Israeli Malls See Surge in Shoppers on Election Day Amid Sales

By הדסה בלומרט

Translated & summarized from Ice by baba

BusinessNeutral tone

Hebrew · 2 newsrooms covering

Israeli malls saw a significant rise in shoppers on election day, a national holiday, with promotions driving traffic. While visitor numbers were down 20% compared to the previous election, they were up 38% from a regular weekday. Malls like Seven Stars in Herzliya reported over 150% increases in visitors. Retailers are preparing for deeper discounts later in November, advising consumers to wait for better deals.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Israeli malls saw a 38% increase in shoppers on election day compared to a regular weekday.
Visitor numbers were down 20% compared to the previous election day in November 2022.
Seven Stars Mall in Herzliya reported a 156% surge in visitors on election day.
Retailers are expected to offer discounts of up to 70% later in November.
Consumers are advised to delay non-urgent purchases for better deals later in November.

Israeli Malls See Surge in Shoppers on Election Day Amid Sales — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Israeli malls experienced a significant increase in visitor traffic on election day, a national holiday, with many retailers offering special promotions. Tens of thousands of Israelis are utilizing the day off to combine voting with shopping and leisure activities. Data from Counterite, a company that monitors real-time foot traffic in commercial centers, indicates a 20% decrease in mall visitors by noon compared to the same time during the previous election on November 1, 2022. However, when compared to a regular weekday, the holiday saw a substantial surge: a 38% increase in national foot traffic and a 40% rise in the central region.

Eyal Glazer, CEO of Counterite, stated that comparing identical areas at the same hours provides an accurate assessment of consumer behavior, highlighting election day as a key commercial opportunity for malls and retailers. "The truth data allows us to estimate market potential compared to routine and compared to previous election cycles," he noted.

Malls reported exceptionally high occupancy compared to weekdays. For instance, Seven Stars Mall in Herzliya saw a 156% increase in visitors, City of Fountains Mall in Netanya reported a 79% rise over the weekly average, and malls in Kiryat Ata and Kfar Saba also noted sharp increases.

Azrieli Malls reported triple the usual traffic on regular days. Mall managements prepared for the holiday by organizing attractions and shows for families, including a market festival, cooking workshops, free children's plays, and performances by popular entertainers. Azrieli Malls noted extensive preparation, including extended delivery hours to ensure shelves were fully stocked before opening.

Despite enticing SMS offers for election day discounts, consumers are advised to exercise caution. With November approaching, which has become a month-long shopping festival, retailers are expected to deepen discounts by 50% to 70% on fashion, electronics, and appliances later in the month. The article suggests that unless a purchase is urgent or to support local businesses, delaying purchases for a few days could lead to significant savings.