“This yellow or this yellow?” – Me
“Uh… er… hmmm… buy both!” – Mayunk
“Really? But I like the shocking pink too!!” – Me
“Aaaaaaaarrggghhhhh!” - Mayunk
Mayunk just walked away leaving me holding 2 yellow and one pink and my eyes already appreciating the gorgeous green. That was the colour I was turning into seeing some others filling up their bags with loads n loads of stuff. Red with anger was the colour Mayunk was turning into. (After Megs review, I can say it was a Rang De, Basanti situation! Hehe!)
I am talking about my last shopping experience at Westside, the Tata company store that has presence in all major metro cities. (By last I of course mean latest, and not last last… you know what I mean.)
I don’t remember when I first went to Westside, but it has been a long relationship. (Maybe longer than what I have known Mayunk). I think first time round, I went there when I was on a sales call and got bored (hope my ex-boss isn’t not on Mouthshut!). It was a sweltering hot day in Mumbai and as I walked in the Fort area, I came across this big, brightly lit shop with even brighter coloured clothes in their display window. Aur muft ka AC made it even more inviting!
But it became my favourite shop after a very pleasant incident. I was trying on something and after that the shirt I was originally wearing, uska button toot gaya. I didn’t know what to do? This was second one, and I was too lazy to have got first one stitched. The attendant, very sweetly took it, and got the button fixed and got it back! Now THIS is what Customer Delight that all management books keep talking about is.
Westside started off as a clothes store with their in-house brand of clothes that made more of Indian clothes for women, then adding western wear for men and women and now even houses home products like linen, crockery and assorted stuff.
Westside, after Shoppers Stop, was the one to make the concept of Mix and Match really popular and it has never gone out of fashion since. Their kurtas are absolutely gorgeous, and though not very unique, always make a great impression. They have a whole lot of churidaars and dupattas that you can buy separately apart from the sets. The good thing is that even their darkest shades don’t fade too quickly. Their western wear also has an interesting mélange of very funky party wear, chic and smart office wear and very cheeky t shirts. Their other brand, SRC makes clothes for the younger and THINNER crowd. Their large is two sizes TOO small for me, and I am not REALLY fat. (Ask people who have met me… santhosh, mags, mayank… please vouch for me). I do hope they make a few sizes larger too.
They don’t have a very wide range of home products, but whatever they have is very different from what you get in other shops. My favourite buy has been a set of jhatak orange serving spoons that match with my dinner set. I am waiting to give in to that flaming red hexagonal plate to serve my starters on. The 30 rupee coffee mugs are very good for klutzes like me and they look great too.
They used to have great accessories till 6 months ago. If there were particular colour kurtas in the shop, there would be gorgeous matching set. You just needed to have an eye for it. But these days it’s a very limited collection and it’s TOO expensive. Mumbai people might as well go to Colaba n shop for those beads.
They do not have any regular branded clothes other than lingerie and underwear, since people are more brand conscious about those. I haven’t had great experience with their local stuff in this case anyway.
The price range of clothes starts from Rs.199, I think, the crockery starts from 30bucks and accessories from 50. The shops are well laid out and easy to navigate. Like very other shop, if it’s crowded, the trial rooms are never enough. But staff is helpful and will find you another size without you having to get out and stand in queue again. They also have a stock tracking system, so if something you really like is not available in that particular store, they will let you know where it is and even bring it down to you. Customer Delight again!
The have loyalty programme which adds up points based on what you spend which you can redeem, maybe get extra discounts or special privileges. They have sale, I guess, twice a year and it’s a great time to get bargains on their merchandise.
As for the title…
This series of Westside Story has been having a very happy ending!! Touchwood : )
Ps: There was no generic category for Westside. These stores should be in the biggest shopping mall or hippest area in your city!