Special Guests Encourage Shoppers to 'Shop Smart, Do Good'

Excited shoppers rushed to Lord & Taylor Wednesday for the store's annual “Shop Smart, Do Good” event, as well as for a chance to meet a few special guests who made appearances for the charity event.

The “Shop Smart, Do Good” event allows for non-profit organizations to raise a few thousand dollars through this single, one-day event. Customers purchased $5 tickets in advance from participating organizations, or at the door of Lord & Taylor on event day. Tickets provided customers with four different “Shop Smart” incentives for use in specific departments or items throughout the store, and one overall 15 percent savings on the event day.

Shoppers were “excited about the event, and excited to meet and see the special guests” as they made their way around the store. Many took part in events such as meeting makeup artists to receive complimentary new looks, meeting fashion experts to find the perfect jeans and learning modern ways to wear scarves. Attendees also had the chance to meet Thomas Saujet, co-founder of Hanae Mori Parfums, who donates some profits from their scents to different parts of the world. 

Highlights of the event, such as the anticipated guest appearance by Garden City resident, Emmy Award winning actress and New York Times bestselling author, Susan Lucci, sparked huge turnouts.

Joe Ricaurte, vice president/general manager of Lord & Taylor, handed out copies of Lucci’s memoir, All My Life, to excited fans and shoppers, who formed enormous lines for a chance to meet the Garden City native and a chance to get a picture with her, as well as their signed copy of her memoir.

According to Lucci, this was her first appearance in Garden City, and she was grateful. “I used to shop at Lord & Taylor with my mother” she said in a short welcoming speech to shoppers before her book signing began. 

New York baseball legend Daryl Strawberry also made an appearance later in the day. Excited baseball fans formed an enormous line to meet the former Mets player to get an autograph. Many excited fans, both adults and kids, got a chance to take pictures with Strawberry during his appearance.