5)SHOPPING AND SERVICES

Shopping is an activity that is enjoyed by many people. Nowadays, people can do shopping in shopping malls, department stores, hypermarkets (such asTesco, Carrefour, Hypernova) or in small specialised shops.

Shopping malls are indoor shopping centres with different types of shops, wellness centres, bowling centres, cafés, snack bars, restaurants where people can relax after doing shopping. They are open late in the evening and at weekends.

Small specialised shops save your time, energy and money. They include for example:

  • the grocer´s (there we can buy different foodstuffs including tea, coffee, bottled beer, juice, sweets, dairy products – milk, butter, cream, cheese and yoghurt)
  • the baker´s ( fresh bread, rolls, buns and cakes)
  • the butcher´s (meat and meat products-salami,ham, sausages)
  • the greengrocer´s(fresh fruit and vegetables )
  • the chemist´s ( cosmetics and medicines)
  • the boutique (different clothes: shirts, skirts, blouses, pullovers, jeans)
  • the shoe shop (shoes, belts and bags)
  • the stationer´s (writing/wrapping paper, pens, pencils, glue, rubber)

Market - place with lots of stalls, mostly selling cheap or second - hand goods, but also fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers.

In everyday life, people also need different kinds of services:

restaurants and cafés

post office (people can send letters, postcard and parcels or buy stamps)

bank(people can withdraw money from their accounts, deposit money on their accounts, exchange money, ask for aloan)

petrol station - people can refuel their cars

shoe repair

optician

dry cleaner´s

key maker

beautician

hairdresser´s

car-mechanic

plumber

lawyer

realestate agent

doctor.

We can pay for goods and services in cash, by bank cardor by cheque which is not usual in Slovakia.

Advertising is something that touches many people in our world today.Advertising surrounds us on television, in newspapers and magazines, in our daily mail, on the Internet, on public transportation.It is a driving force (hnacia sila)behind a consumer economy.

QUESTIONS:

1. Do you like shopping? Why? How often do you shop?

2. Where do you usually buy food, clothes or shoes?

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping in large department stores?

4. What activities can you do in ashopping centre beside shopping?

5. Do adverts influence you?What do you like or dislike about them?