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From H & M to Microsoft to deli food, all good things eventually come to Scottsdale
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One of the most interesting things about living in the Phoenix area is that the landscape is always changing, and the shopping options are no exception. H & M in the Scottsdale Quarter is the latest in an increasingly long line of exciting new retailers to hit Scottsdale.
The giant player in the fashion world opened at noon on Thursday, November 5 to a large and excited crowd. It will open at noon every day, meaning most fashionistas, like me, are not morning people. But it would almost be worth rising earlier to get to this mecca of trendy, fun, and reasonably priced clothes ($24.95 and $29.95 seem to be two of the most popular price points).
I was among those lucky enough to be in the opening day crowd, which meant happily walking the red carpet outside. And although parking spots right out front are scarce (there's a garage diagonally across the street), I was also lucky enough to be directed to a space in the "front row" by one of the gentlemen overseeing the opening. So fun!
Once inside, the enthusiasm was palpable. However, dressing rooms were at a premium. The line was long for the only one on the first floor, and mirrors were nowhere to be found. I had to resort to trying on a top over the one I was already wearing (I did ask a clerk first and she said it was fine; people had been doing so all day), and then asking the woman next to me to please try to imagine that I was not wearing it over a bulky shirt and to tell me if it fit. Trusting this stranger's imagination and her "yes", I proceeded to buy it in two different colors. She did not steer me wrong.
Being there on Thursday also meant I received a free gift at checkout (a deck of H & M playing cards), AND a 20% off coupon to be used on the next visit. The salesperson hopefully said, "See you tomorrow!"
The next visit wasn't quite "tomorrow", but close enough. I used that coupon Sunday when I returned with my daughter. This time the red carpet was gone, there was no coupon and no free deck of cards, and the weekend crowd curtailed the front row spot. Yet no one was discouraged as the dressing room line literally wrapped around the entire first floor. Also, I made sure to scout out mirrors and I did spot some in the areas closest to the front door-invaluable knowledge if you plan to become a customer.
More purchases were made without a dressing room trip: a dress for me, which I couldn't exactly slip over my clothes. My luck ran out. This one's going back. The place definitely needs more fitting rooms but I can see a strategy behind the madness. If customers make a purchase and have to return it, there's another opportunity for them to buy more next time.
Between H & M and Barneys, you'd think that would be enough excitement for one city in a single month. But no, even computer geeks got their thrills when the first Microsoft store made its world debut here in the Scottsdale Fashion Square on October 22, the same day that Windows 7 launched. Hundreds camped out in line and cheered as the curtain was lifted on the Apple stores' direct rival.
And let's not forget food (as if we could ever forget food). Once you're finished shopping at H & M, it's a short drive down the street for lunch at the latest Miracle Mile deli location in the Scottsdale Promenade. Started in 1949 in Tucson by a New York transplant, this place is a Valley tradition when it comes to sandwiches.
So whether shopping, eating or computing, Scottsdale appears to be the new center of the universe.
For this month anyway.
First Microsoft Store opens to cheering Scottsdale crowd
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