Artisans who cut paper and fold ribbons around gift boxes are going the way of coat checks, tea rooms and hair salons in Macy's' more than 800 stores nationwide (with a few exceptions, including its
flagship Chicago store), Sandra M. Jones reports.
"It's penny-wise, but pound-foolish," says Pamela Danziger, president of luxury market research firm Unity Marketing. "It doesn't
make sense. In our research, people are willing to pay extra to get a good presentation."
Most mid-tier stores have followed the lead of discount chains such as Target, Wal-Mart and
Kohl's, which offer bare-bones service in return for low prices. Nordstrom, on the other hand, has a free box and ribbon that clerks carefully wrap at the counter and then present to shoppers.
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