Shopping center
Phuket town has several shopping malls since a couple of years. The first one was Tesco Lotus, followed by Big C and Central festival Phuket. These 3 shopping centres are lined up after each other on the bypass road at the outskirt of Phuket Town. You can get here by local bus from Patong for a minimal fee of 20 THB but only until 6PM. Be careful if you want to get back to Patong by bus. You need to cross this heavily trafficked road on the picture to the right and there is no zebra crossing or similar. There is no bus stand so just signal to the driver as he comes close to you that you want to jump on. Tuk-tuk or taxi will usually charge 400-500 THB for the same transport. Other shopping areas in Phuket town are Robinson department store and Ocean with it's cinema multiplex. Index living mall is located between Big C and Tesco on the bypass road.
IT-city is the islands biggest IT shopping mall, located next to car dealer Volvo just north of Phuket city, close to Rajhabat University. One other good place for IT and mobile phone shopping is the ground floor of Big C.
One interesting shopping experience is to go to Super-cheap, just north of Phuket town.

-> more information List of shopping malls in Thailand by Wikipedia

Patong has since many years two Ocean department stores and there will be a new shopping complex end of 2006 with the name Jungceylon. There is also a large low price outdoor OTOP shopping area on Rath-U-Thit rd. Roadside shopping = ask for discount.

Ceramics of Phuket is well worth a visit.
71/3 Vichitsongkram Rd., Kathu (between Patong and Phuket town)
Phone +66 76 321 917, fax +66 76 202 087

Weekend market
The biggest local market in Phuket is the weekend market in Phuket town. The weekend market in Phuket town is also known as Talad Tai Rot, meaning “car boot sale”. This kind of markets started in Thailand after the East Asian financial crisis 1997 when many lost their jobs and one way of survive was selling of some of the "house ware" from "behind the car".
This market in Phuket has grown into quite a large weekend market, although it can't compete with its namesake in Bangkok. The market caters to locals, selling mostly inexpensive clothing but also some household items. Even though the clothing is tailored to local fashion styles and sizes, the market is great for mixing with local people and also sampling the many tasty snacks on sale. The real name of the market in Phuket is Chao Fah Variety market but most Thais call it Talad tai rot. The location changed to a bigger location in 2005 from the area behind Robinson close to the domestic bus station to a much bigger area behind King Rama Park and the new bypass road connecting Chaofaa east and west rd. It is easy to find if you are at the Central festival intersection and going south on Chaofaa west road around 1 km and then take left, opposite Wat Nakha. The market starts weekends late afternoon until late.

At the weekend market its easy to spend a couple of hours shopping at the lowest prices in Phuket. T shirt for 20 THB, flip flop shoes 59 THB, towels 200THB/kg, reading glasses 199THB or new jeans for 199 THB. You can also eat in the food market. Less than 100 THB will fill any empty stomach. Sometimes you will find live music on a large stage or a fun park for children. Very crowded but opens in late afternoon/early evening when its not so hot. Expect it to be crowded.