Having been meaning to visit the Speciality Mall Ishanya managed to do so on the recent visit to Pune.

A lovely Mall, with ample of space, set in one end of Pune near the golf course is a very nice piece of architecture. And there ends the good things.

Some points that one notices….

• Directions are a bit vague if you go from any other road
• Security is a bit lackadaisical
• Lots of Parking
• Mall seems to be only 1/3 full

Desperation seems to be evident, because renting out the space in the atrium to churan stalls & some low competition is just not happening.

Yes, the recession can be blamed but there is a lot of catchment driven activity that the mall authorities need to undertake now especially to make it happen for the tenants.

The big R word bandied about everywhere still, with different people saying “Mandi hai boss”; “Economy down hai”; “Recession” hai.

After a couple of drinks over the weekend, mostly everyone ends up saying that “thoda situation tight hai, magar sudhar jayega”.

Cribbing about the government, employers, friends, society, BMC, BEST, weather, god is ongoing. This is ably supported by the MEDIA, with their stupid Questions to fill paper or soundbytes

• How much has this recession affected you?
• What sacrifices have you had to do in the current economic scenario?
• How long do you think this shall last?
• What should be the new PM’s approach to end this?

All of these questions appear with the ring leaders in print - Mumbai Mirror & Mid-day - in Bombay. The questions are asked to college students at CCD, Barista or college canteen; housewives shopping at malls, kiran store, kitty parties & some business men rushing to catch the churchgate or borivali local.

Majority of them have no clue, except for the fact that they would get their 30 seconds of fame. Bus Mein Star bangaya.

In such a scenario, I fail to understand:

• Restaurants mostly all, except maybe the 5* are always full.
• The same traffic, cars are seen on roads.
• Car Sales has not gone down.
• Fuel consumption has not gone down
• Restobars still do roaring business serving alcohol to underage also.
• Mobile phones sales continue to rock

YES, some large ticket items do get delayed in purchase, whilst consumers scout around for better deals. Jewellery does not get sold, but there is no wedding season currently.

People from upcountry, rural do not come to spend their vacations to Mumbai, since it is expensive, similar brands are now available there, maybe at better prices also.

Private Labels seem to be the mantra these days, which is good for the economy.

I see Value Correction happening that surely is benefitting consumers & more so in the times to come.

Read more about Recession, Is India going thru one, The shine is still here, Reducing Manpower & Correction.

This is a Mall that I had developed respect for.

Owned by a builder - not the rahejas, etc. who managed to get decent brands in, has a food court that is doing well; also has my gym the membership which my wife has gifted me.

But the past couple of months, there has been a problem that not too big, but irritating to say the least.

According to the Mall Management & Security, Oshiwara Police has asked them to cordon off the area in order to ensure no cars are parked near the mall side.

However, it is a different matter that double parking continues happening & nothing is done about it, leading to traffic chaos every evening.

Having met the Mall Management & Security twice, they have been unable to answer some basic questions:

• What is the name of the PI at Oshiwara Police Station who has asked them to do this?
• If it is official why is there no board to say so?
• The Police man who sits inside has no clue about this; saying that this is done by the Mall people
• People like cattle have accepted what is done & continue merrily on their way.

A couple of weeks ago, on a thursday, back from the gym, with nobody at home decided to grab a subway @ infiniti mall.

After passing through the mandatory checks, parked the car & took the lift up to the food mall.

Since it was already late & a couple of nice english movies waiting at home, decided to grab a take away. Once the packing was done,  tried to take a lift to the basement. With the light still on, the lift refused to come up from the basement. Besides me a couple of other people with children were waiting peacefully.

Finally we went to the other side, where I asked the security, who told me that after 9 pm only one lift worked. Fair enough, in fact good that electricity conserving was being implemented. BUT, upon being asked that it was after 9 that I had come up & why was there no notice informing visitors of the same. No answer except the standard one, please ask the office.

So down I went in my citizenary zeal & asked the customer service who looked completely blank at me, maybe since I interrupted his personal call to his girlfriend or whatever. After making me repeat the questions twice, he called the Security head, who had his own version & called the security gaurds, firing them for not informing me, coolly side stepping the fact of the notice.

Anyway NO ANSWER except being asked to call up the Infiniti Mall Office on 26374530 the next day and check with them. But yes they asked me not to take photos:)

YES! Did so twice, some vague, white wash offered & today more than a month later still NO SIGN!

I do not understand

• Why Malls cannot spend a small amount on communicating with consumers?
• Why citizens prefer to take the easy way out, instead of following it through?

It is small things like this which ensure that lethargy continues, the same corporators win, the same lok sabha shall come & all this Jaago Re! shall remain Soja Re!……

2005/06 - Baroda, Ahmedabad, Surat, - New Destinations, money to burn, places to acquire, malls to be built.

2008 - Malls ready, high rentals, brands occupying, supposedly great footfalls BUT no conversion. And some have changed hands, closed so on & forth.

WHY? WHY? WHY? Read the rest of this entry »