Strip Malls: Causes of Failure and Success
DNSI 375 DESIGN THEORY AND RESEARCH
Introduction and Literature Review
You have a great start on the literature review. I would spend a little bit more time on the introduction and conclusion. The introduction should be more persuasive and can be referenced (see my comments below). 17/20
Strip Malls: Causes of Failure and Success
Introduction
With the economic downturn, businesses are suffering greatly and closing rapidly; because of this it is important to figure out ways to reduce these closings and help companies prosper. One business type that has seen drastic closings is the strip mall. While research suggests that location, façade design, greenery, anchor stores, store offerings and other attractions pull in much more foot traffic than malls who are missing these features (source), strip mall abandonment is still a huge problem in the United States. We have to wonder why so much new strip mall construction is occurring without the implementation of these features, or if they are why are they still failing? The purpose of this research study is to determine how façade design, location, and store offerings in strip malls affect customer shopping behaviors. This study is important to determine how society as a whole can become more sustainable by keeping new construction down and reviving failed strip malls and making them a success.
Literature Review
Location and Attraction to Strip Malls
**(Anchor store information can be added here as an attraction)
When it comes to strip malls, location is a key factor in determining where someone chooses to shop, and often distance alone is not enough to determine the success of a strip mall. Though location plays a key role in terms of proximity to its customers, e.g., nearness to main roads, travel time, and population congestion, customer psychology plays a key role in determining whether the trip is “worth it” (Rajagpal, 2009).
The distance a customer is willing to travel is determined by
Introduction and Literature Review
You have a great start on the literature review. I would spend a little bit more time on the introduction and conclusion. The introduction should be more persuasive and can be referenced (see my comments below). 17/20
Strip Malls: Causes of Failure and Success
Introduction
With the economic downturn, businesses are suffering greatly and closing rapidly; because of this it is important to figure out ways to reduce these closings and help companies prosper. One business type that has seen drastic closings is the strip mall. While research suggests that location, façade design, greenery, anchor stores, store offerings and other attractions pull in much more foot traffic than malls who are missing these features (source), strip mall abandonment is still a huge problem in the United States. We have to wonder why so much new strip mall construction is occurring without the implementation of these features, or if they are why are they still failing? The purpose of this research study is to determine how façade design, location, and store offerings in strip malls affect customer shopping behaviors. This study is important to determine how society as a whole can become more sustainable by keeping new construction down and reviving failed strip malls and making them a success.
Literature Review
Location and Attraction to Strip Malls
**(Anchor store information can be added here as an attraction)
When it comes to strip malls, location is a key factor in determining where someone chooses to shop, and often distance alone is not enough to determine the success of a strip mall. Though location plays a key role in terms of proximity to its customers, e.g., nearness to main roads, travel time, and population congestion, customer psychology plays a key role in determining whether the trip is “worth it” (Rajagpal, 2009).
The distance a customer is willing to travel is determined by
References: Rowe, P. (1991). Making a middle landscape. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. Surface Transportation Policy Project (2000). Mean streets 2000: Pedestrian, health, and federal transportation spending. Washington, DC: Author. Devi, S. (2012). New studies cast dark cloud over air pollution. The Lancet 379.9817 697. : The Lancet. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60292-X/fulltext>. Dimitriou, George John. Suburban Revisions: Redesigning Suburban Strip Malls. 2001. Print. Roajagopal. (2011). Determinants of shopping behavior of urban consumers. Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 23 (2), 83-104. Wolf, K. (2009). Strip malls, city trees, and community values. Aboriculture and Urban Forestry, 35 (1): 33-40. Irwin, Elana. "Study Shows Urban Sprawl Continues To Gobble Up Land." OSU Research News Index Page. Ohio State University, 17 Dec. 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. <http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/sprawl.htm>.