The effect of seating elements in accordance with the for social distance on the shopping mall preferences of customers in the post-pandemic process

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of using the seating elements designed for social distance in the waiting areas of shopping malls in the post-pandemic process on customers in shopping mall preferences. In light of these results, the study aims to increase customer satisfaction in retail stores and to make the customer feel safe against the pandemic. In research, it was assumed that there is a relationship between shopping malls with seating elements designed for social distance and the shopping mall preferences of customers. In a virtual environment, to test this hypothesis based on digital images of the social distancing seating element modeled with the Top Solid Wood program, a hypothetical study based on a questionnaire was performed. In this study, the questionnaire, prepared according to the 7-point Likert scale, was applied to 300 participants. The results were showed that shopping malls with seating elements designed for social distance in the post-pandemic process have a positive effect on the shopping mall preferences of the participants. Although the differences between customers’ demographic backgrounds and dependent variables were not found to be statistically significant at p < 0.05, it was observed that the seating element designed in accordance with the social distance plays an active role in the shopping mall preferences of the participants. In the preferences of shopping malls with seating elements designed for social distance, it was observed that women show more positive opinions than men. It was observed that the participants at the associate’s degree education level received the lowest values (negative values) for all dependent variables. This article shows that there is a significant relationship between safe shopping malls with seating elements designed for social distance in the post-pandemic process and shopping mall preferences and has an effective on customer potential. The absence of a study on the impact of measures taken by shopping malls within the framework of social distance rules during the pandemic and post-pandemic process, spatial outfits, and secure spatial facilities on customer preferences makes this study valuable.