Ethnography of Shopping: Scoop versus Century 21

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Shopping is not simply a chore; it is also an experience. Shopping for clothing is a particularly personal decision, and various motivating factors can cause one shopper to choose a particular store over another store. Some consumers go to the store to confirm that they belong to a certain social stratum, others because they enjoy the thrill of a bargain. According to Daniel Miller in ‘Making Love in Super Markets’, the behavior of consumers in supermarkets tends to fall into two categories: ‘treat’ shoppers and ‘thrift’ shoppers. ‘Treat’ shoppers view shopping as a chore for which they deserve a reward. In the supermarket, this ‘treat’ is often the form of a piece of candy or snack that is bought on impulse when the individual waits in line. Even clothing stores such as the warehouse-size discount clothing store Century 21 make use of ‘treat’ incentives. For example, Century 21 displays accessories such as necklaces and handbags next to the register, to encourage impulse buys before check-out. Particularly attractive sales that are bargains too good to resist are also placed near the register. Even if shoppers do not regard clothes shopping as a chore in the same way they regard food shopping, they may discover finding the right size to be frustrating, and being able to buy items without regard to size in a manner that is purely fun and for pleasure can be an incentive. The more upscale retailer Scoop showcases accessories on models, to encourage consumers to buy them as part of the complete ensemble outfit they are assembling at the store. However, the real ‘treat’ aspect of Scoop is shopping at the store itself. Some stores, such as the grocery store Marks & Spencer in England and high-end stores such as Scoop are almo... ... middle of paper ... ...e environment that Century 21 store shoppers are seeking. On its website, Century 21 advertises that it is ‘fashion worth fighting for,’ acknowledging the intense search for bargains that cause people to come to the store and elbow one another to the side to obtain, ripping the clothes from the racks. The store’s sprawling nature and the thrilling experience of searching for bargains is called ‘epic’ and the typical Century 21 consumer is in search of that “score you'll brag about forever. The fabulous find... or three... or five... that you just happened to spot first. The moment when you look at your receipt and realize you've saved hundreds–or thousands–of dollars. That's what we're all about: the ultimate high-end designer shopping adventure, like nothing else in the world.” Scoop is a shrine to fashion; Century 21 proudly advertises itself as an adventure.

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