December 2004
Christmas shopping stress is increasing year on year with outbursts of ‘retail rage' on the up as shoppers rush around desperately trying to find ‘must-have' presents.

Many things can trigger off this ‘retail rage' during the Christmas silly shopping season. A typical high street scene tends to be thousands piling into shopping centres, the dulcet tones of Slade belting out “It's Chriiiiiiiiiiistmas” from every shop, people having to traipse around shops heated to tropical temperatures, in three layers of jumpers, coat, hat and gloves. Is ‘ retail rage' really all that surprising?

But there is a new way to make this year's shopping trip from hell more bearable. The people at Thomson Directories have realised the suffering we go through every December and have created several sections in the directory's ‘Localplus' section to help avoid the misery. Follow these simple, smart rules and all should run smoothly:

1. Plan Ahead! Organise your shopping trip with military precision.
   This can be achieved with the help of the ‘Shopping' section in ‘Localplus'. Here you will find every shop you might need during the shopping operation with telephone numbers and website details. Ring up the shop first and make sure your gift is in stock.
   
2. Plan your Parking!
   All car parks will be full this time of year and there is nothing worst than driving round city centres trying to find empty car parks. The ‘Motoring ‘ section and ‘Map' section will help you locate city centre car parks that you might not know about and that are less likely to be full.
   
3. Plan where you are going!
   Once you have decided which shops you need create a tick list of the shops you will be visiting and in what order. Use the ‘Maps' section in ‘Localplus' to help decipher confusing High Street layouts.
   
4. Go online!
   ThomsonLocal.com also has ‘Localplus' with a special ‘Shopping' section perfect for the anxious Christmas shopper. Click on the Shopping section, type in your area name and you are presented with a list of all stores in that area under various helpful headings i.e. High Street, Department Stores, Computer stores. Each store has map of how to get there, contact details and website details if you decide that you would like to buy online.

For further information please contact our press office.