Shopping back to 90-95% of pre-pandemic level at malls in NCR

This year again, malls are back with their Diwali decorations to welcome shoppers. Mall administration bodies say that they are entering the most important time of the year – the holiday

shopping

season, and that they have seen a massive jump in spending which is back to almost pre-pandemic levels.

Electronics is most in demand
The surge has been quite positive from Rakshabandhan onwards and management teams of most malls say that while footfall is back to 70-75%, sales are back to 90-95% of the pre-pandemic levels. Rajshree, a shopper at a mall in Vasant Kunj says, “Our mall trips became shorter in the pandemic. We used to be conscious about the time spent in malls, but now it feels safe at the malls.” Trend observers say that at present, people are spending most on electronics and dining out, and clothing has seen a massive surge.

Pushpa Bector, Executive Director,

DLF Shopping Malls

, says, "

Festive

shopping is back in a big way this Diwali. We have been seeing shoppers coming with families to shop for festivals and retailers are welcoming them with offers and decor.

Diwali decor

at malls is obviously a very big part of it. One trend we have observed is that people are buying lots of Indian brands."

‘Visiting the mall for its happy vibe and festive feel’With the beginning of wedding season, mall footfall and spending have gone up, and retailers and shoppers say that people are spending more this Diwali than last. Staff members say that people have gotten used to following

COVID

appropriate behaviour. Balram, a staff member at a gifting store in a mall in

Saket

, says, “People are spending a lot on gifts and not just on personal shopping. And while till last year people wanted to avoid crowds, now that’s not true.”

Shoppers agree. Naveen Kalkar, a shopper at a mall in Noida told us that he didn’t feel the arrival of festivals last year because he didn’t visit stores. He says, “When you live in Delhi, you can’t miss the days leading up to Diwali – from lighting to mall decor. It is the happy vibe and festival feel for which I have been visiting malls.”

Malls decor are telling a mythological tale
Mall decorators say that across north India, malls have been opting for mythological themed decor. Yogeshwar Sharma, Executive Director & CEO, of the company that own

Select Citywalk

, tells us, “We started the season of light and joy with an exemplary display of festive decor that will fill visitors with absolute delight and hopefulness. There has been a significant rise in sales and footfall from Rakshabandhan and we are certain that this will continue till Christmas.”

Abhishek Bansal, Executive Director, Pacific Group says, “The motive behind the Diwali decor was to make the visitors feel the energy of this festival which is back again with full excitement after the pandemic. The footfall expected across malls is close to 2.5 million shoppers during this festive season.”

Anshuman, a mall decorator tells us, “A lot of work goes into automations, and we invite artisans who work on this for a month. Since most people started to shop for Diwali two weeks before the festival, malls have put up festive decor days in advance to welcome back visitors.”