Home
News
In Focus
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
Restaurants get off to a quick start thanks to game-changing policies
High service charges on event ticket refunds call for further regulation
Sunday
- Subscribe
'Love supermarket' has partnership as key goal
By Miral Fahmy |
February 12, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FOR Chinese singles in the market for love on Valentine's Day this Sunday, a Beijing supermarket may have on offer just what they're seeking.
The "I'm Looking For You" market opened in November 2009, for China's unofficial "Singles Day," celebrated on the 11th of that month.
Since then, the supermarket has attracted more than 1,000 clients and successfully matched 50-plus couples.
The supermarket - essentially a dating service that offers a venue where singles can meet - charges a 20 yuan (US$3) registration fee.
Members list their names, ages, income and occupation, along with a picture, and this profile is available for others to view. They are asked what they would like in a partner.
Gao Shan, the supermarket's manager, said the concept was inspired by people's need to meet in a safe, friendly and relaxing environment, and by the negative experiences some singles have had using Internet dating services.
"The love supermarket was not created to satisfy a holiday need," she said. "It was created so that singles can have the opportunity to leave behind their single life."
Many single Chinese complain that hectic work and school schedules in the highly competitive society leave them with little time to socialize, Gao said.
Qu Hui, a 25-year-old teacher, said the supermarket had given her hope to find Mr Right and some friends.
"I wish I could find my better half, that is my greatest hope. But if that doesn't happen, I hope I can use this place to meet more friends," she said.
"I am a teacher, so the people that I can meet and socialize with are very limited."
The "I'm Looking For You" market opened in November 2009, for China's unofficial "Singles Day," celebrated on the 11th of that month.
Since then, the supermarket has attracted more than 1,000 clients and successfully matched 50-plus couples.
The supermarket - essentially a dating service that offers a venue where singles can meet - charges a 20 yuan (US$3) registration fee.
Members list their names, ages, income and occupation, along with a picture, and this profile is available for others to view. They are asked what they would like in a partner.
Gao Shan, the supermarket's manager, said the concept was inspired by people's need to meet in a safe, friendly and relaxing environment, and by the negative experiences some singles have had using Internet dating services.
"The love supermarket was not created to satisfy a holiday need," she said. "It was created so that singles can have the opportunity to leave behind their single life."
Many single Chinese complain that hectic work and school schedules in the highly competitive society leave them with little time to socialize, Gao said.
Qu Hui, a 25-year-old teacher, said the supermarket had given her hope to find Mr Right and some friends.
"I wish I could find my better half, that is my greatest hope. But if that doesn't happen, I hope I can use this place to meet more friends," she said.
"I am a teacher, so the people that I can meet and socialize with are very limited."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
