I had long been curious about the SM Hypermarket along C5 near Tiendesitas. How is it different from the SM malls? And what’s a “hypermarket“? With hubby in tow, I finally trooped there yesterday to find out.
Upon entering the SM Hypermarket complex I was immediately wowed by the bright lights and endless aisles of goods which met my sight. I was reminded of the huge warehouse clubs I’d frequent during my trips to the US where I’d shop for hours on end.
Grabbing a cart we first stopped by the fruits section since we’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle. The problem was, neither of us knew how to choose fruit -- how to determine what’s sweet and all that. I guess we really looked clueless because one of the SM Hypermarket staff approached us shortly after we parked our cart. We told him we don’t know the first thing about buying fruits and if he could help us. He was a very friendly and helpful fellow, and was more than happy to oblige. We ended up with pre-packed BONUS Fuji apples and seedless grapes.
Next item up was virgin coconut oil for our 2-year old daughter's chapped lips. Our pediatrician advised me to use this instead of the usual lip balms and I had been trying to find some for weeks. I was once again assisted by an amiable SM Hypermarket staffer in my quest. Hehe, I think I'm going to get spoiled shopping here. Help is readily available because of the ever alert and accomodating Hypermarket staffers! Like Converse, they're everywhere! It was a refreshing experience not to have to go around in circles just to get any form of assistance -- and the service comes with a smile that's sure to leave you feeling good.
Hubby and I were surprised at how high-tech shopping at SM Hypermarket was. There were touchscreen LCD panels all around which you could use to check for product availability and pricing. Since the place is huge, you can easily spend hours wandering around so this innovation is sure to save you time and effort. I felt like I was in another country in the two hours or so I spent there.
Perhaps one of the best things about SM Hypermarket is the extensive selection of products. Just about every brand in every product category is available, standing side-by-side as if to challenge the shopper in me. Even stuff I had only seen on TV or in magazines that I had not yet seen elsewhere were within arm's reach.
After grabbing some other household essentials like milk and noodles, I finally checked out with SM Advantage Card in hand. Then it dawned on me what SM Hypermarket really is. It's a wet market, grocery store, department store, drugstore, toy store... and every other type of store all rolled into one. You can get everything in one go from apples to jogging pants to kiddie vitamins. Service and selection are tops and the whole shopping experience is pleasant and enjoyable, you don't think of it as a chore you have to get over with. You can even go on a food trip there right after shopping because their food court offerings are just as impressive as their store selection. Kopi buns? Teriyaki chicken? Whatever you can think of!
I'm already looking forward to the next time we stop by...
Visit the SM Hypermarket website for more information. Be updated and interact with SM Hypermarket through their blog.
