A shopping mall changes the experience of shopping into more of a day out than simply a trip to the shops.
Shopping malls will also make the shopping experience a lot more convenient as there are many different types of shops all available under one roof, there is also more spaces to fit these shops as most shopping malls are multi-storey.
Doing your shopping indoors can also be more pleasant than shopping outside, as the weather may make the journey from one shop to another unpleasant. If for example it’s raining heavily outside or it’s too hot, a shopping mall can provide the perfect environment in which to do your shopping. These malls are often air-conditioned so are often very peasant places to visit in very hot countries where heat exhaustion and sunburn can be a very real problem, particularly for elder people, the very young and people who may come from abroad and are not used to the hot climate.
A shopping mall is also an ideal place to own a shop as there’s a lot of foot traffic and people who might happen across your shop that might not have otherwise. In a shopping mall your shop is on display, whereas if you were located in a side street, away from the town centre you may experience a lack of potential customers. Being located in a shopping mall may mean that the lease for the shop is more expensive, but it will more than be paid back by the massive increase in foot traffic.
If you are doing your shopping in a mall, you may also notice that there are often places where you can eat, this allows you to take a break from shopping and enjoy a nice meal while you at it. Many of these food stores are very popular franchises who make food people know and love for a bargain price. As well as food vendors, there are often coffee shops for people who just want to sit and enjoy a nice cup of coffee whilst they take a break. The food and coffee shops are an ideal place to sit and wait for someone you may be meeting, or take a moment to consider items you have viewed before you go back and commit to a purchase.
Some indoor shopping establishments also contain well equipped Cinemas featuring the latest 3D Imax technology and the latest Hollywood movies. Some shopping malls also contain bars for people who may like an alcoholic drink or a game of pool.
Some places may even feature entertainment which is laid on for the customer such as, musicians or street performers who can entertain crowds of people and also draw in additional foot traffic to the nearby shops.
So to sum it up, shopping malls are for more than just shopping, they are a place where you can have a good day out and see many sights you may not see elsewhere, they also provide protection from the environment and the convenience of having many shops together in close proximity to each other, reducing the amount of walking that has to be done.