As the world marked the observance of International Women’s Day yesterday with women’s rights issues topping the agenda for many, women in Nanjing exercised their very own rights of another kind to the full, namely to shop until they drop.
Sales of major shopping malls in Nanjing were even reported to have exceeded that of the Valentine’s Day.
Early in the morning at 9.30 am, thousands of ladies swarmed in as soon as the malls opened, and almost swept the lingerie counters clean, as described by a saleswoman from Xinbai Mall. Jewelry and shoe counters also experienced five times more customers than that of normal weekends, while many of the most in-vogue restaurants reported their longest queues since Spring Festival.
“Our total sales doubled that of last year’s Women’s Day and exceeded that of Valentine’s Day”, said Xue Yuan, head of the stategy department of Xinbai Shopping Mall proudly.
“I bought two dresses and a pair of shoes today. They only cost me ¥3,000, much cheaper than the normal price thanks to the women’s day promotion”, Miss Wang, an office worker said happily upon stepping outside Jiangning Gold Eagle with her hands full.
Her company had given her half a day off, as did many in Nanjing, which also contributed to the sales figures. Apart from the half-day holiday, companies also showered their female employees with all kinds of gifts.
The most common gifts ladies in Nanjing received for their employees were Suguo gift cards and showering products. Some less conventional gifts includes selfie sticks and stockings. An employee of a company in Nanjing said she was embarrassed when receiving a whole bag of feminine products from her boss. More so was another office lady at an advertising company who received lace thongs as a Women’s Day gift.
Movie tickets, bookshop gift cards and free field trips were among the most applauded gift ideas. One company even went to great lengths in rewarding their hard working female employees by hiring topless male models to surprise them with red roses during office hours.
Some professional women complained about receiving kitchen and bathroom cleaning supplies as gifts. “It’s like saying women should stay at home cleaning and cooking for their husbands. I don’t think so”, said Miss Zhang, a public relation specialist working in a foreign enterprise. She chose to sign up for a flower arrangement lesson on this special day. Others chose to strengthen their bonds with their female friends by dressing up and getting their photos taken together professionally. Two best friends since primary school who happened to both be expecting a baby soon went to Hard Egg Photography in Nanjing to take the so-called “Bestie Photographs” (闺蜜照).
“Today was more like a BFFs’ day for women”, commented one Hard Egg photographer Xiao Liu.
As for online shopping, TMall’s weight-loss products and fitness equipment sales rocketed yesterday as more and more women are willing to invest in their health and fitness, while personal trainers were almost booked out in some major fitness clubs in Nanjing. Statistics reveal a growing trend over the past two years in how much Nanjing residents spend on fitness equipment and services. Most of this consumption is by female consumers.
Although Women’s Day was not a holiday such as the “double-11, which was created by marketing gurus at major brands to promote capitalism, the sales figures nevertheless demonstrate very well that women remain the most dominant when it comes to purchasing power.
