A shopping mall, shopping centre or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops for shopping that is all under one roof, but in the Kashmir the meaning changes to only ‘selected garments under one roof.’
The concept of shopping malls in Kashmir developed with the inauguration of Srinagar’s MS Shopping Mall in 2005. Since then, private and government organizations have been working to establish more malls in Srinagar and its outskirts.
The first year of business for the privately owned Al Hyder Shopping Mall in the Parraypora area saw every branded store doing business of more than one or one and a half crores, which, according to storeowners, is a good start. But after three years, every branded store had turned into a multi brand store. Mushtaq Ahmad, a salesman, says his transition from working at Priknit and then New Wani Arts made him realize how unpredictable business can be.
“Initially, companies would request all stores at a mall to keep a stock of goods, but since the 2010 hartals and curfews, these companies only send us limited older stock, due to which we have lost valuable customers,” he says. “To regain our customers, we kept our own new stock in stores, and changed our stores into multi brand ones. But people come and ask for company discounts, which is not possible now, and so many end up not buying anything,” he adds. This store still has summer stock on display as they weren’t in good financial standing to get a fresh winter stock. But it’s not just the older stock element that plays a role in failing to maintain customers. The high rates with minimal room for discounts also contribute. more
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