Miniso.

Miniso is a Chinese fast fashion brand, with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic, which has a recently opened outlet in the Kandy City Center. The store sells an insane range of products, all featuring a minimalist aesthetic usually associated with upmarket clientele at mass market prices. Does this indicate a coming democratization of elite aestheticism in Sri Lanka? I guess we’ll find out. The store was crowded as we went in on a Saturday afternoon, and there was a voice on the intercom, in heavily accented English, warning shoppers to “look after your valuables and children” as they were experiencing an “upsurge of customers”. Go figure.

Ambiance

 

The interior is a mix of minimalism; with lots of white spaces, minimal branding and items in cool pastel shades, and the clutter usually found in Sri Lankan miscellaneous ‘gift shops’. The clutter could be because of Miniso trying to squeeze in as many products as possible within the limited space of a standard KCC glass fronted business space. It could also have given that impression because of all the people crowding the narrow spaces between the numerous aisles. Apparently a new store is opening in Colombo which will be larger, it will have space for more things like clothes and food items.

Things For Sale

Aside from toothbrushes, the other things packed within close quarters included all sorts of make-up, cosmetics and perfumes. We bought a bottle of “Aquarious Natural Spray” for Rs. 380 that gave off a rather pleasant, aquatic, fruity odor vaguely reminiscent of Davidoff Cool Water.

There is a whole section of toys and games to choose from (priced between Rs. 380-750). A “Three Dimensional Rhinoceros Puzzle” (Rs. 380) took some effort to figure out, but when it was finished it walked very cutely across the table after being wound up.

“Cute” is a great way to describe most of the stuff on sale here. A “Cute Hand Towel” with a smiling monkey face will set you back another Rs. 380. “Lovely Headbands” cost between Rs. 380-590.

You can also buy flip flops (Rs. 750-2,000), water bottles with options to insert infusions (Rs. 750-1,890), socks, underwear, bags, all sorts of storage containers and purses. Stainless steel cutlery sells from Rs. 590 for a fork, they do bend if too much pressure is applied though, so don’t use them for bad days when your beef curry is a little undercooked (assuming you eat beef curry with a fork, or beef curry at all).

Being a bit of a stationery buff, I spent more time browsing the notebooks and pens on sale. The notebooks look quite ‘hip’ and come in either 80g or 100g paper, so nothing for you if you’re into water-coloring, but the design is very decent for writing and sketching, and for looking cool in a coffee shop. The build quality is nothing like a Moleskine though, so don’t expect these to take a beating. There is a humongous range of pens, sharpies and markers, you can buy three for Rs. 380. The gel pens seemed quite decent, and easily a good, cheap substitute if you’re into Pilots G5s or that kind of thing for writing.

Pretty much everything is cheaply made. Small print on the packaging says “designed in Japan, made in China”. So don’t expect these products to last a lifetime. But they all come very nicely packaged and look like they should have cost more than they actually do. Which means they’d be great ideas for gifts, unless word gets around faster than you do. This is not to say you’re not getting your money’s worth, I’d say based on what’s available in the market right now, the products at Miniso pack quite a punch in terms of bang for buck.

 

The Service

 

Shop attendants are quite friendly and some of them are very informed about the things for sale. And very honest as well. We asked one of them about a small handheld steamer for sale (Rs. 1,890) and he basically told us to not expect it to last more than 2 years tops, but also gave us a breakdown of what a steaming will cost in a saloon to prove that you’ll end up saving far more than you spend.

Miniso also seems to emphasize a lot on service and training, and there were a few international staff members on hand to ensure that this fledgling outlet (it opened just a month ago) kicked off well.

 

Conclusion

 

Miniso sells a massive range of really useful things, some of which you never thought you’d need until you see them, at amazingly low prices. While quality might be questionable in some cases, it is far higher than what you would expect for similarly priced products in the market. I think you should definitely go check the place out.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Iftar delights at The Banyan, Heritance Negombo

Iftar delights at The Banyan, Heritance Negombo Written by Fathima Rukaiya, Mad Dogs Bodega, Banyan

Highlights Kamu

Budget-friendly Iftar spots 2024

Written by Fathima Rukaiya, In our previous article, we highlighted some exquisite and upscale Iftar

Highlights Kamu

Iftar Buffet Round Up 2024

Written by Fathima Rukaiya As Ramadan arrives, a warm feeling of reflection and community fills

Highlights Kamu

Discovering Pasta Paradise: The Pasta Factory, Galle Fort

In the historic Galle Fort, The Pasta Factory brings a taste of Italy to Sri

Highlights Kamu

A Home for Desi Dreams – Bombay Nights by Radisson Colombo

As we stepped into the ‘Dine’ in Radisson Colombo, our senses were immediately tantalized by

Highlights Kamu

Steak Bar: A Grand Sunday Brunch at Kingsbury, Colombo

Written by Shamrina C Welcome to the ultimate brunch experience! Nestled in the heart of

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

Trending.

Experience the Elegance and Excitement of RTC Tourism Race Day in Nuwara Eliya

RTC Nuwara Eliya will hold its RTC Tourism Race Day on 30th March 2024 at

Trending

“85th Annual Mount Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim” by SLASU held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel Beach

The "85th Annual Mount Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim" organized by Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union

Trending

Sheraton Colombo Hotel celebrates International Women’s Day with empowering insights

Sheraton Colombo Hotel, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary brands, marked International

Trending

Anantara Kalutara Presents an Elevated Gastronomic Journey to Italy

Kalutara, Sri Lanka - March 14, 2024 - Anantara Kalutara Resort is delighted to announce

Trending

List of Party Venues 2024

By Fathima Rukaiya Finding the perfect place to host a party can be a hassle.

Highlights Trending

LCY Unveils Debut ‘LCY for Her’ Collection, Redefining Women’s Polo Wear with Strength, and Sophistication

Thursday, 14, March, 2024, Colombo: LCY, a brand synonymous with manufacturing high-quality men’s polos of

Trending

Yamu Guide.

Steak Bar: A Grand Sunday Brunch at Kingsbury, Colombo

Written by Shamrina C Welcome to the ultimate brunch experience! Nestled in the heart of

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

9 Special Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Him

By Fathima Rukaiya Are you trying to find the perfect way to show your special

Highlights Yamu Guide

9 Special Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Her

Written by Fathima Rukaiya The season of love is upon us once more, and opinions

Highlights Yamu Guide

Romantic Dinner and High Tea date spots for Valentine’s Day  2024

Written by Shamrina C 1. Via Torino Indulge in a fine dining exclusive 3-Course meal

Highlights Yamu Guide

BYOB Bliss: 16 Places to you can Bring Your Own Bottle!

Written by Shamrina C 1. Giovannis Indulge in Italian flavors, grooving music, pet friendly, and

Highlights Yamu Guide

Unveiling Ramada’s Festive Christmas High Tea Extravaganza!

Written by Shamrina C Mark your calendars for the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of December,

Highlights Yamu Guide