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Going overboard about underground business
By Pan Zheng |
May 25, 2009, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SUBWAYS in different countries have different approaches. Some develop the "underground economy" and make the subway a unique symbol for the city, while others concentrate on the outside areas of the subway and take advantage of them to promote the city's economy.
However, in Shanghai, the subway actually combines these two approaches perfectly.
Without a doubt there are many convenience shops in subway stations and these are always popular with young people. At the same time, areas around subway stations are often commercial centers, with major department stores and restaurants. No matter which kind it is, the subway is already well involved in the commercial world.
Subways in Paris can be regarded as some of the most developed in the world, and they have constructed a unique underground economy and culture over the past 100 years. Transportation is not the only function - another role is the underground supermarket. There're over 800 shops, including department stores, restaurants, bookshops, flower stores and newspapers outlets.
As well, there are also thousands of auto-dispensers. The Paris Independent Transportation Company manages all the subway shops and earns 13 million euros (US$17.66 million) every year, which is really a large sum.
The great profit of the underground commerce also reminds us of our own buying patterns in the subway. In the morning, passengers may buy breakfast and newspapers in the subway; during their spare time, students wander through various shops; at weekends, white collar workers go shopping in the big markets and stores. When these shop owners earn more and more money, we enjoy the convenience and satisfaction.
More interestingly this business world is not so obviously commercial - we can even feel some arty tastes in the commercial air. Tiny DIY products and self-drawing T-shirts don't just appear in the subways, but they are also sold at street stores. Maybe it is because of the passengers' moods °?- traveling underground, people can't help feeling bored and tired. At this time, even a tiny product may give them a surprise. Isn't it another interesting cultural phenomenon in subway?.
However, in Shanghai, the subway actually combines these two approaches perfectly.
Without a doubt there are many convenience shops in subway stations and these are always popular with young people. At the same time, areas around subway stations are often commercial centers, with major department stores and restaurants. No matter which kind it is, the subway is already well involved in the commercial world.
Subways in Paris can be regarded as some of the most developed in the world, and they have constructed a unique underground economy and culture over the past 100 years. Transportation is not the only function - another role is the underground supermarket. There're over 800 shops, including department stores, restaurants, bookshops, flower stores and newspapers outlets.
As well, there are also thousands of auto-dispensers. The Paris Independent Transportation Company manages all the subway shops and earns 13 million euros (US$17.66 million) every year, which is really a large sum.
The great profit of the underground commerce also reminds us of our own buying patterns in the subway. In the morning, passengers may buy breakfast and newspapers in the subway; during their spare time, students wander through various shops; at weekends, white collar workers go shopping in the big markets and stores. When these shop owners earn more and more money, we enjoy the convenience and satisfaction.
More interestingly this business world is not so obviously commercial - we can even feel some arty tastes in the commercial air. Tiny DIY products and self-drawing T-shirts don't just appear in the subways, but they are also sold at street stores. Maybe it is because of the passengers' moods °?- traveling underground, people can't help feeling bored and tired. At this time, even a tiny product may give them a surprise. Isn't it another interesting cultural phenomenon in subway?.
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