It’s true, merchants can no longer rely on traditional anchors—usually department stores—to attract crowds. According to Coresight Research, the number of full-line department stores will shrink to 4,750 by 2023, down 19.5% from 2017.
It’s also true that ecommerce has forever changed consumer expectations. According to a May 2018 survey from Valassis, more than half of consumers do most of their shopping online. When asked why they choose not to shop at malls, respondents’ top reasons were that ecommerce provides more options (40%), and that they want to avoid crowds or having to park (38%).
But people still go to the mall for many reasons, some unique to brick-and-mortar retail. Despite apparel sales shifting online, 60% of those polled prefer shopping in malls for clothing. Advantages of mall shopping cited include the ability to visit multiple stores (39%) and, notably, social aspects like spending time with family and friends (24%), as well as being able to make a day of a shopping excursion with on-site dining/entertainment (19%). Read the rest at eMarketer.
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