Shanghai FamilyMart: Where the whole family can find what they need

Shanghai is the home of many stores to help make our lives easier. There’s C-Store, Lawson, KeDi, Buddies, Quick, FamilyMart, and probably at least a dozen others that I’ve either come across and forgotten or simply haven’t seen yet. They’re great places to get snacks, pay your bills (at least at some) and generally get your fix of anything from peanuts to cigs, though beer tends to be the product of choice 90% of the time (and sorry kids, as the signs say, no alcohol or tobacco products for children under 10 at most of them).

FamilyMart stands apart from others however for two reasons. The first: they don’t sell tobacco products! That’s right, in a city where anyone who’s anyone is lighting up everywhere you look, FamilyMart doesn’t sell products that help poison our lungs more than the outside air itself does (which, according to some reports, is equal to about a pack a day anyway if you like walking around outside a lot, so any cigarette on top of that would be huge!). Yes, FamilyMart truly has our families at heart. That’s also apparent in the second thing that sets them apart from the rest of the crowd: adult sex toys!

That’s right! While you can go to virtually any convenience store and find your good share of condoms and lubricant sitting next to the register for your purusal at check-out time, few places actually allow their customers to go the extra mile and purchase rings (see “For Him”) for a mere 59 RMB and vibrators (see “For Her”) at a bargain 249 RMB! That’s less than $10 USD per ring and and less than $40 USD for a high quality vibrator!

Of course not EVERYONE is excited about going out and purchasing things like this. Many people are shy or simply feel like it’s a bit strange to be investing time and money in something like this. That’s why they keep these great products right next to the cash register in most FamilyMarts around the city, to make sure that you always know where to find it if you ever change your mind.

I’ll admit, when I first saw these for sale in my local FamilyMart I was a bit shocked by it. Then I got to thinking: if this place really is “FamilyMart” then would it do to only have small toys for kids, treats and food, some daily household goods, but NOTHING strictly (or at least hopefully strictly) for the adults in the family? NO! To be fair to all FamilyMart stepped up and put these out for all to enjoy.

So I say bravo, FamilyMart. Way to take a step forward in being open out there in society, and may shoppers enjoy the time they’ve spent at your locations even more now both during their buying time and well after they’ve left the building.