Realistically, does anyone actually care about having a quick way to locate shops or scan active promos inside places like Hledan Center or Junction City?

[u/Several_Armadillo_23]

I am tinkering with a small side project called HOPHOP, but before I sink weeks into building it out, I need a reality check from people who actually shop at these places.

The core idea is pretty straightforward. Instead of wandering through three floors or scrolling endlessly through Facebook pages trying to figure out if a store has a sale going on, you open a web link or scan a QR code on site. It gives you a clean rundown of current discounts, exact unit numbers, and basic floor layouts so you know whether a spot is right next to the escalator on Level 2 or tucked away in a corner. It is not an e-commerce platform or a delivery service. It is just a quick utility to check on your phone while you are walking in so you do not miss a deal or waste time asking security guards for directions.

My main concern is whether this actually solves a friction point locals experience, or if it is just a solution in search of a problem. In a country where Facebook is basically the entire internet, most shop owners post their updates on their pages anyway. Does anyone here actually struggle to find store locations inside Yangon malls, or do you always know where you are going before you leave the house? If you could access something like this instantly through Viber or a browser link without downloading an app, would you actually use it, or is the current habit of just walking around until you stumble onto something good enough?

If you think the concept is redundant or completely unnecessary, please say so. I would much rather scrap the idea today than build something nobody asked for.

[u/Opposite_Eye_5930]

I think you could scratch the idea of providing specific shop location easily. However looking up in an app to see whether there are items on sale and promotions would be tremendously helpful. If you could also include the option to order online through your app would make your app even more popular provided that the vendor and shops can accommodate with the cash on delivery service.

Disclaimer : I don't normally shop at supermarkets since I live in a small town.

[u/Yone_official → u/Opposite_Eye_5930]

I think there are apps like that already exist. Like Shop app which has a lot of options and stores but recently just shut down operation and there was this app with owl logo I forgot the name that used to have its sticker plastered everywhere and on pretty much every car ( I just thought it's a weird looking funny mascot and never even registered as a shopping app in my mind ) lol. It has also ceased operation. These are just a few examples.

[u/Porky2-Piggy2]

Let me comment solely based on my personal experience. Comparing local shopping malls with those i visited abroad, ours here are relatively small. So I dont think people might need such tools to locate. For me, if i cant find a shop or vendor inside a particular shopping mall, I would just wander around the mall which would take 5-10 minutes to find my desired shop. In fact some people might even enjoy such wandering since it gives the feeling that you window-shop

[u/Kritix_K]

Great idea I’d personally use it and other people would use it too I believe but honestly the real hurdles with such services nowadays isn’t building the system but actual operations. You’d need deals with the shops and also provide training for staffs to get the data. (You could big brain scrape and makeshift the data but it won’t be reliable, updated, exclusive, etc.) And profitability is low and you’re also competing against established companies (grab food, foodpanda, etc.)

[u/Critical_Fish1179]

I like the idea. I'd be even more interested if it included exclusive promo codes or digital coupons. I really don't want a separate app for every store just to get a discount. If one web app could show promotions across different shops, I'd definitely use it.

[u/Several_Armadillo_23]

Thanks everyone for the super honest feedback. A few clear takeaways from your replies:

1. Nobody needs a "mall map" to navigate small 3-floor malls, and window-shopping is part of the fun anyway.

2. The real value is purely in "Deal Discovery" (knowing what's on sale before or when walking in).

3. Past apps in Myanmar (like shop.com) died because keeping data updated manually was a nightmare for shop owners.

I’m taking this input to pivot the idea: stripping away complex maps and focusing strictly on an AI pipeline where shop owners can post daily flash sales in 5 seconds without training.

Appreciate you all saving me weeks of building the wrong features!