Man chairs just may be a shopping boon
Thank goodness for the man chair, the simple oasis that allows men to sit while women shop.
Kudos to the retail deity who thought of the ingenious retreats, some as bare bones as chairs with a selection of magazines and catalogs within arm’s reach, others as lavish as a secluded empire with ottomans for tired feet, appetizers to nosh, cappuccinos to sip, and sports to watch on a big-screen TV.
There is a method to these glorious man chairs, placed far away from the pressures of dressing-room decisions. No longer do men steam while peering at their watches, have to give a guarded verdict on a dress fit, or be the flat tire whose mission is to steer their women out of the store. The chairs mean women can attend to their natural calling — shopping — while men relax.
Some stores will even sell you that comfortable chair. The country casual Orvis outlet store in North Conway, N.H., offers men a respite from shuttling among the outlets on Route 16: a cognac-colored leather chair (for sale at two grand) with plush, down-filled cushions and a foot stool. Men relax here, often with shopping bags at their feet and a woman’s pocketbook secure in their lap. Some have even been known to snooze.
“Snoring is acceptable, but just a power nap,’’ says store manager Sue Wilcox. She says the chair is the ultimate in customer service, offering a break from a day of over-stimulation.
“I had one customer tell me the man chair helps his marriage,’’ she said.
For the ultimate in comfort, consider the cushy man enclave at Perrywinkle’s on Main Street in downtown Burlington, Vt., with its couches, ottomans, baby grand player piano, and full-screen television. While women are on the prowl in the 7,000 square feet of retail space for Pandora jewelry,
high-end designer purses, and diamonds, men are tucked away in a paradise of complimentary finger food that includes cookies, chicken wings, and pizza. The spread is stepped up during the holidays when patience runs thin. Here, men can quench their thirst with a beer or reawaken with an espresso.
Seasoned customers come in, approach store manager Winklette Taylor, and say they’re going to their office.
“They’ll say, ‘Let me know when you need my credit card,’ ’’ she said. “Men don’t really want to be in here. They don’t want to be jewelry shopping, but we want to make them feel comfortable.’’
So men sit, sip, eat, watch TV, read magazines, doze — and have nothing to complain about.
MARTY BASCH
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