Shopping is an activity that is enjoyed by many people. There are also people who hate shopping and say that it is a waste of time. But whether the people like shopping or not, they have to go to a shop, more or less frequently, to buy what they need because shopping is a necessity.

TWO MAIN TYPES OF SHOPS

Individual shops sell goods that are available in larger stores, but often pride themselves on the quality of their goods and service. They are: clothes shop, cake shops, butchers, bakery, gift shops, shoe shops, newsagents, antique shops, chemist shops, pet shop, greengrocers, china shop, jeweler's, bookshops.

Hypermarket is the largest type of shop and usually situated outside a town, where there is space for a large car park. Supermarket does save a lot of time. There is so many products under one roof. Sometimes supermarkets are more cheaper than smaller shops. In many supermarkets have their own brands of the most common food products which are cheaper still. Some supermarkets have started to offer free gifts to customers who have spent lots of money in their shops. Supermarkets are popular. They sell not only foods but household goods and some sell goods as diverse as cameras, guns and ammunition.


KINDS OF SHOPS

At the grocer's people can buy foodstuff including flour, sugar, salt, eggs, vegetable oil, stewed fruit, various kinds of tea and coffe, bottled beer and juice, sweets, chocolate, frozen and tinned vegetables and fruit. There are also dairy products such as milk, butter, cream, cheese and yogurt.

At the baker's various kinds of fresh bread, rolls, buns and cakes can be bought.

The butcher sells meat including pork, beef, lamb or poultry. Here we can buy smoked meat products such as ham, bacon, sausages and frankfurters. At the butcher's people can also buy tinned and frozen meat and fish.

They can go to the ironmonger's to buy hammer, pliers, nails and other tools and materials.

At the stationer's writing paper, wrapping paper, envelopes, notebooks, pens, pencils, rubber, ruler are kept. All the things needed by school children can be bought here.

Fresh vegetables and all kinds of fruit can be bought at the greengrocer's and fruiterer's. Many people prefer shopping at the market where there is a wider choice of potatoes, cabbages, beans, carrots, tomatoes, apples, pears, oranges or bananas.

The chemist's is a specialized shop where people can buy medicines. In Britain the chemist also keeps cosmetics and toilet supplies such as make-ups, shaving-cream, shampoo, soap and tooth-brushes.

Boutiques sell the latest fashion. Here especially the young people have a wide choice of dresses, shirts, skirts, blouses, pullovers and jeans. Some of the boutiques also offer leather goods such as jackets, shoes, bags.

Some other shops we visit:
- the florist’s – flowers, wreaths, bouquets, plants
- the tailor’s – where we have our clothes made to measure
- the hatter’s – where men’s hats are sold
- the milliner’s – where woman’s hats are made
- the shoe-maker’s – where we buy shoes, boots and other foot-wear
- the watch maker’s – where clocks and watches are mended
- the jeweller’s – where jewellery is sold as well as silver and gold

Services
It is a system that provide something that the public needs. It`s organized by the government or privat company.

We know many types of services:
Post office is a national organization in many countries, that is responsible for colecting and delivering letters, post cards, ...
Bank is an organization, that provides various financial services, keeping or lending money, we can put our money into a bank account. Each bank has also a cash dispensor. And we can withdrow our money any time we want.
Police is an official organization, who`s job is to make people obey the law and to prevent and solve the crime.
Petrol station is a place at the side of the road where you take your car to buy petrol, gas, oil.