Why Malls Should Invest in Large-Scale Holiday Decoration

Malls are among the most popular destinations for holiday shoppers. They offer a wide selection of shops, improving the odds of getting most of your shopping done in one location. Large-scale decorations enhance the experience, making the location more likely to attract shoppers.

As businesses, malls earn most of their income from tenant rent. Therefore, creating a pleasant experience for shoppers and store owners is in their best interest. Mall Christmas decorations help them achieve these goals, promoting business throughout the year.

This article will explore holiday decorations benefits for malls and how to make the most of mall displays.

Malls are more than buildings that hold shops. They are businesses, and like any business, they must work to please their customers: the store owners and, indirectly, the customers who shop at those stores.

Commercial Christmas lighting and decorations play a vital role in this professional relationship, as follows:

• Improves the Shopping Atmosphere for Shoppers: Shopping center holiday decor creates a vibrant atmosphere for shoppers, helping them enjoy their shopping experience.
• Good for Shops: Increasing foot traffic with holiday decor greatly benefits shops renting mall space. A busy mall increases a business's visibility and potential conversions.
• Benefits the Mall: Malls that make their tenants happy and ensure a successful holiday season will foster positive relationships. Festive mall decorations contribute to a fruitful holiday season, reducing the risk of tenants going out of business.

A 2000 study is one of the many that reveal how bright light improves mood in healthy people. This result is especially effective at Christmastime when people associate holiday lighting for shopping malls with happy memories that foster community and combat the winter blues.

Holiday ambience in retail environments can also promote emotional engagement. For example, many malls host interactive holiday displays like Santa workshops that become part of happy family memories. Generally, being in a social environment with holiday decor improves well-being.

Large Christmas displays in malls increase shoppers' dwell times. Visitors spend more time in malls looking at decorations, taking pictures, and interacting with them, increasing their chances of purchasing food and other items.

Holiday shopping season decorations also increase shopping intent. Shoppers are reminded that the holiday season is upon them and that now is the time to buy. They are more likely to search for the gifts they need to cross items off their list.

Holiday decorations for shopping centers are conducive to social media sharing, which leads to free promotion. People often take pictures in front of holiday decor. They may share these pictures on social media and tag your mall location, making their followers want to visit.

Malls can increase their chances of free promotion with customized, branded decor. For example, they may set up a tree featuring ornaments with their mall logo. The logo will automatically appear in pictures, spreading the word about the location, regardless of whether the image is tagged.

Selfie stations are another ideal marketing strategy. They increase the likelihood of shoppers taking pictures in their location. A branded selfie station is an effective marketing solution.

Although malls are B2B businesses, they work to create a distinct image based on the tenant mix, target audience, mall design and ambiance, and services and amenities. A festive atmosphere in malls promotes this image.

Here are some suggestions for reinforcing the mall’s brand image and identity:

• Use Brand Colors: Most malls have distinct brand colors that can be incorporated into their design scheme to emphasize their image.
• Branded Decorations: Malls that decorate with branded elements will raise image awareness.
• Annual Displays: A mall may consider hosting an annual display that attracts visitors each year. For example, it may host a Santa workshop, an ice skating rink, or a tree-lighting ceremony. Events like these can make the mall stand out, promoting its image and identity.

The following holiday decor installation tips ensure large-scale holiday decorations for malls are even more successful and effective.

The holiday season is a busy time of year. It’s best to start planning your holiday decorations early to avoid common pitfalls, including the following:

Many companies wait until Halloween to start planning their decorations. However, focusing on your display in the second or third quarter ensures you are prepared and can access the required products and services. You may even consider planning year-round to take advantage of off-season sales.

Many companies that install professional holiday designs use professional decorators and designers for added safety and to ensure their displays look their best. These services become even more necessary when launching large-scale holiday decorations for malls. Here are some benefits involved:

A mall’s theme is directly related to its demographics. For example, some malls have upscale shops that attract a high-end clientele. Others are family-friendly or cater to younger crowds. Choose a theme that caters to your target audience.

For example:

• Young crowds may enjoy a popular theme based on the latest movies and entertainers
• Families may come to the mall for ice skating experiences and photos with Santa
• An upscale crowd may prefer a luxury theme with elements like crystal, glass, and velvet

Your holiday design will be most effective if it is safe, accessible, and offers photo-ready zones. Here are some things to consider:

• Safety: Safety is essential in holiday decor. Decorations should be installed with safety in mind to avoid accidents during installation and throughout the holiday season. If you DIY your installation, ensure the staff is familiar with safety rules. However, professional decorating services may be a better choice as they are trained to install decorations safely.
• ADA Compliance in Holiday Decorations: Most malls ensure their spaces are ADA compliant. However, when decorations are installed, they may accidentally obstruct areas or cause tripping hazards, which can endanger people with disabilities. Malls should also consider people with visual and auditory impairments and ensure that decorations effectively overcome boundaries.
• Photo-Ready Zones: These zones are ideal because they encourage people to take pictures and don’t require much setup. Shoppers can easily set down their bags, snap a pic, and share it on social media to increase free marketing opportunities.

Decorating for the holiday season can be challenging. However, with the right approach, you can achieve a seamless experience. Here are some common issues and how to overcome them.

Decorations can get expensive. These holiday decor planning tips help manage budget constraints and ensure optimal cost management.

• Energy-Efficient Holiday Lighting: Energy use is a significant expense during the holiday season. Malls can reduce these expenses with LED lighting, which uses 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and lasts 25 times longer, minimizing the need for replacements. They may also consider using smart systems that automatically turn lights on and off to ensure a consistent display and avoid excessive energy costs.
• Reusing Decorations: Instead of purchasing decorations yearly, malls may consider reusing them to save money.
• Caring for Decorations: Proper care and maintenance will minimize damage and reduce the need for and cost of replacements.

Installing decorations and holiday lighting for shopping malls is a huge undertaking that can take several hours, sometimes even days. Companies must plan an installation that reduces disruptions, allowing businesses to stay open during shopping hours.

Most malls will schedule overnight installations when shops are closed and workers and shoppers are not in the mall. If that’s not possible, consider decorating parts of the mall where people don’t shop or dwell often during business hours, while installing other decorations at night.

Reusing decorations each year reduces expenses. However, holiday decor storage and reuse create their own challenges. Malls may not have storage space to offer, or in some instances, the storage space they have may not be suited to decorations. It may be too hot or cold, or in an area where decorations may get jostled around and damaged.

Professional decorating services may provide storage and reuse solutions. Many will store your decorations throughout the year, ensuring they are well cared for and ready for the upcoming holiday season. If your decorators don’t offer this service, consider renting a separate storage space that will keep your decorations safe.

Many malls scale their decorations yearly to provide a more impressive display. However, expansion can lead to maintenance and safety issues.

The more decorations you have, the more you have to maintain. Additionally, large quantities of decorations can get damaged in storage or may hurt someone while they are stored or on display.

Once again, this issue may best be solved by professional decorators who can store and care for your display elements throughout the year. If this service is unavailable, consider hiring a dedicated team to care for your lights and ornaments.

Holiday decorations benefits for malls are seemingly endless. They attract crowds, enhance the shopping experience, and improve tenant-mall relationships. However, they can be challenging to install and maintain.

Dekra-Lite offers optimal solutions. Our team has years of experience installing holiday lights, ensuring safety and aesthetics. We also offer a wide selection of ornaments and commercial holiday lighting solutions that are ideal for various applications.

Contact us to learn more about our products and services.

Malls should start planning their holiday decorations in the second or third quarter to beat the holiday rush and ensure they can access the required products and services. Some may even plan year-round to take advantage of off-season deals.

Yes, it is better for retail businesses to purchase commercial holiday decorations, as they are generally larger, more durable, and designed for repeated use. They often feature high-quality material and customizable options that suit business needs.

Malls should prioritize exteriors as decorating and illuminating these areas will likely attract foot traffic. To ensure optimal visibility, they should also decorate common areas like lobbies and spaces near elevators and staircases.

Malls can ensure that decorations are ADA compliant by placing them in areas that don’t restrict movement or cause tripping hazards. They may also provide subtitles for decorations with audio elements. Visual decorations should be high-contrast and incorporate tactile elements to ensure accessibility to people with vision impairments.

Several trends in holiday decor appeal to younger audiences. For example, young audiences enjoy pop culture-related themes. They also appreciate sustainability and personalization in displays.