Israel's Election Day Sees Major Surge in Mall Traffic and Sales
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Israeli malls expect double the usual customer traffic on election day, with large malls seeing up to 35,000 visitors and smaller ones 15,000. Retailers are offering special promotions, and malls are organizing free family activities to attract shoppers. Historical data shows a significant increase in spending on election days, with total credit card expenditures exceeding 1.3 billion shekels in 2022.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli malls anticipate double normal customer traffic on election day.
- Large malls expect up to 35,000 visitors, smaller ones 15,000.
- Retailers will offer special promotions and discounts.
- Malls are organizing free family activities to attract shoppers.
- Past election days saw credit card spending exceed 1.3 billion shekels.
- Peak shopping hours are expected between 12 PM and 3 PM.
Israeli malls are anticipating a significant increase in customer traffic on election day, expecting visitor numbers to be double that of a typical day. This surge follows two slower shopping days at the beginning of the week. Large malls are projected to host approximately 35,000 visitors, while smaller malls expect around 15,000. Retailers are preparing for the influx with special promotions and discounts. Major fashion chains like Zara, Fox Group, and Irani Group are expected to be the primary beneficiaries.
Several mall operators are organizing free family-friendly activities to attract visitors. Ofer Malls will host events such as balloon artists and stilt walkers across 18 locations, including the Grand Canyon Haifa. Bilu Center plans street performances and a family fun day, while Azrieli Malls will offer activities like Pokémon events and designer fairs, noting that their Jerusalem and Tel Aviv malls are typically the busiest on election days.
Yaniv Feinshneider, CEO of Seven Stars Malls, explained that on election day, families are looking for ways to spend time together, making malls compete with other leisure options. The challenge, he noted, is not just attracting people but creating an engaging experience that encourages them to stay longer.
Historical data supports the expected increase in spending. Credit card data from previous elections between 2019 and 2022 shows a 101% rise in morning expenditures. In the 2022 elections, regional mall sales were more than triple that of an average day, with total credit card spending exceeding 1.3 billion shekels. Peak shopping hours are anticipated between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM, with a secondary peak in the evening.
Supermarket chains also typically see a significant boost, with revenues nearly 2.5 times higher than on a regular day, although this is sometimes offset by lower traffic in the days immediately preceding the election.
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