I’ve never been much of a Takashimaya departmental store shopper due to the perception that things sold in there cost more than they should and would at other departmental stores. Perhaps it is the way the brand name has always been marketed, or the presence of many established luxury boutiques and labels available within the store; or that they do not have attractive sales/discounts as often as their competitors such as the likes Robinsons, Isetan and Metro.

Hence when I do spend at Takashimaya departmental store, it is usually food related (because they have an entire basement dedicated to sell a range of food inclusive of those with an exquisite packaging and price) and event related (they also tend to organize relatively good baby/christmas/lunar new year/mid-autumn festival fairs in a huge atrium where you can purchase everything ‘under one roof’).

So when my cousin and a friend told me to consider signing up for one of the Takashimaya members cards now that I was expecting, and how I could enjoy an additional 10% off discounted merchandise during baby fairs and members sale (their baby fairs though far & few between usually have lots of big ticket & heavy items available which you could purchase all under one roof inclusive of free delivery with purchases over $150) – I knew we had to sign up for it (considering this was coming from 2 people who were already mommies & whom I had similar purchasing patterns with). I figured that it would also be the start of many ‘baby’ cards (i.e.: Toys R Us, Mothercare membership cards etc.); now that baby chungkin was on the way = additional expenses – every little bit of savings helped.

This weekend was Takashimaya’s members sale from 1 – 4 Dec and boy was I in much of a delight. The model of breast pumps that I had been eyeing on was going at $699 before an additional 10% discount (that would bring it down to $629), as compared to what was usually being sold at retail stores ($899) and at the ongoing baby fair ($768) – inclusive of a 1 year local warranty – thanks to another friend/mom-to-be who had called me days earlier and shared with me her research on prices and reasons for getting one with a local warranty. I helped her purchase a set too :-)

Amongst other things purchased were also wet wipes, some infant clothes, bundles of stretch mark cream, other knick knacks and a lovely Christmas/early Birthday present from the Bo :) We were 2 very happy campers, and were pleased to know that we could redeem $180 worth of Takashimaya vouchers due to our recent spending. Nice!!!

Somehow shopping during this festive season made the entire exercise more joyous. I was practically on my feet for hours walking between malls – got myself some paraben-free cosmetics & new brushes from Sephora and some very affordable miscellaneous items from Daiso, gourmet & delicious smelling bread from Bread Society, shopped for even larger sized underwear (sad yet happy affair) et cetera.

I hear the next Takashimaya baby fair (the big scale one where other vendors will come in to sell their wares) will be held in Mar 2012;  just weeks before baby chungkin greets the world in person.  Till then, I’d just have to do my best to curb the shopping monster in me.

What can I say, shopping makes me a very happy person. They don’t call it ‘retail therapy’ for no reason! :)

Hope your weekend was just as fruitful.