Types of shops

Where do you go when you need…?

Try to give the name of the place. If necessary, have a look below.

1. a bunch of flowers… ..................2. a hammer, some nails, a screwdriver… ..................3. a ring, a watch, a necklace… ..................4. a table, chairs, a wardrobe… ..................5. a teddy bear, a doll, blocks… ..................6. birthday cards, Christmas cards, Valentine cards … ..................7. boots, sandals, Wellingtons… ..................8. bread, rolls, cakes… ..................9. cigarettes, cigars, matches, lighters… ..................10. fish, seafood… ..................11. fruit and vegetables… ..................12. meat, ham, sausages… ..................13. medicines, cream, ointment… ..................14. newspapers, magazines… ..................15. to have your clothes cleaned… ..................16. to have your hair cut/done… (men) ..................17. to have your hair cut/done… (women) ..................18. to send a letter or buy a stamp… ..................19. to take money, cash a cheque … ..................20. wine, vodka, whiskey… ..................

bank baker’s florist’s butcher’sjeweller’s shoe shop ironmonger’snewsagent’s barber’s post officechemist’s dry cleaner’s tobacconist’stoy shop hairdresser’s furniture shopfishmonger’s greengrocer’scard shop

off-licence

Look at your labels

Item Origin

Consumer Criteria

What do you conside before you decide what to buy?

Price? How it looks? The quality? The brand? Anything else?

A pair of trainers A pair of jeans A bar of chocolate

?

Most important factor

2nd most important factor3rd most important factor

Consumer Quandary Cards

You have a favourite brand of trainers that youlove. You have asked your parents for a pair ofthese trainers for your birthday present. Last nightyou saw a documentary on the television thatshowed where this brand of trainers are made andyou saw that they are made in huge factories bychildren who have to work 14 hours per day andare treated badly. What do you do? Do you stillwant a pair of these trainers for your birthday?

You love chocolate and have a favourite chocolatebar that you eat quite often. You just looked on theinternet and saw an article about the company thatmakes your favourite chocolate bar. It declared thatthey pay very little to the workers who produce thecocoa in South America. In some cases theproducers can’t survive and their families aresuffering. What do you do? Do you decide thearticle isn’t true and try to forget you saw it? Do youwrite a letter to the company? Do you stop buyingthe chocolate bar?

Every week you go to a hamburger restaurant withyour friends. One of your friends has now decidednot to go because he thinks the way thehamburgers are produced is unethical. He say thatthey cut down trees from the rainforest to makespace to keep cows, the workers have lots ofaccidents as they have to work very long hours andthe pay is ridiculously low. He asks you to stopgoing there. What do you do? Do you join yourfriend and boycott the hamburger restaurant? Doyou still go but eat something else? Do you turnvegetarian?

Write another quandary here:

Discussion points:1. Shopaholics are addicted to shopping. It’s problem just as serious as alcoholism2. Compulsive shopping is an addiction. There should be therapy and support groups to help.3. Compulsive shopping is a medical condition. Insurance should help pay for treatmnet.4. Shopaholics greatly help the economy.

The article: Men Suffer From Compulsive Shopping Too

A recent survey has found that one in 20 American adults buy things they may not even want or never

need or use. In today’s world of consumerism, where we are constantly bombarded by ads, this is

perhaps not surprising. What may raise an eyebrow or two is a further finding in the study that men are

just as likely as women to suffer from “compulsive buying”. Gone seem to be the days when women

dragged their bored and fed-up-looking men around shopping malls. The new research from Stanford

University has revealed that men are now just as avid and compulsive shoppers as their female

counterparts. Researcher Dr Lorrin Koram said that the numbers of men who indulge in unnecessary

shopping sprees has rocketed: "That's the biggest surprise -- men engage in this behavior almost as

commonly as women," he said.

This finding runs counter to the conventional and rather stereotyped view that compulsive buying is

very much a "woman's disease." Dr. Koram said trends and figures may have been unfairly skewed as

male obsessive shoppers used to be more reluctant than women to recognize that they have a problem and

then come forward and admit it. He pointed out that: "Generally, in psychiatry, men seek care less often

than women…It's not 'manly' to seek help." And help seems to be exactly what the doctor ordered for any

compulsive shopper, who is usually not made any happier by his or her relentless buying. Dr Koram

warned: "It's always important to encourage people who have these types of disorders to seek treatment."

Many find themselves laden with debt and filled with shame and suicidal tendencies as they attempt to

hide their addiction.

Additional texts on the topic

Are You a Shopaholic? The lives of some people revolve around shopping, as they repeatedly make purchases regardless of need or available money. Some of these people make impromptu purchases. Some of these people have closets with unopened purchases. Some of these people have racked up overwhelming amounts of credit card debt. If this sounds like you, then you may be a shopaholic. A recently administered test to determine the predilection towards compulsive buying reveals that 9% of people fall into this category. Another recent test revealed a slightly smaller percentage of 6%. This new data concludes an increase in the number of shopaholics from just fifteen years ago, as well as determines that men remain just as prone to the shopping urge as women. The test consisted of six statements which people answered on a 7-point scale, from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Some statements included: • Much of my life centers around buying things.

• I buy things I didn't plan to buy.

• Others might consider me a shopaholic. Compulsive buying obviously leads to financial problems such as an empty bank account and maxed out credit cards. Yet these unneeded and unwanted purchases may be the manifestation of more serious problems, namely depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. What's more, relationships and family harmony also deteriorate because of disagreements over the purchases. Shopaholics may then hide their purchases, as well as the accompanying costs, and thus add to the strain. It's a problem that affects people of all income brackets. Researchers suggest that shopaholics felt better when they were shopping, even when they realized the associated harm.

Hooked on Shopping

Lourdes Joza from Ecuador

Lourdes Joza writes about shopaholics people who are addicted to shopping. She addresses the question, "Why do they have this addiction."

Over the years, shopping has become a very common activity. Many people enjoy going to malls or stores more and more everyday, but it's more than a common hobby for some of them. They have turned into shopaholics. They are people who simply enjoy shopping and walking around spending money without being able to stop doing it.

Shopaholics, also called compulsive spenders, are people like any addicted people who are hooked on something. They are hooked on shopping. They really like shopping and usually buy things that they don't need. Even though they don't have enough money, they buy everything they want.

The question is: why do they have this addiction? There isn't a specific answer. Some people go shopping when they are sad, worried, upset or lonely and they want to feel better. They use this activity as a way to forget their problems. Shopholics say that they feel more important and better after they buy something.

They also tend to have this addiction when they feel guilty. For example, a husband might buy very expensive presents for his family to try to make up for his lack of love for them.

We are used to thinking that women enjoy shopping more than men; but according to some studies, that's not true. Men really like shopping because they feel they have power and control. They get whatever they want. Also, men usually buy big items while women spend their money on clothes, cosmetics, decorations for their houses, or things for family.

Shopaholism seems to be a harmless addiction, but the fact is it can cause many problems. Some of them can be psychological; and in that case, people addicted to shopping should go to a support group or learn about behavior therapies to help them break this habit. However, the process, like for most addictions, is long, and they suffer a lot. It can also cause financial problems.

I think these are very harmful because they don't even worry if they have enough money to afford what they want. They just think about satisfying their feelings, so they spend money they don't have. They get deep in debt, and they can even go bankrupt and get sent to jail.

In conclusion, if you are a person who enjoys shopping, be careful. Try to control yourself. The power of the mind is great, and if you make a few efforts, you will be able to avoid this addiction. Next time you go shopping, stop a second and think about it. Examine your shopping habits. Later might be too late.

Are you a compulsive shopper?Choose the answer that suits you best. Count the score and check the results.

Photo: T. PetersThey really like shopping and usually buy things that they don't need.

1 When you get disappointed, angry or scared, do you shop to improve your mood?a) Alwaysb) Sometimesc) Never

2 When you haven’t bought anything for quite a long time, do you:a) have problems to resist the urge to buy anything?b) feel like going shopping next free afternoon?c) think it’s normal?

3 Have you ever argued with anybody because of your shopping?a) Yes, my family and friends tend to be too nosy when it comes to my shopping.b) Yes, it has happened but it was rather a joke.c) No, never.

4 Have you ever felt lost without a credit card?a) Yes, many times.b) Yes, it has happened once or twice.c) No, never.

5 Do you feel a rush of euphoria and anxiety when spending money?a) Yes, always.b) Yes, if I’m buying something I’ve been waiting for.c) No, I don’t think I have ever felt it.

6 Have you ever felt guilty, ashamed, embarrassed or confused after shopping or spending money?a) Yes, it happens to me quite often.b) Yes, a few times in my life.c) No, never.

7 Have you ever lied about things you’ve purchased or money you’ve spent?a) Yes, I must do it very often.b) Yes, it has happened a few times.c) No, why should I?

8 Do you spend a lot of time juggling accounts or bills to accommodate spending?a) Yes, I need to do it to survive.b) Yes, quite a few times – I earn too little.c) No, I always control my spending.

Give yourself 2 points for each a, 1 point for each b and 0 points for each c. Count the score and read the result.

0-5You don’t seem to have a problem. You do the shopping when it’s necessary or when you really want something. It may have happened that you’ve spent a bit too much but who hasn’t?6-10You do like shopping but you try to control it. When it’s getting out of hand and you are late with your bills, you say stop and take a break. But be careful! One day your little hobby may become an obsession and you’ll lose control.11-16You may have a serious problem with shopping. Do not neglect it. Shopaholism is an addiction which can be treated. You should consult a specialist. By the way, who pays your bills?

Likes &

Dislikes

Summarize your five most important likes and dislikes about shopping:

Things I really like:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Things that are ok:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Things I dislike:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Things I hate:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.