Successes and Detriments of a Local Shopping Mall

okay back to serious issues. here's a compilation of my findings and simple research on the topic.

if you never thought of it, perhaps it will help you think more strategically; if you had, perhaps we can have more meaningful discussions, maybe you can offer some opinions i might have left out. i would appreciate a lot if you could share more insights. =)

The Success Factors:
1. socially stimulating events to support social interactions. live shows, exhibitions, celebrity events, popularity events, etc.

2. location, real estate properties, feng shui, parking convenience, traffic flows, accessibility and public transportations, demographics and pedestrian flows.

3. competitions and demands. population, human traffic, and popularity criteria.

4. strategy and focus. brand consciousness? anchor shops? chain stores? sensitivity to retailing, should we let to 1st-timers with small brands?

there are 4 Positioning Strategies for Shopping Malls:
a) magnetic
b) coopetitive
c) specialistic
d) parasitic

5. impression and brand position. advertising. stunning merchandise displays.

6. interior decor, designs and architectural structure. restructuring of shopping patterns and shoppers traffic flows. continuous investments in refurbishment works.
features, style, facilities, customer services; age atmosphere, image; size, circulation, spatiality.

7. customer needs, convenience, expectations must be met.

8. leasing strategy. tenant mix, controlling client mix. themes, catchments, target groups; tenant mix, class of products; anchor tenants, magnet shops. think about enjoying children's play areas, product marketing, food variety and themed restaurants.

9. interactive websites to inform customers of the units.

10. management roles and inputs. property management. cleanliness, IAQ, IEQ; security, crowd and emergency control; maintenance and operations.

11. promotional activities. exhibitions, TV displays, games; variety shows, fun fair; discount coupons, card discounts.

12. occupancy costs. expenses/ earnings. rental level or shopping costs; turnover rent or risk of overpay; vacancy rates, renewal terms.

perhaps many more i might have missed.

it's all about an experience to the shoppers and the retailers. how you make it happen, convey your worth through advertising and marketing activities; and taking into accounts the costs in terms of monetary, macroeconomic and microeconomic factors, social, political, science of human behaviors, engineering, pure sciences, legal, entertainment and many other random aspects.

here are a list of references i'd skimmed through.

Main Theory:
http://rec.hku.hk/ecyyiu/06%20FM%20in%20Mall.pdf

Main Article:
http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7911&Itemid=5822
http://www.springerlink.com/content/t276374884723721/

Malaysian Shopping Complexes skimmed and checked:
http://www.midvalley.com.my/default.asp
(i'm fascinated by the user-friendliness and detail Midvalley provides on this site; check out "store guide"; and the intro music is an nicely added feature)

http://www.midvalleygardens.com.my/gvideo.html
(it brand positions The Gardens by sharing with the high end clients its vision, impressive advertising)

http://www.1utama.com.my/welcome.aspx
(check out OneCard and eONEstyle, and the CSR part indirectly conveyed through addition of "career" opportunity link)

http://onecard.com.my/e_onestyle/onestyle.html
(impressed by the online magazine for advertising which can serve both as an extra value for the retailers and information for the shoppers, but sadly it takes rather long to load.)

http://www.onecard.com.my/whats_onecard/onecard.htm
(impressed by the way 1U direct customers traffic by maneuvering members parking lots which can prove to be brilliant in directing shopping traffic flows, shopping patterns and structuring demands; BRILLIANT! at the same time they managed to impress the customers that owning 1CARD can get them extra customer services and benefits.)

http://www.thecurve.com.my/
(simple and no info overloading. simple highlights on "what's HOT?" and "latest promotions". check out "The Walk" and "The Street")

http://www.sunwaypyramid.com/
(the tag line "your unique shopping adventure")

http://www.sunwaypyramid.com/corpInfo/tourInfo.asp
(in conjunction with tourism malaysia)

http://www.suriaklcc.com.my/
(the tag line "always something new", and the uniquely classic purple outlook! check out "attractions and entertainment" and "concierge" links)

http://www.suriaklcc.com.my/index.php?module=CustServ

http://msf.mines.com.my/
http://queensbaymallmalaysia.com/
http://www.gurneyplaza.info/
http://www.hektargroup.com/SubangParade/index.htm
http://www.ioimall.com.my/

http://www.starhillgallery.com/
(one of a kind, classically high end. even the wordings sounds like French. luxury associated. and the french title background song.)

http://www.timessquarekl.com/
(the fast loading video is not bad. the rest acceptable)

http://www.pavilion-kl.com/content/index.php
(totally high-end branding. the rose red that symbolises fire and passion for life. "axis of inspirations"!)

http://www.pavilion-kl.com/content/tourist_rewards.php
(good concept getting the big spenders cum tourists.)


Questions of Thoughts:
1. why is Times Square doing not great? how do the publics see Sungei Wang as more popular? is that true and why and why not? think about the new Pavilion KL that is just a street away. if yes, how to turn over times square's prominence as a shopping destination?

2. why Mines Shopping Fair is such a let down? how to revive it?

3. what makes Sungei Wang outdo Times Square?

4. how will Pavilion and The Gardens fair in the long run?

5. is 1U, the Curve, and Sunway Pyramid's continuous investments worthwhile? these are insights probably only finance and accounting experts can gain.

6. what is the concept of Aeon Jusco venture lately? they are building more and more branches in the suburbans and seems to be doing awesome.

7. if you are a CEO of a properties management company and are venturing into shopping malls business. what type and where will you propose you next big idea set off?

till another time. we share more ideas and reflections.

my visions my ideals