16811 谢振礼 IELTS Essay: Large shopping malls versus small shops
>IELTS Essay Topic:
An increasing number of larger shopping areas, malls and department stores are leading to the decline of smaller corner shops. What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping in larger shopping centers rather than smaller, more traditional shops?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
>Example Essay: by Jeenn Lee Hsieh (谢振礼)
ielts360toefl@163.com
Perhaps there is another way of discussing how consumers are faced with two main choices these days--heading to the mall or the small local shop, each having its advantages and disadvantages. The fact is that those who enjoy visiting large commercial centers also buy things at their favorite corner stores. Usually, a mall is able to lure visitors from miles away to spend their money impulsively and to pass their time happily.
Visiting a huge mall leads to feeling happy since the experience is advantageous. This experience is nothing similar to that of going to a corner store and buying only what is required. In a psychological sense, a large shopping area seems to be a magic place where the feeling of happiness could be bought. This analogy is easy to understand, considering that modern shopping malls are so designed as to make consumers spend money happily, by providing excellent restaurants, cafes and a variety of entertainment facilities, in addition to numerous stores covering everything from shoes to clothing to electronics to fancy gift items. More often than not, that kind of happiness could turn out to be expensive due to impulsive buying, meaning that people might feel obliged to buy things they do not actually need. Now the question arises: Is impulsove buying a major disadvantage?
However, that sort of impulsive buying usually does not happen when it comes to visiting a corner store; and, as such, it seems to be an advantage. Do people often purchase things beyond their specific requirements from a local shop and indulge in impulsive buying? The answer is of course 'No' because their main focus remains on paying for what is required and getting out of the small shop as quickly as possible. Furthermore, there are times when city dwellers face a distance bar to emergency access such as medicare items, children food and urgent household products, and in these cases, a corner shop rather than a big mall is the inviting option. This is to say, shopping at a small shop nearby is only about buying what is necessary, being independent of the 'feeling-happy' factor. Sadly to add, in spite of the benefit of avoiding impulsive buying, corner stores could not compete with big malls in the retail business as long as the big-fish-eats-little-fish rule applies.
In the end, the comparison between shopping in a mall versus a corner shop comes down to consumers' personal need and mood. The happy mood of visiting a large shopping center is one thing, while the urgent need to buy at a small store is quite another. Although the mall has certainly diverted business from the corner shop, hopefully the latter, whose business is on the decline, could still continue to survive, and remain a great option for those looking for a laid-back shopping experience. (ielts360toefl@163.com)
>Related Essay Topics:
--Nowadays there is an increasing trend of big shopping centers opening up while small shops are closing down. What are the advantages of big shopping centers and small local shops?
--Large shopping malls are replacing small shops. What is your opinion about this?
--Compare modern shopping centers to local markets and shops. What way of shopping has more advantages?
--Some people prefer shopping in shopping centers, while others prefer local markets. What are the advantages of each?
--People prefer to go shopping in the supermarket rather than small shops and local markets. Why has this happened? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
--Nowadays, many people go shopping in their free time. Shopping has replaced many other activities that people choose as their hobby. What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or negative development?
