Safety in Shopping Malls During the Holidays - Essay Sample

It is a human normalcy to want to shop, go on adventures and seek entertainment from watching movies and spending time with family. Shopping malls offer a chance for this and much more. They are built in mind to accommodate every family member, regardless of age, money, and preferences. There are malls all over, across the globe that meet the entertainment and necessity needs of different customers. Shopping malls are a one package deal offering various services. For example, local stalls such money withdrawal agencies, shoe shops, boutiques, supermarkets, coffee shops, ice cream shops, salons, massage parlors and barber shops, bars and restaurants and other entertainment features such as Cinemas, swimming pools, play stations, merry-go-rounds and motorbike games. Therefore on average, any shopping mall has the above features and much more to cater to the needs of families. Shopping malls experience fewer clients during workdays as compared to holidays. Similarly, across the globe, malls are visited more during summer seasons compared to winters. It is a logical observation having in mind that most children and young adults are home for summers and back to school and other learning institutions during winter. Moreover, holidays marked on calendars and recognized nationally explain the flock of people in shopping malls compared to working days. For, example, America celebrates their independence day on 4th of July every year as a public holiday so do Kenyans who celebrate their independence from colonial power every 1st June of the year. These public holidays and many others testify to the significant number of people that storm shopping malls to spend time with their families.

Economically, it is an excellent business for mall owners during these holidays regardless of whether its a one day holiday or more days. Almost all malls are similar in design and size, meaning that they accommodate people from any nationality or race. If one were to visit a mall outside their home country, for instance, they would still have their needs met; probably the mall would be fancier than the ones in their home country, but again, in-built features are always almost the same.

How joyous it is for a primary or elementary school kid, to work hard in school and diligently pass their exams, with the promise to be taken out to the mall by their parents. School going kids get highly motivated by the idea that during the holidays, they will be taken out to shopping malls to watch movies, swim, play games, enjoy ice cream and of course get some new clothes. Adults have also graced these malls to take their girlfriends/boyfriends/friends out. No better place than enjoying the taste of ice cream at a fancy mall with friends. Expectedly, most malls are flooded by young adults who seek adventure, interactions, and entertainment during these set holidays. Everyone that graces a plaza has a need; for instance, kids need/want new clothes, shoes, to play games and swim, whereas the adults seek entertainment from cinemas mostly. Therefore, adults attend cinema halls more than the kids in these shopping malls. Regardless of this, the mall serves everyone despite their age.

The most commonly observed holiday globally is the Christmas festive season. During this time, malls are decorated with red and green ribbons and balls and also Christmas trees. Some persons dress up as Santa Claus in different malls to impress children and give them gifts. It is a time of the year that malls are most in business and flooded with people from all walks of life. Private investors wait for this time of the year because it is the time they make most profits from their investments in these shopping malls. Most valuable such as clothes and shoes are priced very high because of the consequent demand, and surprisingly people still purchase for their families. It is a wonder for the poor to behold that there is a minority of families that take their children to these malls and afford them ice cream worth $150 or even more. Display of watches worth $10000 is no surprise in these malls as they are in demand by a few. Men and women stake out at restaurants, hang out in bars as kids go swimming. Suffice to say, shopping malls offer a great meeting point for families during these holidays and offer a variety of affordable services for people with different preferences.

It is critical for any shopping mall to provide security to its customers well-being and safety of their property. Shopping malls are a very high target for criminal activities and terrorism, especially on holidays when people are crowded all over the mall. Apart from the customers being careful and watching over their bags and stuff, the management of the shopping mall should also play a role in guaranteeing the security of its customers; as much as they need their money, the safety of the customers is paramount. It is sad that in recent history, news, shopping malls have not only been a target of terrorism but have suffered from such. A best case scenario that was broadcasted globally was that of a West Gate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya who sustained a terrorist attack later claimed to have been committed by the militia group-Al Shabaab. This barbaric act led to an unimaginable loss of innocent lives and damage to property worth billions. It is not only in Kenya that such criminal acts are probable, but everywhere in the world. Mass shootings at such entertainment joints are common and sad phenomena in America since time in memorial. Security should, therefore, be a priority in such areas where there are mass gatherings. It is also worth noting that incidences like that scare people from public entertainment spots and hence that leads to such places like shopping malls being deserted and also, business people encounter great losses. It is within the reach and responsibility of national governments, provisional/county, and business owners to ensure security for its customers and give them a peaceful ambiance for shopping and enjoying themselves. In conclusion, therefore, shopping malls are essential for interactions of families and also for business, whether on holidays or any other day under the sun.