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Holiday Shopping Party

Anyway, my idea is to get all my friends together and have a shopping party. And at the end of the day, over dinner, we compare what we bought, what bargains we found--a kind of show and tell!

Here's how.

When

Pick a Saturday or Sunday (whichever you think is best--you know your friends better than I). Start the shopping day at 1 p.m. or so. End it in time to meet for dinner.

Where

Make it a "progressive" shopping trip. You know, like a progressive dinner but better yet. With input from your guests, make a schedule of stores that you plan to stop at.

How

Depending on how many people you're inviting, use a van or even rent a mini-bus with a driver who will handle all those packages. Imagine not having to walk to a parking space carrying all that stuff (it's worth it right there!); the driver can wait at the door. Split the cost among you, it won't be much. And it will be SO much fun.

There may be a craft festival or two in your area you also want to attend. Check it out when making your plans.

Invitation

Invite everyone for a day's worth of shopping, chauffeured, bus activities, dinner and fun. Insert an RSVP that asks them to list their favorite stores for this "progressive" shopping trip. Don't forget to tell them how much it will cost for the bus rental (if you're splitting the cost). Something like this:

You're invite to a

Progressive Holiday Shopping Party!

Time

Date

Hosted By

Meet at…
(this should be where dinner is being held)
Transportation provided…
(that means no parking, no dragging gifts to the car)
1 p.m. until after dinner and "show and tell"
(I'll show you my bargains, if you show me yours!)
Transportation cost per person: $25

RSVP with your list of favorite stores…to:
(your address here)

Or you can let us do it! We can customize candy bar wrappers to perfectly fit your theme.

Decorations

Not necessary, but if it were me (the Party Girl), I'd have to decorate the van or bus—just because. Red bows on the seats, a banner outside the bus (very inexpensive) and a special outfit for your driver. I'm sure for a big enough tip, he'll do anything.

At dinner, whether you are going to a restaurant with a party room (I vote for that) or hosting it at your home, you may want to make a centerpiece out of wrapped gifts, with fabulous bows and ribbons. Seems simple enough!

As people leave, give them a little teenie box of chocolates, tagged off with their name, that says thanks for coming!

Bus Activities

On each seat of the bus, leave a Holiday shopping goody bag. If you have the energy, call the stores that are on your list, tell them your coming and see if they'll give you a sample, a coupon or something else to put in the bag. Also, a nice touch would be a bottle of water, a fruit snack and something decadent—like Personalized Photo Chocolate Ornaments . Party411 can customize these for you, laminated.

Include in this bag, a "shopping credential" for each of your guests for identification purposes. Make it really fun…you know, give your group a name…like "Just Ten Moms Who Shop." You could even make T-shirts for $8 each.

While on the bus, between stops, have your guests get up and give their very own shopping tips. Or if someone knows something special about your next stop, let them take the floor!

Dinner Activities

Show and tell. It's like a wedding shower or baby shower, but better! You may see something that someone else bought at Stop No. 4, realize it's perfect for your brother and run out and buy it the next chance you get.

Have a contest to see who got the most shopping done during the day and give a gag gift pertaining to the "poor house" or something like that.