The Observational Lab

Chatswood Retail Shopping Centre, Sydney Australia By Ralph Kerle (c) Oct 29 2012

All images remain the property of Ralph Kerle

Tiger Lily Child of Michael Hutchens and Paula Yates Retro look and feel contemporized Hippy influence Thai dye Wrought iron doors Warm and welcoming Memories of marijuana smell Youthful sex

TOP RANKING THE CHINESE ODDMENTS STORE

Brands is not important at The Chinese Oddments Store

There is no order to the shelves or stock placement

My observational senses are on full alert in this environment

•In 15 minutes nobody entered the store •Never saw the product •Nobody asked me to buy •Still don’t know what they sell •The store was so sterile it was like an operating theatre

•The TV showed Psy and Gangnam Style •The music playing loudly through the shop was bad 90’s heavy metal

Yoghurtberry What do you sell?

The Chinese Herbal Medicine Store

The man in the back of the store was occupied with his computer so I never found out what Placenta Cream was made of and cured

The Panda is for Good Luck!

This is the worst cafe in the world. This photo was taken at 1.00pm right on lunch time. The cafe is empty. I have been going to this cafe for 5 years to see how long it might last before it goes bankrupt. I have had my coffee spoiled, my ham and cheese croissant burnt to a cinder and abused for taking it back. It often appears new staff don’t even have rudimentary cafe skills. I have had bad food poisoning from unwashed salad. I keep going back because I want to observe how bad it can get before the cafe finally starts to improve or......

The menu has not been changed in 5 years

The new manager is smiling. That’s a first!!

It’s NOT The Sale Prices That Attract Me

It’s NOT the Shirts That Attract Me

It’s NOT the nice light that attracts me

The Brand and the Signage Don’t Attract Me

It’s the Service. The manager, a Lebanese Christian. has been running the shop for 20 years

He keeps me up to date with President Assad and the Syrian crisis with his knowledge of Byzantium history. I trust him.

THAT’S WHY I BUY

The End

Chatswood Retail Shopping Centre, Sydney Australia By Ralph Kerle (c) Oct 29 2012

All images remain the property of Ralph Kerle