Where to Shop for Holiday Decorations in Wichita, Kansas

A beautiful fall morning greeted me as I set out on my mission for AssociatedContent (AC).

The mission was to find the 5 best places in Wichita Kansas to shop for holiday decorations.

It was an interesting mission to say the least. In truth I'm not much of a shopper, more of a hunter/gather. By that I mean that I already know exactly what I want and where it is sold so my shopping is to go to a particular store and make the purchase. I can't say that trudging from store to store with yellow pad in hand making notes, asking for store numbers, and visiting with Managers is my idea of a good time, but it is informative and I think that's what this article is all about.

I want to make it clear to my readers that this article and these stores were not chosen because of price although some prices are noted but on the overall shopping experience. Other things that were considered included the parking lots, cleanliness of the store, length of lines at checkout, and customer service, including greetings and an occasional may I help you.

Wichita has several WalMart Stores and I think it's a fairly safe assumption that their prices are lower. I, however have never had a good customer service experience with them. In fact I always leave the store feeling unappreciated, abused, neglected, filthy, and completely taken for granted. I will happily pay the extra 2 to 10 percent to maintain my dignity and self respect.

With that said let's begin ...

1^st Place goes to Dillard's Store #330

This store is located in the Towne East Square Mall at 7700 East Kellogg, Wichita Kansas. The day after Thanks Giving they will be having a Black Friday event and will be open from 7am - 9pm.

Their Holiday section was beautiful with everything from stockings to fine Holiday China. The have the prettiest artificial trees that I have seen anywhere and offer them with the lighting already on the tree. The lights are LED (light emitting diodes) which consume lots less energy, burn forever, and put out virtually no heat. Safety is so important when it comes to the holidays, every year I read about homes that are burned because of Christmas tree lighting. They also offer ribbons, bows, angels, wreaths, and every other manner of ornament and adornment.

I was welcomed to the store within minutes of my arrival by a kind and unpretentious sales person. I ask about the holiday section and was escorted to that area. (It's so nice not to get the pointing finger and indifferent mumble or grunt "It's back over there.") As I looked at the china and other items another clerk offered her help. I explained to her that I was writing this article and she was very excited to answer all of my questions.

I visited with Tom Uran, the store manager as I was leaving and he was very personable and kind.

2^nd Place goes to Lowes Store #1547

As an average American guy I am a big fan of Lowes. Their Holiday Decorations tend to be on a large almost gaudy scale but 'hey' if you want to create a Holiday wonderland in your home, or on your Patio and you have a limited budget than 11959 East Kellogg Drive, Wichita Kansas, this is the place to come.

Where else can get a 4 foot high 6 ½ foot long inflatable Nascar Santa and Pit Crew for 75 dollars. An 8 foot holiday penguin for 30 dollars, and a 7 ft Grinch, Tree, and Dog Set for 80 dollars. These are not blow up ornaments but are made of colored satin or polyester or something with a base that includes a fan and lights. You can easily fill the biggest yard for 300 dollars. (Think of that moonwalk that we have all seen at the fairs that blows up and kids take their shoes off and jump around in, just a little smaller. )

They also had ornaments and statues that move in every shape and configuration imaginable. Wreaths, trees, lights, lights, and more lights.

The customer service leaves a little to be desired, and when I mentioned to Tim ________ that I was doing an article on the store he gave me the corporate 800 number, and pretty much the bums rush. He was dressed in a black turtle neck and jeans, and even refused to give his last name. I wouldn't be surprised to see him on Americas Most Wanted, but the store was clean and the merchandise was plentiful. They had plenty of help and were very kind in a creepy 100% anonymous way.

I find this more than a little Ironic as they always ask for my phone number when I check out. (I never give it.)

3^rd Place goes to Michaels #4805

Michaels at 11835 East Kellogg Drive, is more of a large, crafts, do it yourself store than

than a department store. But if you want to decorate in a way that no else has, and focus on originality while decorating your home than this is the place to go.

They have your traditional nut crackers, or unpainted ones, or ones that you can assemble yourself. They have clear glass Christmas Tree balls and angels with every color in the rainbow to paint and personalize them. They have the biggest selection of silk and artificial flowers that I have ever seen, and wreaths that are waiting to be decorated. Stockings, stocking patterns, stocking letters, and glitter. Glass beads, unfinished picture frames, naked dolls, and doll heads. Imagine Santas workshop without the pointy shoes, elves, and all year long Christmas Music and you have Michaels. If a man had the time the budget and the talent you could easily make your Home a showplace indoors as well as out,and hand craft exquisite gifts for everyone on your list, without ever shopping at another store.

The customer service was decent and their were no long lines at the register.

I got the impression that as a crafts store they really don't put as much importance on Holiday Shopping or shoppers as your tradition retail outlets do.

Management was reluctant to talk and quick to offer the corporate 800 number but not so paranoid as to make me feel unwelcome or withhold their Sir, names.

4^th place goes to Target T92

This Target is at 301 south Towne East Mall Drive in Wichita Kansas, but I'm sure every store is as good as this one.

I love Target! The isles are always very wide and the stores are clean. It's easy to identify the associates and it always seems that they have a little pride in their store. The few times that I have found a line at Target when I request that another register be opened they always do it, and with a smile.

Their Holiday section was nice and had a large variety, prices were well marked on all of their items.

When I looked at the section I saw no less than 5 clerks busily stocking the shelves and setting up he displays. Perhaps a morning truck had just come in. Even as busy as they were when I spoke to a clerk she stopped stocking and focused her attention on me. Her answers were direct and she sounded knowledgeable and courteous.

After I told her about my mission she actually ask me some questions about some prices that I had found at other stores, happy to help I shared my notes and to both of our delight we found that Targets 100 count, multi colored, Christmas tree lights were 25 cents less per string than I had found anywhere else in the City.

The Manager was busy in a meeting but came out, introduced himself, expressed his regret and gave me his name, Matt, and his telephone number and ask me to call in an hour if I had any questions or needed any more information.

Their selection wasn't the largest or most ostentatious in town, but the basics were covered. I was pleased and felt like the selection that was provided was well thought out and calculated to meet the customers needs.

They had Christmas stockings priced from 6 to 15 dollars, and the lighted Christmas Trees with the LED that I had seen earlier at Dillards, only for about 40 dollars less.

5th place goes to My Living Room and Office

I can remember a long time ago arguing with a company called Prodigy about weather or not I would use my credit card to pay for my internet service on line. I won out and arranged to send them a check every month.

I was afraid to put any information on line and refused to do it.

That seems as if it were a million years ago, because today I pay almost all of my bills online, my wife and I manage our IRA accounts online, and I am more than a little annoyed when anything isn't available online.

I have purchased everything from a good bottle of Whiskey to a cheep carton of smokes, to countless trinkets and pieces ofJohn Deere memorabilia from Ebay online.

I have Visa on speed dial and I know from experience that they will withhold payment for me, on any item, at any time, for any reason. I actually feel empowered as a consumer because they look out for me.

This year almost all the major online retailers have negotiated a flat rate shipping fee with the shippers so even the shipping costs are manageable if you think ahead and make more than one purchase from them.

The Variety available to someone who shops online for holiday decorating items is completely unmatched, by any store no matter how big and friendly and that's how we will do at least 65% of our holiday shopping this year.

No crying babies, no annoying sales people, no long lines, no pushing, shoving, flipping the bird, or being flipped off in traffic. No 'no smoking' signs, no slipping down to Applebees for a 5 dollar glass of beer, or Ruby Tuesdays for a 7 dollar Margarita.

Just me, smouldering butt in the ashtray, and cool glass in hand, looking at all the nice pictures, and ordering the pretty things for my friends and family, my only concern is warning the neighbor to keep her eye out for the UPS truck when I have to run some errands.

Thechristmaspeople.com have 6.95 flat shipping or free shipping over 250 dollars and that's just one example. I'm sure you will find more if you look.

Happy Holidays