We’ve all been there. You feel a slight headache coming on and decide to pop into the nearest chemist to pick up some Panadol. Chances are, if you’re in Australia, it’s a Chemist Warehouse – and the experience of shopping for the cure is about to make you feel sicker.

Outside, the stores give a hint about the chaos within. Signs scream “DISCOUNT” and “Australia’s Cheapest Chemist!!” The exteriors are painted with bright red, yellow and blue signage, and for anyone confused, enormous arrows point towards the door.

You enter. Inside, the stores have the ambience of a panic attack. The cortisol spike is immediate. The bright colours, the arrows on the ground, the product overwhelm, the scent of chemical fragrances, the music veering between high energy pop such as Katy Perry and dark night of the soul classics such as Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars (the playlist Chemist Warehouse Remix is available on Spotify) all contribute to the overwhelm.

The stores are usually deep and narrow, featuring shelves packed high to the point of collapse, with everything you didn’t know you needed screaming for your attention. It’s like walking into a canyon covered in fluorescent post-it notes while (somewhat........

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