around Brazil

Photo by Ari Gabel

TRAVEL

Shopping
in the U.S.A.
Os números não mentem. Nunca antes neste país se viajou
tanto para fazer compras nos Estados Unidos. Há até quem
garanta que sai no lucro a cada viagem...by Bob Moser
Shoppers
browse a
Reebok outlet
The number of Brazilians visiting the domestic brands4, taxes on most im- store in Florida.
United States is growing faster than ported goods are two to three times
any other foreign tourist group and higher than a Brazilian-made equiva-
they’re spending more money there lent. Those taxes can make up any-
than any other group as well, eager where from 30 percent to 80 percent Glossary
to burn their hard-earned reais1 on a of a product’s final price in Brazil. 1 eager to burn...
long list of luxury items that are con- The often enormous difference in reais - ansiosos
para “torrar” seus
sidered steals2 in the U.S. compared to price between identical goods in each reais ganhos
the prices they’re sold for back home. country is motivating more Brazilians duramente.
2 steals - roubos.
While shopping options in Brazil have to hold off on purchasing5 new sneak- 3 goods -
improved along with the country’s ers, electronics, clothing and toys un- mercadorias.
4 domestic brands -
economic success, Brazilians pay some til they can visit the U.S. marcas comerciais
nacionais.
of the highest taxes in the world on “I go to buy tech things, computers, 5 to hold off on
consumer goods3. And in the interest the iPad, and products there are just purchasing -
segurar a compra.
of protecting national industries and better quality,” said Davi Itinoseki, 35,

nineteen 19
 Savings Pay off Plane Ticket
With a plane ticket to Florida costing around US$1,250 (R$
2,100), money saved on buying the following items could
theoretically recover the cost of your flight:
ITEM
Playstation 3 160GB
iPod Nano 16GB
Reebok Zig tennis shoes
Victoria’s Secret
Barry Sears with lotion
(5Daniela
bottles)
Morandi
(seeMen’s
Two box above).
polo shirts
(basic style)
Total
Note: currency converted at US$1 to R$1.68, various stores
in U.S. and Brazil referenced for average prices
From top to bottom:
electronics bought in
the U.S. offer some
of the best savings
compared to Brazil;
more Brazilians
now have access to
international credit
cards; quality clothing at
low prices is a favorite
of Brazilians shopping
abroad.
Glossary
6 savings - dinheiro
economizado.
7 whenever - sempre
que.
8 ranked seventh
among countries -
esteve em sétimo
lugar dentre os países.
9 growth - em
crecimento.
10 so far in 2010 - até
aqui em 2010.
11 to skyrocket -
crescer
vertiginosamente.
12 second only to the
Chinese - perdendo
somente para os
chineses.
13 an average of - uma
média de...
20 twenty
US price Brazil price Savings in US
US$300 R$2.000 R$1,496
US$230 R$600 R$214
US$95 R$400 R$241
US$30 R$150 R$100
US$30 R$100 R$50
Orlando Premium Outlets
R$2,101
courtesy of sxc.hu
Pr newswire
a businessman who visits the U.S. mul- prices on brand-name goods14. Pre- bargain of cheap consumer goods is From left to right: Outlet
malls in Florida have
tiple times a year for work and at least mium Outlets, owner of outlet malls15 healthy22. installed bilingual signs and
twice a year for leisure. He has often across the country, is now hiring cus- “There is a feeling, when high-income now employ Portuguese-
brought enough items back for family tomer service staff16 that speak Portu- groups23 and the Brazilian middle speaking staff; clothing
bought abroad doesn’t
and friends that the total savings6 cov- guese and posting bilingual signs at class go to the U.S., that it’s a distinct need to be counted against
ered the cost of his airline ticket. its two Orlando malls, in response to style of life. They’re saying ‘I can travel Brazilian Customs’ spending
Itinoseki has a good job and can buy data showing double-digit growth17 abroad anytime I want,’” says Fabio limits.
anything he wants here in Brazil, yet of Brazilian tour groups in Florida over Mariano, professor of consumer be-
he still waits for his next visit to the the past two years. havior at Business School São Paulo.
States whenever7 possible for more ex- When 30-year-old Lika Osugui’s boss “Unfortunately, our society in Brazil Glossary
pensive items. “I can simply save more recently told her she needed to visit works like that. Tell me what you have, 14 on brand-name
money there, and use this money on California for business, the first thing and I can tell you who you are. If you goods - em artigos
de grife.
other things in life.” that came to her mind (following job have international products bought 15 outlet malls -
Brazil ranked seventh among countries8 responsibilities, of course) was how in the U.S., it changes how I look at shopping centers,
that sent tourists to the U.S. in 2009 much Victoria’s Secret body lotion you. Brands here in Brazil represent
geralmente com
with 893,000, but at 16 percent more she’d be able to buy. the personality and lifestyle of a per-
lojas de fábrica
vendendo
diretamente ao
than in 2008, Brazil was U.S. tourism’s “You just can’t find it easily here, and son. It’s the status concept.” consumidor.
16 hiring customer
sxc.hu
no. 1 growth9 country last year, accord- it’s way too expensive18,” said Osugui, Osugui agrees with Mariano, to a de- service staff -
ing to data from the U.S. Travel and a biologist from São Paulo. “There you gree24. “In most societies it’s important contratando pessoal
para atendimento ao
Tourism Industry. So far in 201010, 40 can buy six bottles for US$30, and to show you have money to spend on cliente.
percent more Brazilians are visiting the here one bottle is that price.” clothes and some superficial things. 17 double-digit growth
- crescimento de
States than in 2009 – leading all coun- Osugui loaded her suitcase19 during For me, I like to buy stuff that makes dois dígitos.
18 it’s way too
tries once again – and between now the five-day visit with everything she me feel good, and it doesn’t matter expensive - é muito
and 2014 Brazilian visitors to the U.S. could imagine her family needing in if its designer clothes or from a store mais caro.
19 loaded her suitcase
are expected to skyrocket11 113 percent, the near future: popular brand-name on the corner where I saw something - lotou sua mala.
second only to the Chinese12. clothes and tennis shoes for one-third beautiful,” she said. 20 high-end makeup -
maquiagem de
Major cities in Florida like Orlando and their Brazilian price, sports equipment But if those items Osugui wants are primeira linha.
21 unique foods and
Miami remain the most popular leisure for her husband, high-end makeup20, half the price or less in the U.S. com- cooking supplies -
destinations for Brazilians, and while unique foods and cooking supplies21. pared to Brazil, it’s clear where she’s alimentos e utensílios
de cozinha
there they are spending an average13 With foreign markets now much more going to try and spend her money. exclusivos.
of US$4,800 per annual visitor, more accessible to Brazil’s growing mid- “I don’t know why some things here in 22 whether a rush...
healthy - se uma
than any other foreign tourist. dle class via cheaper airline tickets Brazil are so expensive,” Osugui said. corrida para
aproveitar os preços
Outlet malls in the U.S. are favored by and easier credit access, some ques- “For me, it’s not important where I baratos de bens de
Brazilians because of their discounted tion whether a rush to embrace the buy something, just that I like it.” consumo é saudável.
23 high-income groups
- grupos de classe
alta.
24 to a degree - até
certo ponto.
sxc.hu