CHILL APPLE Group International - Official Blog

Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one...


Shopping in ancient societies

Shopping can be traced back to many civilisations in history. In ancient Rome, there was Trajan's Market with tabernas that served as retailing units. Shopping lists are known to be used by Romans as one was discovered by Hadrian's wall dated back to 75-125 AD and written for a soldier.[1]
[edit] The shopper
Florida woman shopping at a Mall, as a member of a "shoptilyoudrop" club

To many, shopping is considered a recreational and diversional activity in which one visits a variety of stores with a premeditated intent to purchase a product

"Window shopping" is an activity that shoppers engage in by browsing shops with no intent to purchase, possibly just to pass the time between other activities, or to plan a later purchase.

To some, shopping is a task of inconvenience and vexation. Shoppers sometimes go though great lengths to wait in long lines to buy popular products as typically observed with early adopter shoppers and holiday shoppers.

More recently compulsive shopping is recognised as an addiction. Also referred as shopping addiction, "shopaholism" or formally oniomania, these shoppers have an impulsive uncontrollable urge to shop. The term "retail therapy" is used in a less serious context.

In the last years in the United States there are private clubs that promote the so called "Shoptilyoudrop" fever during holyday seasons (like Christmas), even with competences between members. These clubs argue that the competences are good for relaxation from work stress. Indeed, the American TV promoted a Shop 'til You Drop series in the 1990s.