Business English Bits Issue 96
The 10-min homework newsletter that supports your advanced business and English language learning...
Greetings to this Tuesday’s issue of Business English Bits.
In today’s issue we are looking at a video report from CNBC looking at the health of American shopping malls. Specifically, how these complexes have managed to survive while the traditional department stores has lost ground in the retail sector.
Department stores used to be the cornerstone* of the average US mall. Many malls used to have between one and three of these huge retailers which acted as major attractions for drawing in** customers who would then also spend their money in smaller retailers as well as on food a drink and cinemas.
*Cornerstone (n) - Foundation; Main part of smth
**To Draw in (pv) - To attract
But department stores have had a tough decade with increased competition from both online retailers and discount chains. These famous chains, like Macy’s and Sears, have struggled to keep up with the changing trends that customers demand. In fact Macy’s has just set out a plan to close 150 retail spaces.
Luxury malls, which are know as class-A malls are adding attractions to get customers through the door. These activities include gyms, ice rinks, theatres, hotels and in some cases residential housing. This strategy seems to be working as footfall* has already bounced back** to level pre-pandemic levels.
*Footfall (n) - Measures number of customers walking into a shop or business
**To Bounce back (pv) - Recover quickly to original state
Focus on some key new adjectives from the video
1. VIDEO: CNBC - (8mins) - How U.S. Malls Survived The Death Of Department Stores
Key Words - (Smth = Something; Sb=Someone)
Anchor (n) - Central cohesive source of support and stability
To Reign supreme (ph) - Best or most influential thing in a particular area
To Spell trouble (ph) - To cause problems
Brick & mortar (ph) - Traditional business operating from a building
Symbiotic (adj) - Having interdependent relationship
To Plummet (v) - To drop sharply and abruptly
Overblown (adj) - Excessive; Exaggerated
Thriving (adj) - Growing, developing or being successful
Aftermath (n) - Consequences of an event
Headwind (n) - Source of resistance
To Flock (v) - To move or go together in a crowd
Affluent (adj) - Abundance of wealth
To Siphon off (pv) - To gradually remove money from one place
To Repurpose (v) - To find a new use for smth
To Evoke (v) - To cause smth to be remembered or expressed
Halo (n) - Circle of light; Glow
Muted (adj) - Not expressed strongly or openly
Outlook (n) - Forecast; Way sb thinks about smth
To Step back (pv) - To stop action and evaluate current situation
Doom & Gloom (ph) - Negative feeling or attitude
Plethora (n) - Very large amount or quantity of smth
Apparel (n) - Clothes
To Work out (pv) - To do physical exercise to keep fit
Word of the Day … Guess the missing key word. Answer given below with examples!
Some new phrasal verbs to review …
Word of the Day Answer:
Skilled (Adj) - Exceptionally good, Outstanding
Examples:
“We have a need for a lot more skilled workers.”
“It took me a long time to become skilled in this activity.”
Have a good Tuesday and see you tomorrow for the Wednesday phrasal verb test …
Kevin