Hank Hill knows how to shop, if you can call it that. For nearly 20 years, he’s purchased every gift for his wife, Karen, in less than 20 minutes, and that includes parking the car. The local criminal defense lawyer set a personal record this September when he selected her birthday gift in two minutes. When asked if she’s ever been disappointed by his decisiveness, he doesn’t hesitate. “Never,” he answers.
His secret? Shopping locally; more specifically at Brody Jewelers. Hill’s father introduced him to the Rossville, Ga., store when he was just a teenager. And while his relationship with the family stretches back long before he met his bride, his devotion has cemented in the past 20 years as the Brodys have helped him keep marital harmony. Every piece of jewelry he’s ever purchased for his wife has come from the family-owned jewelry store, including the engagement and wedding rings. Knowing his taste and price range, co-owner Louis Brody knows exactly what to pull from the case whenever he sees Hill’s car pull up.
“They’re all certified gemologists so they can tell you exactly what you’re getting,” explains Hill. “I know when I walk in I’m going to buy something I like, something that my wife likes, it’s going to be reasonably priced and it’s going to be quick.”
And while Hill might hold some sort of land speed record in shopping, he’s not the only one taking advantage of the service and expertise at local shops. All over the city savvy shoppers are relying on independent stores to help with the gift giving process. And while men are stereotypically the speed shoppers, Becky Glover, co-owner of downtown gift store Fischer Evans, says plenty of women rely on this little known service.
“I’ll have customers call and say, ‘Oh, I forgot my bridge group’s Christmas presents, can you just pick something out in this price range for me?'” she says. “We’ll have it wrapped and downstairs waiting on them to pick up. We’ll even run it out to their car if they need it.”
Glover attributes this exceptional service to knowing her clients tastes – a talent most local shop owners possess. Hovig Yacoubian of downtown’s Yacoubian Tailors says he regularly calls clients if an item comes in that matches their style. His sister Ani even acts as part-time wardrobe consultant to some of her clients, with some women dragging their entire closet to the store for seasonal advice on what to keep and what to add. For Louis Brody, knowledge of his client’s taste even dictates his purchasing decisions. “I’m friends with a lot of my customers so I know their style,” says Brody. “I’ll have stuff flown in specifically for them, knowing they’ll want to buy it.”
Many local businesses also offer services that can enhance gifts, such as in-house engraving and printing at Fischer Evans. The 141-year-old jewelry store has been known to fill an engraving order in a matter of hours, and is regularly called upon for last minute Christmas cards.
With so many local shops going above and beyond to take the hassle out of the holidays it begs the question, is it still more blessed to give than to receive?