Mall-mandu

The rise and rise of Kathmandu Malls

FROM ISSUE # 165 (September 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
	REFER TO FRIEND		PRINT THIS ARTICLE

ALL IMAGES: ANUP PRAKASH

In just two years, Kathmandu's shopping scene has been transformed by malls. And there are more malls being built.

Ok, most people just go there to window-shop and many are having a hard time paying their loans. But then malling is not just about just shopping, they offer an astounding variety of services from exquisite restaurants, to cool gaming zones to exciting fitness clubs, cinema and many,  many more.

Shopping malls originated as early as the 1920s in the US, replacing department stores. The first giant mega-malls developed in the 1980s, with more than 800 stores and a hotel, amusement park, miniature-golf course, church, water park, a zoo and even a lake. Malls took off in Asian countries where people streamed to the climate controlled interiors to just hang out on weekends, giving rise to what is now called 'the mall culture'.

Kathmandu's malls are pretty moderate in comparison. Touted as being the most extravagant and the largest mall in Nepal, City Centre, is indeed a milestone in enhancing the mall culture. Already possessing a 4D theatre, to inaugurate a three hall multiplex, the mall has taken entertainment to a whole new level. Also, catering to the needs of every age group and all social division the mall keeps arranging events like 'dance day', 'friendship day' and even 'mehendi day' at absolute minimum prices.

"We regularly organise events," says Mannsi Agrawal of City Centre highlighting that attracting customers means not just having good shops but entertaining them as well. "People should be happy when they leave the complex,' she adds.

Recently opened Sherpa Mall has now become the hip spot for youngsters. "I just love the ambience," says Samana Shrestha, 18, enjoying her ice-cream, "It's a great hangout." Located at Durbar Marg,the mall has been especially popular with the young-adult crowd as it offers a good mixture of dining and shopping.

"It is also about service," says Keshun Dhoj Karki of People's Plaza, "People want quality in reasonable price." Equal attention must be given to the extra facilities like ample parking space and clean surroundings," he adds.

People's Plaza, the brand new mall is probably the first mall offering a 'floor wise categorisation' of their trendy goods. This plaza is said to be most reasonably priced, incorporating facilities like official meeting rooms and food courts.

Says Binod Tuladhar of Bluebird Mall, "Finding numerous outlets under a single roof makes shopping much easier." Bluebird Mall is the first 'all branded' shopping precinct in Nepal and the one to introduce food courts in the valley.

And of course, the gaming zones have become a major attraction for kids in every mall with 'Punkie Universe' being their weekend destination. For the youngsters, besides buying, or well mostly admiring the world class branded outlets, having budgeted meals and hanging around in the conditioned atriums, have indeed become a pretty good option in malls.

But the old malls are not sitting in quietly. As new malls become fancier and trendier, few of the old shopping complexes are now planning for major renovation.

So why is the mall culture thriving? Balendra Shrestha of Together in Bluebird explains, "The changing lifestyle and increasing standard of living makes people come to malls more often." The outlet owners are happy to be a part of the malls too. According to Lripesh Shrestha of UFO, "The changing trend, convenience of shopping, and the unlimited entertainment attracts people." Adding that for today's youth, chilling means heading to the malls, so it is most beneficial to have outlets here.

"Just looking around," says Kritika Dixit, a customer strolling in the corridor of Kathmandu Mall when asked what she was doing.

MALLMANIA

* The world's oldest shopping mall - Grand Bazaar - was built in the 10th century in central Iran.
* The world's largest shopping mall is the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada.
* The term 'shopping mall' is applied to enclosed retail structures.
* Malls on average, draw about 40 million visitors each year; more than Disney World, Graceland and the Grand Canyon combined.
* Studies show, women will buy more if they hear their heels clicking on polished hard surfaces, so designers often use hard flooring in hallways.
* To lure customers in and make them feel at home some malls are carpeted.
* In parts of Canada, it is now rare for new shopping malls to be built, as outdoor outlet malls are being favoured.
* Because of the high land prices, vertical malls - retail stores configured over a number of storeys are in vogue.

A brand new adventure sports mall

When tens of thousands of Nepalis are leaving Nepal, Tashi Sherpa has moved back in the opposite direction: to Nepal where he is setting up the world headquarters of his Sherpa Adventure Gear company in Kathmandu.

The new store located in Naxal near Jai Nepal cinema hall is set to be inaugurated in mid-September.

"I'm not a fool, I didn't come here because I felt I needed to score karma points," says Tashi, "I came here because there is a high return on investment. I did the calculations and took a calculated risk."

The five-storey flagship store will house Sherpa Adventure's research and development unit, have two floors of a one-stop shop for down jackets, sleeping bags, tents and trekking gear and the top floor will have a bed and breakfast. As of now, only the ground floor will be opened with expansion in the future. 

Tashi, 53, ran his garment-export business in Nepal till 1989. He moved to the US and found himself a niche in the adventure gear market and decided to take on the big boys, offering the same quality at a slightly more affordable price.

He was outsourcing his manufacturing to Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan before deciding to scale up. Noted American adventure clothing designers helped him, and he launched the Sherpa brand and its distinctive 'endless knot' logo.

Unlike other imported brands, Sherpa Adventrue Gear makes 90 per cent of their products in Nepal but with all the same quality attributes for a world class brand. "It's like being able to buy a BMW right in Munich," says Tsedo Sherpa, vice president of Sherpa Adventure Gear. "When you buy a Sherpa Adventure Gear product, you are not only helping the local economy but also promoting the new paradigm that Nepal can do it." 

"I know, it was a huge leap of faith to return to Nepal," Tashi admitted. "But it's not about me, I'm just the custodian of the brand."

To market the Sherpa range of products, Tashi has enlisted 'brand athletes' like celebrity climber Lhakpa Rita Sherpa who has climbed Chomolungma 11 times, extreme alpinist Joe Puryear, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa who has climbed the world's highest mountains from the north and is attempting the south route this spring, and Everest marathoner, Nima Yangjee.

Sherpa Adventure Gear insulation jackets, fleece hoodies, technical jackets and base layers, and even woolen hats with their proud 'Made in Nepal' tags are now available in stores across the US, Taiwan, Japan and Europe. Asked how come he remains so upbeat about Nepal, Tashi replies with a hearty laugh: "Optimism is human nature. You do your arithmetic, and you weigh that with the emotional attachment to your homeland."

* Kunda Dixit