But while it was couture that brought Gershman to Taiwan in the first instance, it is not her main focus. Instead, she was heading off to the Yongle Textile Market (永樂市場) to check out good prices on textiles, and said that another item of particular interest would be prescription spectacles. "[I] did some research on having glasses made here, and that's a very good price compared to what you pay in America."
She is also very big on just looking around for "fun stuff" and had high hopes for Taipei's night markets.
"There is lots of fun little stuff in China. We are living in the age of the thousand-dollar handbag, so that it is understood you are looking to buy fun stuff. I hope the night markets [in Taipei] will have plenty to offer."
TAIPEI'S OFFERINGS
Such discoveries as these are incorporated into her chatty and highly personal take on a city or region. The style is an extension of Gershman's writing for magazines such as Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast France, and does not aim to replicate the factual density of The Lonely Planet or The Rough Guide. Intrepid adventurers eager to get off the beaten track as quickly as possible may not be impressed, but Gershman's sales figures indicate an audience more than happy with promtings to look beyond the malls for something a little more exotic - though nothing that will put you beyond your comfort zone.
Gershman describes her target audience as "the same person who would read Travel and Leisure magazine. They have got some money, but they are very concerned with value for money."
Such an audience, Gershman believes, would respond well to Taipei, because you are able to get an exotic feeling, but without too much discomfort and inconvenience. Her first impressions:
"It is so simple. I've been going to China for years and know Hong Kong really well. Compared to Hong Kong being overwhelming, frightening, this is like everything made friendly. It's easy, it's not overwhelming... ."
Having been in the city just over a day when she spoke to the Taipei Times, Gershman was already able to comment on what she regards as a state of denial in Taiwan about China's tourism development. "It's like the emperor's new clothes," she said, speaking about the gift shop at the National Palace Museum, which she dismisses as being unable to compete with museum gift shop at the Shanghai Museum.
"It was, oh my god, but nobody would say it ... Nobody would mention Shanghai," she said.
"The merchandise there [in the Shanghai Museum] is varied and very creative. The merchandise here, I don't know if it is a buyer, or a sales person, who has trapped someone, but they got into a couple of concepts, like 3-D, so half the merchandise is 3-D, so it is not just post cards that jump out at you, but the backs of mirrors, ... So there is lots of this junk that is not amusing."
It is strong opinions like these that Gershman regards as her stock in trade.
"One of the things I'm known for is for very strong opinions. I won't say what is polite, ... so people feel they can trust me. It is a personal series. It is a personal business. What I'm trading on is me."
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