Some enjoy it, some bear with it while some even detest it. But no one can actually ignore it! It not only provides livelihood to millions of people world-wide but also provides a ray of hope to a million others on a desolate day. Reams and reams of paper have been spent writing about it and yet the mere mention of the word skips many a heartbeats. ‘It’ is nothing but ‘Shopping’ and listening to the grand introduction, you all must of have guessed – I belong to the former category.
Every trip to the shopping mall has something new to offer – and I am not just talking about the merchandise on sale. The huge parking lots, the smooth-sailing escalators, counters full of cosmetics & fragrances, shelves laden with bags & accessories and above all, racks overflowing with designer labels. And when you walk out of the trial room wearing that perfect outfit and look in the mirror, there comes the ‘Aha moment’! But, I better not turn this into ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic – Part II’. So, after spending a major chunk of my weekends and salary over this hobby-cum-pastime of mine, I have come to identify the various shopper tribes who walk amongst us.
People belonging to the first tribe are the ones who try to avoid shopping as much as possible. They venture into the marketplace only when absolutely unavoidable. After weeks and months of thought-process, when they do shop, it is usually restricted to buying the bare minimum necessities and spending the least possible time in the shop. Needless to say, they like to shop alone lest someone makes them spend more time in the dreaded surroundings.
Next is the category of people who like to believe that they like shopping. The only problem with them is that they are so finicky about what they purchase that they end up buying nothing at all. They like to go to these big shops or malls; they like to see each and every thing put on display. If it’s a new outfit that they are buying, they even like to try on half a dozen clothes. But when the time comes to approach the billing counter, their resolve falters and they develop cold feet. Suddenly, the color seems too dull or too bright. Or the fit seems too loose or too tight. And they walk out of the store with their bank-balance intact.
Luckily for the shop owners, these people rarely go for shopping alone. They are surrounded with a bunch of friends or family among whom at least one is a proud member of our third group of shoppers. I like to refer to this tribe as the OCS i.e. Obsessive Compulsive Shoppers. They are a dream-come-true for all the shop owners; they are the saviors of the economy. These people can never walk out of a shop empty handed. So whether they intended to buy or not, whether they needed it or not, they end up buying at least something!
Coming to the fourth and the final tribe – the true connoisseurs of shopping. To a person belonging to this faction, shopping is not a mundane task. It is an art, mastering which requires diligent practice. And thus set forth these enthusiasts on their quest to achieve perfection in the art of shopping. To them, their favorite shopping arcade is no less than a temple and the salesperson no less than a priest. It goes without saying that the ‘Grand Annual Sale’ is at par with any festival. These people can spend hours and hours together pursuing their hobby, at times even forgetting to eat or drink. The ecstasy that one feels while going home loaded with shopping bags, makes it all worth it!
So there are the four tribes of shoppers who walk the earth. And I’m sure all of you are now wondering, trying to figure out which category you fit in to!
Contrary to the long-held belief, it is not just the women who enjoy shopping. In fact, there is an absolute gender-equality on this front as well. Researchers are close to acknowledging the fact that shopping also improves one’s communication and convincing skills. Yes, you heard it right, ‘Shopping also improves one’s communication and convincing skills’. Wondering how? Have you ever heard an adroit shopper in the midst of a bargaining exercise?
Believe me, it is not just the shopping buffs who find shopping to be a rejuvenating experience. Retail therapy has long been considered highly beneficial as an anti-depressant. It is an ideal stress-buster which lifts your mood at the end of a long day at work. What’s more, nowadays, it is also regarded to be a great form of exercise when it comes to walking around the huge malls. And so I say, shopping is the perfect recipe for a healthy mind in a healthy body. So what are we waiting for? Let’s pledge to get out and go Shopping!
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