SANDY HUFFAKER
San Diego's ace shopper Pilar Clark with some of the loot scored in her all-night spree.
|
|
The day? Nov. 18, 2004.
What happened? Pilar Clark, a social worker from San Diego, shopped all night in a Schaumburg, Ill., department store.
Why? Clark, 54, was one of 10 winners in the nationwide "Sears Extreme Sleepover" contest.
What was her winning contest entry? An ode to her passion for shopping, with tips on how shoppers can stay competitive on "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving.
For instance? "Wake up early to check out new store ads, cut coupons and arrive at the mall before they open. Have a good breakfast, dress comfortably, pack some snacks and water, go to a large mall, and park centrally so that it is easy to drop off your purchases ..."
What did Pilar win? An all-expense-paid trip to Chicago for two; accommodations at the W hotel; and $5,000 for shopping.
How'd the shopping go? In pajamas and slippers, Pilar and her 22-year-old daughter, Natalia Clark, roamed a Sears in suburban Chicago. She snagged a washing machine, clothes, a digital camera, a camcorder and "a DVD recorder for my husband."
Consumerism at its lustiest, eh? Not quite. Pilar and Natalia also snared a sackful of toys for latter-day Tiny Tims. "We always try to do something at Christmas for poor children. Natalia works for Catholic Charities, and she always wants to do something for others."
Did the all-night shoppers have some place to drop? "They had beds with our names on it, but it was hard. We just wanted to do shopping, shopping, shopping."
When dawn broke, what did Pilar have for breakfast? "Bagel, fruit, doughnuts – Krispy Kremes – coffee and juice."
Some final advice, Pilar? "Take your check card, because writing out checks and counting out money takes too long. Store credit cards can also offer chances for extra discounts or bonuses. Avoid long lines by paying at less busy counters such as lingerie or men's shoes ..."
Have you had an extraordinary day? Contact Peter Rowe at (619) 293-1227 or peter.rowe@uniontrib.com.
