Many Chinese youngsters have become acquainted with the idea of a "swap shop" from the celebrated 2010 Taiwan movie Taipei Exchanges. The movie depicts a pair of sisters who run a café and who transform their business into a place where people can exchange songs and stories for more practical things.

Swap shops have emerged as a growing industry in China in recent years. And yet it is only two years since the Chinese mainland's first swap shop called "Change" first appeared in Beijing.

In Shanghai, this industry is just beginning to take off, with two swap shops opening in the city last year.

 

 

Tiao Yi Tiao Swap Shop

Tiao Yi Tiao Swap Shop has become a highlight of its neighborhood since it opened on December 19, 2011. And with its reputation gaining momentum, people from all corners of the city are visiting the store.

The shop is owned by a couple, Nelson Liao, who makes a living re-touching photographs and his wife Jane Chen, a former financial services advisor with a sound knowledge of business.

Chen, who said she was tired of life as a white-collar worker, has always wanted to have her own business. "And now my dreams have come true," Chen said. "We got the idea for the swap shop from Change in Beijing, and they have helped us a lot with our operation processes."

Tiao Yi Tiao today has a stock of more than 1,000 items, all contained in a room of only 20 square meters. Their inventory includes everything from stamps and toys to bags, watches and cameras.

Although Tiao Yi Tiao has learned much from Change in Beijing, the shop has its own unique features.

And Liao is now instigating his idea of exchanging "feelings." Any visitor to the shop can write down his or her feelings, experiences or wishes on a piece of paper, and put it into one of the drawers in a cabinet. After that, he or she can pick one piece of paper in any drawer and share their feelings with the original writer. "It's a very interesting and effective way for strangers to communicate with each other in this little cozy shop," said Liao.

 

Opening hours: 10 am to 9 pm

Add: 143 Tongming Road 同鸣路143号

Microblog: http://weibo.com/shswapshop

Call 152-2174-7665 (English) or 159-0199-2757(Chinese) for more details

 

 

Easy Store

The other swap shop in Shanghai is Easy Store, located in Pudong New Area. The store shares the same exchange rules with Tiao Yi Tiao.

Store owner Zhuang Changjie, started the business after becoming disillusioned with working for other people. The shop opened its doors on November 11, 2011.

The shop has welcomed some 400 customers since then. To date the enterprise is barely breaking even, but Zhuang is confident that they will soon start earning money.

Zhuang's dream is to make the swap store a success, and hopefully open a chain of stores. He would like to divide the business into three parts, including exchange, retail and "consignment" sales which involves people placing items for sale in his store, which he then earns a commission on.