A certain segment of the population seems to be attracted to an “elite shopping experience” with all its extra costs. There’s a sense of heightened superiority associated with being able to partake of an indulgence and enjoy one’s ability to spend more for perceived quality.
In short, there’s a huge psychological component to a lot of our shopping habits. Upscale stores understand and exploit this concept very well.
Yep, that too.
It reminds me of the 80’s yuppies who just HAD TO move into a downtown loft and shop at the swank stores and grocery outlets in the area.
Really? I mean, I pay less for MORE square footage, I can see the stars at night (without a city-wide blackout) and my produce is mostly from a LOCAL farmer’s market (if not from my own garden...when I have the time to put one out)! I get fresh raw milk not 8 miles from my house and, although I like most of my neighbors, their doors are all more than 150’ from mine (and personally, I feel that is still too close)!
But, hey, they just HAD to have that up-n-coming lifestyle. Whereas, most people that I have met who grew up in that type of environment, are BEGGING to get to at least the suburbs and some even clamor for the rural life!