Top Shops of 2006 *pics*

maxter

O.G.
Feb 5, 2006
7,334
337

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Top Personal Shopping
Henri Bendel
712 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10019
(212) 247-1100
In edition to well-edited clothes and a great make-up counter, Henri Bendel boasts one of New York City’s most precious gems, shoppers say--director of client and studio services Michael J. Palladino. He can determine what will look good on you and what won’t, and if you are shopping for your family, he’ll help you find the perfect gift. What’s more, Palladino’s services are free.
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Top Boutique
Colette
213 rue Saint-Honore-75001
Paris, France
(+33) 1 55 35 33 90
With racks of designer clothes lining its walls, Colette has no problem pulling in crowds. And the sales staff work hard to cater to all who pass through--whether they are looking for a hard-to-find piece or curious about the designer behind the brand.

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Top Women’s Shoes
Christian Louboutin
59 Horatio St.
New York, NY 10014
(212) 255-1910
For additional locations, visit www.christianlouboutin.fr.
From ultra-high heels to simple flats, shoe designer Louboutin delivers his customers shoes that make “most coveted” lists every season. While that may make them hard-to-find, his sales staff work diligently with colleagues across the globe to locate pairs sold out of local markets.
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Top Men’s Shoes
Salvatore Ferragamo
655 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 759-3822
For additional locations, visit www.salvatoreferragamo.it.
To make sure his staff know the client is always right, chief executive Massimo Ferragamo implemented a strict customer service training program and it shows, says Milton Pedrasa, founder of the market research firm, the Luxury Institute. Among the services offered: in-store lists of customer sizes and color preferences.
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Top Department Store
Harvey Nichols
125 Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7RJ
(020) 7235 5000109
Some think of a visit to a large department store as a shopping experience devoid of personal attention. But British retailer Harvey Nichols takes customer service to the extreme by assigning personal shoppers that are not only knowledgeable in fashion, but in housewares, accessories and food as well.









 

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Top Wine
Wally’s Wine & Spirits
2107 Westwood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 475-0606
At Wally’s in Los Angeles, staffers take a can-do attitude when it comes to selecting wines for its customers. “Our motto is ‘yes’,” says partner Christian Navarro. “If you are looking for a bottle of wine you had on your wedding day and can’t remember what it was, we will find it for you. That’s our level of customer service.”
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Top Culinary/Housewares
Dean and Deluca
560 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
(212) 226 6800
For more information, visit www.deandeluca.com.
Chefs and foodies agree, fine food purveyor Dean and Deluca is at the top when it comes to prepared fare, cooking utensils and housewares. But what really pushes this retailer to star status are the personal touches their staffers undertake. What can you have delivered? Everything from a fresh flower arrangement to a scrumptious dinner for six.
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Top Lingerie
Agent Provocateur
6 Broadwick Street
Soho London W1
020 743-90229
For more information, visit www.agentprovocateur.com.
Agent Provocateur founder Serena Rees understands that shoppers can be shy when they walk through the doors, and because of that she ensures her “girls” are trained rigorously to help with sizing and color selection.
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Top Bespoke Suit
Kiton
4 East 54th Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 486 5250
Move over Brioni. Italian suitmaker Kiton has a flagship store in New York with over 2,000 bolts of exquisite fabric. Here, staffers will help those seeking a custom-made suit with multiple fittings. It is the only bespoke suit maker that takes into consideration religious concerns such as no wool and linen blends together for Orthodox Jews when making the suit.
 
Huh...I've never heard of or seen Henri Bendel and my mom and I walked all up and down 5th Avenue going into nearly every store...Looks like we missed a real gem (no pun intended) there!