One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Bangkok is also the most fabulous shopping destination in Asia. In fact, shopping in Bangkok is truly fun as well as a great experience, with an array of shopping locations, ranging from glitzy modern shopping malls to traditional bustling street markets selling antiquities and designer and traditional jewelry.
In short, Bangkok is a mecca for shopping enthusiasts, and everything including electronic items, computer software and hardware, art and craft items, Chinese specialties, textiles, jewelry, and much more can be shopped here.
Perhaps most popular among the shopping highlights in Bangkok is the Siam Square, which is strategically positioned at Central Station on the BTS Sky Train route. This area is dotted with hundreds of high-end shopping malls, among which one of the most sought after is Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center, within which one can find a number of shops selling branded items.
There is also an elegant cinema complex on the top floor of Siam Discovery Center, with comfortable seats. This is a great place to relax after a day of tired shopping. Located just ten minutes walk from the Siam Square is another much famed shopping spot in Bangkok, namely, Mahboonkrong Shopping Center, dotted with a large number of shops selling quality clothing and electronic items at knock-down prices.
One can also find a couple of shopping malls and department stores, close to the Chit Lom BTS Sky Train station. Among which, perhaps the most significant is the eight-storied World Trade Center, attached with a number of duty free shops. Found on the top floor of the World Trade Center is an ice skating rink. The Central Group's flagship store, Central Chit Lom Department Store, is also located here. Such shopping centers as Gaysorn Plaza, Maneya Centre, Sogo, and Narayana Phand, a great spot to shop handicraft items, are also situated in this area.
For those who want to shop computer-related items and peripherals at cheap prices, a great way would be to head to Pantip Plaza on the Phetburi Road. This is a paradise for shopping computer items. Every floor within the plaza has a number of shops selling both original and pirated software and hardware items. One could buy copy of VCD movies for a price as low as 100 baht.
A good number of small as well as large shopping malls can also be found along the Ploenchit Road and Sukhumvit Road, such as, Robinson, Ploenchit Plaza, Times Square, Emporium, and Landmark.
Popular shopping areas in Bangkok also include Silom Road, located to the south of the Siam Square. Just few among the shopping malls in this area are Silom Center, Central department stores, Silom Plaza, Thaniya Plaza, Silom Village, and Holiday Inn Crown Plaza.
Shopping at Bangkok would not be complete without taking a tour to Chatuchak market, which becomes alive in the city every weekend. Located near the Mo Chit BTS Sky Train station, Chatuchak market is an incredible outdoor market, from where everything from handicraft items and livestock items could be shopped and that too at bargain prices. Further, you can also find a large number of food stalls in the market, selling delicious Thai food items such as fried noodles, noodle curry, and barbequed satays.
Other popular shopping areas in the city are Bangrak Market, a bustling area which is famed for its flower stalls, engage in selling enormous variety of cut flowers, jasmines, and orchids; China Town, with alleys packed with outlets dealing in almost all types of goods; Pratunam Market, which is a great place to relish hygiene as well as delicious food items; Woeng Nakhon Kasem - a popular spot to shop items such as brassware, old fashioned furniture, industrial items, antiques, and Chinese porcelains.
Above all, for a unique shopping experience, take a tour to some of the most fabulous night markets in the area. Most prominent among the night markets in the city are the Suan Luam Night Bazaar, whose specialty is stalls that sell products brought from every corner of the country.
Pratunam Market Complex, which is a great spot to shop fashion accessories such as handbags, purses, trendy apparels, and designer accessories; Patpong Night Market, which is not only popular for stalls selling designer good at cheap prices but also for night clubs and other establishments conducting sex shows; Buanglamphu Market, a descent place to shop clothing and food items; and the Memorial Bridge Night Market.
When Internet shopping you can enter your credit card securely (bank card companies cooperate with special shopping ID's), fair or free shipping costs, and friendly customer service. This saves you time, saves you gasoline, and saves you money.
Shopping from your couch keeps you away from drivers racing from one lane to the shoulder, some painting their lips, others babbling or haggling. No need to play bumper cars when getting a parking spot either.
Last Saturday, my family passed our local mall's parking lot. A full lot on the food court side suggests crowded aisles. Crowds challenge my shopping patience, but seldom dissuade the women in our family. In 1997, according to eMarketer, Inc. men and boys dominated the Internet. Today, women have the edge.
The International Council of Shopping Centers predicts a 3.5% increase in holiday shopping at brick and motor stores. Large department stores, the anchor tenants of shopping malls, may see a 2% increase. How come?
* Large Department Stores Do Not Motivate Shoppers, according to The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) Store clerks do not greet shoppers * Store clerks do not offer extra service to shoppers * Store clerks do not suggest other products to shoppers * Store clerks lack the motivation that keeps shoppers buying
Walmart,Target, and luxury retail merchants experience 5% increase in sales this year as large department stores are "naughty and not nice".
There is no coal in the on line retailers stocking this year:
* According to Goldman Sachs: On line shopping increased by 16% over last year (week ending December 9th) * $18.6 billion in sales since early November according to Harris Interactive. According to comScore Networks, online sales the Monday after Thanksgiving increased by $485 million (26%) more than 2004 (by the way, someday the U.S. and State Governments will tax this commerce).
On line shoppers are motivated to spend money. On line shopping security improves constantly. No need to check the mall when a delivery man can bring your package to your door. No need to endure over worked and under paid counter sales help, when a "click" of your keyboard completes the sale. Shoppers are changing lanes.
Ebay, Amazon, and Google motivate shoppers. Macy's, Filene's, and Sears may have lost their knack. Copywriters may become more important than counter sales people. As I write, Google's (GOOG) stock price is $427.82 (Do you know about Froogle?) Federated Stores (FD) is $63.75. Paradigm shifts are every where.
Both Wolfgang Jaegel & A Raymond Randall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.