As malls open, shoppers likely to wait it out | Economic Times

Several big markets including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Chennai have started graded unlock amid receding Covid-19 infections, but mall operators and restaurant chains say consumer confidence will take two-three months to return and will be directly proportional to mass rollout of nationwide vaccination.“We opened malls in Delhi with restrictions, but we expect gradual pickup in consumer confidence which could take two-three months,” said Pushpa Bector, executive director at DLF Retail, which operates premium malls under the DLF Shopping Malls franchise and retail destination Cyber Hub.She said DLF Retail will declare vaccination status of all frontline employees and retail workforce to reassure consumers visiting its malls. 83351035Starting this week, states across the country have begun easing restrictions, though cautiously even as daily new cases of Covid-19 infection have fallen below the one-lakh mark after more than two months.“The battle is less about the virus now, and more about consumer confidence,” said Zorawar Kalra, MD of Massive Restaurants that runs marquee restaurants Farzi Cafe and Made In Punjab, among others. “Getting back consumer confidence will depend on the state-wise vaccinations, which we believe need to be accelerated on war footing.”Most malls and restaurant chains, including Kalra’s, said they will reopen stores only gradually and ensure Covid-19 protocols at their premises and for customers.Mukesh Kumar, chairman of Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI) and chief executive of Infiniti Malls, said he expected business normalcy to return from the next quarter onwards. “We are expecting sales to pick up in the next couple of weeks once there is awareness created about openings through events and promotions,” he said.Maharashtra began a five-phased unlock starting with 18 of the state's 36 districts, while Delhi said all standalone and neighbourhood shops in residential complexes can reopen on all days and shops in malls, market complexes and neighbourhood shops can reopen with odd-even restrictions.Many cities in Uttar Pradesh have allowed shops and markets outside containment zones to open for five days a week, and Tamil Nadu has allowed standalone grocery stores to function from 6 am to 5 pm.