Two Sides of Shopping

Two Sides of Shopping
By Bianca Paras

Shopping has always been a favorite pastime of many. It is not only a way to gather the essentials, whether for the household or personal use, but it can also be a sort of pick-me-up when in need of therapy – retail therapy, that is.

Oftentimes, people go to the mall for their shopping needs. Malls are very accessible since there are many scattered all over the Philippines; you can find at least one in every city in Metro Manila. Also, the fact that one can buy almost all their needs in one place makes it more convenient to go to a mall as compared to going to the marketplace.

Cubao Expo offers a different kind of shopping experience, allowing its patrons, especially collectors, to get a vintage feel from the eyes of both the sellers and customers. The atmosphere of the place, with the background music and all, gives off a different air compared to a mall. Seeing Cubao Expo from two different perspectives highlights how different it is from your typical mall. 

As a seller, working at a place such as Cubao Expo is a challenge. Ryan Galang, a merchant at Cubao Expo, exemplifies this.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS A PRIORITY.

If they don’t buy the products, who will? Serve with a smile and a kind heart because customers, whether you like it or not, can make or break your career.

YOU NEED PATIENCE, HARD WORK, AND TIME MANAGEMENT.

Life is a journey. You need to take it one step at a time, work hard, and budget your time wisely. Without these three, you might as well be just working at the circus.

HARDSHIPS ARE JUST PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE SOLVED.

Ryan struggles because they, in their store, cannot increase their prices because people think that it is expensive when in fact, what they are selling are actually one of the cheapest in the business. It’s times like these when you just have to just accept the fact that life is not easy, but you can’t use that as an excuse to give up.

ARTISTIC TALENTS, NO MATTER HOW LITTLE, ARE MAXIMIZED.

This is what makes Cubao Expo different. Working at a place such as a vintage shop requires creativity and knowledge of the arts. Creativity is needed in order to arrange the pieces in such a way that their individual beauty is highlighted without overpowering the others – colors should complement each other, size difference should not be an eyesore, and themes should match.

Basic knowledge of the arts, however, comes in handy in the actual selling process. Imagine trying to sell something you know nothing about. The customer asks you what an object is, and you just stand there staring at him unable to answer. Who wants that?

As a buyer, people are enthralled at the sight of many collectibles being sold at the Cubao Expo.

PATRONS ARE AMAZED AT THE SIGHT OF THE MANY VINTAGE ITEMS.

From ballerina jewellery boxes to fishnet leg lamps to those little porcelain figurines, you can find so many knick knacks in these shops. I, myself, found myself staring at little frog singers and doll figurines. With so many collectibles to look at, who wouldn’t wonder where they all came from?

EVEN THOUGH ONE IS NOT A COLLECTOR, PATRONS ARE TEMPTED TO PURCHASE COLLECTIBLES BECAUSE OF THEIR AESTHETIC BEAUTY.

Unlike those being sold at malls, the collectibles at Cubao Expo are better since they are not mass-produced and therefore each one is special. Pay attention to the little details and you’ll see how much hard work was put into making these paraphernalia.

FOR THE MUSIC LOVERS, THE MANY RECORDS ARE A TREAT.

Upon entering the Cubao Expo compound, you will immediately hear the vintage music from such artists as Elvis Presley and The Beatles. The soulful sounds from such artists add to the vintage vibes one will feel at the Cubao Expo. Music records are hard to find, but in Cubao Expo there are so many to choose from that you’ll want to buy everything.

Cubao Expo shopping is not the same as shopping in your typical mall. Although shopping at a mall would be more convenient, Cubao Expo shopping is a totally different experience. With the vintage atmosphere, many knick knacks, and old songs playing in the background, you would feel as if you took a time machine to the past.