Retail and Shopping Center in Brunei Darussalam
Daily need like groceries, clothing, and furniture is a big market in Brunei. Maybe not only here tho~
But there’s something I want to tell you what’s story behind
of shopping activities in Brunei. Without any further do, let’s go to the
point:
So Brunei Darussalam is one of a developed country in South East Asian. This country consider as a rich one with oil and gas resources. The citizen consider as moderate to high paid salary, based on their job risk task. The higher money you get the more you eager to spend it, the impulsive buying habit can be rooted if we do almost every day. Prove that’s it true guys! But the thing is, the psychology of shopping is a bit different from what I used to do when I live in Indonesia.
Some people consider shopping as stress release, so they go
intentionally for shopping with whole family with purpose as refreshing. The
activity can be combined with dine in restaurant, the menu typically has
Indonesian, Indian, Chinese, or local taste. Occasionally people gather with
other family for special moment like birthday party or colleague reunion. The
content mostly only chatting, taking picture, and shopping again. You know, the
vibes is a bit boring for me. Sorry to say the truth, but amusement thing like karaoke,
card game, and board games never seen anywhere.
Back to talk about the retail therapy, the groceries list
are maybe almost the same. Kind like rice, chicken, meat, vegetable, fruit,
snack, detergent, etc. But the preference of food sometimes a bit different. As
I know, many elders prefer fresh vegetable in traditional market, but young
generation more into frozen and processed food. We can’t judge, it’s up to
their lifestyle. Perhaps, young generation don’t have enough time to cook or
want just go with simple serving.
As expatriate, I can mention several big market as shopping
center. First, I will tell you about the traditional market first. The
traditional markets are provided by government, the location can find at every
city. Pasar Kianggeh located in Bandar Seri Begawan, Pasar Ikan Jerudong, Pasar
Tutong, Pasar Ikan KB. Dominated by elders who sell their vegetable from
village or fish from the ocean to the market. It definitely fresh and like a
life in real, cause I am so sick with Supermarket already hehehe.
Next, let’s go to supermarket and department store. Yeah,
it’s the modern system of shopping with well-maintained company. There are several companies as
stock holder in Brunei, like Hua Ho, SKH, Milimewah, Jaya Hypermart, Soon Lee.
Yep, most of it owned by chines family. The big retail business dominated by
non-origin Borneo people. Idk why, but that’s the reality. Back then, long
short story I categorize the modern market into low price, medium price, and
high-end market. For daily groceries I will suggest to go to SKH, you can find
lower price for vegetable, fish, and fruit. For frozen food and more complete
brand of skin care with moderate price, so much better to go to Soon Lee. You can find affordable price of clothing store at Jaya Hypermart and Milimewah, the quality is medium but good enough for daily wear. And
the last but not least, find the luxury world with high price at Hua Ho.
The pleasure of shopping can be higher by exploring a Mall or shopping center. There are small and big malls in Brunei Darussalam. I start from the biggest and most popular, it's The Mall Gadong. Located in the center of city, it's near from high-way and other facilities, like hotel, inn, petshop, clinic, restaurant, electronic shop, car dealer, etc. The other big mall are Times Square, Airport Mall, City Square, which located in same place in a row near Berakas Airport. Another malls are One City at Salambigar, Complex Yayasan located in Bandar Seri Begawan, Aman Hills at Sg. Tilong, Rimba Point at Rimba, Hua Ho at Sengkurong, and KB Central at Kuala Belait.
You will always find boba shop, supermarket, cube, restaurant, cinema, and skincare shop. The other variation, can be like shoes store, fashion store, game center, carpet shop, gadget store, and hotel can be found in some malls. It depend on the facilities and space. Oh I forget to tell you, there are so many low price japanese store in Brunei. Actually the products imported from china, but labeled as japanese things. You can find Miniso, Ximi Vogue, Toku Tokuya, Abokado in malls.
*For note, I suggest to bring your own reusable bag and enough
cash. Because some of the store don't provide cashless payment.
And that’s all from me as consumer who did market analyze at
Brunei, all the opinion is purely my personal thought. I only see it on the general condition. So don’t be sensitive!
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