Shop America

OK, so now I am feeling guilty. Having gone to the Ugg outlet store to look for boots for my daughters and not bought any because of the price (see previous blog), I went out and did a little retail therapy for myself on my first full day in Pasadena.

As I was in the city to attend and speak at the ONE Travel Conference - which is all about dining, shopping and cultural tourism in the USA - I felt a responsibility to engage in all of those activities during my stay, to get into the spirit. Pasadena is full of great restaurants and wonderful architecture (more anon), so that just left the shopping...

I should have stayed in my hotel room writing but couldn't concentrate as the maids kept knocking on my door to clean the room. It was a holiday weekend and the weather was perfect for photography, plus I needed to fill up the Jeep having driven the last part of my journey there on fumes with the fuel warning light on. So at the nearest service station I decided to put in just enough for driving around town and to get back to the airport. My car costs me nearly £80 (about $125) to fill up back in the UK, with petrol an outrageous £1.25 or more per litre. In Pasadena it was pricier than I had seen, but still good value at $3.40 per gallon. So I pre-purchased $50 worth - and had to get a refund as I could only put just over $40 worth in!

Just across the road I couldn't help noticing a rather large Macy's department store, so I thought I would give it a quick look.

Three hours later I came out armed to the teeth with bargains, having scoured virtually every department other than homeware. My best bargain was a stylish, grey Calvin Klein jacket. The sales assistant had literally just said there would be something calling out to me on the racks, and there it was. The only one they had left, and although it wasn't the size I normally wear it fitted perfectly. My heart sank when I noticed the original price of $300, but it had successive clearance stickers on it with the last one reading $43.72!

Even if it hadn't had fitted I was going to have it at that price! And the sales lady gave me 15% off on top of that although I only had a 10% discount coupon, so it actually cost me lest than 40 bucks.
But my shopping spree also included a pair of grey Macy's shoes, three shirts (DKNY, Geoffrey Beene and Calvin Klein) and two pairs of golf trousers including a Tommy Hilfiger pair. Even so, the whole lot cost under $190, or about £120!

Me with award, that jacket and Susan Wilson,
 from award sponsor TravMedia

On the final day of the conference they announced the winners of the SASI-ONE Awards for innovative marketing - and I was immensely honoured to be named Travel Journalist of the Year for services to the US tourism industry. After collecting my award on stage I was asked to say a few words, so of course I had to tell the audience about my bargain buys...and I couldn't resist a fashion show and a twirl. Which got everyone laughing.

The conference is co-organised by the Shop America Alliance.

I think I shopped for Britain!

My name is Peter and I am a shopaholic...