Nowadays there is an increasing trend of big shopping centres opening up while small shops are closing down. What are the advantages or disadvantages of big shopping centres versus small local shops? What do you think about this trend?

The mammoth malls for shopping are superseding the small shops in today's hectic life style of people. Similar to many other latest trends, this also has ushered us to many advantages and disadvantages. Let us discuss both the sides of this contention before reaching a reasonable conclusion.

First of all, it is quite clear that big malls offer more convenience than local market, in terms of open choices, one-stop-shopping, weather obstacles or even bargaining. Moreover, shopping is no longer limited to a mere buying activity - it has become synonymous with splurging time and money. People simply go about roaming through the shopping mall in order to peep through the window of the shop and often ending up buying something they like. The consumers desire a combination of comfort and suitability which the shopping malls cater to, and so this format of shopping has become so popular all over the world, and especially in India. The inclusion of amenities like food corners, multiplexes, and interesting event shows attract more and more crowds to shopping malls. These are considered family hangout zones. Moreover, one can even beat the weather in a mall, let it be a heavy rain, scorching hot or freezing cold outside, we can shop in a mall with ease. Moreover, one of the biggest advantages, is single destination shopping. Let it be a small pin or a piano, cutlery or clothes, one can find everything at one place, without wondering for miles. Traffic congestion and commuting difficulties that are prevalent in India drive more and more consumers to the malls.

Looking at the other side, there are certain drawbacks as well. One of the biggest issues of shopping from mall is facing crowd. Mostly on weekends or holidays, the crowd of consumers and waiting at cash counter snatches the charm of shopping. If one is there just to buy a single item, he would never ever prefer waiting in that long queues to pay the bill. Apart from this, it is also important to be noted that these malls snatch bread and butter of hundreds of local shop owners and their workers. Sometimes, the freshness and aroma of vegetables and food items in malls never match with that of street markets.

To recapitulate, even though local markets have their own impact and value, they cannot make our buying experience  as interesting and comfortable as shopping malls. Hence in my personal view the expansion of shopping malls should be taken as a welcome trend. 

 

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