Shops and Shopping

Here are some interesting observations from Michael about shopping and shops in Kuwait.

Retail/shopping in this country is different from the parts of the world we usually shop in.  At the lowest level you heave the corner shop which stocks largely the local brands and one or two global brands.  No real difference there.  Given the size of MENA (Middle East and North Africa), the region of the world in which we now live, there are plenty of brands copying the major global brands in everything from soap to silverware. Then there are the local shopping complexes.  These cater to the middle class and the foreign lower class workers.  The stores may still be family owned and stock largely locally produced products.  Some may even pass as department stores but the complexes are a little more like a souk, more market like though in a shopping centre.  Finally, there is the upper end.  This is  shopping centers like Avenues and 360.  Now when you get to this level some of the differences show up.  Many of the global brands that show up in these places, everything from Gucci to Boots are owned in this country by a large group called Al Shia.  That company leases the space for the various brands for which it has franchises and there are lots.  From fashion to food.  Then Al Shia hires Filipino Staff, sometimes directly and sometimes through manpower companies to be the store assistants.  These people are brought out on contracts for 1 to 2 years, maybe longer and they work in the shops.  It is unheard of for you to go to a shopping centre and be served by a Kuwaiti.  The Filipinos and some from other countries come out here and are accommodated in apartment bulings.  The employer takes huge number of leases over different quality buildings, dormitory style, and puts the staff up there.  

Brushing teeth during Ramadan is a challenge.  Kuwaitis on the whole and the young in particular have good white teeth.  Dental I am told is also quite expensive in this country.  But during Ramadan an observing Muslim may want to keep their teeth clean but be worried about ingesting tooth paste during fasting hours.  The solution is a stick.  A special stick from a special tree that was used by the Prophet.  It is about 6cms long and the end is flayed a little by the user to create a type of hort bristle.  It clearly still looks like a twig or a stick with the nubbly small branch growth removed.  This apparently keeps the teeth clean.  And the breath fresh?  I am not so sure.