UNIFORMS FIRST

Yesterday I said we were going to view some floor tiles, but I soon found myself on a different trajectory.

On top of our agenda was to brave the bustling city of Binondo. This is also where the Chinatown in Manila is. Upon arriving we promptly sought out t-shirts for the people helping with the renovation. Workers supporting home improvements in our village must wear a very specific color and style of uniform, so we aimed to find shirts among the sea of people, vehicles, and exhaust emissions.

Mom, the action-woman that she is, entered the first shop that she found. Bargain buys awaited us at half the price than what you would find on local online shopping apps. Although Shopee or Lazada offer great deals, items would still be higher than prices at wholesale shops like in Binondo, and you still pay extra for shipping. The downside of our trip was that the travel to the heart of Manila involved weaving through cars crisscrossing each other as if they were a knitted sweater. I would normally have opted for the convenient alternative of buying online, but I always learn from my parents on their willingness to take an extra trip for cash savings.

The shop moved large inventories of all kinds of shirts in all kinds of colors, sizes, and styles. Fast decisions were made and we were soon lugging the needed shirts back to the car. That first stop was quick and painless — we were in and out in 15 minutes, tops. I was glad we finished that task quickly, as a long and arduous drive laid ahead of us to GlobalHome Bonifacio Global City (BGC), where we couldn’t wait enough to see the main event — tiles!

TIME FOR TILES!

GlobalHome displayed an extensive selection of tiles that entertained my tired feet as I explored their spacious showroom. The staff had already prepared measurements and drafts of how the tiles would fill the rooms. They put so much attention to detail on the drawings, aligning tile lines across adjacent rooms! They also invited us to touch and even step on sample tiles for the full experience. I found their approach an excellent way of selling. They surely knew how to impress!

TOTO TOILETS

Although priority on the to-do list yesterday was choosing tiles, many toilets on display caught our attention. In particular, several “washlet” options were available and begging to be taken home. Washlets — toilets with a built-in bidet — originated from Japan and are becoming more and more popular everywhere in the world. The staff eagerly showed us the steps to clean and maintain a washlet. Their expertise and teamwork shone throughout the demo.

Spoiler alert: we were always going to source our tiles from GlobalHome, so that deal was swiftly sealed. On the other hand, new toilets were not always in the books, but the store’s excellent customer service nudged us to ask them for costing of toilets. It does not hurt that they were selling the brand Toto, which is one of if not the leading washlet manufacturer. I would not be surprised if new toilets make it to our ever-extending list of work to be done.

My parents always say that they would happily give business to a team that generously gives them time, attention, and who are genuinely gracious to serve. I find that I am the same, and that I would take my business elsewhere in places where service is not top-notch. Do you think you are the same?

For those not in Metro Manila, where are your favorite places to buy your renovation needs?