Retail Therapy

99.99 72.68 54.32 122.09 39.99 86.72 29.99 47.80 55.70 60.02 17.38 220.90 155.05 38.75 72.03 88.99 115.19 SUBTOTAL:

1,475.60

RETAIL THERAPY The science and psychology behind this concept and stories that explain how we experience it.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Retail Therapy

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WIKIPEDIA

This is Your Brain at the Mall

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WALL STREET JOURNAL

Can Shopping Help Anxiety?

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HUFFINGTON POST

Excerpt from Confessions of a Shopaholic

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SOPHIE KINSELLA

In Defense of Retail Therapy

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Why Shopping Can Be Good for Your Health

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Excerpt from Confessions of a Shopaholic

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Why Retail Therapy Works

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PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

U.S. NEWS

SOPHIE KINSELLA

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

R E T A I L T H E R A P Y Barney’s New York 600 Madison Ave New York, NY 16085 212-826-8900 Store #: 3 Reg #: 178 Salesperson: Wikipedia Trn # : 46812 Date : 09/02/2016 -----------------------------Retail therapy is shopping with the primary purpose of improving the buyer’s mood or disposition.

Often seen in people during periods of depression or stress, it is normally a short-lived habit. Items purchased during periods of retail therapy are sometimes referred to as “comfort buys” (compare comfort food).

The name retail therapy is ironic and semifacetious, acknowledging that shopping hardly qualifies as true therapy in the medical or psychotherapeutic sense.

It was first used in the 1980s, with the first reference being this sentence in the Chicago Tribune of Christmas Eve 1986: “We’ve become a nation measuring out our lives in shopping bags

and nursing our psychic ills through retail therapy.”

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The fact that shopping may provide a short time of comfort (relief from dysphoria) but also imposes costs and is subject to comedown and withdrawal make it either a therapy or an addiction, depending on whether each person uses it adaptively or maladaptively.

Retail therapy thus exists on a spectrum with shopping addiction.

In 2001, the European Union conducted a study finding that 33% of shoppers surveyed had “high level of addiction to rash or unnecessary consumption.”

This habit was causing debt problems for many. A 2013 survey of 1000 American adults found that slightly more than half had engaged in retail therapy, with the practice being more common among women (63.9% of women and 39.8% of men); women were most likely to buy clothing while men were most likely to buy food.

Research from professors at Youngstown State University found similar results (64% of women vs.

40% of men), with relief from anxiety being the most common reason for retail therapy.

SHOPPING IS CHEAPER THAN A THERAPIST.

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN AT THE MALL WHY SHOPPING MAKES YOU FEEL SO GOOD 60 East 14th Street New York, NY 10003 212-220-2080

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Store #: 515 Reg #: 178 Salesperson: Tara Parker-Pope Trn # : 46812 Date : 12/06/2005 --------------------------00505023699687 CELINE HANGBAG 1 SZ DIM ORANGE 2,300.00 T 1 @ 2,300.00 34567898765632 ARMANI JKT SM KNIT MOTO 2,895.00 T 1 @ 2,895.00 56372362372376 ST WEITZMAN SH 6.5 M BLK SUEDE 798.00 T 1 @ 798.00 SUBTOTAL Tax @ 4.375% Tax @ 4.50%

5,993.00 262.19 269.69 -------------Total 6,524.88 -----------------------------Total Units Taken: 1 VISA 6,524.88

When Wazhma Samizay and her friends have a bad day, they go shopping, a ritual dubbed,

“R E TAI L TH ER APY.”

Science is now discovering what Ms. Samizay and many consumers have known all along: Shopping makes you feel good. A growing body of brain research shows how shopping activates key areas of the brain, boosting our mood and making us feel better——at least for a little while. Peering into a decorated holiday window or finding a hard-to-find toy appears to tap into the brain’s reward center, triggering the release of brain chemicals that give you a “shopping high.” Understanding the way your brain responds to shopping can help you make sense of the highs and lows of shopping, avoid buyer’s remorse and lower your risk for overspending.

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN AT THE MALL

“When you are shopping to buy a gift or get something for yourself, either way it’s a kind of treat,” says Ms. Samizay, who three years ago opened a Seattle boutique named Retail Therapy. “The concept of the store was about finding things that made people feel good.”

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Much of the joy of shopping can be traced to the brain chemical dopamine. Dopamine plays a crucial role in our mental and physical health. The brains of people with Parkinson’s disease, for instance, contain almost no dopamine. Dopamine also plays a role in drug use and other addictive behaviors. Dopamine is associated with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction, and it’s released when we experience something new, exciting or challenging. And for many people, shopping is all those things.

“You’re seeing things you haven’t seen; you’re trying on clothes you haven’t tried on before,” says Gregory Berns, an Emory University neuroscientist.

But MRI studies of brain activity suggest that surges in dopamine levels are linked much more with anticipation of an experience rather than the actual experience—— which may explain why people get so much pleasure out of windowshopping or hunting for bargains.

Dopamine can cause someone to get caught up in the shopping moment and make bad decisions. Dr. Berns

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN AT THE MALL

University of Kentucky researchers in 1995 studied rats exploring unfamiliar compartments in their cages——the laboratory equivalent of discovering a new store at the mall. When a rat explored a new place, dopamine surged in its brain’s reward center. The study offers a warning about shopping in new stores or while out of town.

People tend to make more extraneous purchases when they shop outside their own communities, says Indiana University professor Ruth Engs, who studies shopping addiction.

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of Emory says dopamine may help explain why someone buys shoes they never wear. “You see the shoes and get this burst of dopamine,” says Dr. Berns.

Dopamine, he says, “motivates you to seal the deal and buy them. It’s like a fuel injector for action, but once they’re bought it’s almost a let down.”

Dr. Berns and his colleagues have devised studies to simulate novel experiences to better understand when and why the brain releases dopamine. In one set of studies volunteers reclined in an MRI scanner while a tube trickled drops of water or sweet Kool-Aid into their mouths. Sometimes the Kool-Aid drops were a predictable pattern, while other studies used random drops. Notably, when the Kool-Aid was predictable the brain showed little increased activity. But the scans showed a high level of activity when the Kool-Aid was given at random. This indicates that the anticipation

of the reward——whether it’s Kool-Aid or a new dress——is what gets our dopamine pumping.

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN AT THE MALL

Because the shopping experience can’t be replicated inside an MRI scanner, other researchers are using electroencephalogram, or EEG, monitors that measure electrical activity in the brain to better understand consumershopping habits. Britain’s Neuroco, a London consulting firm, uses portable monitors, strapped on to shoppers, to produce “brain maps” as a way to understand consumer buying habits. The brain maps show a marked difference in the brain patterns of someone just browsing compared with a consumer about to make a purchase.

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“ SH O PPI N G IS EN O R M O US LY R E WAR DI N G TO US ,” says neuroscientist David Lewis.

But Dr. Lewis also notes that stressful crowds, poor service or the realization that you’ve spent too much can quickly eliminate the feel-good effects of shopping.

Knowing that shopping triggers real changes in our brain can help you make better shopping decisions and not overspend while in a dopamine-induced high. For instance, walking away from a purchase you want and returning the next day will eliminate the novelty of the situation and help you make a more clear-headed decision.

Dr. Engs of Indiana has compiled a list of dos and don’ts to help

Buy only the items on your shopping list to avoid impulse purchases.

Use cash or debit cards. Financial limits keep you from buying things you can’t afford in the midst of shopping excitement.

Don’t shop when you’re visiting friends or relatives. The added novelty of shopping in a new place puts you at higher risk of buying something you don’t need.

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN AT THE MALL

people make better shopping decisions. Although the steps are aimed at people with compulsive shopping problems, they are useful for anyone caught up in a shopping frenzy.

“CONSUMPTION FUELS OUR ECONOMY. MATERIALISM IS RAMPANT. WE THINK THAT IF YOU CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS, YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE TO SHOP.” –APRIL LANE BENSON

PEOPLE TEND TO SHOP THE MOST LEADING UP TO BIG LIFE TRANSITIONS.

CAN SHOPPING HELP ANXIETY? THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND RETAIL THERAPY 1000 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 212-705-2000

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Store #: 515 Salesperson: Huffington Post Trn # : 46812 Date : 10/13/2014 --------------------------Most people are guilty of emotional spending at one time or another. Whether you partake in retail therapy while you’re sad, angry, or happy, you are bound to end up with some unneeded items and an empty wallet. So why do we spend to feel better, and how can we curb emotional spending in the future?

“What a week! I deserve that handbag.”

I recently had a friend say to me (jokingly of course), “I wish my health insurance covered retail therapy.” In fact a new study out by TNS Global found that half of all Americans have admitted to engaging in one form

or another of retail therapy.

Additional studies have echoed similar findings; the majority of shoppers buy something to cheer themselves up or treat themselves in form of a celebration.

SHOPPING AS A FORM OF THERAPY

CAN SHOPPING HELP ANXIETY?

Although shopping is not the conventional type of therapy, it does have positive emotional effects on individuals, hence why shopping is so popular.

Psychologists have found that people tend to shop the most leading up to big life transitions. For example, Americans shop the most during their lifetime prior to getting married and having a child. The shopping process, the purchases and the preparation for this new phase in life allow for more control over the situation, which in turn eases anxiety. Often these type of purchases outweigh the actual need of the product.

Many times, shopping relieves stress and anxiety, which can be useful for several individuals.

Studies have shown that there are clear benefits to retail therapy.

For example, a study conducted

by Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found retail therapy in moderation to be beneficial, citing that

R EG U L AR S H O PPI N G WAS CO N N EC TED TO LO N G ER LI FE S PAN S .

PROBLEMS CAUSED BY RETAIL THERAPY However for some, this idea of retail therapy can be highly problematic. To truly understand the psychology behind problematic spending, we must touch on the idea of defense mechanisms.

Defense mechanisms are an unconscious process that protect an individual from painful thoughts or ideas that are too difficult for the conscious mind

to cope with. In certain cases, defense mechanisms keep unwanted thoughts and impulses from entering the conscious mind.

So what do defense mechanisms have to do with over-shopping?

WHEN SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED? If your retail therapy habits are moderate in nature, your credit isn’t an issue, and it does not affect your daily functioning, more power to you. Enjoy those shopping moments that decrease stress and anxiety. However, if not shopping causes you anxiety, you are spending just to spend and it’s causing a financial disruption, retail therapy may have more of a negative effect than a positive one.

CAN SHOPPING HELP ANXIETY?

Denial is one of the most widely used defense mechanisms. When you use denial, you refuse to accept the reality or truth of an experience or fact. For example, believing you only drink in social situations, when in reality you drink every night.

This particular defense mechanism serves over-shoppers quite well.

Many individuals drowning in credit card debt have high rates of denial, and continue to spend when they can’t afford to.

YOU'RE RIGHT. SHOPPING WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WILL PUT ME IN A BETTER MOOD FOR WHEN I ACTUALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

THAT M That instant when your fingers curl around the handles of a shiny, uncreased bag–and all the gorgeous new things inside it become yours.

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MOMENT. WHAT’S IT LIKE? It’s like going hungry for days then cramming your mouth full of warm, buttered toast. It’s like waking up and realizing it’s the weekend.

It’s like the better moments of sex. Everything else is blocked out of your mind.

IT’S PURE, SELFISH PLEASURE.

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC Excerpt 611 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10022 212-753-4000

Store #: 1 Reg #: 054 Salesperson: Sophie Kinsella Trn # : 29125 Date : 02/13/2001 -----------------------------AG ANKLE JEANS 0400087632476 24 BLK LTH 235.00 T 1 @ 235.00 JOLE OTK BOOTS 0400090737620 37 GRPH SUEDE 1 @ 378.00

378.00 T

LENA SKADEGARD NCK 0400091925743 1 SZ GRN AMETHYST 1 @ 490.00

490.00 T

SUBTOTAL Tax @ 4.375% Tax @ 4.50%

1,103.00 48.26 49.64 -------------Total 1,200.90 -----------------------------Total Units Taken: 3 MASTERCARD 1,200.90

The tube is to my right. The shops are to my left.

I must ignore the shops. I must practice frugality, go straight home, and plot my expenditure graph. If I need entertainment, I can watch some nice free television and perhaps make some inexpensive, nutritious soup.

But there’s nothing good on tonight, at least not until EastEnders. And I don’t want soup.

I R E ALLY FEEL AS I F I N EED SO M E TH I N G TO C H EER M E U P.

And besides——my mind’s working fast——I’ll be giving it all up tomorrow, won’t I? It’s like the beginning of Lent.

This is my Shopping Pancake Day. I need to cram it all in before the fast begins.

I arrive at the cosmetics department of Barkers and suddenly I know. Makeup! That’s what I need. A new mascara, and maybe a new lipstick. Happily I start to wander around the bright, heady room, dodging sprays of perfume and painting lipsticks onto the back of my hand. I want a really pale lipstick, I decide.

Sort of nudey beige/pink, and a lip liner to go with it..

At the Clarins counter, my attention is grabbed by a big promotional sign. BUY TWO SKINCARE PRODUCTS, AND RECEIVE

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

With a surge of excitement I hurry toward the Barkers Centre. I won’t go mad, I promise myself. Just one little treat to see me through.

I’ve already got my cardigan—— so not clothes.. and I bought some new kitten heels the other day——so not that.. although there are some nice Prada-type shoes in Hobbs.. Hmm. I’m not sure.

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FREE BEAUTY BAG, CONTAINING TRIAL-SIZE CLEANSER, TONER, AND MOISTURIZER, AUTUMN BLAZE LIPSTICK, EXTRA STRENGTH MASCARA AND SAMPLE-SIZE EAU DYNAMISANTE. STOCKS LIMITED SO HURRY. But this is fantastic! Do you know how much Clarins lipstick usually costs? And here they are, giving it away! Excitedly I start rooting through all the skin-care products, trying to decide which two to buy. How about some neck cream? I’ve never used that before. And some of this Revitalizing Moisturizer. And then I’ll get a free lipstick!

It’s a complete bargain.

“Hi,” I say to the woman in the white uniform. “I’d like the Neck Cream and the Revitalizing Moisturizer. And the beauty bag,” I add, suddenly petrified that I might be too late; that the limited stocks might have run out.

But they haven’t! Thank God. As my VISA card’s processing, the woman hands me my shiny red beauty bag (which I have to admit is a bit smaller than I was expecting) and I excitedly open it up. And there, sure enough, is my free lipstick!

A MAN WILL NEVER LOVE YOU OR TREAT YOU AS WELL AS A STORE. If a man doesn’t fit, you can’t exchange him seven days later for a gorgeous cashmere sweater. And a store always smells good.

A store can awaken a lust for things you never even knew you needed.

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AND WHEN YOUR FINGERS FIRST GRASP THOSE SHINY, NEW BAGS…

HANGING IN MY CLOSET.” –CARRIE BRADSHAW, SEX AND THE CITY

IN DEFENSE OF RETAIL THERAPY

“I LIKE MY MONEY RIGHT WHERE I CAN SEE IT...

IN DEFENSE OF RETAIL THERAPY CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU’VE HEARD, RETAIL THERAPY ISN’T THAT BAD 151 W Thirty Fourth Street New York, NY 10001 212-695-4400

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Store #: 6 Salesperson: Scott Rick, PH.D. Trn # : 82372 Date : 03/29/2013 --------------------------Retail therapy gets a bad rap.

Popular press articles lamenting retail therapy as wasteful and ineffective are not in short supply. And when my colleagues and I asked 100 men and women for the first word that comes to mind when hearing “retail therapy,” we were twice as likely to get negative responses (e.g., “nonsense”) than positive responses (e.g., “fun”).

Certainly, as a standing policy (“shop whenever distressed”), retail therapy seems like a bad idea. Compulsive buying is associated with nothing good.

But can an occasional episode of retail therapy help to alleviate distress? My colleagues at the University of Michigan,

Beatriz Pereira and Katherine Burson, and I are currently addressing this question using laboratory experiments.

IN DEFENSE OF RETAIL THERAPY

Whether or not retail therapy works appears to depend on the type of distress it is meant to heal. Different negative emotions are characterized by different cognitive appraisals about one’s environment. These appraisals can serve as both causes and consequences of emotion. Sadness, more than any other emotion, is associated with a perceived lack of personal control. People who are sad are especially likely to view events in their life as determined by some combination of chance and other people’s desires.

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S H O PPI N G MAY H ELP TO R ESTO R E TH IS LOST S EN SE O F PERSO NAL CO NTRO L .

Shopping is all about choice (where to shop, whether to buy, what to buy), and previous research suggests that exercising choice can enhance one’s sense of control. It stands to reason, then, that shopping may help to alleviate sadness.

We tested this hypothesis by inducing sadness and then manipulating whether or not participants had the opportunity to shop. For example, in one experiment, we made all participants watch a short clip from “The Champ” that portrays the death of a boy’s mentor.

After participants watched the video, we presented them with a dozen products, including a wine decanter, a board game, and mini-speakers. We randomly assigned participants to “Choosing” or “Browsing”

Participants rated their emotions at the beginning and end of the experiment. Overall, participants were sadder at the end of the experiment than at the beginning of the experiment (since they

IN DEFENSE OF RETAIL THERAPY

conditions. Choosers were asked to choose, hypothetically, which four products they would most like to buy. Browsers were asked to indicate which four products would be most helpful when traveling. Only some products were appropriate for travel. For example, no one thought that traveling with a wine decanter was a good idea. Choosers, by contrast, were free to select any product, and thus experienced greater autonomy during the task.

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had to endure The Champ).

However, the increase in sadness was significantly smaller among Choosers than among Browsers.

Choosers exerted greater control during the task, which helped to restore some of the control lost while watching the sad clip.

Importantly, neither Choosers nor Browsers obtained any new products during the study, suggesting that merely simulating shopping choices may provide some of the same benefits as engaging in actual retail therapy. (Websites that only allow visitors to shop hypothetically seem to capitalize on this insight.)

In another experiment, we found that shopping helped to alleviate

If the benefits of retail therapy boil down to choice, it is worth considering whether other situations that afford opportunities for choice, like rearranging one’s bookshelves, convey similar benefits. They may, but these vehicles for choice may be less tempting than going shopping. This is not necessarily bad: retail therapy may help to alleviate low-control negative emotions like sadness, even if the shopping is hypothetical.

Repeatedly engaging in retail therapy, however, may increase one’s debt, jeopardizing the very sense of personal control that shopping was meant to restore.

IN DEFENSE OF RETAIL THERAPY

sadness, but not anger. Anger is generally associated with a greater sense of human control than is sadness. Other negative emotions associated with a high sense of personal control, such as guilt, are also unlikely to benefit from retail therapy. Additional research is needed to examine the influence of retail therapy on a broad class of negative emotions.

WHO NEEDS LOVE WHEN THERE’S A THING CALLED SHOPPING?

“WHEN I SHOP, THE WORLD GETS BETTER, AND THE WORLD IS BETTER, BUT THEN IT’S NOT, AND I NEED TO DO IT AGAIN.” –SOPHIE KINSELLA, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

WHY SHOPPING CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH FEELING DOWN? A TRIP TO THE MALL MIGHT HELP 5 Copley Place Boston, MA 02116 617-536-3660

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Store #: 67 Salesperson: Daniel Bortz Trn # : 73283 Date : 05/20/2013 --------------------------When your significant other says it’s over, your first instinct may be to seek comfort in a pint of ice cream or a stiff drink. But there are healthier ways of nursing a broken heart——including shopping.

In a recent survey by TNS Global, around 52 percent of respondents said they’ve engaged in “retail therapy,” the act of shopping and spending to improve one’s mood. Both men and women admitted they’ve opened their wallets when feeling blue. However, this form of therapy can put your finances at risk if it’s the only way you can temper your mood, or if you feel guilty about your spending behaviors and don’t shop in moderation.

“ WH EN YO U ’ R E SAD, YO U S EE TH E WO R LD DI FFER ENTLY.”

Decisions can be between material items (a pair of shorts versus jeans) or what to consume (a smoothie versus a milkshake).

Studies show retail therapy is less effective for feelings like aggression, but Rick says purchases——cheap or expensive——can help relieve mild depression.

WHY SHOPPING CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

says Scott Rick, a professor of marketing at the University of Michigan whose research focuses on the emotional causes and consequences of financial decisionmaking. Rick says people who are upset often think they live in an environment that’s out of their control. One way to restore control, he says, is by making choices about what to buy.

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Despite its benefits, retail therapy is shunned by many consumers. “I think it’s unpopular these days to say you shop for pleasure because we’re supposed to be in some stoic state in this post-recession economy,” says Kit Yarrow, a professor of psychology at Golden Gate University in San Francisco who studies consumer trends and behaviors. “I think shopping serves as a healthy purpose for a lot of people. If it works for you, you should not feel guilty. Do it, enjoy it and don’t overdo it.”

April Lane Benson, author of “I Shop, Therefore I Am: Compulsive Buying and the Search for Self,” says consumers must be conscious of their shopping behaviors.

Although retail therapy can have positive effects, she says it can easily evolve into a spending problem. “We turn to instant gratification when we feel distressed,” Benson says.

Yet sometimes a quick pick-meup is necessary. Margaret Meloy, a professor of marketing at Pennsylvania State University and co-author of the 2011 study “Retail therapy: a strategic effort to improve mood,” says

people must diffuse negative emotions before they worsen, or they could lose control of their shopping behaviors and act recklessly with money.

Such untreated depression or frustration can push people to spending extremes.

WHY SHOPPING CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

A key difference between healthy and compulsive shoppers is that compulsive buyers often experience remorse when they get home and see what they bought, Meloy says.

Meanwhile, consumers who use retail therapy modestly don’t regret their purchases. “There isn’t this kind of upward and then downward spiral as there typically is with compulsive shoppers,” Meloy says.

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People who use retail therapy appropriately are not only happier but may also be more confident, perform better at work and express themselves more creatively, according to Yarrow.

Yarrow says when consumers shop with purpose, using a checklist (written or mental) of things they need, their purchases can make them feel more equipped to handle certain situations.

A prime example: couples with a baby on the way. “A lot of them just go crazy at the mall, but they’re actually imagining themselves as parents,” Yarrow says. “When people visualize their new life through the process of shopping, they feel more in control and more prepared.”

WHY SHOPPING CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Similarly, buying a new work wardrobe can boost your confidence and potentially improve or weaken your job performance. A study last year by researchers at Northwestern University found participants who wore white doctor’s coats performed better than participants in ordinary clothing on tests of attentiveness and concentration (traits associates with experienced physicians). As such, some workers perform differently on casual Fridays; people who wear sweatpants to the office instead of a suit, for example, might be more lackadaisical with their duties than they are on the other days of the week, according to Yarrow.

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Yarrow says retail therapy can also be a creative outlet. An artist, for instance, may get pleasure from choosing between two colors of paint. “It all depends on how the person uses the purchase and what it means to them,” Yarrow says.

Compulsive shopping expert Benson recommends shopping for meaningful reasons instead of material items: “Shop for a hobby. Shop to deepen a relationship. Shop for a place to volunteer your time.”

Nonetheless, shopping can be an effective way of lifting your spirits. It can also have lasting benefits. “I have a battered briefcase I bought years ago,” Yarrow says. “It looks terrible, but I’ve been using it so long.

I still treasure it, because in my mind it marked my transition from kid to professional.”

WHY SHOPPING CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

There are, of course, other healthy alternatives to retail therapy. Rick of the University of Michigan says, “If you can dust off a decision you’ve been waiting for at home——how to rearrange your bookshelf or where to plant that new flower in the garden – I think it would have similar positive effects.”

SHOPPING IS THE BEST MEDICINE.

“HONESTLY, SHOPPING BEATS THERAPY, ANYTIME. IT COSTS THE SAME AND YOU GET A DRESS OUT OF IT.” –SOPHIE KINSELLA, MINI SHOPAHOLIC

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

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Excerpt 611 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10022 212-753-4000

Store #: 1 Reg #: 054 Salesperson: Sophie Kinsella Trn # : 29125 Date : 02/13/2001 -----------------------------AG ANKLE JEANS 0400087632476 24 BLK LTH 235.00 T 1 @ 235.00 JOLE OTK BOOTS 0400090737620 37 GRPH SUEDE 1 @ 378.00

378.00 T

LENA SKADEGARD NCK 0400091925743 1 SZ GRN AMETHYST 1 @ 490.00

490.00 T

SUBTOTAL Tax @ 4.375% Tax @ 4.50%

1,103.00 48.26 49.64 -------------Total 1,200.90 -----------------------------Total Units Taken: 3 MASTERCARD 1,200.90

“Yes,” I say, grinning from ear to ear. “I bought myself a scarf.”

“Show me!” says Suze, unwinding herself from the floor. “Showme-show-me-show-me!” She comes over and starts tugging at the strings of the carrier, like a kid. “I want to see your new scarf! Show me!”

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

For a moment I’m silent. I don’t want to disturb her in case yoga is like sleepwalking and you’re not meant to wake people when they’re doing it.

But then Suze opens her eyes and looks up — and the first thing she says is “Denny and George!

Becky, you’re not serious.”

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This is why I love sharing a flat with Suze. Julia, my old flatmate, would have wrinkled her brow and said, “Denny and who?” or, “That’s a lot of money for a scarf.” But Suze completely and utterly understands. If anything, she’s worse than me.

“Bex, open it up!” Suze is begging. “Let me see!” She’s grabbing inside the bag with eager long fingers, and I pull it away quickly before she rips it. This bag is going on the back of my door along with my other prestige carrier bags, to be used in a casual manner when I need to impress.

Very slowly, I take the dark green box out of the bag, remove the lid, and unfold the tissue paper.

Then, almost reverentially, I lift up the scarf. It’s beautiful. It’s even more beautiful here than it was in the shop. I drape it around my neck and grin stupidly at Suze.

“Oh, Bex,” she murmurs.

“It’s gorgeous!”

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

For a moment we are both silent. It’s as though we’re communing with a higher being.

The god of shopping.

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Then Suze has to go and ruin it all.

“You can wear it to see James this weekend,” she says.

TH E C RI N G I N G LY AWFU L M EM O RY WH IC H I HAD SU CC ES S FU LLY SU PPR ES S ED STARTS TO R ESU R FAC E.

YOU KNOW THAT THING WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE CUTE AND HE SMILES AND YOUR HEART KIND OF GOES LIKE WARM BUTTER SLIDING DOWN HOT TOAST?

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WELL THAT’S WHAT IT’S LIKE WHEN I SEE A STORE.

ONLY IT’S BETTER.

“I LOVE NEW CLOTHES. IF EVERYONE COULD JUST WEAR NEW CLOTHES EVERYDAY, I RECKON DEPRESSION WOULDN’T EXIST ANYMORE.” –SOPHIE KINSELLA, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

WHY RETAIL THERAPY WORKS FIVE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF SHOPPING 424 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10018 212-391-3344

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Store #: 87 Salesperson: Kit Yarrow, PH.D. Trn # : 46812 Date : 10/13/2014 --------------------------Remember that saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping?” Turns out there’s some truth to that adage.

A new study conducted by TNS Global on behalf of Ebates.com has found that more than half of Americans admit to engaging in “retail therapy.” This echoes a previous study published in the Journal of Psychology and Marketing. Researchers Selin Atalay and Margaret Meloy found that 62% of shoppers had purchased something to cheer themselves up and another 28% had purchased as a form of celebration.

While “therapy” isn’t quite the word I’d use to describe the

positive effects of shopping, there are indeed psychological rewards. How else to explain the immense popularity of shopping?

Here are five therapeutic benefits of shopping and how to spot a shopping habit gone awry.

As part of a research project, I visited the home of Andre, a 39 year old, single, tech entrepreneur and was surprised to see he’d included a space for

WHY RETAIL THERAPY WORKS

EASING TRANSITIONS Janice was in a marriage devoid of intimacy for over a decade.

When she finally divorced, the first thing she did was to buy all new bedding. “It was like I was possessed, I spent hours shopping for just the right thing and I finally bought the most beautiful duvet, shams, the works.

It did feel therapeutic——like I was shedding that old marriage and ready to start fresh.”

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long dresses in his newly built custom closet. When I asked him about it, Andre said that he was “dating around” and hoped to get married soon. In, perhaps, an “if I build it she will come” state of mind, Andre included what he thought were things his yet to be identified future wife would want.

“I assume she’ll need someplace to hang her dresses,” he said.

Shopping can be a rich source of mental preparation. As people shop they’re naturally visualizing how they’ll use the products they’ll considering, and in doing so they’re also visualizing their new life. And as many great athletes will attest, visualization is a performance booster and anxiety reducer.

It’s no wonder then, that two of the most shop-intensive times of our lives are also two of life’s greatest transitions: getting married and having a baby. The purchases themselves are only

part of the allure, shopping——and visualizing——is preparation and it makes people feel more control and less anxious about these big transitions. Which explains why sometimes the amount of shopping outweighs the actual needs.

WHY RETAIL THERAPY WORKS

Sara Levin is a psychologist specializing in child development and a therapist to what she describes as “excited but overwhelmed” young parents. She’s launching a subscription box service, Zero to Wonder. Monthly boxes will feature products selected to match a particular child’s age and developmental needs. According to Levin, “some types of purchasing can serve a higher purpose. Retail

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purchases can be helpful if the product inspires self-confidence and a sense of mastery.”

Whether it’s shopping for dorm equipment with your teenager or buying a special outfit to wear on vacation, whether they’re aware of it or not, nearly everyone has used shopping as a way to anticipate, imagine and mentally prepare.

DRESSING FOR SUCESS When Annie moved from her small rural hometown to Boston for a new job she admits she went overboard shopping for new clothes. “Everyone looked better than me, I had to get new stuff.

I know I should be judged by just my work but I really felt so much better when I’d come in with a great outfit. It’s probably wrong that I wasn’t confident without getting new clothes, but it was true, and it still is something I think is important.”

What’s unusual isn’t that Annie

purchased new clothing for her new job, city and lifestyle—— what’s unusual is that see seemed to feel guilty about it.

Who among us hasn’t purchased something for a special date, a new job or a big event?

On the flip side, we actually can judge a book by it’s cover ——or in this case a person by their shoes. A study published in the Journal of Research in Personality participants were able to guess a persons age, gender, income and agreeableness from photos of their shoes.

WHY RETAIL THERAPY WORKS

Turns out it works. In a study published by The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, participants asked to wear white coats they were told were doctor’s coats. When wearing these coats students were far more accurate on test of attentional focus and concentration (traits associates with physicians) than the control group that simply wore their street clothes for the experiment.

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THE PLEASURE BOOST OF CREATIVITY AND AESTHETICS Jules, a young administrative assistant, prides herself on her taste. “I love decorating and styling outfits. The texture and colors, I can think of just the right thing to tie it together.

It’s so fun.” Jules enjoys shopping for creative inspiration.

She says she visits shops at least once a week, “it’s just fun to see what’s new and it gives me ideas.”

Over the years I’ve asked many consumers to describe products they love and the responses have often struck me as similar to how someone might describe a piece of artwork. Jim, a 60 year old businessman, showed me a birthday gift from his wife, an expensive Panerai watch that he’d craved for years. He made sure I noticed every detail

including the suppleness of the strap. He was clearly enraptured by the beauty and functionality of the watch. Some think that owning a luxury item is about status, but for many it’s more an appreciation of craftsmanship and design that enlivens the senses.

RELAXATION AND ESCAPE When people think of the benefits of “retail therapy,” escape, entertainment and rejuvenation are usually at the top of the list.

In my most recent consumer interviews, online shopping is increasingly mentioned as type

WHY RETAIL THERAPY WORKS

Jules’ shopping excursions serve a similar purpose. They enrich her life through creative expression and an appreciation of beauty and design. Judging by the monumental success product pins on Pinterest, Jules isn’t the only person inspired by visual feast of retail.

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of mini mental vacation. It makes sense. Unless purchasing is involved, it’s a relatively mindless, relaxing activity.

As a bonus, when faced with a difficult decision or arduous task, short breaks can actually improve performance and decision making. Studies show that our unconscious mind continues to work out problems while we’re engaged in a different activity (this shouldn’t be confused with multi-tasking, doing several things at once results in not focusing on anything deeply).

Christina, a senior human relations professional, says she shopped for light fixtures nearly every day for a couple of weeks during breaks from her job. “I’d just scroll and scroll. I kind of missed it when I finally bought one.” Chanelle takes breaks from her family by shopping. “It’s me time,” she says. “Sometimes it’s crazy at home and so I go to the mall for some me time.”

Be it window shopping, online scrolling or pawing through racks at outlet malls——shopping really can be a mental refresher - like a blip of a vacation without any packing or planning.

SOCIAL CONNECTION

Some people, like Jim connect with likeminded lovers of a particular brand. Since he received his watch he attended a store sponsored party of other Panerai owners and visits a website where Panerai owners post photos of their watches and share advice and news.

If there’s one antidote to emotional distress it’s human connection. We’re a species that’s meant to be with others, whether it occurs over dinner, at home or at the mall, it’s therapeutic.

RETAIL THERAPY: FAIL In moderation, shopping is therapeutic. But for some, “retail therapy” masks deeper

WHY RETAIL THERAPY WORKS

Since we’ve been gathering as humans we’ve gone to the marketplace to connect with other people. “When I go on vacation I always go to where people are shopping,” says Elaine, a retired teacher. “I get a feel for the place and the people, especially if I’m traveling to a different country.” Others, especially young people, meet friends and compare notes about tastes. “It’s how I get to know someone,” says Taylor, a stylish 15 year old.

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problems and a real therapist would be a better solution.

Renowned (and stylish) San Francisco therapist, Peggy Wynne, is someone who appreciates the retail therapy of a great pair of shoes - and she’s also full of insights about when shopping crosses the line and becomes more the problem than the solution.

According to Peggy, “we all enjoy a little retail therapy now and then. In small, manageable doses it can soothe the soul.

Shopping isn’t a problem when it’s done in moderation, just like moderate use of alcohol.”

Peggy says the most common warning signs for shopping that’s more the problem than the solution include: avoiding credit card or bank statements; lying or hiding purchases; missing work, school or other obligations to go shopping; and shame, guilt, or irritability associated with shopping.

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AS I WALK IN, I FEEL MY WHOLE BODY EXPAND IN RELIEF.

There’s a thrill about walking into a shop—any shop— which you can’t beat. It’s partly the anticipation, partly the buzzy, welcoming atmosphere, partly just the lovely newness of everything.

I WISH MY HEALTH INSURANCE COVERED RETAIL THERAPY.