dimpy jazmines assignment 2

This assignment called for me

to visit at least 6 stores to observe and

share insights and point out hidden

opportunities.

With my trusty camera, I have set out to

visit the stores, and you can read in the

next pages the accounts of my visits.

The stores visited here are located in

SM Megamall and The Podium in

Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

Dimpy

BOOKSALE My first visit was to BOOKSALE, a purveyor of discounted books.

No one can match Booksale’s low book prices, and is the reason

why I regularly frequent this store.

THINGS I HAVE MISSED BEFORE

Had I not checked out the corner pile in one of the lower

display shelves, I would have missed that Booksale also

carries a few audiobooks.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I am always surprised by Booksale’s wide and eclectic selection of books, ranging from

pocketbooks to coffee tablebooks, which they also keep current. I know that f I browse

long enough, I will always find a title I would like to buy. I actually found in their shelves a book

that I was looking for for a long time – Arturo Perez-Reverte’s “The Fencing Master”, which I bought.

OPPORTUNITIES HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

I wished Booksale made an updateable online list of book stocks available in their branches. That

way, I can check out and reserve books that I am interested in before going to the store.

JAMAICAN BEEF PATTIES My stomach rumbled, and I felt I needed a quick pick-me-up.

I went to the nearby JAMAICAN BEEF PATTIES to buy myself a

beef patty snack.


Automatically, I ordered my usual favorite, the spicy-variant

beef patty – known as “Beef Pinatubo” (named after the

Philippine volcano Mt. Pinatubo) – but it was unavailable. I had to settle for the more mildly-flavored

“Beef and Cheese”, which I haven’t tried before.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

While it was not the “Beef Pinatubo” I wanted, I realized that “Beef and Cheese” was okay. I decided that

if the store doesn’t have “Beef Pinatubo” again the next time I visit, I’ll just order “Beef and Cheese” again.


Before the day ends, the store always runs out of the “Beef Pinatubo” variant because it is one of their

more popular beef patty flavors. It is an obvioius solution, but they could have stocked a few more “Beef

Pinatubo” variants, and less of the others that don’t sell well.

RED RIBBON RED RIBBON is a popular cake and baked goods store.

They also serve cooked meals inside the store.


I found out after entering the store that Red Ribbon has a new

cake variant out called the “Triple Chocolate Roll”, which they

are branding as the “chocolatier roll” compared to their

competitors.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Even though I did not eat anything, I found out that it was very comfortable to hang out in Red Ribbon

while admiring the cake display and smelling the fresh-baked scents. I found a table with plates that

somebody left, so to everybody, it looked like I belonged there as a customer.


Another reason why I entered Red Ribbon to look for a cake I intended to give to a friend whose birthday

was coming up. My friend is diabetic, so his cake has to have no sugar. Red Ribbon, however, had no

“no-sugar” cakes in their selection on display. I see this as a missed opportunity to cater to diabetic

birthday celebrants, or people who are watching their weight.

COMIC QUEST I figured it was time for some comic browsing, so I hopped over

to the comic book shop COMIC QUEST.


While I have been in Comic Quest before, this was my first

visit after a long time and I saw that they have a new store

layout. They now have more spacious displays, with lighted

shelves and cabinets that show off the items for sale better. I think I like their new store layout.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Inside the store, I overheard some geeks conversing that Professor X is now dead, killed by Cyclops during the

“Avengers vs. X-men” series. This was not new to me. What was new however, was their other piece of news

– that there will be a new Spider-man and it won’t be Peter Parker anymore. Whoah!!!


No offense intended, but the sales ladies should read more comics. The sales ladies (who are not geeks) are

good at selling, but they are not that deeply informed about what’s going on in the comics world. They

know the characters and can tell you who’s popular, but they don’t know the motivations and the inner

demons of these comics characters like hard-core geeks do (yes, I admit I’m a comic geek).

NATIONAL BOOK STORE NATIONAL BOOK STORE is another store where I can spend at

least 15 minutes in without getting bored, and without the guards

and the sales staff becoming wary of me. National Book Store is

the largest and most successful book store chain in the Philippines.


National Book Store had a new set of sale books inside. The

prices are not as cheap as Booksale’s (which specializes in

really cheap books), and the variety is not as extensive, but they

did have a few gems here and there. I did not buy any books, though.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I was pleasantly surprised by National Book Store’s festive Christmas display of multiple lighted Christmas

trees and Santa Clause figures. These made me feel the Christmas spirit as I entered the store. Good job!


As you can see in the picture, there’s a security guard at the store’s entrance. Perhaps, to add to the fun

element, the guard can be fitted with a Santa hat to complement the Christmas theme of his surrounding.

Ho ho ho!

TOY KINGDOM TOY KINGDOM is a big store full of toys. It’s always great for me

to browse here because I find the toys exciting and stimulating.


There are life-size statues and stand-ups of pop-culture characters

at the store. Before, I used to just pass them by. However, this time,

I saw them as great subjects for photographs, and I helped myself to

some pictures of them (see the items at right).

BIGGEST SURPRISE

As it was closer to Halloween and not exactly Christmas season just yet,

the store had an extensive collection of Halloween costumes and masks on display.

It was a freak-fest of ghouls, witches, ghosts and zombies!


Many of Toy Kingdom’s customers are not kids and their parents, but adult toy collectors.

Maybe a section of the store can be allocated for collectible, high-end or nostalgic toys that are

targeted for grown-ups

LA SENZA At this point, I already visited 6 stores, which is the

requirement of the assignment. I figured any additional store

I visit would be a bonus. I decided that my 7th store can

be LA SENZA.

La Senza is a lingerie store, a lingerie store for

women. You won’t find anything directly for men here. The

moment I walked into the store, the sales ladies saw that I don’t

belong there. Spending 15 minutes there was out of the question,

and I found my way out after a few awkward minutes.


Ummm....

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Errrrr....


Urk....

dimpy jazmines assignment 2

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