IN RECENT YEARS, MANY SMALL SHOPS HAVE CLOSED BECAUSE CUSTOMERS TRAVEL TO LARGE SHOPPING CENTRES OR MALLS TO DO THEIR SHOPPING. IS THIS A POSITIVE OF A NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENT?

Recently, community shops have had to close because buyers now go to big supermarkets to purchase their goods. I see

this

trend as being disadvantageous to the growth of local stores. There is a reason why community stores exist-to serve as a point of purchase of

daily needs

Suggestion

the daily needs

by

Suggestion

of

residents. Where there is a preference for big malls, the smaller shopping centres will be forced to downsize and go out of business. Shoppers are at a higher risk if they have to travel to buy the very basic items that can easily be provided by the nearest retail outlet. Some of these risks include theft, robbery, kidnapping to name a few. An illustration is the recent increase in attacks on road

travelers

a person who changes location

travellers

passing through the Benin-Ore expressway. These

travelers

a person who changes location

travellers

travels

have become easy targets for armed robbers and kidnappers who have stationed their den in forests along

this

road. Most times, shoppers prefer to travel for their groceries because the larger supermarkets offer more varieties of products.

For example

, I prefer to buy my phones and Laptops in big malls where I can compare different products and make decisions based on their varying features irrespective of the risk involved. In sum,

this

new trend poses a threat to all parties involved. From the shop owners who are forced out of business, the buyers who are at a higher risk of being kidnapped, and the city (where the larger stores are situated) because there will be an increase in congestion and pollution as the trend continues.