Close to mall, Dame Edna makes purchase (8)
I believe the answer is:
leverage
'purchase' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'close to mall dame edna' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'dame' could be 'everage' (I've seen this before) and 'everage' is present in the answer.
A single letter 'l' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'makes' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for leverage that I've seen before include "Capacity to exert pressure" , "Power -- advantage" , "What crowbar provides" , "Purchase" , "Mechanical advantage; influence" .)