I think I just baited you in with a misleading title.
No need to worry. I always deliver on what I promise and I promise you will get your tips.
Initially, I wanted to use this post as a way of ranting about how consumer culture has turned shopping into a pastime. No matter how often we hear about the bad economy and consumers being forced to adopt a more budget-conscious lifestyle, the visual evidence tells a different story.
Last Saturday, the little lady and I set-off on our yearly pilgrimage to Metrotown. We shop more often than once a year, but we have to set a limit on our visits to mega shopping outlets like Metrotown. We do this for our own sanity.
So about 30 minutes into our adventure, hunting for shoes, a baby shower gift and Fuji apples, I was starting to hate everyone. I am not a violent person or an avid jogger, but after all the the blank stares, aggressive meandering and oblivious attitudes, I was ready to punch my way through the crowds and run home.
You can see why I wanted to condemn consumerism and shopping for pleasure in my initial post.
But then I remembered an argument made by media scholar John Fiske. Fiske, challenges the idea of consumers as mindless dupes who are at the mercy of the big corporations. Instead, he argues that consumers derive a sense of power in their shopping experience. Fiske specifically talks about the experience of women and youths, two marginalized groups in society, and how they manage to reclaim control in their roles as shoppers.
Whether or not you agree with John Fiske you have to admit, we’ve all felt that adrenaline rush. Sure the effects are fleeting, but that little boost we get after buying a new pair of shoes, flat screen TV, or Fuji apples ensures that we will shop again – even if we don’t like the experience.
Since it’s pretty much a given that you will shop again, you might as well shop from a position of power.
Don’t shop like a sheep – shop like a rock star.
With that in mind, I offer you five simple tips to make your shopping experience more powerful, and therefore more pleasurable.
5. Play hard, shop hard
Like in life, you need to tackle shopping with passion and purpose. Embrace it. Sure, you’d rather be golfing, walking the seawall or making your Christmas shopping list, but the decision has been made and the shopping must be done.
If you have to do it, do it with strength. Don’t be afraid to scowl, throw out elbows, or speak up. You don’t want to intimidate anyone, but feel free to release a perfectly-timed “hot stuff coming through” comment to let people know you mean business.
4. Plan ahead
I know what you’re thinking: rock stars don’t plan ahead. Oh, but they do. You should too.
It may be tempting to leave your choices to fate, but shop without a plan and you shop without power. There’s nothing powerful about walking around trying to figure out why they moved the food fair, where you are in relation to the parking lot or how to pull a 180 without looking like an idiot because you just remembered that HMV is in the other direction.
Planning gives you confidence. Confidence gives you power.
3. Surf the crowd
All the planning in the world is no match for Johhny Two-step. You know, that guy/girl walking towards you that looks like a deer in the headlights when you make eye contact. It’s a crowded mall and you’ve got stuff to buy. There’s no time to try and figure out which direction he/she wants to go in AND try and avoid the rest of the people around you (most of them pulling 180’s right in front of you).
Here’s a quick trick that will tell everyone around you that you are the Alpha shopper: move them with your eyes.
The next time you are walking through a mall (or any crowded environment), look quickly at the person walking towards you. Before eye contact is made, look over their shoulder that corresponds with the direction in which you want to go.
Um – that sounds complicated.
Put simply, if you are going to their left, look over their left shoulder. If you want to go to their right, look at their right shoulder.
The great thing about this trick is that, when used correctly, people will automatically move out of your way without hesitation, causing a very cool “parting the seas” effect.
2. Don’t lollygag
There is absolutely no power in puttering around the mall aimlessly. End of story. I know some people go to the mall with this type of behaviour in mind (damn you, seniors and teenagers!). But for those of you that want to shop with power, this is not an option.
Just stop it. Stop it now.
1. Hate the game, not the playa
Any good rock star will tell you there’s no room for playa hatin’. The same is true in the game of shopping. It’s easy (real easy) to find people you can judge for their horrible eating habits, product choices or general lack of spatial awareness, but remember: judge not lest ye be judged.
You may have a good case to make for why everyone is stupid except you, but guess what – as long as you’re in the mall, you’re one of them. Spending energy on hating those around you will just tire you quicker. And you need to save your energy to hunt down that shoe sale all your friends are talking about!
Stay focused on your task and ignore that woman pushing her 8 year-old in a baby stroller.
So there it is – as promised – 5 quick and easy tips that you can use to guide you in your shopping experience.
Now the next time somebody gives you flack about the evils of consumerism, you can laugh and call them a wuss, because they obviously have not learned to harness the power of shopping like a rock star!
