Israelis still prefer shopping in malls over buying online, with a new national survey finding that 45% of consumers do most of their shopping in Israeli malls, compared with 18% who shop mainly on foreign e-commerce sites.
The survey, conducted by the Geocartography Knowledge Group among some 500 respondents and commissioned by Kanyon Hazahav ahead of the opening of its new Platinum Floor, examined Israeli shopping habits in malls, Israeli websites, international websites, open-air shopping centers, and street stores.
According to the findings, 45% of Israelis said they conduct their shopping in malls in Israel, while 18% said they shop on foreign websites. Another 18% said they shop in open-air commercial centers, 13% on Israeli websites, and 7% in street stores.
Why Israelis still choose malls
The findings suggest that despite the rapid growth of online commerce, Israeli shoppers still value the ability to see, touch, measure, and try products before buying them. The survey found that the main perceived advantage of a large mall was the ability to examine products in person, alongside the convenience of having a wide variety of brands in one place and receiving the product immediately.
Monthly spending in malls also remained significant. Some 64% of respondents said they spend up to NIS 500 per month on mall shopping, while 25% said they spend up to around NIS 1,000. Another 8.5% said they spend up to NIS 2,000, and 3% said they spend more than NIS 2,000 a month. The average monthly mall expenditure stood at approximately NIS 544, according to the survey.
Among consumers who spend more than NIS 2,000 a month in malls, the share of women was nearly double that of men, the survey found.
Kiosks also appeared to play a meaningful role in the mall experience. Some 71% of Israelis said kiosks enhance the shopping experience, while 54% said they usually buy from kiosks that offer innovative or attractive products at affordable prices.
What bothers Israelis about foreign shopping sites?
The survey also pointed to the frustrations Israelis face when shopping on foreign e-commerce websites. The most common complaint, cited by 32% of respondents, was the inability to try on or experience products before buying them. Another 16% cited difficulties with returns and exchanges, while 11% pointed to long shipping times and another 11% cited shipping costs and taxes.
Other concerns included mismatched sizing, cited by 10% of respondents, misleading product photos, cited by 8%, and fear of credit card fraud, cited by 7%.
The findings come as Kanyon Hazahav in Rishon Lezion continues its expansion with the Platinum Floor, a new retail area intended to strengthen the mall’s position in Israel’s shopping-center market. A previous Jerusalem Post report said the floor was planned to include stores, restaurants, and kiosks as part of a broader investment in experiential retail.
The survey indicates that for many Israelis, physical shopping remains tied to convenience, certainty, and experience, especially in categories where size, feel, and immediate purchase matter.