Saks Fifth Avenue's shoe department in new York City is a personal shopper's paradise.
Busy professionals turn to personal shoppers to help them feel great, reduce stress, be more productive, and save time and money. The value of having someone shop for your clothing, household goods, furniture, and even gifts is immeasurable.
President of Kristel Closets, personal shopper Megan Kristel has spent years helping clients look and feel their best. With a background as a retail buyer, Megan’s trademark philosophy is “how you present yourself is how you will be defined.” Kristel’s clients run the gamut from young girls whose parents need help navigating the teen world to a broad range of 30- to 60-year-old business owners—professionals whose time is a commodity.
Another well-known local personal shopper with a clientele of predominantly women is Toni Leinhardt. In the retail business for almost 20 years, Leinhardt grew up around her mother’s upscale retail boutique in Georgetown. As for being a personal shopper with her own business, she says, “I didn’t choose it, it chose me. It’s in the DNA. I have always worked in the retail business and have a very strong work ethic. My mother and grandmother were both models and obsessed with fashion, so it was always around me.”
Now, 40, Leinhardt opened up her own consulting business. “I get things that are not just ready to wear, but things that you need in your life. I acquired a client in Istanbul, Turkey because it is difficult for women to get certain things for their babies that are very accessible in other parts of the world.” Leinhardt is a one-woman show and handles about 40 clients worldwide.
CHOOSING A PERSONAL SHOPPER
Neen James is a 39-year-old married executive and speaker at large corporate conferences. She met personal shopper, Megan Kristel, at a networking session and thought, “She looked so glamorous, and she was pregnant. I asked her what she did and she told me. The moment I met her, I felt relaxed and engaged, and I really resonated with who she is.” James continues, “I needed platform pieces, and I struggle to find them and Megan said, ‘Don’t.’ So I decided to hire her straight away.”
Typically a relationship with a personal shopper begins with an in-home client meeting to review the current inventory of clothing. “We meet with clients in their closets, so we can get a window into their psychology of dressing. We see what they have and see where the holes are. We talk about budget and goals. And then, we shop together to integrate pieces with what they already have. The first couple of times, I like to have the client with me,” says Kristel.
Leinhardt takes a different approach to selecting her clients. “I hand select my clients that can afford my time. I don’t get a commission from the stores, and I do all the shopping myself,” say Leinhardt.
Micky Farivar, 37, an active freelance consultant with two young children, chose Toni Leinhardt because she didn’t have time to shop for herself. “I just called Toni, we met, and I could tell immediately that she had great taste. She knew instantly what I liked and what my style was like,” says Farivar.
Personal shoppers commonly think of Nordstrom as the "go-to" place for almost every exxential item in your wardrobe.
FIGURING OUT YOUR STYLE
Many people struggle to define their style throughout the course of their adulthood. Perhaps because it is hard to stay up with trends or maybe it is as simple as our ever-changing waistlines. Most personal shoppers are very good at sizing up both challenges for their clients. “Toni doesn’t try to control things. She wouldn’t let me go out in skinny jeans and a tank top, but she chooses clothes that fit my body type,” says Farivar.
James admits that at 4 foot 10 (and a half) inches buying in her size can be a challenge. “There isn’t a lot of stuff to buy off the rack, and it can be a painful process. While I love to shop, I have a hard body to fit and a personal shopper makes my life more productive,” says James. “I feel as though Megan understands my body type and knows how to make me feel current, not tired and frumpy. Clothes just are not the same at 30 as they are at 40.”
SAVE TIME AND MONEY
How does a personal shopper that is charging you anywhere from $150 to $300 per hour justify the cost savings? For people who lead extremely busy and productive lives both personally and professionally, the cost and time savings are priceless. “Having a personal shopper is very efficient. Everything goes faster and smoother. Usually people see it as a luxury service, but I use my own budget and she stays within those terms. You don’t have to run around, you don’t have to browse the Internet for hours, you just put Toni on the project and it’s done,” explains Farivar.
“Rather than roam the store for hours and get depressed, having a personal shopper is an investment with multiple returns,” says James. “Megan has a relationship with the stores and gets such a high level of customer service…they drop everything for her.”
REDUCING STRESS
Personal shoppers do more than just shop. Kristel helps clients pack their bags for out of town trips and engagements while providing them a wardrobe grid if necessary.
Farivar uses Leinhardt, not only for her own needs but for her entire family. “I signed my children up for tennis, and Toni just went out and found me the right stuff. I can use her for anything. My husband needed new draperies for his restaurants, so I just called Toni and gave her a budget.”
Leinhardt takes pride in her ability to get whatever her clients desire. “Helping my clients with their lifestyle needs makes life much more convenient for them. I will do back flips for my clients. If it’s out there somewhere in the world, I will find it for them,” says Leinhardt.
Yves Delorme has high quality linens that make any home feel like a palace.
FAVORITE PLACES AND THINGS
One of the universal one-stop shops for personal shoppers is Nordstrom’s with online retail stores falling a close second. Kristel also recommends Elizabeth Maar Boutique in Havertown, Pennsylvania for one-of-a-kind items, and Zappos.com for online shoe shopping while Leinhardt’s favorites include Hermes and Yves Delorme among others.
“I love Intermix, a boutique in Georgetown and Neiman Marcus’ Cusp Boutique. They focus on contemporary women styles, shoes, accessories, and clothing. I am not a mall person, that is why I call Toni, she doesn’t specialize in one aspect, like clothing for women…she does kids, house items, gifts, even furniture,” says Farivar.
Most clients use their personal shoppers throughout the year to help with seasonal shopping. It’s a great option to consider if you are looking for a little clarity in your wardrobe and a little peace and quiet in your life.
Jennifer K. Dansicker is the Special Projects Editor for ChesapeakeHome.
Contacts:
Kristel Closets: kristelclosets.com or 267-250-7087
Toni Leinhardt: tonileinhardt.com or 202-679-7777
Sources:
Elizabeth Maar Boutique: 610-649-7677
Hermes: hermes.com or 202-966-9700
Intermix: intermixonline.com or 202-298-8080
Nordstrom: nordstrom.com or 888-282-6060
Neiman Marcus: neimanmarcus.com or 202-966-9700
Yves Delorme: yvesdelorme.com or 800-322-3911
Zappos: zappos.com or 800-927-7671
