In recent years , many small local shops have closed because customers travel to large shopping centers or malls to do their shopping. Is this a positive or negative development ?

The concept of shopping

centers

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

centres

and malls is attracting consumers to a large extent. Thereby affecting the survival of the local stores,

thus

resulting in their closure. In my opinion, the increase in the number of customers turning towards malls for their purchases is harming small shops existing along the streets of their roots.

Firstly

, shopping

centers

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

centres

are hitting

Suggestion

is hitting

on the livelihood of the families that own shops within localities. People tend to rush to

malls

Suggestion

the malls

for their weekly and monthly purchases with the hope of getting everything

at

Suggestion

in

one place irrespective of the selling price. These purchases would have

otherwise

been made at locally available departmental stores, which would generate revenue that directly helps in the betterment of the owner and the working staff's way of life who are dependent on it.

For example

, people are seen purchasing clothes more often in malls than in stores available down the lane.

This

affects the bread and butter of the people who are relying on the store's income for their day to day spendings.

Thus

, customers purchasing in shopping malls are hurting middle and lower-class families to a greater extent.

Secondly

, malls determine the rate of their products not as per the commodity's actual value or quality of material, but inclusive of the rent spent on the space, salaries of the staff, consumption on utilities and much more. But they blindfold customers by offering attractive discounts and sales throughout the year in the name of festivals.

This

is not the case with small scale shops. All through the year, they maintain only a minimal margin of profit above the cost price of the product irrespective of the quality and quantity.

Also

, unlike malls, they reduce the cost upon bargain and for their old customers. But unfortunately, the crowd usually falls for the heavy discounts showcased within the glass walls of malls rather than the small stores with the mindset of having made a profit themselves. In conclusion, shopping malls are adversely affecting the survival of local shops by using marketing tricks to increase sales, thereby making it difficult for families dependent on the local store.