"ห้างร้าง": ไม่ใช่เรื่องใหม่ แต่เกิดขึ้นทั่วโลก

Summary

The retail apocalypse became visible in America with the collapse of several large chains, then spread through Europe and Asia including Japan.

E-commerce is the silent killer most often named, but it is not the only factor.

The question for Thailand is whether its turn has come, and which signals to watch.

Key points

1. 01

   This is not a local phenomenon

   When it happens across countries with different conditions, the cause runs deeper than any one economy.

2. 02

   E-commerce is the main cause but not the only one

   Excess retail floor space per head predates the growth of online shopping.

3. 03

   Malls do not die all at once

   The top tier and the middle tier diverge, and that pattern repeats in every market.

4. 04

   The warning signs are readable in advance

   Vacancy rates and tenant churn move before any closure is announced.