The never-ending shopping experience

For me, shopping is something I’m usually forced to do because the soles of my shoes have worn out or my wife refuses to be seen with me in public because the T-shirt I’ve been wearing for years needs replacing.Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate shopping, it’s just something I wouldn’t do for pleasure. It’s more like a chore and that’s perfectly fine. In fact Hong Kong is well-placed for people like me.The rise and rise of fast fashion retailers has made the get-in and get-out experience that much more streamlined. Fifty bucks for a T-shirt? Done.I especially enjoy shopping at these places because unlike the bigger department stores or high-end boutique retailers, the sales staff at H&M and ZARA won’t follow you around like you’re about to steal something.If only H&M could get its T-shirts to last longer than two washes, I’d be one happy camper.I know I’m probably in the minority here because retailers today are going to great lengths to keep shoppers happy and focused on a good retail experience.Be it professional mothers to watch the kids while parents shop, sensory marketing experts, music directors, psychologists, florists, art curators or lighting experts, they are all working behind the scenes to maintain a level of service and an experience that many of us now take for granted.One thing I think can’t be overlooked in Hong Kong is how the retail space is evolving, often out of a sheer necessity to survive. It’s a cut-throat market and life as an independent retailer is not easy, but technology and newer mobile tools are giving small brands an edge over the retail mega malls.But with so much money on the line, these bigger and sometimes slower-moving retailers will not give up an edge.So let the games begin.