Wandering

05 Sep Wandering

Lustfully. In Murray Street…

There used to be streets in Perth that catered for lust and apparently people wandered down them. At least that is what I have been told – and I can’t be sure if it wasn’t just an urban myth, told to fool urban mythters.

Well, at least Wanderlust in Murray Street is worthwhile visiting. Also Camera Electronic next door. Being right down town they are easy to get to and you can either make a special trip or pop out in a lunch or break hour to get what you need.

But the real pleasure is not what you need – it’s what you fancy. Neads help but fancies heal. And you can get some of the therapy every day, if you like.

There are innumerable studies on how people shop and buy. These are vital to retailers, and they can spend a vast part of their marketing dollar trying to find out what motivates people. I’ve attended sales meetings with Powerpoint presentations and pie charts on this subject and I am sorry to say that very few of the pies were blueberry or pecan. At least not at the meetings where I was awake…

People buy to all sorts of patterns – some swoop in and grab the nearest thing to the door. That’s me in stores at Christmas, and the family has come to recognise the pattern in what they get as presents. Other people spend a long time wandering aisles and comparing prices – the mobile phone is either a tool or a weapon in this, and some people make themselves very anxious as they shop. Fear of missing out runs neck and neck with fear of messing up.

The people who do best, I think, are the ones who make several trips before they buy. A trip to look-see, a trip to confirm their choice, and a trip to finally purchase. if these visits are too widely spaced they run the risk of having the goods gone when they return. Perth is notorious for this – items can sit for months in a shop and then sell away before you get back. I’ve learned to only go to a book shop when I am serious about coming away with something to read, and not going in there with no money in my pocket.

Now Wanderlust deals in fresh ideas and fun goods – there is nothing in their side of the two shops that suggests hard work or drudgery. CE is pretty good for fun stuff, too, but some of the camera systems they sell in there are destined for professional careers and the buyers know they are buying a photographic drill press or turning lathe.

Note: Do not buy your cameras as a part-work from the newsagent. You never can tell when the publisher might go bust…

The trick to it all is to shop comfortably in your own style. Be fair – don’t poke the staff with an umbrella to get their attention. Pick a non-rush-hour period to start bending their ears. And be nice to yourself – decide what you you would like before you visit. You’re more likely to see it on the shelf if you have it in your mind first.