http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/online-shopping-forces-malls-to-evolve-and-keep-customers-coming-back/article20777568/

With technology becoming increasingly prevalent in the modern world, more and more consumers are shifting towards online shopping. Through online shopping, customers can choose from a larger selection of lower priced items, while avoiding not only the hassle of leaving their home, but also the cost of gasoline. If this trend continues to develop, what is the future of malls and shopping centers?

Canadian retail sales have already dropped for the first time in seven months and eMarketer predicts that online sales will increase to $43.95-billion by 2018. Digital alternatives such as Amazon.com Inc. are making it harder for malls to attract customers and even the online versions of companies, like Best Buy, are dominating through e-commerce sales.

In order to keep shoppers coming, malls must reinvent themselves to both compete and coexist with online shopping. In my opinion, malls must focus more on the overall shopping experience instead of trying to compete with online retailers in terms of price and convenience. Through offering entertainment, digital attractions, and a safe location for families to shop, relax, and socialize, customers will visit shopping centers not to simply purchase an item, but to gain a positive experience. Providing more venues for movies, classes, and dining, will give customers a reason to leave their home to visit a mall. In addition, I recommend that stores at shopping malls use their space as a facility to pick up e-commerce orders. Ultimately, as technology evolves, ecommerce sales will continue to expand. Instead of competing directly with online shopping, malls must focus on differentiation and offer consumers a complete shopping experience.

Works Cited

“Online Shopping India – Shop Online for Books, Mobile Phones, Digital Cameras, Watches & More at – Tripodisha.com.” tripodisha.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

Strauss, Marina. “Online shopping forces malls to evolve to keep customers coming back.” The Globe and Mail. N.p., 24 Sept. 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

The primary goal of a business is to make and maximize its profits.  In many cases the line between what is best for the business and what is morally correct can be skewed by the pursuit for an increased profit. This is where the issue of business ethics arises. In the article “A Deadly Grind,” the line between what is morally acceptable and what is not is crossed. This “scandal lies with the more than one million children doing artisanal mining – poisonous work on the margins of the industry” (York).  In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children toil in a toxic pit for bits of copper.  It’s vitally important that businesses maximize the profits for all stakeholders, including employees.  Milton Friedman states that corporate executives have the responsibility “to make as much money as possible while still conforming to the basic rules of society, both those embodied in the law and those embodied in ethical custom” (Friedman).  Although the businesses running theses mines profit from their unethical methods, they break the basic rules of society. Employing any human being in such a dangerous job can be seen as unethical, but using women and children for this is, in fact, against the law.  In addition, not all stakeholders are benefiting and rights and regulations are being completely disregarded.  Ultimately, these immoral procedures continue to be utilized due to the fact that both the workers and the businesses want to make a profit.

Works Cited

Wachman, Richard. “ENRC pays $1.25bn to settle dispute over Congo mining deal.” The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2012.

York, Geoffrey. “A Deadly Grind.” The Globe and Mail [Toronto] 18 Aug. 2012: F.1. Print.

Zimmerli, Walther, Markus Holzinger, and Klaus Richter. “The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits.” Corporate Ethics and Corporate Governance. New York: Springer, 2007. 173-178. Print.