WILMINGTON – The most wonderful time of the year is also the most crucial time of the year for many local retailers. But with the specter of a coronavirus resurgence looming over the upcoming holiday shopping season, one innovative local business is bringing a personal touch – and extended hours – to ensure their customers have plenty of time to shop safely. Women’s fashion and lifestyle boutique Peter Kate has launched a sleigh-full of initiatives to make holiday shopping easy and stress-free for busy customers juggling jobs, family obligations and a desire to avoid big crowds.  This includes private, by-appointment, holiday shopping hours; ‘Book your Bubble’ - private shopping for groups; a revamped website featuring a complete inventory for online browsing and purchase; and free delivery (within 5-10 miles of their Fairfax store). Curbside and in-store pickup and shipping are also available, along with free gift wrapping.

The store is all yours!

The immuno-compromised and anyone concerned about exposure to throngs of other shoppers can get the entire Peter Kate boutique all to themselves with just a simple click on a website. [caption id="attachment_206034" align="aligncenter" width="1764"] A shopper at Peter Kate boutique in Wilmington, where people can now “sign up” for personal shopping hours to browse and shop holiday gifts. | PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER KATE[/caption] Whether it is husbands, dads, moms, sisters or children looking for the perfect holiday gift, all customers can use the Sign Up Genius on the store’s website to schedule their private shopping experience. Peter Kate’s expert staff will aide customers in selecting the ideal choice from their on-trend collection of apparel, shoes, jewelry, home décor, handbags and accessories. Private shopping hours are Monday – Friday 8:30 to 10am, Tuesday and Wednesday 6 to 7pm, and Sundays 11 am to 12pm.  The special offering will be available now until the end of the holidays. “Shop small. Shop safe. Shop local.” The new holiday traditions campaign at Peter Kate encourages consumers to shop safe and early this year. (Thanksgiving traditionally marks the start to the holiday shopping season.)

Book your Bubble

Borrowing an innovative idea from another savvy retailer in New Jersey, Peter Kate is also offering ‘Book your Bubble,’ allowing shoppers to book a group of friends to come in and shop privately. The store plans to allow Book your Bubble guests to shop from 5:30 to 7 pm weekdays.

Medical grade air purifiers and the latest shopping technology

The iconic boutique has also installed medical grade air purifiers and touchless hand sanitizers, and the store is cleaned and sanitized throughout the day. And while inventory moves in and out of the store on a daily basis, Peter Kate’s state of the art website is updated just as frequently. That means customers can browse the entire store knowing exactly what is on hand before stopping in, or they can take care of their shopping list with a few clicks of a keyboard from the comfort of their home or office. In anticipation of the holiday season, Peter Kate has stocked up items that satisfy any budget, filling its shelves with women’s ready to wear fashions, handbags, jewelry, stylish shoes, sneakers and boots, and other fashion and home accessories.

Shopping forecasts

According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales in November and December represent 20 percent of annual retail revenue. The organization says that in 2019 ecommerce accounted for 20 percent of total holiday sales, and they expect that number to increase this year. The retail trends site RetailMeNot meanwhile reports that 31 percent of people plan to shop earlier this season, and 75 perent will be shopping online. “This is certainly going to be a holiday season unlike any other,” said Peter Kate owner Sissy Aerenson, who first opened her popular boutique 19 years ago. “With so much uncertainty in our world, people are looking to feel more grounded, and holiday traditions take on an even greater importance. So, we’ve come up with of a host of ways to make shopping for a loved one – or yourself – a pleasurable and safe experience,” she said.