The evolution of shopping malls in India has been a gradual process, with many different factors influencing the development of the industry. As middle-class Indians became more sophisticated shoppers and demanded more from their retail experiences, developers began building larger and more elaborate shopping malls with multiple levels that featured amenities like spas and gyms. This trend continued into the 2010s when developers began focusing on creating themed malls that offered specific services related to particular lifestyles.
Establishment of shopping malls
The growth of shopping malls in India has been nothing less than remarkable. In the last decade alone, the number of shopping malls has grown from a handful to over 1,000. These malls have become an integral part of Indian society, offering a new experience for Indians who were previously confined to small shops or street vendors.
The first mall in India was established in 2000 in Bangalore and was called Forum Vijaya Mall. Although it attracted only about 30 customers per day at first, this mall soon became a popular destination for shoppers as well as visitors from around the world. The success of this mall led to many more being opened throughout India.
The main reason for this rapid growth is that people are looking for more comfortable places where they can shop without having to worry about traffic jams or finding parking spots outside the store. They also want somewhere where they can sit down and relax while they wait for their purchases at the checkout counter or while waiting for an item that needs repair before it can be sold on consignment (a process used by many businesses when buying new items).
In the last 20 years, shopping malls have become a popular part of the landscape
In the last 20 years, with rapid urbanization & globalization, shopping malls have become a popular part of the landscape in metros and smaller cities. There are over 3000 malls currently operational across India and this number is expected to grow further with more malls being planned for opening in smaller towns & cities.
The evolution of shopping mall culture can be traced back to the 1980s when large-format retail stores were introduced by ITDC – India’s biggest tourism and hospitality company (which was later privatized). In order to cater to the increasing demand for retail space from customers who were looking for a one-stop shop experience – these large format stores came up with multiple brands under one roof through which they could provide both entertainment as well as shopping options.
Shopping malls today
Shopping malls today have become an important means of growth and survival for retailers. Presently, India is becoming one of the world’s leading centers for retail development due to rise in income levels and lifestyle changes amongst individuals. The Indian retail industry is growing rapidly at a rate of about 30 percent per annum as against 12 percent internationally.
This increase in demand has led to a lot of construction around the country, but this has caused some problems such as congestion and pollution in many areas where malls have opened up near residential areas or other businesses that may be affected by increased traffic (such as restaurants).
In the ’90s, malls were considered a luxury
In the ’90s, malls were considered a luxury, and only a few numbers like Crossroads, Atria and Shoppers stop existed. People loved to visit these places for shopping as there was no other option available in their locality at that time.
Malls emerged as one of the most popular destinations in urban areas during this period. The concept of malls was totally new then but soon started attracting people from all over India with its attractions and facilities like food courts, cinemas, etc.
It was a unique experience for everyone at that time.
The evolution of shopping malls has been a unique experience for everyone at that time. It was a time when there were no such malls in the country and people were excited to see these new structures. The first mall opened in 1997, but it failed because nobody knew how to use them or what they were supposed to do in them. However, this did not stop the development of other shopping centers throughout India as well as other parts of Asia and Africa. They have become a popular place where families can enjoy themselves together while also buying goods from different stores around them
Over the years, the shopping mall culture has evolved tremendously in India.
Over the years, the shopping mall culture has evolved tremendously in India. From small shops to hypermarkets, the landscape of retailing has undergone a drastic change.
A decade ago, Indians were not used to shopping malls and thus there was no need for these large-scale commercial complexes. However, with increased income levels and rising aspirations, people started visiting malls on a regular basis.
There are now more than 1,200 malls in India—a number that is set to double by 2020 according to CBRE Group Inc., one of the world’s largest real estate brokerages. The demand for space continues to rise as consumers flock from outside cities like Bangalore into its central hub during weekends and holidays.
Today we have different formats of malls – lifestyle, hypermarket, community, and retail-led malls.
Today we have different formats of malls – lifestyle, hypermarket, community, and retail-led malls. In the last decade or so, the industry has seen many new formats and types of malls being introduced. These include lifestyle centers, megastores, community malls, and shopping destinations like Next Galleria Mall. All these malls are designed to offer an enhanced experience through a combination of design aesthetics and functional offerings to ensure that they meet their customers’ needs while also creating an environment where they can connect with each other
With so many types of malls available today it is important for you as a shopper or developer to understand what type suits your needs the best.
Shopping is getting more exciting
Shopping malls have evolved over the years, with new concepts like experiential zones entering the mall space. The evolution of shopping malls can be seen in the case of the Levis Jeans showroom in Hyderabad, which is one of the biggest brands in India.
Levis Jeans has been around for several decades and is a leading brand for jeans and denim clothing. It has an extensive range of products and offers many different styles for both men and women. They also have a large collection of accessories for all seasons.
The company saw an opportunity to expand into India in 2014 by opening up showrooms across major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bangalore. As part of their expansion plans, they decided to open up a showroom in Hyderabad as well as other regional cities such as Chandigarh and Ahmedabad.
The newer generation of shoppers wants an immersive experience
The newer generation of shoppers wants an immersive experience when they step into a mall. They want to be entertained while they shop. The malls are starting to realize this and are introducing more things for the shoppers, like theme parks and gaming zones.
- Theme Parks – Malls have started adding amusement rides such as carousels or roller coasters inside their premises in order to attract people who can’t afford expensive theme parks outside the city or who simply don’t want all the hassle of driving out there and back again.
- Gaming Zones – Some malls have added gaming zones where people can play popular games like CounterStrike, Fortnite, and PUBG on high-end PCs at low cost (ranging from Rs 100 – 200 per hour). This way, people get a chance to unwind after shopping while also meeting new friends with similar interests!
Shopping habits are changing day by day
- In the modern era, malls have become one of the main attractions for tourists. Besides shopping, people also visit these places to experience entertainment and leisure activities.
- Mall developers should focus on improving customer experience by offering more than just shopping facilities. This will help them attract visitors from other cities or countries as well as increase footfalls within a mall across all hours of the day.
Conclusion
All these malls have contributed to the growth of the retail industry in India. It has given job opportunities to thousands of people and helped them earn their livelihoods. If we look at the statistics, we will find that the number of mall developers has increased from 5 in 2008 to about 500 by 2017. This shows how much potential there is for growth in this sector. Manufacturers should focus on making products that are durable and affordable at the same time so that they can reach out to more customers through these outlets.
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