“Two Retail Stores, Various Experiences: A Sociological Exploration of Miniso and Best Buy.”
Course Name: Introduction to Sociology (SOC101)
Course Instructor: Md. Aftab Alam
Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics and Social Sciences
Semester: Summer 2025
Section: 10
Group Members:
●​ Cynthia Safa (22301618)
●​ Marzana Zamal(24303028)
●​ Mashiat Lamisa Riddhi (23321050)
●​ Safia Afrin Asfia (23221076)
ABSTRACT
This study examines social interactions and experiences of people in two well-known stores near
BRAC University: Miniso and Best Buy . To gather insights, we conducted on-site observations and
carried out semi-structured interviews at both locations. We observed customer movements, staff
behavior, interactions, and how space was used inside the stores.Conversations with both customers
and staff gave us valuable insight into their personal experiences, concerns about safety, and the
overall social setting within these retail spaces. Each store functions as a shopping venue, yet they
each generate their own unique social environment. To gain deeper insight into these contrasts, we
applied three key sociological frameworks: functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic
interactionism. Looking through the lens of functionalism, these retail spaces are not merely points
of sale, they act as informal social hubs. For many students, they offer a space to relax, wander
around, or simply enjoy time with friends, showing how such stores quietly support everyday social
life beyond commercial exchange. Through conflict theory, we saw how class differences affect
who goes where. The majority of Best Buy shoppers belong to the middle class and typically visit to
purchase essential items .Miniso, on the other hand, attracts students who like beautiful things or just
want to visit a nice, quiet place near campus. Symbolic interactionism helped us see how people
show identity through brands and shopping habits. Overall, this study shows that these stores are
more than shops; they are social spaces where class, culture, and community come together.
INTRODUCTION
We go to shopping malls a lot, but how often do we stop and think about what really happens inside
them? Behind tags and racks, stores like Best Buy and Miniso near BRAC University reflect the
actions, roles, and imbalances that exist within society. These days, shopping is more than just
buying essentials, it's also a way to relax, feel good, and show our personal style. Near BRAC
University, stores like Miniso and Best Buy have become go-to places for students, teachers, and
locals to spend time. Although these stores may seem ordinary at first glance, a deeper look uncovers
emotional attachments, social importance, and even hidden forms of inequality within them.
Many people go into these stores not always to buy something, but because the environment feels
safe, peaceful, and comforting especially for students who live far from home or don’t have many
calm public places in Dhaka. Sometimes it helps them escape stress; even the cool air inside the
store can bring a sense of relief. But not everyone feels the same. Certain people feel uncomfortable
going in without buying anything, as they fear being judged. On the other hand, some take advantage
of the brand’s value by buying things and then reselling them showing how branding, social class,
and access are all connected in our society. In a fast-moving and unequal city like Dhaka, such retail
spaces often act as quiet markers of class boundaries, where some feel they belong, and others feel
excluded.
In this study, we understand Miniso and Best Buy as more than just shops. We analyze these stores
as shared social environments through the lens of three major sociological theories: functionalism,
conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. These perspectives allow us to ask some important and
thought-provoking questions like What roles both visible and hidden do these stores play in the
everyday lives of students and local residents? How do class, privilege, and access influence who
feels comfortable in these spaces and who feels left out? In what ways do shopping behavior, brand
preferences, and simple social interactions inside these stores help shape a person’s identity and
sense of belonging? We did our research by observing what was happening in the stores, talking
casually with around ten people, and reading books and articles about how people use city shopping
spaces. By asking questions and looking at daily activities in Miniso and Best Buy, we want to
understand how these simple-looking stores actually play an important role in the daily lives of
students living near BRAC University.
LITERATURE REVIEW
In today’s world, three modern theoretical perspectives are employed by sociologists to analyze
society and its people. Such as, functionalist perspective, conflict theory and symbolic
interactionism. These perspectives offer theoretical paradigms of how society influences social
forces , people and their behaviour and in turn how people influence society.
●​ Functionalism
Functionalism defines that each societal aspect or component is interdependent and contributes to
the functioning of a society by maintaining the stability, order and producing productivity. On the
basis of a functionalist perspective, a society is composed of pre-existing, pre-defined and relatively
stable patterns which were developed through historical events before us. The functionalists believed
that in a community or society we have social consensus. As stated by Sociologist Emile Durkheim,
moral consensus grounds the social equilibrium of order and balance which contribute in
maintaining social cohesion. Social functionalism identifies three main types of functions which are
manifestation function (recognized and intended outcomes), latent function (unplanned outcomes)
and dysfunction (negative consequences). “Merton states: After the fashion of Durkheim, he
(Radcliffe-Brown) asserts that "the function of a recurrent physiological process is thus a
correspondence between it and the needs... of the organism." And in the social sphere where
individual human beings, "the essential units", are connected by networks of social relations into an
integrated whole, "the function of any recurrent activity ... is the part it plays in the social life as a
whole and therefore the contribution it makes to the maintenance of the structural continuity (Merton
1968: 23-24)” (Wahalng, 1910).
●​ Conflict theory
Among key theoretical approaches, conflict theory takes ideas from marxism and feminism. Conflict
theory highlights the class disparity, economic and social gap between the working class AKA
proletariat and the rich AKA Bourgeoisie. It focuses on social inequality, class conflict and power
struggle in society. This perspective discusses how social structures benefit the rich people while the
working class suffers. “Whereas functionalists look for different functional components, conflict
theorists look for competing interest groups, exploitation, and struggle. Class, race, and gender are
the principal factors that shape “who gets what,” not the unconscious operation of a harmonious
social system” (Harris, 2003, pp.6). It challenges the current social condition and encourages change
or even revolution.
●​ Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic interactionism identifies that everyday human interactions and behaviours shape the social
order, patterns or structures. It emphasizes on the importance of symbols, language and meaning.
Individuals assign meanings to symbols, languages and behaviours and act according to the
interpretation of these symbols based on their personal experiences, opinions and feelings. Such as
verbal conversations, signs, gestures, etc. “It is symbols that differentiate social relations of humans
from the level of communication of animals. Human beings give meaning to symbols and they
express these things by means of language” (Aksan a* et al., 2009). A society, community or a
culture attaches general meaning to symbols and individuals maintain their own perspective of what
these symbols mean. However, it can be addressed that there can be differences in the perception of
the same symbols as individuals can interpret these symbols differently.
METHODOLOGY
To study the social interactions in a public consumer space near
BRAC University, we chose two popular stores: Miniso and Best
Buy. These places were picked because they are close to the
campus, commonly visited by students and locals, and provide
many opportunities to see
different types of social
interactions between customers, employees, and managers.
Since both are well-known retail stores, they are good places to
observe how people behave in shopping settings, social roles,
and the meanings behind these interactions. We used two main methods: observation and
semi-structured interviews.
●​ Interview:
We interviewed five people in total, including customers, sales staff, and one floor supervisor. The
interviews consisted of approximately ten questions regarding their experiences, inclusivity,
challenges, the role of the stores within the community, safety for women shoppers, and how
relevant they are for students. Because the interviews were semi-structured, participants could give
detailed and personal answers.
We posed these five distinct questions to the customers of Miniso and Best Buy 1)​ Do you shop here often? If so, why choose this store?
2)​ How would you rate the store's quality, cleanliness, and employee behavior?
3)​ How does this shop affect students’ lives, and is it safe for all genders?
4)​ When is peak foot traffic, and does it cause management issues?
5)​ Are the product prices here affordable for all income levels?
Again, we asked these 5 different questions to the workers of Miniso and Best buy 1)​ How long have you run this shop, why this job, and daily challenges?
2)​ Has being near the university helped sales, and have rising market prices hurt your business?
3)​ How many female customers visit, and what safety steps do you take for them?
4)​ How do you stay successful with so many nearby competitors?
5)​ Have you had any challenges or partnerships with local authorities?
●​
Observation:
At the same time, we observed both stores during busy and slow times over several days without
taking part in activities. We watched how customers moved, how staff behaved, how space was used,
and how people interacted informally. We took notes carefully on phones and notebooks right after
each visit to keep the information accurate and to avoid disturbing people. We analyzed all the data
by looking through three sociological viewpoints: functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic
interactionism. Our results combine what we saw and heard to give a clear picture of how these
commercial spaces work as lively social environments.
RESULT
This part interprets our interview and observation data through the lens of three sociological
theories, namely Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism. These theories
uncover the primary social functions, power relations, and meanings of daily interactions in places
such as Best Buy and Miniso.
●​ Functionalist Perspective
Functionalist theory views society as a system made of interdependent parts that cooperate to
promote stability, order, and social consistency. All social structures including consumer spaces such
as Miniso and Best Buy serve a function that is useful to society. Such functions may be manifest,
latent and dysfunctions are any components that interfere with stability. In this perspective, Miniso
and Best Buy fulfill manifest functions by providing goods and services to local communities,
particularly to BRACU students, their families, and surrounding residents. The shops offer personal
care products, stationery, snacks, and household items in a hygienic, well-organized environment. A
Best Buy staff member commented, "We have nearly everything students or parents would require,
and most customers are well-behaved." The latent functions are also significant. Several of the
mothers talked about how they enjoyed spending time in the store waiting for the children. As one of
them said, "Since the shop is air-conditioned, we can relax here." This indicates how these stores
serve as a comfortable space that serves as physical relief from the heat and public areas that are
crowded. Yet, dysfunctions occur. Though the atmosphere is nice, workers tend to suffer from
unnoticed problems. One employee related, "Sometimes it gets too busy and we don't even get
proper breaks." This mirrors the unseen pressure on the workers, particularly during rush hours,
when demands for performance are still high amidst exhaustion.
●​ Conflict Perspective
Conflict theory, which originated with Karl Marx, sees society from the perspective of inequality,
and it looks at how power and resources are unevenly distributed among groups. In consumer spaces
such as Miniso and Best Buy, this theory unravels relations of class, corporate domination, and
gender inequality. As one customer explained to us, "This store isn't for everybody. Lower-class
individuals don't shop here since they aren't affordable for them." This demonstrates how
consumption is restricted by earnings, reproducing social divides. At Best Buy, when we inquired
about getting permission to carry out interviews, we were asked to present them with interview
questions and the staff stated "We sent the question to our head office. If they allow, then you can
proceed"
This illustrates how decision-making
authority is devolved in top management, while
employees have little decision. Women guardians
remarked "Our husbands don’t really give us
permission to go out unless it's with the children."
illustrating how women's mobility is shortened by
traditional gender expectations. Finally, we can see
global capitalist interests in Miniso's branding. Its standardized design, fashionable items, and prices
echo a model prioritizing image and consumer desire over local affordability.
●​ Symbolic Interaction Perspective
Symbolic interactionism is concerned with how individuals establish shared meanings through
symbols, language, and daily interactions. Retail environments such as Miniso and Best Buy are full
of such interactions that influence behavior and identity. These shops convey meaning through
symbols like air conditioning, tidy shelves, uniforms, and brand names. These features convey a
message of cleanliness, safety, and modern living. As one shopper explained, "I would rather shop
here than in the local bazaar. It's cleaner and I feel safer." This indicates how environmental cues
shape perception and behavior. Miniso employees are trained to smile and greet visitors politely.
While a smile can signify friendliness, other conduct can be read otherwise. One customer said,
"They were nice, but being followed made me feel like they didn't trust me, even though I know
it's for security." This reflects how surveillance, even if kind in intent, can convey mixed messages
generating a tension between hospitality and suspicion. Merchandise itself is symbolic. Much Miniso
merchandise is "cute," pastel-colored, and targeted to young
women
consumers,
confirming
gendered
consumer
expectations. Uniforms, refined speech, and particular displays
build a branded identity. One employee explained, “We always
have to speak softly and smile, even when we're tired. That's
part of the job.” These micro-interactions and symbols define
not just the way the store is perceived but also the way customers understand their social roles in it.
DISCUSSION
Of the three theories, symbolic interactionist theory seems most persuasive because it reveals the
small, daily interactions that construct how individuals experience social spaces such as Best Buy
and Miniso. While functionalism concentrates on larger roles and conflict theory emphasizes
structural inequalities, symbolic interactionism looks at the micro-level how individuals assign
meaning to such things as a smile, a tidy store, or a courteous greeting. One shopper commented that
she felt uncomfortable being followed, even though the employees were friendly, illustrating how
symbols such as surveillance can convey vague messages. This theory enables us to understand how
individuals interpret their world and modify their behavior in response. The appearance of a store,
the way staff communicate, or even the way items are displayed can influence a customer's feeling
of comfort or exclusion. Such specifics are easily overlooked but are at the core of how individuals
comprehend their social world. That's why symbolic interactionism seems particularly relevant and
enlightening in this situation.
CONCLUSION
This research emphasizes how everyday retail outlets such as Miniso and Best Buy around BRAC
University are more than commercial hubs; they are active social spaces constructed through class,
culture, gender, and personal experiences. Using functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist
lenses, we revealed how these shops offer not only products but also comfort, human interaction, and
identity. Functionalism demonstrated their stabilizing presence in community life, while conflict
theory revealed classed access and gendered restrictions. But symbolic interactionism excelled by
reflecting how everyday exchanges smiles, greetings, product arrangement influence how
individuals feel in these spaces. Consumers' comfort, exclusion, or even anxiety arises from these
micro-level social cues. This lens made us observe how social meanings are constructed, reinforced,
or challenged in such consumer spaces. Overall, this study demonstrates that small, routine places
may echo broader societal trends, revealing insights into belonging, consumption, and social action
in an urban setting like Dhaka.
REFERENCES
●​ Harris, S. R. (2003). Critiquing and expanding the sociology of inequality: Comparing functionalist,
conflict, and interactionist perspectives. Quarterly Journal of Ideology, 25(1), 1–21.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238105299
●​ Wahalng, J. (n.d.). Robert K. Merton: A paradigm for functional analysis in sociology. Retrieved
from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292154937
●​ Aksan, N., Kısac, B., Aydın, M., & Demirbuken, S. (2009). Symbolic interaction theory. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1(1), 902–904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.160