It's winter Sale at the big, international, clothing stores : H&M , Zara, H &O, Mango, Springfield, Bershka, Castro etc.; 30% to 70% discount on most winter items.
entrance to the HM store in Ayalon mall - Ramat-Gan city
upper floor-men/ kids fashion; ground floor- ladies' fashion
My favorite is H&M - fashion from Sweden. It's called by people "cheap chique" and "fast fashion" (like in fast food - meaning good stuff at affordable prices).What I like about this chain , is that it has something for any age, gender, and purse.It has ladies/men fashion departments, kidswear/ maternity wear/ accessories sections. Besides, the design of the stores is very,very cool with lots of space and lights. The chain has branches in the malls of almost all major cities in the country.
window fashion models
kids' wear
I entered an HM store the other day to have a look, and left with a lovely, festive $10 black top . All the colours are present; it's quite obvious, however, that H&M loves red, although black is considered the average swede's favourite color.
I know a thing or two about fabrics and sewing, so the store offered me much interest and curiosity.
items in red
check out area; poster above the cashiers
Ikea , another swedish brand, keeps its big Sale once a year, at the end of summer. There are only 4-5 stores in the whole of Israel, but they're very successful. (In the past, I wrote two posts on Ikea).
Ikea store in Netanya city industrial zone
I enjoy having a look at the furniture designs, less at the...prices. I leave the store with some trivial item/s, usually a pot (I like their kitchenware); Over the years I've bought several furniture pieces , among them an armchair I'm very fond of to this day.
I won't leave the store, without eating their famous 'soup in a bread bowl',
Bread bowl with soup
It's surprising, how a small country like Sweden (barely 10 million people), has produced such a number of global, successful companies: Ikea, H&M, Volvo, Scannia , Skype - to mention the more famous ones. They also boast a lot of inventions (dynamite, adjustable wrench, pacemaker,ultrasound, seatbelt, and more) ׂ. What's their secret?
I suppose their special, 'out of the box' creativity and great ability to plan, combined with freedom and encouragement given to start-ups by the government, are the things that lead them to international success.
* The map - Web image
We always bought a door mat from Ikea! As we became more financially stable we purchased furniture, book shelves we still have and still immaculate. Some of the Nordic countries also have better social policies.
ReplyDeleteThat's correct. Sweden and her neigboring countries have better social policies, and that attracts a lot of emigrants and refugees.
DeleteAs for Ikea, the little household things (door mat, i.e) and storage/display shelves, are very popular.
I love Ikea, Canada has H&M but none near us. Have you been to Sweden?
ReplyDeleteNever been to Sweden. I know a lot about it from reading and the Media. They say for instance, that Swedes are colorful people: they think blue, vote red, eat green...
Deleteikea is always one of my favorite stops - the swedish meatballs are deliciousssss!
ReplyDeleteMeatballs, indeed; forgot to mention them. I must admit, however, I've never bought anything at their little shop of swedish food products. I don't like salmon, and don't like kaviar.
DeleteBy the way, they say swedes eat kaviar at breakfast everyday; good for them!
I didn't know they had food served at IKEA. Your bread bowl with soup looks good. I'll have to visit H&M sometime. It sounds like a nice shop for all ages. We have one here at our mall. I like how they have items in different colored sections.
ReplyDeleteI hope the new year is treating you well, Duta.
~Sheri
Well,they have a restaurant, a cafeteria, and a small shop selling swedish food products, at Ikea.
DeleteH&M has indeed things for all ages, but you have to take your time and have patience, until you find your item. It's a big place.
Yes the Swedes are creative, hard working and produce super brands of the highest quality & durability. Swedes also excel in massages :)I loved the soup in bread bowl concept - one normally hears of bread in soup bowl :)
ReplyDeleteMy first job was with a Swedish Company - Atlas Copco- specialists and world leaders in rock drilling & tunnel boring equipment.Sweden is very famous for steel too - the worlds best.
And not to forget their contribution to the cinema industry: Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Ingmar Bergman, Max von Sydov, Ann Margret ,and some new young names that made their way to Hollywood.
DeleteYes absolutely !
DeleteI've only been to IKEA once, our closest is two hours south in Burbank. I really enjoyed my visit and purchased several kitchen items that I really enjoy. And apparently in the winter of 2018 we will be getting an H&M at out local mall, now with your recommendation I will definitely check it out!
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's not at all easy for the swedes to compete with american stuff and prices.
DeleteThey seem, however, bold and confident that people everywhere will fall for their fashion which they call 'fashion without a capital F'.
Anyway, to catch a good bargain,try to find out about their Sales.
My mother-in-law was Swedish and I know they know how to bake for sure, we miss all have her breads and goodies, and her!
ReplyDeleteI'm almost embarrassed to say I've never been to IKEA, even though one is fairly close to us. We have out-of-state relatives who come to visit and go to IKEA, they make a day of it!
And we have an H&M even closer than IKEA, but I've never been there either. I must go, red works for me!
Sounds like good bargains are at both stores. In other words, my idea of shopping is to go into the store, get what I want, and leave!
Thanks for the interesting post!
The swedish breads and cookies are indeed world famous. I've often heard about the concept of "nordic bread culture" existing from prehistoric times to present.
DeleteIf you decide to go to Ikea and/or H&M, do it during the Sales period when they offer a good bargain.
I agree with your assessment of Sweden's international success. It's interesting to me to see a mall in another country. I swooned over that soup in the bread bowl!
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend "that soup in the bread bowl", especially if you happen to be there in winter. I'm not sure, tough, if they have it on the menu at every branch. You can get the same soup in a ceramic bowl or deep plate, but the bread bowl adds value to it.
DeleteWe have Ikea in Atlanta but I havent been to it. H&M I havent been to either but I like the Fast Fashion phrase. Yes Sweden is small country to have big companies
ReplyDeleteWe live in the era of fast food, so why not fast fashion?
DeleteAs for Sweden,it would appear that small is sometimes big.
It is amazing for a country with such small population in comparison to many others is so creative and successful.
ReplyDeleteI'm an armchair aka computer chair shopper these days. Anything I can't buy locally here on the mountain...in our little village, I buy online. I've not visited a large shopping centre in years. Actually...I don't like large, busy shopping centres...but that's just how I am....the nature of the beast! :)
Buying online is great! Also avoidig the crowds has its benefits, especially during winter when people cough and sneeze around us, and endanger our health.
DeleteHowever, when entering these big, shopping centers, we join the flow of life, and that makes us feel more alive too, and part of the big masses. Even if we live alone, we"ll never feel alone in these places, and that's something that can hardly be ignored.
We know Ikea products well as we furnished several rooms in our VA home with some furniture bought there. Our bedroom set and a dining room buffet card and a couple of their popular Poang bent wood recliners. And, we also always find household items. A kitchen pot set we bought there served us well for many years and now my niece is enjoying it as well. I am not familiar with H&M stores, but seems like you found a great bargain, Duta.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that that Ikea's method of flat pack assembly (that brought about its popularity) has evolved. They now have a range of furniture products which need no bolts, screws, screwdrivers and allen keys. Sounds great!
DeleteOlá, as multinacionais estão por todo o lado com as suas promoções, também gosto da H & M, já do Ikea não digo a mesma coisa, pelo facto do atraso da entrega e pela montagem da mobília, prefiro lojas pequenas que levam e montam a mobila, tenho uma loja do Ikea muito perto da minha casa, nunca lá entrei.
ReplyDeleteFeliz fim de semana,
AG
Indeed, multinational companies are everywhere with their promotions.
DeleteThe trouble with Ikea, as I see it, is with the price charged for delivery and assembly of the more heavy items (the smaller items are usually carried and assembled by the buyer).
Thanks for stopping by.
'Feliz fin de semana' to you too!
I can find H&M over here too.
ReplyDeleteDo not know it is belonged to Swedish.
Probably it is linked to the swedish corporation. They have stores in most countries in the world, so why not in Malasyia.
DeleteI also didn"t know H&M was from Sweden! I thought it was from NY?! (well, never really knew, but would guess US!) We even have an H&M here in our small city in Southern Japan!! The bread soup bowls look amazing! Have a great day and week!
ReplyDeleteWe also have H&O chain. I don't know what its origin is; maybe israeli company.
DeleteWhen the swedish H&M opened its first store, several years ago, there was a big Buzz, which one could not ignore, so everyone heard about this chain.
I just went to H&M for the first time last November and I bought a few things! Very inexpensive yet nice sweaters! Which I need for this time of year. I have never been to IKEA but we had one open about an hour from where we live. I get my soup in a bread bowl from Panera!
ReplyDeleteCindy
As I've already mentioned, I usually visit these stores at Sale time, hoping to find some good bargain. On regular days, things are quite pricey.
DeleteWonderful stores! and I love the soup in a bread bowl!
ReplyDeleteNow that I see my readers are pleased with the bread bowl of soup, I might bring some other nice food displays.
DeleteI love the idea of a soup bowl. They have them here in many spots in winter.
ReplyDeleteI like both black and red. I bought a pair of red winter boots and I'm so happy with them!