Consumptivity
Muji
Japanese Ikea
Muji is a Japanese cross between Ikea and what Woolworth's was in the 40s. It's my favorite international chain store. In London, Dublin, Tokyo, or Paris I hit Muji as soon as possible. Muji's standard of design is *much* higher than Ikea's. Everything is no-logo but you can tell it's Muji by the design and material.
Some of many favorite products there: men's heavy high-quality all-cotton made-in-Japan socks in white or gray, a really great unflavored toothpaste, world's cheapest and best eyeglass-polishing tissues in tiny pocket-sized packs, thick black canvas shoulder-bags. Whatever you're buying, the Muji version is usually less expensive *and* better looking (or just more simple, which is often the same thing). A seriously addictive retail environment, but one where I've never yet regretted a purchase. All of the stock is the same as Tokyo stores, except that they don't seem to export large items, like the spookily great-looking Muji bicycle. They have a UK website with a very limited selection of their store stock.
-- Bill Gibson