Ashoppingstory RITAMCGRATH/THOUGHTSPARKS

My husband has been in the market for a winter coat for a while, and at the urging of our son, we took ourselves to the Patagonia store on New York’sUpperWestSideonarecentweekendtosee what might be there. The person helping us was knowledgeable, sorted through what was on offer, discouraged us from taking an item that he didn’t think would meet our needs and just generally offeredagreatexperience.Sofar,sogood,aretail story with a happy ending (he found a coat he liked, has now worn it a bunch and declares it a great purchase). And Patagonia advertises its “kind, knowledgeable, energized staff” as a selling pointwhichturnedouttobeverytrue.