SECRET SHOPPER
It has something for every age, every gender, every personality, said a mate.
Curious, this secret shopper decided to check out the recently-opened Goods of Desire (G.O.D) store. It sells lifestyle items, such as crockery and bed linen, but with a touch of quirkiness.
SIGNATURE STYLE
Founded in Hong Kong in 1996, G.O.D strives to give a different look to otherwise ordinary products.
It may be just the store for hipsters who want to stand out with wacky clothing and household goods.
Most of the items are printed with pictures of old Hong Kong apartments, old letterboxes or traditional oriental motifs.
After extensive browsing, I realised that the motifs are quite repetitive, to the point that I was drawn to items without the quirky prints.
The herbal pillows - the choice is between buckwheat or the myrobalan plant - caught my attention.
These pillows are said to help relieve neck pain, muscle tension and even snoring.
Heat up a pillow in a microwave oven and it can be used to soothe stomach cramps in women during that time of the month.
The buckwheat ones cost $42 each and the myrobalan ones, $33 each.
PRICE POINT
The prices of furniture and clothing are on the high side.
I choked when I learnt that an apron costs $67.
This secret shopper was quite enamoured by the cute and unique wallets, which cost from $23 to $35.
But inspect the wallets' insides, and you'll see cheap plastic and velcro. I don't think they will last very long.
The aroma candles and reed diffusers, on the other hand, appeared to be value for money. Available in various sizes, prices start from $16.
When I was there, some fragrant candles were lit and filled the room with a light scent. I reckon they would make excellent gifts.
LOCATION & LAYOUT
The corner store on the second storey of Central is hard to miss. Huge red lampshades hang outside the store and its entrance looks like a giant old copper coin.
I was impressed by how much detail went into the store's layout.
The shop is divided into different sections - fashion items in one corner, furniture and household goods in another corner. The latest collections take pride of place in the middle of the store.
Each section carries a different theme. For example, the household/furniture area is made to look like an old Hong Kong home, complete with mosaic tiles.
This visual treat completed the shopping experience for me.
SERVICE
For someone who is annoyingly particular about service, I must say the service at G.O.D is impeccable.
Upon entering the store, I was greeted with a cheerful "welcome".
Although I kept asking a store assistant difficult questions about the herbal pillows, he was very patient and carefully explained all the benefits to me.
And the one thing I really love is that they are not breathing down your neck, trying to get you to buy something. I was given the freedom to just browse and pick up things without feeling like I had to leave the store with a purchase.
VERDICT
If you are looking for a quirky gift item, do drop by. You may be as pleasantly surprised as I was. CHECK IT OUT
WHAT: Goods of Desire
WHERE: 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #02-08, Central
WHEN: 11am to 10pm daily.
HISTORY
Co-founders Douglas Young and Benjamin Lau started G.O.D. in Hong Kong in 1996, It draws its design inspiration from the city and the melding of east and west. There are eight stores in Hong Kong.
This article was first published in The New Paper.
