Summary of English Vocabulary: Shopping and Trade

## Introduction Shopping is a part of everyday life and covers many activities, from buying groceries to browsing online stores. This guide breaks down essential vocabulary related to shopping and retail processes, explains different ways people shop and pay, and describes common roles and places you will encounter. The aim is to help a Not attending student build confidence using shopping-related English. ## Basic concepts and reasons for shopping - People shop for many reasons: **necessity**, pleasure, saving money, or social reasons. > Definition: **Necessity** — something you must buy to live comfortably, like food or medicine. > Definition: **Hunting for bargains** — actively looking for lower prices or special offers. ### Common attitudes toward shopping - Favourite/pleasant/enjoyable activity - Waste of time / useless - Necessity - Hunting for bargains ## Trading activities (common verbs) - **to do the shopping** — buy what you need (e.g., groceries) - **to buy / to purchase** — exchange money for goods - **to negotiate the price / to haggle over a price** — try to agree on a lower price with the seller - **to queue / to stand in a line** — wait your turn to pay or be served - **to go on a shopping trip / shopping spree** — visit shops to buy things; a spree implies buying a lot - **to go window shopping** — look at goods without intending to buy - **to run a shop** — manage or operate a shop - **to sell / to retail / to wholesale** — sell to final customers (retail) or in large quantities to businesses (wholesale) > Definition: **Retail** — selling goods directly to consumers in small quantities. > Definition: **Wholesale** — selling goods in large quantities, usually to retailers. ## People in trade - **shop assistant** — helps customers in a shop - **retailer** — sells goods to the public - **wholesaler** — supplies goods to retailers - **cashier** — handles payments at the cash desk - **customer** — buys goods - **bargain hunter** — seeks the best deal - **window shopper** — browses without buying ## Ways of shopping (channels) Compare direct and indirect sale methods: | Direct sale | Indirect sale | |---|---| | Market | Mail order | | Small specialised shops | Door-to-door selling | | Large shopping centres | Hire purchase | | | Catalogue sale | | | Online sale | Practical examples: - Buying fruit at a market: direct sale, immediate exchange. - Ordering from a catalogue: indirect sale, delivery later. - Shopping online: indirect sale, often with electronic payment and delivery. Did you know that online shopping accounted for a large and growing share of global retail sales before 2020, and the trend accelerated with wider internet access? ## Ways of payment - **in cash** — physical money - **by bank card** — credit card or debit card - **by cheque (AmE: check)** — written order to the bank to pay - **hire purchase (in instalments)** — spread payments over time - **electronic forms of payment** — Internet banking, direct bank transfer - **postal payment** — paying via post office - **invoice** — you are billed and pay later > Definition: **Hire purchase** — a payment method where you take goods immediately but pay in instalments; ownership may transfer after the last payment. ## Prices and price changes - Common adjectives: **expensive**, **costly**, **reasonable**, **affordable**, **reduced**, **low**, **high** - Phrases: **it costs a fortune**, **unbelievable price**, **on sale**, **clearance** - Price movement verbs: - **prices go down / fall / drop** — cheaper than before - **prices go up / rise** — more expensive than before Practical examples: - A store advertises “Prices reduced — clearance sale” meaning some items are sold at lower prices to clear stock. - If supply is limited and demand stays high, prices tend to rise. ## In the shops (AmE: stores) — key items and places - **cash desk** — where you pay - **shopping cart** / **shopping basket** — carry items in-store - **shopping bag** —