MEET YOUR HOLIDAY BEST FRIENDS – SM PERSONAL SHOPPERS

Here's a confession: I'm terrible at Christmas shopping.

- PAM PASTOR

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy buying things and I love giving people gifts, but the holiday rush always gets to me. I've developed a really bad tradition: I always end up cramming and shopping on Dec. 24.

Every year, I tell myself I will break that habit but I've never been able to. This time though, I think I'll finally succeed because I have a secret weapon Hanna, my favorite SM Personal Shopper.

During the pandemic, SM launched their Personal Shopper service, letting people shop from the safety and comfort of their homes. They made it so easy: all you had to do was call, text, or use messaging apps to reach out to your favorite SM Store and their Personal Shoppers would help you buy whatever you needed and even have it delivered on the same day. They accepted all forms of payment and those who were afraid of paying online could even ask to pay using cash on delivery or have the electronic funds transfer machine brought to their home so they could swipe or tap their cards there.

CONVENIENT AND FREE

It's a service that continues to thrive today. It's just so convenient. It's completely free there is no minimum purchase. No wonder so many customers rely on it. SM Personal Shoppers are so knowledgeable and patient and they'll happily take pictures of items so you can choose what you want. That's what Hanna, an SM Personal Shopper at SM Makati, does for me all the time.

"Hi Hanna! Can I please order socks?" I messaged her one evening, realizing I had run out of fresh pairs and had no time for laundry.

"Hi Ms. Pam, good evening. May I know po what type of socks?" she replied instantly.

Less than two hours later, my socks were delivered with the familiar tag that read "It was a pleasure shopping for you!"

The day before a flight, I messaged Hanna again. "Do you have chocolate-covered dried mangoes?"