On the Spot

When was the last time you truly observed your surroundings? I like to think that I'm constantly on the "lookout" of sorts. 

Last week, I decided to survey my skills of examination. I choose to focus on consumer habits at The Grove shopping center. If not familiar with this location, let me fill you in this magical shoppers paradise.  

The Grove literally has something for everyone! No, really! A blend of upscale flagship stores, excellent restaurants, mini central park, hourly water shows, trolley rides, movie theater, and so much more! I've been to this mall several times over the past four years living in Los Angeles. I guess you can say I've become a connoisseur to this establishment.  

Who's visiting? The customers that are coming to this location are broken into the following groups: 

Moms with Children 

Lots of moms meeting up for playdates or exercising in the park. The vibe given off mainly in this group was to come to a location where they can enjoy the sun and let their children run around freely. They take advantage of the free summer or weekly activities provided by The Grove and are not shopping. These mothers will eventually purchase snacks at the food huts near the park if needed.                

Tourist 

The easiest to point out during the surveying. Tourist tend to wonder the site as if they never seen any outdoor mall (which many may possibly haven't) like this before. They look mainly upwards at the sights. You can see the excitement in their eyes as they stroll the pathways where many celebs have walked. Many are hitting up this place because they are waiting for their check-in time for CBS tapings. They seem to go for quick buys such as socks, ice cream or souvenirs. These purchases fulfill a temporary need while they are on vacation in Los Angeles. 

High-End/Celebs 

They are the bread and butter of the land. They come to shop and be seen. They shop at Barney's, Nordstorm, DVF, and Apple. This group frequents this location because paparazzi will photograph them for magazine tabloids, websites, and entertainment television shows. This group in my opinion is a  attraction in itself to the shopping center.                                                                                       

Locals 

These are either employees of the mall or residents in the nearby neighborhoods. They shop at the more reasonable priced stores such as Gap, Crate and Barrel, and Barnes and Noble. I also noticed that they too visited the upscale locations, but only for sales. Most of the customers in this group visited with friends to grab lunch or with out-of-town family. This group also had the most effortless styles. Best accessory... the dog.  

What I've learned from my observations is that Los Angeles is a gem of no other. How many places can you think of going to and see so many different social groups collide in harmony? For me, this experience was full of inspiration because I was able to view the different needs and wants in shopping habits on all types of budgets. I was able see how a mother dresses on casual outing, how a complete designer outfit looked on a person, and how comfort style can be worn in many ways.