Shops may be manipulating customers with their promotional gimmicks but people don't have to follow trends blindly ; This week's issue: Is consumerism an essential element of our lifestyle?
Shopping is considered Hong Kong's favourite sport. And just like a tough game, it rewards participants with physical and mental strength. Psychologists and physiologists study this phenomenon very closely - usually with one aim in mind ... to get your money.
From the moment you step into a shopping mall and see the colourful window displays and the red SALE signs, you feel a rush of adrenaline.
The must-buy feeling grows stronger as you prowl through each store, trying on the trendy shoes and clothes. At the same time, you're calculating how much you will save from the discounts.
After buying a few pieces of clothing, you walk past Starbucks and see the huge promotional poster for the new Dark Mocha Frappuccino Blended Coffee - it looks really yummy, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee is just too delicious to resist. So you decide to take a break and try a cup before you head to the supermarket for food and other essentials.
Once you get home you realise that you've bought things you never intended to buy.