Coincidentally, the week that we are studying distribution, I
am visiting what is possibly the largest distribution center in our nation –
the Mall of America. It exemplifies one of the main ideals Americans have:
making things bigger than they need to be. But I’m not complaining. The Mall of
America has everything I could possibly need in just 3,779,242 million feet of
retail space! There are even some repeated stores, which only add to the
confused shopping frenzy of consumers flitting from store to store.
Some Facts about the Mall of America:
- There are over 520 stores in the Mall of America
- There are over 50 restaurants in the Mall of America
- The Mall of America is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, with over twice the amount of visitors than Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
- There are 4.3 miles of storefront footage in the Mall of America
- 7 Yankee Stadiums can fit in the Mall of America
While I was visiting the Mall of America, I noticed construction on one side. As it turns out, they are expanding. In fact, they have plans to double their size in the next 10 years! But why, when online shopping is becoming more and more prevalent and brick-and-mortar shops are not? It is because, while many brick-and-mortar stores are just an everyday stop on a list of errands, the Mall of America is not. It is a destination for everyone, from the local to the foreigner trying to see real America culture.
Perhaps, other brick-and-mortar retailers will see this mall flourishing and take a cue from it. Maybe, in the future, all shopping that is not done online will be less a chore and more of an experience.
This is such a great example of how tantalizing the 5 senses can be in the consumers life and how we as humans need this interaction and stimulation in our lives. You can't smell cinnabon from your computer or witness the droves of tourists with flashing cameras. As a society I don't think we can ever truly succeed without the human element. If that is lost I can't imagine what society would look like. Einsteins words have never been truer "I fear the day technology will surpass our human interaction. the world will have a generation of idiots." Not sure if the Mall of America is the best example for healthy human interaction but it's an interesting debate. Which evil is lesser? Consumerism or Internet shopping?
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