America’s Pastime – Shopping Online

The Center for Media Research actually commented recently that baseball had gone to the wayside and “shopping is becoming America’s favorite pastime”.

This consumer expectation is reshaping the format of malls nationwide. There is still a market for the large shopping centers in the suburbs of a large city. However, even these destinations are morphing from large enclosed malls to open-aired lifestyle centers that can range in size and not rely on big anchors to be successful.

Online shopping has become such a normal part of everyday life, that the old time shopping malls we once would meet our friends and “Hang Out” at has to try and re-invent themselves to continue to bring the everyday shopper to the stores. Malls are no longer just shopping destinations; they are now lifestyle centers trying to give the consumer a full leisure experience.

The technology to find what you are looking for, purchase and receive in a few days and doing it all with a smart phone, android or computer has taken the average consumer by storm. This has placed shopping malls on the defensive and they are searching out ways to bring customers more for their dollar. 

The desire to have a more unique shopping experience has not gone unnoticed by the big box stores either. Both Target and Wal-Mart have both tested smaller locations to provide necessities and electronics to residents within metro areas of larger cities. This resizing to fit the neighborhood helps the big box stores to protect and, in their mind, hopefully grow their share of the $2.4 trillion sales that are spent at shopping centers annually.

A recent study found that shoppers still prefer brick and mortar locations, but at the same time e-Commerce is growing. In 2nd quarter 2015, e-Commerce represented 7.2% of all retail sales, which is up from 3.6% from 1st quarter 2008. It is estimated that by 2107 10.3% retail sales and 60% of all retail sales will involve the internet.