美国有线新闻 CNN 电商势头正劲 传统购物中心困境重重

电商势头正劲 传统购物中心困境重重

AZUZ: Another noteworthy event of the digital age, the struggle of the American shopping mall. There are currently 1,100 of these in the U.S.

But experts are predicting that around 300 of them will close over the next five years. When larger stores like Macy's, JCPenney or Sears closed and dozens have, the smaller stores around them often follow. There's still hope for many malls, but the landscape is changing.

PAUL LA MONICA, CNNMONEY REPORTER: The American mall was once the go-to destination for many shoppers looking for bargains and suburban¹ teenagers looking to have a place to hang out.

But the rise of Amazon and changing trends and fashion have turned some malls into modern day ghost towns.

Once popular chains like Wet Seal, Aeropostale and Pacific Sunwear had filed for bankruptcy². Other larger retailers⁴ like Sears, Kmart, JCPenney, Macy's and Kohl's have been forced to close stores. Several of these chains have announced layoffs⁵ as well.

Amazon is a big problem for all these companies. The king of e-commerce now sells just about everything. It is even starting its own line of clothing. And Amazon is also opening up more and more of its own brick and mortar⁶ stores.

GAP and Abercrombie and Fitch once red hot brands for younger shoppers are struggling to stay relevant too. This has hurt urban malls particularly hard, with big shopping centers in Cleveland, Detroit, and other cities closing in recent years.

But all hope is not like, you know, lost for shopping malls just yet. Many malls, particularly in more affluent⁷ suburbs are adding popular retailers like Apple and fast fashion retail³ kings H&M, Zara and Uniqlo as new tenants⁸.

So, the mall may not be dead just yet.

1 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

2 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

3 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

4 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

5 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

6 mortar   

n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合

参考例句：

• The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
• The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

7 affluent   

adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的

参考例句：

• He hails from an affluent background.他出身于一个富有的家庭。
• His parents were very affluent.他的父母很富裕。

8 tenants   

n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者

参考例句：

• A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。