The Farmer's Market in Los Angeles Can Make You More Productive
Can a shopping center really make you more organized?
Take this billboard at the famous at 3rd and Fairfax in Los Angeles. We snapped a picture of the billboard last week, on the way to dinner at Maggiano's next door.
"YOUR TO DO LIST HAS MET ITS MATCH. Get more done at Farmer's Market."
For many years, shopping centers and malls have pushed the thinking that life would not be as much fun or as sociable without them. They add amusement parks, carousels and Hunky Santas to get us to spend more time there. Even the Farmer's Market has valet parking. And now, they're telling us we can be more productive if we shop there.
But a lot of shopping is about wasting time, and malls want you to spend as much time there as possible so you buy more. What are some examples of big mall time-wasters?
- Having dinner sucks 2-hours out of your day
- Having to walk clear across the mall to get to one store sucks 15 minutes
- Seeing a movie sucks 2-hours out of your day
- Getting out of the damn parking lot can take 1-hour (okay, maybe not... but you get the idea.)
It's incongruent for an owner of a shopping center to say that you can be more productive at their mall because their main goal is to get you to spend more time in their shops.
Besides, this campaign is moot, Organized Living next door at the Grove shut down 2 years ago.
What time sucks does your local mall have that are hidden behind a veil of fun and family?
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If you have kids... there are HUNDREDS of ways to waste time at the mall. For me, I don't like to go there because I end up getting "suckered" into buying them something (they don't need). They know how to butter me up that's for sure!
BTW... I love the LA Market!
Posted by: Megan @ Disorder2Order | May 30, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Don't be a couch potato going to the Farmer's Market or the Mall is also a great way to get some exercise. Any way it goes both venues are not easy to maneuver around.
Posted by: Tracey-Los Angeles Real Estate Talk.com | May 30, 2008 at 04:34 PM
I miss that Organized Living...
Posted by: Laurie | June 02, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Actually they tore down our two malls in the city nearest me. (Rebuilding will take 5 more years) Now we have to drive 30 minutes to the closest mall. This might not sound like a lot to you who are from LA, but I like convenience and with gas prices I like closest.
The one I don't like the most is when I visit my daughter in D.C., we have to leave the mall to go to Crate and Barrel because they have a seperate building--but it is worth it even though it is a bit of a pain.
Posted by: Marilyn | June 08, 2008 at 03:56 PM
I was attracted to your To Do List photo. That is a great sign! This computer is a time suck to me (although I love it!). It draws me in and doesn't let go.
Jen
http://www.listplanit.com
Posted by: List Mama | June 11, 2008 at 03:50 AM
Great post, I tend to stay away from malls becuase it takes so long to find a parking space in the first place and as you mention - good luck leaving the lot.
I do a lot of shopping on line.
Posted by: Phyllis Harb | June 24, 2008 at 06:04 AM
I actually miss our malls. We had two in downtown Salt Lake City across from each other. I live 13 minutes away from that area. Both malls are both being torn down to make way for bigger and better shopping, condos and even a business school. Now I have to drive 30 minutes to do some 'real' shopping and that is the biggest time waster of all. Unless I am alone and then I listen to a book on tape.
Posted by: Marilyn Bohn | July 10, 2008 at 08:08 AM
Stay home, do not do anything so you don't waste any time.
Posted by: Jay R. | January 31, 2009 at 09:17 AM