Meet your holiday best friends: SM Personal Shoppers

Here’s a confession: I’m terrible at Christmas shopping.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy buying things and I love giving people gifts, but the holiday rush always gets to me. I’ve developed a really bad tradition: I always end up cramming and shopping on Dec. 24.

Every year, I tell myself I will break that habit but I’ve never been able to. This time though, I think I’ll finally succeed because I have a secret weapon—Hanna, my favorite SM Personal Shopper.

During the pandemic, SM launched their Personal Shopper service, letting people shop from the safety and comfort of their homes. They made it so easy: All you had to do was call, text, or use messaging apps to reach out to your favorite SM Store, and their Personal Shoppers would help you buy whatever you needed and even have it delivered on the same day. They accepted all forms of payment, and those who were afraid of paying online could even ask to pay using cash on delivery or have the electronic funds transfer machine brought to their home so they could swipe or tap their cards there.

Convenient and free

It’s a service that continues to thrive today. It’s just so convenient. It’s completely free—there is no minimum purchase. No wonder so many customers rely on it. SM Personal Shoppers are so knowledgeable and patient, and they’ll happily take pictures of items so you can choose what you want. That’s what Hanna, an SM Personal Shopper at SM Makati, does for me all the time. 

“Hi Hanna! Can I please order socks?” I messaged her one evening, realizing I had run out of fresh pairs and had no time for laundry.

“Hi Ms. Pam, good evening. May I know po what type of socks?” she replied instantly.

Less than two hours later, my socks were delivered with the familiar tag that read “It was a pleasure shopping for you!”

The day before a flight, I messaged Hanna again. “Do you have chocolate-covered dried mangoes?”

Not even five minutes later, Hanna had sent me photos of all the available brands. I asked, “Do you also have gift bags available?”

Hanna helped me pick gift bags and made sure my presents for my friends in Singapore were delivered before I left for the airport. Those weren’t the only times Hanna has come to my rescue.

She doesn’t just help me over the phone or Viber. Hanna helps me shop in person, too. Oh yes, SM Personal Shoppers can go around with you at your favorite SM Stores. They know the store inside out, they have info on the coolest finds and greatest deals—why wouldn’t you want their help?

Hanna, in particular, knows SM Makati like the back of her hand. A self-confessed “batang SM,” she’s always loved shopping there. This time, I asked her to help me with my Christmas gifts. She welcomed me with her big, warm smile, ready for whatever shopping challenge I was about to throw her way.

Christmas trees 

Everywhere we walked, salespeople cheerfully greeted us, “Happy holidays!” They set the vibe for a fun afternoon of shopping.

We stopped to admire a baby pink Christmas tree decorated with pastel candy canes, lollipops, pink toy soldiers, and yellow rocking horses. “Customers have been asking for whimsical decorations,” said Hanna. 

Another eye-catching tree was blue and white and had bears and snowy details. There was also a whole display of Christmas village collectibles.

All over SM Store, there are great finds that could add a dose of joy to your holiday season. It’s not just décor—there are Christmas hats, headbands, gift bags, pens, puzzles, and crochet kits featuring Santa, reindeer, snowmen, and gingerbread men.

Hanna started pointing out popular gift options. She and the other SM Personal Shoppers are used to handling gift requests from customers— even people abroad use their service to shop for presents for their loved ones in the Philippines.

Custom Lab

Hanna led me to Custom Lab, a great service inside SM Store where you can get all sorts of things customized for a minimal fee—from bags and belts to bathrobes, water bottles, and chopping boards. It’s a great way to make a gift extra personal and thoughtful—with engraving, stamping, or embroidery.

I usually give my mom cash for Christmas and then add on a few gifts. I wanted to get her some pajamas because she likes being cozy at home.

Pajamas are super popular during the holidays, Hanna said, because people like wearing matching sets for their Christmas and New Year photos. SM has pretty holiday-themed ones, including sets featuring red and green stripes and pink ones with peppermint motifs.

Baleno pajamas are also a big hit during the Christmas season. They offer a free embroidery service for a minimum purchase.

I love gifting people with Iconic socks—I can’t get enough of their cute prints.

Suitcases on sale

At the luggage section, there were beautiful suitcases in different colors, including bright ones that will be easy to spot on the baggage carousel—the perfect presents for people who love traveling. And they were 30% off!

There are a lot of sneaker brands available at SM Store. For my nephew, I found super cool light-up sneakers with wheels from Sprint Kids.

For my brother who loves music, JBL speakers—the ultra-portable waterproof Clip 5 that he can take with him on his cruising adventures.

 AXCS has so many cute plush bag charms that would make great gifts, including matching charms from AXCS that would be perfect for besties.

More finds

I was excited to spot a DIY customization bar at SM Stationery, where you can personalize key rings, pouches, and other accessories with cute patches. I’ve seen similar setups in Tokyo and Seoul.

At Toy Kingdom, we spotted exclusive Minnie and Mickey Mouse plushies, including enormous ones for just P3,999 each.

Hanna remembered that my boyfriend likes One Piece and so she showed me the One Piece Lego sets. I think he’ll love them.

‘Wicked’ merch

“We have Wicked merch,” Hanna said, her eyes sparkling.

We went over to the Wicked display where we oohed and aahed over the shirts, cardigans, hoodies, and Wicked dolls, Funkos and Lego sets.

We continued exploring SM Makati, and I was thrilled to see both Carmen’s Best and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf there—no doubt the favorite spots of those who need a break from shopping.

But Hanna and I were not taking a break. We continued checking out the different departments and finding potential gifts.

Hunter X Hunter shirts have been extra popular, said Hanna. Another thing customers have been clamoring for? Pokémon cards.

I love that different chocolate brands have their own displays at SM Makati. Chocolates, always a good gift idea. And Hanna and the other SM Personal Shoppers can put together chocolate bouquets for you.

Treasure trove

SM Makati’s beauty section is a treasure trove, too. They have Prada, D&G, Jo Malone, and more. And did you know they now have Dyson at SM Store? They really have it all.

Hanna was excited to show me new brands they carry. It’s so clear that she takes pleasure in her job.

She is great at what she does—so much so that her clients refer her to their relatives and friends. Hanna’s customers trust her so much that sometimes they even send their kids to SM so she could help them shop. "We really get to know our customers. It’s more than just buying stuff for them, we get to deepen our relationship with them," Hanna said.

She recalled getting a phone call from the housekeeper of one of her clients telling her, “My boss said to call you because she said you know what she wants.”

There are customers, too, who spoil their loved ones by sending them on a shopping trip with an SM Personal Shopper. “They will call and say, ‘Hanna, Nanay will go there ha, ikaw na bahala.” 

“Ikaw na bahala” is something SM Personal Shoppers are used to hearing from their customers who trust them—including those who are asking for their help in shopping for the people on their list this Christmas.

Worry-free shopping

SM’s Personal Shoppers take away all the pains of holiday shopping—no need to brave traffic, no need to deal with crowds, no need to wait in line.

They’ll make smart suggestions. They’ll help you choose what to buy. They’ll process your payments. They’ll have your gifts wrapped for you — they’ll even handwrite the cards if you want. And if you shop in person, there’s still no need to haul big bags or boxes. You can go off to the next thing on your schedule, and your SM Personal Shopper will have your shopping delivered to your home or even your recipients. No stress, no hassle, just the pure joy of giving.

“The best part is you’re talking to a real person,” said Hanna.

They really offer worry-free shopping.

SM Personal Shoppers can help with so much more than just gift shopping. They’re truly your holiday best friends. 

Throwing a Christmas party? They can purchase everything you need for decorating and tablescaping. Need to spruce up your wardrobe for the festive season? The Personal Shoppers can assist you in picking out new outfits, accessories, and even shoes.

And it goes beyond Christmas. Hanna and her fellow SM Personal Shoppers are used to having people rely on them for all sorts of occasions. They buy Valentine’s Gifts. They put together giveaway sets for kids’ birthday parties. “Wala na silang iisipin, approval na lang,” said Hanna.

She shared how she helped one family shop last-minute for everything they needed for their baby’s baptism—including the clothes the family members would wear to the event.

As long as the store is open, SM’s Personal Shoppers are ready to shop for you.

Done with my shopping, I said goodbye to Hanna and the other Personal Shoppers. I glanced at the packages they were preparing to send out and I spotted an entire tree, already assembled and decorated, ready to be delivered to a customer. “You decked out a tree for a customer? You guys are really amazing,” I said.

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To enjoy the care and personal assistance of SM Store, message SM Store Personal Shopper on Viber or visit smstore.com/ps to find the one nearest you.

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Editor's note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring, and educational content created by The Philippine STAR in collaboration with brands like SM Store.