Relax, guys: study shows women prefer to shop alone

FOR millions of bored men, the purgatory of waiting stoically outside ladies' changing rooms while their partners try on endless outfits in the sales may soon be coming to an end.

The latest research into shopping habits has found women prefer to go shopping alone.

The top reason for this decision is a partner's "bad behaviour" during shopping trips, ranging from sighing, looking pointedly at their watches or refusing to come into a shop.

The survey of 2,000 couples by designer outlet chain McArthurGlen found 89 per cent of women say shopping alone or with children is more pleasant than with their partner.

This includes 50 per cent who say they couldn't tolerate the way their partners look bored or moaned about shopping. Meanwhile, 31 per cent of men insist on standing outside the store.

But women apparently contribute to the nightmare experience: more than a third of the men questioned (35 per cent) said they were frustrated by their wife or girlfriend insisting on going into every shop and 34 per cent said it took their partners too long to make a decision.

Shannon Luxford, marketing manager for McArthurGlen, said: "New Year sales shopping can be one of the most stressful shopping times of the year and it can be even more stressful when shopping with partners."

Kelly Hanlon, 27, an agency nurse from Falkirk shopping in Edinburgh yesterday with her partner, Steven MacDowell, said: "He's got a good eye for putting things together … He goes and gets things for me to try on when I'm in the changing rooms.

"But we've only being going out for five months and my previous boyfriend started off a bit like that and then became a real pain, wanting to go to the pub and meet up later."

Mr MacDowell, 32, an engineer, said: "It all depends on what sort of shops we're in. I don't mind small shops with good music but I feel horribly trapped in large department stores and just want out."

Lisa Birrell, 30, a housewife from Edinburgh shopping in Princes Street, said: "I can't stand having my husband with me. He keeps nipping out for a smoke and I lose him in the crowds.

"He makes rude comments in a loud voice and once said to me 'yellow goes with everything' when I was trying to decide on an expensive dress. That was the end of asking his opinion."

Professor Leigh Sparks, of the Institute of Retail Studies at the University of Stirling, said:

"We can't get away from the fundamental issue that men don't make good shoppers when with women because women see shopping as a sociable activity, preferably with friends, where they like to browse."

SHOPPING DROP-IN
WOMEN in Salzburg enjoyed the benefits of a Christmas shopping "men crèche" or Maennerhort for the second year running.

The free service offers partners access to a large tent in the city's central square.

They can stay for hours playing computer games, reading magazines and newspapers or drinking at the bar.

Andreas Stadbauer has patented his idea and plans similar tents in Hamburg, Munich and Vienna. Big-name sponsors include Porsche and Nintendo.