Are you a “Last minute man”?
It’s 4 pm on Christmas Eve and Grafton St is jammed with men charging through their last-minute shopping while their wives or girlfriends sit at home relaxing because they were finished weeks ago.
Every year we hear about shoppers but especially men rushing into town to buy presents just for the sake of it.
But be warned, retail staff are specifically trained on how to spot and cash in on ‘last minute man’ in the run up to Christmas.
Panic buying
“We have been coaching staff on the jewellery counters of a major retail chain on how to spot him and make sure he doesn't get away without a sale.” says Retail Active managing director Julian Chamberlain.
“Last minute man has money but no time and he will end up spending more than he has to."
Avoiding stress
So for those of us who’d rather be in the pub than the shops how do you avoid being made a mug of this Christmas?
“My husband is a real last minute shopper.” says Judith Small from Dublin. “But last year he got me a goat from the World Vision Gift Catalogue. He knew I’d find it funny and it really showed his caring side.
I was glad that some sales assistant didn’t pounce on him and make him spend the money on an overpriced perfume or scarf that I didn’t need or want.”
Gift catalogue
“Buying online from the World Vision gift catalogue means that not only do you get to avoid the hassle of the shops but you also get to help a family living in poverty as well.” explains Helen Keogh, Chief Executive of World Vision Ireland, a charity working with children and families in the developing world. “
"There's of loads of great stocking fillers too like six chickens for €12 or a mosquito net for €10.
And for the really last minute gifts, you can choose an e-card or gift certificate to print at home so there’s no time delay at all. You can do your shopping while the turkey is in the oven!”