Will Malls Staying Open 24x7 Help The Economy?

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The Cabinet has decided on a new model law that would allow malls, cinema halls, restaurants, shops, banks and such workplaces to be open 24*7. The model law, would bring with it benefits like increasing employment, higher sales figures and a night life to Indian metros. But, how would shops being open round the clock affect the consumer in you?

A Google survey says that consumer’s interest to shop online has almost doubled in the last 12 months. 60% of the total number of online shoppers comes from non-metros. Another study by Warc suggests that Indian e-commerce players had generated a total GMV run rate of $10.2 billion in May 2016, with Flipkart making up $3.8bn of the total, followed by Snapdeal ($2.2bn).

Despite the coming of age of online platforms and e-commerce websites, there is a huge section of population who still like to shop offline. They say, “To actually see what you are purchasing – the material, the make, the fit of the clothes or the colours of accessories can’t be matched by when you are purchasing the same thing online.”

With the cabinet decision to allow malls and other workplaces to be open for 365 days a year, will this help bring more jobs and in turn give a boost to the economy?

Will Indian consumers prefer to shop from the comfort of their homes? Or do they think that offline shopping would be the more convenient option now that the time barrier will be taken away?