Shopping

1. Types of shops

• Supermarket / hypermarket – Albert, Tesco, Kaufland, Lidl, Billa.
• Grocery / corner shop – small local shop.
• Bakery, butcher’s, greengrocer’s, fishmonger’s.
• Pharmacy / chemist’s / drugstore – medicine + cosmetics.
• Bookshop, stationery, music shop, sports shop.
• Electronics store – Alza, Datart, CZC.
• Clothes shop / boutique – H&M, Zara, Reserved.
• Furniture store – IKEA, Sconto.
• Department store – multiple sections under one roof.
• Shopping mall / shopping centre – many shops, restaurants, cinema.

2. Shopping in Liberec

• OC Forum Liberec – central mall, near the train station.
• OC Plaza Liberec – another central mall.
• OC Nisa – the largest shopping centre in the Liberec region.
• OC Géčko – outside the centre.
• IKEA – nearest is in Prague, but online delivery available.
• Local markets in the city centre.

3. Online shopping (e-commerce)

• Czech leaders: Alza, Mall, CZC, Zboží.cz, Heureka.cz.
• International: Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Temu, Shein.
• Pros: wider choice, lower prices, comparison, home delivery, time-saving.
• Cons: can’t try before buying, delivery fees, returns can be a hassle, environmental impact of packaging and shipping, support for local shops drops.

4. Payment methods

• Cash – still popular for small purchases.
• Card – contactless, chip, magnetic stripe.
• Mobile payment – Apple Pay, Google Pay.
• Bank transfer / QR payment.
• BNPL – Buy Now, Pay Later (Twisto, Klarna).

5. Vocabulary

• Customer / buyer / shopper / consumer.
• Shop assistant / cashier / salesperson.
• Trolley / shopping cart / basket.
• Receipt / bill, refund, exchange, returns.
• Discount, sale, special offer, half price, BOGO (buy one get one).
• Brand, label, barcode, price tag.

6. Shopping habits

• Do you enjoy shopping? – Yes, I like browsing for new clothes / electronics. / Not really, I prefer to order online.
• Where do you shop for food? – Mostly at Lidl / Albert because it’s cheap and nearby.
• Who does the shopping at home? – usually parents; sometimes I help.

7. Compulsive shopping / consumerism

• Black Friday, Cyber Monday, sales seasons.
• Fast fashion – cheap clothes, big environmental impact.
• Influencers push consumption.
• Risks: debt, clutter, environmental damage, waste.

8. Sustainable shopping

• Bio / organic / fair-trade products.
• Local farmers’ markets, farmers’ shops (farmářské obchody).
• Reusable bags, refilling containers, bulk shops.
• Second-hand stores, swap parties, Vinted.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.

9. Comparison: CZ vs. UK vs. USA

• CZ: wide range of European chains; shopping malls common; supermarkets dominate; Sunday closure on selected holidays.
• UK: big supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi), high street shops, Boxing Day sales.
• USA: big-box stores (Walmart, Target, Costco), drive-through, huge malls, Black Friday after Thanksgiving.

10. Useful phrases

• How much is this? / How much does it cost?
• Can I try it on? / Where are the fitting rooms?
• Do you have this in size M / a different colour?
• I’ll take it. / I’m just looking, thanks.
• Can I pay by card? / Do you have a loyalty card?
• Is this on sale / discounted?

11. Speaking strategy

List types of shops, then your own shopping habits (food / clothes / electronics). Compare offline vs. online shopping with pros and cons. Mention Liberec shops. Finish with sustainability / consumerism as a modern problem.