Essay Topic: Large shopping malls are superseding small shops. What is your opinion about this? Discuss with appropriate examples.
The Essay: It is certainly true that the huge commercial malls are overtaking smaller retail outlets in the past few years. The culture of shopping is changing and there is a decline of smaller shops in this age with both merits and demerits.
Firstly, the infrastructure of big shopping malls facilitates consumers to shop conveniently. For instance, malls are well equipped with large parking spaces, food courts, air conditioning and a myriad entertainment options. Therefore, one can spend their entire day with their families and friends at these shopping malls as there is something for everyone. Secondly, malls have proven economically beneficial as they generate more income collectively for all shops under one roof vis-a-vis independent local shops, apart from creating more employment and business opportunities to innumerable people.
Nonetheless, malls are eating into the trade of local and small shops depriving many shop owners of their bread and butter. This is more marked in cities, though seen to a lesser degree in small towns. Thus, the shopkeepers are forced to look for alternate options to make a living. Additionally, sometimes prices in these extensive shopping malls are unreasonably low, tempting citizens to buy unnecessary products, promoting consumerism besides burning a hole in their pockets.
To conclude, I opine that while large shopping malls are superseding small shops, nonetheless, they provide benefits to people as a one stop destination for all activities as well as generate employment. However, they negatively impact small shops.