I noticed this Miniso a few stores down from the SilverCity at St. Vital Centre. I wanted to check it out.
This store has all sorts of merchandise. Do you need a facial mask that you plop on your face and scare everyone around you? Check. iPhone cases? Yep. Plushies? For sure. Purses and drinkware? Definitely.
I liked the handheld fans at this store. It's likely because it was hot every day in Winnipeg that it seemed like a tempting purchase to stay cool. I felt the same way about the umbrellas at this store. It rained at least once a day for the first four or five days that I was in the city. The umbrellas here are manual, so you can fold them down into a compact bundle, but you don't have the convenience of a button to open or close it.
I learned while browsing around the store that its merchandise is extremely attractive to shoplifters. This store posted images of shoplifters who looked like they were teenagers or undergraduate students. These images were taken from security camera footage, but the quality of these photos weren't great. Each 8.5" x 11" poster, if you will, said that you're on camera at all times and if you know these people, to report them.
Part of me felt for the store owner. Shoplifting is never cool. However, as a customer browsing and stumbling upon at least five of these posters scattered throughout the store, I felt uncomfortable. It was also unfortunate that the photo quality was poor. I wouldn't know any of these shoplifters. Then again, if I did, I likely couldn't make out who these people were because they looked blurry.
I didn't take any photos of these posters. I was that uncomfortable.
I wanted to get a compact utensil set. I have a few that I love and use, but they aren't cute and practical.
I asked a female staffer if there were any sets with chopsticks. Nope. Maybe this store is in a market where the demand for a set with chopsticks isn't there.
I got a My Melody fork-spoon set. It's the perfect size for travel or work.
The handbags and drinkware were cool. I didn't need any, but you could get them with Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters on them.
I headed to the checkout area to pay for my item. It was an easy transaction. I paid with a credit card. She placed my item in a bag. I thanked her and left.
I love this utensil set. The case is pink. You can see the utensils through the top of the case. The handles on the fork and spoon are also My Melody pink. They work well and make eating fun, especially at work where most folks use plastic utensils that are white.
I liked visiting this store. Maybe the shoplifting posters need to go on a hall-of-shame wall instead of scattered throughout the store as you browse. I don't know.
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