Changing dynamics of shopping

With a growing baby in the house and guests in the house, there are always some or the other things which are on your shopping list and one has to make trips to the shop every alternate day. Thanks to my dad, who manages the house and the trips for shopping every now and then.

Almost every week, I go to a shop, exclusively for baby stuff (0-12 years) and get some stuff for my prince charming. The other day, I went to the Lifestyle stores with my friend, Sonali, who has a daughter, 10 days older to my boy and I shopped like crazy. When I came back with the stuff and showed it to my mom, she was shocked to know that I spent a fortune in buying such tiny clothes for my boy. She was just not used to see so much spent on clothes, which she bought for dirt cheap in Mumbai. But I managed to convince here that Bangalore is very expensive and for getting trendy clothes, one has to shell out more money. Trendy! For a 4 months old? Yes, that is the in-thing. I have seen people dress their newborns in the cutest and most fashionable outfits.
 
I showed my parents the array of baby shops in Bangalore, Mom and Me, Just Born, Apple of my i etc. and online shopping sites (e.g. firstcry, babyoye, hoopos etc.) are teeming in numbers. I ordered diapers, quilt and a baby towel for my baby from online shops and the service was quite fast and good. When I was a kid, there weren’t any shops exclusively for babies and small kids. Local brands and local manufacturers provided durable and simple clothes at affordable price. No was so brand conscious then. We wore whatever our parents gave us and did not know that we could select and choose that time. Now 32 years later, my parents feel that the amount of clothes and toys for my 4 months old is equal to what I had got in my 8 years of childhood. How and why has the change occurred?

The purchasing capacity of this generation has increased tremendously, thanks to the fat paying jobs. Globalization has brought all the major brands from all over the world under one roof now. You go to a big mall today and you get all the necessities of life, be it apparels, grocery, gift items etc. in one trip. The small local shops have vanished into the oblivion in metro cities. But the fun to buy in the local shops is somewhere lost in the glamor of the brightly lit and finely decorated shops. We bargained so much that time and the shopkeeper also lessened the prices owing to the familiarity with the customer and the firm belief that the person will come back to his shop for next shopping. But now, the branded shops are hardly bothered if you like their stuff and will come back to them. No matter how much you buy now, it is never enough. Those days were of less money, less brands, less choices, but greater satisfaction.

I am still in a phase where my son does not dictate the colors and fashion yet. So, I am happily shopping for him all the possible and cute colors and clothes. It is fun to shop for him, though I do not have much choice for him besides shirt, pants, rompers. As he grows up, it will be much more fun to go shopping with him. It will be a good learning for me and sessions of give and take of information.