Why Are Shopping Malls Dying, and How Can They Make a Comeback? (2024)

There's a decrease in foot traffic

One of the most obvious signs that shopping malls are dying is the fact that there are fewer people visiting them - less foot traffic. This decline in malls' ability to retain their customers, could be for a number of reasons, including the fact that there are now more options for shopping and entertainment, or simply because people don't see malls as being as social or fun as they used to be.

If you run a retail business, you can reduce the risk of falling foot traffic using automated business apps like NearSt. With NearSt, not only can you show your products on the platforms your customers already use and access insights into what close-by customers are searching for, but you can also display your personal inventory on the web's most viewed sites such as Google Marketplace.

You can easily integrate your POS system with NearSt through the Epos Now AppStore, so there's no reason not to start investing in your inventory.

Outdated mall model

Another factor that has contributed to the decline of shopping malls is the fact that they are becoming increasingly outdated. With the rise of newer, more modern retail spaces like outlet villages and pop-up shops, malls are starting to look a little bit old-fashioned in comparison.

There's an increase in vacant store locations

Another sign that shopping malls are dying is the increasing number of vacant stores.

Abandoned malls tend to materialize in the wake of traditional retailers that are struggling to compete with online businesses being forced to close their mall locations.

This then has a knock-on effect, as the presence of vacant stores makes malls less appealing to customers, and so the ‘dead mall’ cycle continues.

Could shopping malls make a comeback?

It's possible that shopping malls could make a comeback. However, improving the chances of a shopping mall regeneration would require a major change in the way they operate, for example, successful malls could:

• Become more experience-based,rather than just being places to buy things, e.g. by adding more entertainment options, or by becoming more family-friendly.
• Focus on niche markets, e.g. by becoming destination malls for a certain type of shopping, such as sports equipment, or electronic goods. Vegan or sustainable fashion, or offering more unique and specialized products that you can't find easily online, are also good examples.
• Become more community-focused by hosting regular events, or offering services that cater to the needs of the local area.
• Make themselves more appealing to younger generations by incorporating more technology, or by offering things like co-working spaces and event spaces.

Ultimately, it's hard to say whether or not shopping malls will make a comeback. However, what is certain is that the way we shop has changed dramatically in recent years, and it's likely that this trend will continue in the future.

It's also worth noting that, while malls may be on the decline in some parts of the world, they're still going strong in others. For example, malls and shopping centers are still extremely popular in the United States and Asia, with the world's largest mall being in Dubai. So, it's possible that shopping malls could make a comeback in some parts of the world, even if they continue to decline in others.

Keep business alive with an award-winning POS system

Customer retention is the key to any successful business, but in such times of uncertainty, it can be difficult to capture your customers and keep business alive. Let your point of sale system handle things like sales trends, marketing messages, and loyalty programs, so you can spend time focusing on the customers at the core of your business. Epos Now offers state-of-the-art POS systemsfor both hospitality and retail businesses and let you choose the tools and insights to help your business achieve its goals:

• Access detailed analytics and reportson online engagement, foot traffic, sales and trending products or services.
• Connect with market-leading CRM and loyalty apps through the Epos Now App Store.
• Access multi-award-winning inventory managementsystems that sync online sales and in-person sales for the most up-to-date stock levels.
• Save customer contact details and shopping preferences for targeted marketing.