Shopping is the acctivity of going to the shops and buying things.It`s enjoyed by many people. There are also people, who hate shopping and say that it is waste of time. But whether they like shopping or not, they have to go to the shop. More or less frequently to buy what they need, because shopping is a necessity.

Shops:
Those, that are part of a chain or a group
Those, that are individually owned

A consumer society is a society in which material goods are very important, and the costumers are very important and have a lot of power.
A consumer is someone who uses a product.
In the past, people would shop more often for staple foods. They would buy these in local shops in the town or village where they lived and carry them home in bags. Other things could be bought at the nearest corner shop.
Today, many families have a big freezer at home and a microwave. People often use a lot of frozen or tinned vegetables. There is a growing trend to go shopping less often and to fill their cars with enough food.
Old people living alone without cars do not need to buy so much food as young families, it is not very easy for them to travel to a supermarket, it si uch easier for them to use smaller local shops.Children who want sweets, or anyone who wants a magazine, find their local shops very useful, especially corner shops which are often open much longer hours than ordinary shops.
Goods can be bought in outdoor markets. All towns and cities have a market once or twice a week. You can buy there second-hand goods, but also flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as meat and fish.
Many people like to go shopping to department stores. The department stores are large buildings usually several storeys high. They have many department (foodstuf, clothes, shoes, toys, sporting goods, leather goods, cleaning supplies and cosmetics, china and glass, harware goods, household appliances, books, stationary and furniture, all under one roof). Nearly all the big department stores have cafe`s, snack bars or restaurants where the people can relax. Big department stores started in America and the idea was brought to England by Gordon Selfridge. The largest type of shops are hypermarkets and supermarkets. Many supermarkets are situated outside the town, they have cash dispensers, petrol pumps and cafe. It is very convenient to have so many products under one roof.