows, where the host invites friends over to browse items, removing any element of interaction with salespeople. Stella & Dot vice president Kathleen Mitchell said: “Shopping should be a joy and one where you can expect great honest advice or, even better, some help with the legwork by a personal shopper. “That is why we believe that all women deserve a new way to shop – a way that is fun and easy.”
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