How to select or buy retail space in a mall? Ramesh Menon advises that while going in for small or big towns, one must ensure that the catchment area is good with high density of consumers having fairly good disposable income. "While selecting retail space one must keep in mind the convenience of end users. The retail space should be such located that it has good parking facilities besides easy access and exit from the main roads. There should be uncluttered and free movement of shoppers so that they can have hassle free and convenient shopping. Moreover one must ensure that the mall where the space is being taken belongs to a reputed developer and there is event-driven mall management to ensure high footfall" Shubrahnshu Pani Names five success factors for mall performance, including location, management tenant mix, pricing and marketing.

Sanjay Sachdeva of APIL advises to invest in tier 2a& 3 cities for lower value and better ROI. Pani endorses his suggestion “These cities have flourishing catchment that has big potential and opportunities. In tier 2 & 3 cities, the loyalty factor is high while the rentals are low. The cost of setting up an enterprise is low and the high aspirations for brands from the metros can be cashed in upon. Sachdeva advises that it's always advantageous to invest in city center malls and within a mall it is high traffic areas near elevators escalators, multiplex, and food court that give guaranteed footfall. According to Sachdeva, there is an obvious advantage of buying space close to anchor tenant as anchor store has normally 20-year lease period with 10-year lock-in period and ensures good footfall.

While deciding where to invest the tenant assumes great significance. According to Lakhotia quality of tenant determines the value of your property. If you have quality tenant, the value of your property will go up. Sachdeva adds that most of retail property developers are leasing to MNCs and large Indian companies for direct lease. They are good tenants. These days nobody prefers to lease out retail space to brokers or to a franchisee directly. It is companies, which are directly getting the place on lease from the mall developer, which is in overall inertest of the investor.

                                                                                                                                   Courtesy realty plus