Tag Archives: kids zone

We all have to do this, I am no different. We can look at all the negativity of the world, but it makes us gloomy. As such I was browsing YouTube as I do and stumbled upon a drive through of Mississauga. I got curious. I never saw that place. The only thing I know that place from is as the location of Oracle, that’s it. So the drive through was a nice change of speed. The first thing I noticed was that at least 5 high rise residency buildings were awesome. They likely have more, but 5 stood out. From there I took a look at the square one mall. That was less relaxation. I am still looking at malls to see how my IP would hold up (the one on augmented reality) and it does, the spaciousness of Square Mall, apparently the biggest mall in Ontario could benefit from the AR IP. From there I started to think things over. You see, the video is only 4 months old, but that mall seems really devoid of people. They could be an optional early place to get the people back into the malls. I feel strongly about this setting. You see, when too many people shy away from malls, the malls go broke. Some places have no real issues, but when the population decreases by well over 30%, the shops will not be able to foot that bill and malls tend to be expensive. As such setting the stage of adding technology to ensure interaction with the people will make it more appealing to be there. It is a simple equation and it tends to hold up. I believe that technology is a first to make it work. So many are on their mobiles, even in a mall, that this, seemingly, is a first. Not the only option, but a first. 

So whilst I was cleaning the pallet by seeing new places, my mind raced in a different direction (it tends to do that). The mind wants to see bang for the buck, as such it looks at ‘What else is here’ and that was when the views from Dubai malls (that mall as well as other ones) seeing the essential setting of a kids zone in Square one. The walkthrough didn’t reveal one. There is more, the need to see a Canadian spark there. My initial issues with malls (on a global scale) is that many of them have a gimmick, but not a real local one. The Dubai Mall has The Souk, the Mall of the Emirates has ski slopes but several others didn’t have anything springing out to me. Not in Europe, not in America and not in Canada. Malls can no longer be a vague imitation of each other. They need a defining side. The Dubai Mall figured that out, Harrods figured it out, so why not the other places? The AR addition is merely one step in promoting interaction, but I reckon more is needed in several places. You see the AR addition will work for a year and after a year these places are losing interest. I believe that adding a localised spark will add more to it all. One mall in Canada figured it out by adding some hobby remote car club. Brilliant! I wrote about it in the past. So what else can be added? I reckon that for Square One, it is up to the people in Mississauga. Localised knowledge is required and I am not from that place. The information gives me that art would be a good addition and perhaps that place has it, which led me to another side of what a mall could do. You see, we all have to go to another place for municipality issues, for drivers licenses and so many other places. What would happen if any mall had a municipality office there. Where people ALSO can get groceries, their simple needs (coffee and cake) as well as numerous other things. It also lessens carbon footprint when you do not have to drive to 5 places. I am not stating that the other places need to be removed, especially when not everyone lives close to a mall, or has need for a mall. But we need to change the way we approach things that much is clear and even as I do not fully agree with COP28, I do believe that changes are essential. Not merely for us, but for malls, for retail and for the people. Change becomes more and more essential and this is merely one step in that direction. Consider that in 2017, there were approximately 116,000 shopping malls spread across the United States. That is America only. The most malls are held by the Simon Property Group, Inc. Worldwide, it owns interests in 232 properties as of 2021. Now consider that this one player can reinforce its malls getting back to pre covid numbers. In addition it could set a larger population by finding ways to reduce the carbon footprint in its places. How much would be gained? A lot of this will not apply to Harrods, or the Dubai Mall, giving us well over 250,000 malls all over the world that could see a larger impact. A given? No! An option. Yet, tell me, when was the last time any business owner passed up on options to reenforce their businesses? 

I will leave you to ponder that. My Friday is a mere 720 seconds away. Enjoy yours (when you get there).